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Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant

Discussion in 'Bible Study Forum' started by Hidden In Him, Mar 30, 2019.

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  1. Mar 30, 2019 #1
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    Greetings all. My beliefs on this parable may bother some, if not many, but I only seek to interpret and teach the word for what it says.

    Specifically, I believe this parable teaches that those who do not walk in forgiveness will have their forgiveness from God rescinded. This interpretation seems patently obvious to me, based on the internal context.

    But if you disagree, what is your interpretation of the meaning behind the unmerciful servant being given over to the tormentors for not forgiving his fellow servant? One argument I've found so far is that "if we do not forgive others, we are not forgiven," which I believe is intended to protect the Once saved, Always saved position by teaching that anyone who is truly saved will always forgive. But I'm not sure that bears out in real life. I think a Christian still has the ability to be unforgiving if they want to, and many are. Others profess that Jesus did not mean "tormentors" literally, or that this parable does not apply to Christians. But I don't think those interpretations hold water either.

    Please share how you interpret this parable, and what you believe the words "servant" and "tormentors" are referring to in this parable.

    I will post it in full below, and please don't let this thread become a contentious debate. I'd like to discuss this with some spiritual maturely if at all possible.

    Thanks in advance for all replies.
    Hidden In Him
    ________________________

    21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:21-35)
     
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  2. Mar 30, 2019 #2
    Episkopos

    Episkopos Well-Known Member

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    As we judge others....so we will be judged. We will all receive from God according to our works....especially after having received grace.
     
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  3. Mar 30, 2019 #3
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    We know that our God hides all our sins behind His back. Isa 38

    Who are we to hold anything against , once God has forgiven.
    Yet, we are to be 'as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves..'

    We must forgive, and if nothing more...for our souls sake, bitterness dries up the bones...and, because we are first forgiven ...Yet are we to forget?
    Not sure about that...

    I remember many years ago, ( 80's) when we were all casting demons out of door knobs... a friend of mine was reasoned with a bound person out of control person ( who had stolen from the community) ...he thought he had brought her peace, he turned to walk away and she stabbed him in the back ( not metaphorically ) he was hurt but not injured badly ...

    He preach heavily on forgiveness always..because it is God's nature...but he also never forgot to NOT "turn his back".. :)

    Sorry Chris if I did not really answer your OP! :oops:
     
  4. Mar 30, 2019 #4
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    Then you believe the parable teaches that losing one's salvation over unforgiveness is a possibility, yes?
     
  5. Mar 30, 2019 #5
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    LoL!
    I appreciate the response anyway : ) And yes, "Don't turn your back on a demon-possesed person" is certainly sage advice. :p
     
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  6. Mar 30, 2019 #6
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    Haha! I sure hope that is not what he is saying :)
    We can lose out health over unForgiveness...and I believe our reward as 'a good and faithful' servant is at risk...but not our salvation...

    my two cents...
     
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  7. Mar 30, 2019 #7
    Episkopos

    Episkopos Well-Known Member

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    I think that kind of reasoning pre-supposes that we get a saved ticket that rules out any free will on our part. No one is eternally saved for all time until the race is finished in this life.

    Have you ever heard the story of the tortoise and the hare?

    Now, did the hare ever have the win? Or was that only determined at the end of the race? We can be in a position to win...but miss the calling and election because of sin that seduces us away from the simplicity which is in Christ.
     
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  8. Mar 30, 2019 #8
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    Oh, so you do believe that unforgiveness can cause us to lose our salvation? o_O


    EDIT:-

    Whoops...I missed your last couple of lines...being..:- ".but miss the calling and election because of sin that seduces us away from the simplicity which is in Christ"

    Yes 100% agree...our Christian walk with the Lord, is all about calling and election... = salvation is secure...but our position , calling and election is still 'to be seen'.

    Is that what you are saying?
    Or have I got the wrong end of the stick again!!!
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2019
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  9. Mar 30, 2019 #9
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    It's actually what I'm getting at in this thread. But I can see "Hidden In Him Shaming" looming on the horizon, LoL.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  10. Mar 30, 2019 #10
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    Well it takes guts to say it. Lord help me with others on this forum, but I actually agree with you.

    Have you contended for this position at this forum before? I don't recall reading you say it.
     
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  11. Mar 30, 2019 #11
    Episkopos

    Episkopos Well-Known Member

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    LOL...unforgiveness in us causes us to become unforgiven likewise. As in...forgive our debts AS we forgive others.

    Salvation is conditional and remains so until we leave this world.

    Many Christians are actually those who have stoney hearts in the parable of the sower. These receive the salvation of God with joy...but don't play fair and get offended when the sins of others gets in their face.

    What is missing is self-knowledge. The more we find out about ourselves the more humble we learn to become because we see our own inabilities. THAT is the way of humility and salvation.

    People tend to mislabel things... ;)

    Oh, I'm a hard man... :oops:
     
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  12. Mar 30, 2019 #12
    Episkopos

    Episkopos Well-Known Member

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    Almost every day... :)
     
  13. Mar 30, 2019 #13
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    I think I have confused myself...
    @Hidden In Him @Episkopos

    Am I reading you both right, or am I confused!! Which doesn't take much.

    I edited my post above... #8

    LOVE your pics Chris :)
     
  14. Mar 30, 2019 #14
    CoreIssue

    CoreIssue Well-Known Member

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    Rewards and blessings are from our works, not salvation.

    Notice the verse does not lament the issues to the born-again.
     
  15. Mar 30, 2019 #15
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    Well! Ex-c-uuuuse me. I guess I miss those conversations, LoL.. But then I usually don't read salvation debates too often. Too contentious for me.
     
  16. Mar 30, 2019 #16
    Hidden In Him

    Hidden In Him Well-Known Member

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    CoreIssue, I need you to respond to the OP first.
     
  17. Mar 30, 2019 #17
    Episkopos

    Episkopos Well-Known Member

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    Hey... :) Ok saw this...

    We are definitely talking of the condition of salvation according to calling and election.

    In a race there are both winners and losers. There are medals of honour for the first few places....and after most people have gone home...there are the stragglers that cross the line in a less honourable fashion. Yet if they persevere till the end they still finish the race.

    I see salvation like that.

    Some people will be first...and some people will be last (and everything in between). Now if a person boasts that he is a winner and comes in last (declaring how saved he is for instance and all the good verses are his) then his defeat is magnified thus bringing additional shame.

    In the kingdom, humility is valued...and pride is abhorred. So then those who claim much, and come in last they risk suffering an eternal shame away from the rejoicing of the overcomers. They will be outside the gate in outer darkness if they are not wise.

    Man...I am hard...:eek:

    But a humble person who comes in last will be celebrated for having hung on till the end. It's about our attitude.
     
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2019
  18. Mar 30, 2019 #18
    CoreIssue

    CoreIssue Well-Known Member

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    Rewards can be lost, salvation cannot.
     
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  19. Mar 30, 2019 #19
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    Oh wow! Okay, that is plain enough.
    I can't agree.

    Israel did not want to do what God wanted them to do...but God made them willing, by hornets , to do what He wanted done.

    My belief is that God will always keep His promise to David...and He will cause the 'seed of David'..to make it to the end.

    Phil 1.6 " Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

    Therein is my hope. "Lord if I am not willing , MAKE me willing!"

    If I lay down to sleep , prod me back into the race.

    He is Father...He will get His children to the end by hook or by croook.
    He is the Shepherd...He will not rest until he finds the stubborn wanderer...
     
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  20. Mar 30, 2019 #20
    Helen

    Helen Well-Known Member

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    Amen Bro.
     
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