The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

21 Then Peter came up to him and[fn] said,[fn] “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I will 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![fn]

23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 And when[fn] he began to settle them,[fn] someone was brought to him who owed ten thousand talents. 25 And because[fn] he did not have enough[fn] to repay it,[fn] the master ordered him to be sold, and his[fn] wife and his[fn] children and everything that he had, and to be repaid. 26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground and[fn] began to do obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you!’ 27 So the master of that slave, because he[fn] had compassion, released him and forgave him the loan. 28 But that slave went out and[fn] found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and taking hold of him, he began to choke him,[fn] saying, ‘Pay back everything that you owe!’ 29 Then his fellow slave threw himself to the ground and[fn] began to implore[fn] him, saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you!’ 30 But he did not want to, but rather he went and[fn] threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed. 31 So when[fn] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went and[fn] reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then his master summoned him and[fn] said to him, ‘Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me! 33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?’ 34 And because he[fn] was angry, his master handed him over to the merciless jailers[fn] until he would repay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts!”