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Sermon 47... Forgiveness, Wicked Servant &The Bible as Source of Help & Light
April 28, 1872

Matthew 18:23-35 - The Parable of the Wicked Servant
"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 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. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow- servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 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: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

On many occasions I mentioned to you that I had to interpret in detail for My disciples and other followers all that is said in My two commandments of love and explained even more clearly in the ten commandments of Moses. But since I was dealing with people who wanted detailed directions, so that they would know how to behave in various situations, I had to take every opportunity to either give full explanations of the commandments or illustrate them through parables in such a way that they could serve as a basis in all situations.

Therefore, you find in this chapter, from beginning to end, rules of conduct, partly clearly explained, partly in metaphors and parables, so as to make sure that My disciples and the future followers of My teaching would know beyond doubt how to behave in different situations and also how to successfully teach others about it.

In the beginning, My disciples were still like young children and unable to comprehend the high concepts concerning Me and My Kingdom as they did after I had poured out My Spirit over them. Thus you often find them asking surprisingly innocent and simple questions. How could My disciples, who were at all times under the influence of My presence, My words and deeds, still ask: "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" If My disciples could still ask such questions, you can imagine how the others were thinking, who knew even less. Therefore, My answer and what is said in the following verses is plain.

I compared the simplicity of a child with the angelic minds of the beings closest to Me. Just as My angels should not be insulted, thus also those with the simple mind of a child must not be offended, since they are guileless, and children generally trust all who approach them. Therefore, it is the greatest sin to meet this simplicity with deceit, scorn, ridicule and hate. This is also referred to in the following verses, where it says allegorically that if a person's soul is governed by a passion, it is better to make every effort to overcome it than to have the soul perish through this one passion.

These examples and parables are presented in the allegories of the language of that time, which is still today widely used in the orient.

After having pointed out to My disciples that it is better to sacrifice a part of one's self than one's whole soul, I told them in the subsequent verses about the joy I, as the Creator, experience if nothing of what I once set into the world is lost but everything eventually returns to Me, purified and spiritualized. This is clearly expressed in the parables about the shepherd and the lost sheep.

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