Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times,
but up to seventy times seven. 23 "For this reason the kingdom
of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle
accounts with his slaves. 24 "When he had begun to settle them,
one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25
"But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord
commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and
all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 "So the slave
fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying,
'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' 27
"And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and
forgave him the debt. 28 "But that slave went out and found one
of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he
seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you
owe.' 29 "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to
plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay
you.' 30 "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison
until he should pay back what was owed. 31 "So when his fellow
slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came
and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32 "Then
summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I
forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33
'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the
same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 "And his lord, moved with
anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay
all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the
same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from
your heart."
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