Penasquitos Stake Institute

The Unmerciful Servant

Matthew 18:23-35

 

 

Study Guide

1. Read Matthew 18:1-6. What question did Jesus' disciples pose at the beginning of Matthew 18? Why might they ask such a question? How did the Savior answer them?

 

 

2. Read Matthew 18:21-22. According to the Law, it was required to forgive three times. What did Peter ask the Lord in Matthew 18:21? How might Jesus' answer have surprised him?

 

 

3. Read Matthew 18:23-27 (with footnote 23a). To what is the kingdom of heaven likened in this parable? Did the servant come before the king on his own or was he summoned?

 

 

4. List ways in which the king showed mercy to the servant who owed 10,000 talents. Why was mercy shown?

 

 

NOTE: In the JST, the first part of verse 26 is moved to the end of verse 27. In this case, the servant fell down and worshipped after the debt was forgiven.

 

5. Read Matthew 18:28-36 (with footnote 28a). How much was owed to the recently forgiven servant? According to footnote 28a, about how much was the debt worth? How much more was the servant's debt to the king?

 

NOTE: Josephus recorded that a year's combined taxes for all of Judea, Idumea, Samaria, Galilee, and Perea at the time of the death of Herod (4BC) was 800 talents.

 

6. Why was the king, or lord, wroth with his forgiven servant? What happened to the servant?

 

 

7. Who does the king in this parable represent? Who does the unmerciful servant represent? What might the torment in prison represent?