THEMES FROM THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
(a) You wicked servant; I forgave you all that debt because you besought me … Outline the circumstances that led to the above statement.
(b) State three reasons for which people find it difficult to forgive.
(a) Jesus' Teaching on Forgiveness (Matt. 18: 21-35):
(i) Peter wanted to know from Jesus whether he should forgive his neighbour seven times.
(ii) Jesus responded by saying seventy times seven.
(iii) Jesus then told a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
(iv) And in the process, a servant who owed the King ten thousand talents was brought before him.
(v) Because he could not pay the money, the king ordered him to be sold with his family until the last money was paid.
(vi) The servant fell on his knees and begged the king to have patience with him and he would pay later,
(vi) Out of pity, the king released the servant and forgave him all the debt
(viii) As the servant went out, he met a fellow servant who owed him hundred denarii.
(ix) He instantly seized him by the throat demanding that he should pay what he owed him.
(x) His fellow servant begged him to have patience and that he would pay later.
(xi) But he refused and put him in prison till he paid the debt,
(xii) When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were disturbed and reported to the king.
(xiii) The king invited the first servant, whose debt he cancelled and reprimanded him.
(xiv) He said, Tie was a wicked servant and that he ought to have forgiven his fellow servant and had mercy on him as he did to him.
(xv) Out of anger, the king asked that he should be jailed until he paid the last money.
(xvi) Jesus ended by saying that anyone who did not forgive his fellow man from his heart would also not be forgiven by his heavenly Father.
(b) (i) Arrogance/pride.
(ii) Consistency of the offense.
(iii) The enormity/gravity of the offense.
(iv) Peer influence.
(v) Immaturity
(vi) Self-centeredness.
(vii) The emotional state of the offended/wickedness/hard heartedness.
(viii) Ignorance of the word of God.
(ix) Envy/hatred.
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