📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Matthew 18:23-35, given as direct application of Peter's question about how often to forgive. A king forgives a servant a debt of ten thousand talents (an effectively unpayable sum, billions in modern equivalent). The same servant, leaving the king's presence, finds a fellow-servant who owes him a hundred pence (a few months' wages) and throttles him for it. The king reverses the original forgiveness and delivers the unforgiving servant to the tormentors. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
UNFORGIVING , n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; the unforgiving servant whose debt was forgiven.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 18:23 — "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants."
Matthew 18:27 — "The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt."
Matthew 18:32 — "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me."
Matthew 18:35 — "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often makes forgiveness optional; Christ tied it to your own forgiveness.
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Matthew 18:35 is one of Christ's most uncompromising warnings. The servant who has been forgiven incomprehensibly and refuses to forgive a small debt himself loses the original forgiveness. The principle is theological, not transactional: a heart that has truly received the Father's forgiveness will reflect it; a heart that refuses to forgive demonstrates it never received what it claimed.
Modern Christianity often makes forgiveness optional — a virtue practiced when convenient. Christ tied it to your own forgiveness. The Lord's Prayer drives the same point home: forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. If you cannot forgive, kneel; pray to receive enough mercy to extend mercy. The Father's ten-thousand-talent generosity should not stall at the fellow-servant's hundred pence.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G863 — aphiemi — to forgive, release
G1156 — daneion — debt
Usage
"Modern Christianity makes forgiveness optional; Christ tied it to your own forgiveness."
"A heart truly forgiven reflects it; a refusal to forgive shows nothing was received."
"The Father's ten-thousand-talent mercy should not stall at the brother's hundred pence."