Single lesson
The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21–35
Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him. Jesus answers with a parable that helps children see the size of mercy received and the mercy they should show to others.
Before you teach
This passage begins with Peter’s question about repeated forgiveness. Jesus replies, then says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a king settling accounts with his servants. The parable compares a servant who is forgiven a huge debt with his harsh treatment of another servant who owes much less.
Students will explain that Jesus told this parable after Peter’s question about forgiveness, and identify its main teaching: people who receive mercy should forgive others from the heart.
Welcome: Peter’s question about forgiveness
5 minAsk children to listen for the question that starts the whole passage. Read Matthew 18:21-22 aloud. Explain that Peter asks how often he should forgive, even suggesting seven times. Jesus answers with a much bigger number, showing that forgiveness is not meant to be counted in a small, limited way.
Matthew 18:21, Matthew 18:22
Read and explain: A servant is forgiven a huge debt
7 minRead Matthew 18:23-27. Explain that Jesus says this is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. A king settles accounts, and one servant owes an enormous debt. The servant cannot pay, but when he begs for patience, his lord has compassion, releases him, and forgives the debt.
Matthew 18:23, Matthew 18:24, Matthew 18:25, Matthew 18:26, Matthew 18:27
Discuss: The servant refuses mercy to another servant
6 minRead Matthew 18:28-30. Help children notice the strong contrast. The first servant has just been forgiven, yet he grabs a fellow servant who owes him far less. The second servant uses very similar words, asking for patience, but the unforgiving servant refuses and has him put in prison.
Matthew 18:28, Matthew 18:29, Matthew 18:30
Make and respond: Compare the two debts and two responses
8 minChildren make two simple objects showing the two debts or two responses in the parable. As they work, discuss the difference between compassion and refusal. Point out that other servants are deeply upset, and the lord says the forgiven servant should also have shown mercy, just as mercy had been shown to him.
Matthew 18:31, Matthew 18:32, Matthew 18:33
Closing: Jesus states the point of the parable
4 minRead Matthew 18:34-35 carefully. Explain that Jesus ends by applying the parable directly. The issue is not only saying the word forgive, but forgiving a brother from the heart. Review the opening question from Peter and ask children to state the main teaching in one clear sentence.
Matthew 18:34, Matthew 18:35, Matthew 18:21
Questions to explore
What question did Peter ask Jesus before Jesus told the parable?
Look at Peter’s exact words and notice that he asks how often he should forgive a brother who sins against him.
Matthew 18:21
What did the lord do when the first servant begged for patience?
Read carefully to find three actions: the lord was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave the debt.
Matthew 18:26, Matthew 18:27
According to Jesus, what should the first servant have done to his fellow servant?
Use the lord’s own words to answer: he should have had mercy on his fellow servant, just as mercy had been shown to him.
Matthew 18:33, Matthew 18:35
Make, think or respond
Two Debts, Two Hearts
What you’ll need
- paper
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- two small cups or envelopes
- sticky notes or scrap paper
Try it together
- Label one cup or envelope 'ten thousand talents' and the other 'one hundred denarii'.
- Place many bits of paper in the first and only a few in the second to show the contrast in the parable.
- Draw or write two responses on paper: 'forgave the debt' and 'cast him into prison'.
- Ask children to place each response with the matching part of the story and explain why the two responses are so different.
- Finish by having each child say one sentence about what Jesus teaches in Matthew 18:35.
This activity helps children see the large contrast in the parable between the great mercy the first servant received and the mercy he refused to show to someone else.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, shorten the reading into three parts and let them repeat key words such as 'forgave', 'mercy' and 'from your hearts' after you read them.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare the repeated requests in Matthew 18:26 and Matthew 18:29 and explain why that repetition matters in the parable.
An optional closing prayer
'Heavenly Father, please help us remember the mercy shown in this passage and help us forgive others from our hearts. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 18
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29 “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’
34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
