The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Explained

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Explained

October 27, 2026 · 31 min

Why is it so much easier to receive forgiveness than to give it? Jesus told a parable about a servant who was forgiven an impossible debt and then refused to forgive someone who owed him far less.We walk through Matthew 18 and what Jesus meant by "seventy times seven," and why Old Testament debt laws and a first-century loophole matter. Then we look at how God paid our sin debt in full, and what that means for the way we forgive others.0:00 Why Forgiveness Starts With Your Debt4:15 The Servant Who Wouldn't Forgive8:27 Seventy Times Seven Was a Hidden Hint12:37 The Loophole That Trapped Families in Debt17:37 Debt or Trespasses? The Lord's Prayer22:50 Only God Can Forgive: The Debt Paid in Full Support the showDr. Shah writes a personal letter every week — reflections on Scripture, faith, and living it out with clarity and purpose. GET THE LETTER If you enjoyed the show, please like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, and also subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is an excellent way to stay connected to the Clearview team and ensure you don't miss a thing.PRE-ORDER BYZANTINE TEXTFORM: https://subsplash.com/u/-MPJ586/forms/d/1090d08a-49c0-498a-ad97-5c0fd575fa9eSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:MIGHTY MUSCADINE SUPPLEMENTSLEBLEU ULTRA-PURE WATERKEEP YOUR KIDS PROTECTED ONLINE--->> DR SHAH'S BOOKS>> SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE>> CHECK OUT ALL OUR SHOWS

Dr. Abidan Shah78.4K followers

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Dr. Abidan Shah is a New Testament text critic, author, professor, and pastor of Clearview Church in North Carolina. His desire is to make biblical scholarship accessible and applicable to all people.