Matthew 18:32 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Matthew 18:32

Comments

The king is angry. He sees he has been taken advantage of. His offer of forgiveness was genuine, and was extended simply because this servant with such an enormous debt had asked for mercy. But even though the debt was forgiven freely with nothing to pay, the king was not prepared to have his kindness abused. There had to be a proper appreciation of the great gift that he had given, and there had to be a sense of humility. That new attitude must show itself in transformed behaviour. But the root of the error came earlier, and lay in this servant’s initial approach, and this is the real evangelistic lesson of the parable. When he first approached the king, he did not come with a due sense of shame for what he had done. He wanted the debt to be gone, but he did not want to change his lifestyle and he did not want to sincerely humble himself. If he had properly appreciated the kindness shown to him, he would have made it a model for how he behaved towards others. He should have recognised how much pity he had been shown – and who better to appreciate that than he himself? – and he should then have wanted to show the same pity to others.

Application

Christ has perfectly pictured a situation which teaches all the nuances of the believer’s repentance and transformed life. We can do nothing but ask; we cannot deserve to be let off the enormous debt we owe to God. He forgives us freely and he requires nothing in return for the pardon of all our sins. We cannot give back even a part of what we have received. The first servant unrealistically offered to try to pay back what he owed, but that offer was dismissed as unnecessary and impossible to fulfil. He is to receive a free pardon, but let him understand what has happened. Let him not carry on, with his debt now forgiven, as if he had received nothing. Many people would like the removal of their guilt and would like to avoid going to hell, but few are ready to turn from their sin and begin to serve and obey God in earnest. There is always a tendency to take advantage of grace without letting it change us, but God will not allow us to receive it on this basis. He reads our hearts and knows if we are genuine. There is no way into the kingdom of heaven without coming on God’s terms.

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Matthew 18:32 Commentary and Bible Study