The Unmerciful Servant
LESSON DATE & SCRIPTURE: June 14 | Matthew 18:21–35
New city catechism question of the week:
Question #24:
Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
Answer:
Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God.
Memory Verse: Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Talk about it together
Jesus was teaching his disciples about forgiveness. Peter asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who hurts me? Seven times?” Jesus answered, “Not just seven times, but many times.” Jesus wanted his followers to keep forgiving others.
To explain, Jesus told a story about a servant who owed a king a huge amount of money. The servant could never repay it. He begged for mercy, and the king forgave the entire debt. The servant did not have to pay anything.
Later, that same servant met someone who owed him a small amount of money. Instead of showing mercy, he refused to forgive and had the man thrown into jail. When the king heard what happened, he was angry. The servant had been forgiven much, but he would not forgive someone else.
Jesus taught that God wants us to forgive others just as he forgives us. We are like the servant, and God is like the merciful King. We all sin and need forgiveness. God showed his love by sending Jesus to save us. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. When we trust in him, we are fully forgiven. Because God forgives us, we can forgive others too.
Family discussion
How many times did Peter think he should forgive someone?
What did the king do for the servant?
How did the servant treat the man who owed him money?
What does Jesus teach us to do when someone hurts us?
Family prayer
Lord, thank you for sending Jesus and forgiving our sin. Help us forgive others as you have forgiven us. Amen.