"Then Peter asked HIM, 'LORD, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother or sister? Seven? JESUS answered, 'No, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'
This story throws light on the kingdom of heaven. A king decided to settle the accounts of his servants. Among the first was one who owed him ten thousand gold ingots. As the man could not repay the debt, the king commanded that he be sold as a slave with his wife, children and all his goods in payment.
The official threw himself at the feet of the king and said, 'Give me time, and I will pay you back everything.' The king took pity on him and not only set him free but even canceled his debt.
This official then left the king's presence and he met one of his companions who owed him a hundred pieces of silver. He grabbed him by the neck and almost strangled him, shouting, 'Pay me what you owe!' His companion threw himself at his feet and asked him, 'Give me time, and I will pay everything.' The other did not agree but sent him to prison until he had paid all his debt.
His companions saw what happened. They were indignant and so they went and reported everything to their lord. Then the lord summoned his official and said, 'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that you owed when you begged me to do so. Weren't you bound to have pity on your companion as I had pity on you? The lord was now angry, so he handed his servant over to be punished, until he had paid his whole debt.'
JESUS added, 'So will MY heavenly FATHER do with you unless each of you sincerely forgive your brother or sister.'
When JESUS had finished this teaching, HE left Galilee and arrived at the border of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan River." - Matthew 18:21-19:1
This parable goes beyond personal problems. The world needs, above everything else, the forgiveness of GOD, and those who want a more just society will not achieve it through accusations and hatred.
The parable helps us understand much better another verse in the Bible: Revenge is mine, says the LORD; I will pay each one according to his own conduct. GOD will not demand an account regarding HIS own rights [what we owe HIM], but regarding the rights of the little ones who, unable to pay, were deprived of them. HE will also demand an accounting regarding those who were sorry for their sins but were not forgiven by others.
The fourth Discourse of Matthew's Gospel ends with this parable on the duty to forgive. The Church has not always been as holy as she should have been. Yet nobody can deny that, at all times, in the Church the mercy of GOD has been preached and people have learned to forgive.)
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