Church History: There are things in the parable that we must consider:
The Servant's Unreasonable Severity Toward His Fellow-Servant, Notwithstanding His Lord's Clemency Toward Him: (Matthew 18:28-30).
This represents the sin of those who, though they are not unjust in demanding that which is not their own, yet are rigorous and unmerciful in demanding that which is their own, to the utmost of right, which sometimes proves a real wrong. Push a claim to an extremity, and it becomes a wrong. To exact satisfaction for debts of injury, which tends neither to reparation nor to the public good, but purely for revenge, though the law may allow it. To sue for money-debts, when the debtor cannot possibly pay them, and so let him perish in prison, argues a greater love of money, and a less love of our neighbor, than we ought to have, (Nehemiah 5:7).
Several observations are made here;
How small the debt was, how very small, compared with the ten thousand talents which his lord forgave him; He owed him a hundred pence, about three pounds and half a crown of our money. Offences done to men are nothing to those which are committed against God. Dishonors done to a man like ourselves are but as peace, motes, gnats; but dishonors done to God are as talents, beams, camels. Not that therefore we may make light of wronging our neighbor, for that is also a sin against God; but therefore we should make light of our neighbor's wronging us, and not aggravate it, or exact revenge. David was unconcerned as the indignities done to him; I, as a deaf man, heard not; but laid much to heart the sins committed against God; for them, rivers of tears ran down his eyes.
How severe the demand was; He laid hands on him, and took him by the throat. Proud and angry men think, if the matter of their demand be just, that will bear them out, though the manner of it is ever so cruel and unmerciful; but it will not hold. What need was there for violence? The debt might have been demanded without taking the debtor by the throat; without sending for a writ, or setting the bailiff upon him. If he himself had gone to prison for his debt to his lord, he might have had some pretence for going to this extremity in requiring his own demand; but frequently pride and malice prevail more to make men severe than the most urgent need would do.
How submissive the debtor was; His fellow servant, though his equal, knowing how indebted he was, fell down at his feet, and humbled himself to him for this trifling debt, like this creditor did to his lord for a much greater debt; for the borrower is servant to the lender, (Proverbs 22:7). Those who cannot pay their debts ought to be very respectful to their creditors, business like and honest: they must not be angry at those who make a claim for the debt, or speak ill of them for it, even though they do it in a rigorous manner, but in that case leave it to God to plead their cause. The poor man's request is, Have patience with me; he honestly confesses the debt, and doesn’t put his creditor in a position of having to prove it. He only asks for more time. Forbearance, though it is no acquittance, is sometimes a piece of needful and laudable charity. As we must not be hard, so we must not be hasty, in our demands. Just think about how long God bears with us.
How implacable and furious the creditor was (Matthew 18:30); He would not have patience with him, would not hearken to his fair promise, but without mercy cast him into prison. How disrespectful he was to someone, not unlike himself, who has submitted to him! How cruelly did he use one that had done him no harm, and though it would be no advantage to himself! In this, as in a glass, unmerciful creditors may see their own faces, who take pleasure in nothing more than to swallow up and destroy (2Samuel 20:19), and glory in having their poor debtors' bones.
How concerned the rest of the servants were; They were very sorry (Matthew 18:31), sorry for the creditor's cruelty, and for the debtor's calamity. The sins and sufferings of our fellow-servants should be a matter of grief and trouble to us. It is sad that any of our brethren should either make themselves beast of prey, by cruelty and barbarity; or be made beasts of slavery, by the inhuman usage of those who have power over them. To see a fellow-servant, either raging like a bear or trampled on like a worm, cannot but occasion great regret to all that have any jealousy for the honor either of their nature of their religion. See with what eye Solomon looked both upon the tears of the oppressed, and the power of the oppressors, (Ecclesiastes 4:1).
How notice of it was brought to the master; They came, and told their lord. They durst not reprove their fellow-servant for it, he was so unreasonable and outrageous (let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than such a fool in his folly); but they went to their lord, and besought him to appear for the oppressed against the oppressor. Note, That which gives us occasion for sorrow, should give us occasion for prayer. Let our complaints both of the wickedness of the wicked and of the afflictions of the afflicted, be brought to God, and left with him.
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