Matthew 18:21–35

²¹Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

²²Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!^e

²³Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents^f was brought to him. ²⁵Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

²⁶Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

²⁷His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

²⁸But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.^g He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

³⁰But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

³¹When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

³²Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. ³³Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ ³⁴In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

³⁵That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”