The Unmerciful Servant

The plain reading of the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant leaves one with a simple cautionary tale reminding the reader to offer forgiveness or suffer the consequences. But how does such a story fit after Jesus told Peter to forgive 77 or 490 times, when the king cannot forgive even twice? And how are we to define God's forgiveness when it appears to be dependent on our own forgiving behavior? Isn't grace literally understood as unmerited favor? Could it be that Matthew wrote with his own context in mind which was different than Jesus' original context?

This was a parable to help Jesus' hearers come to grips with the way the power systems worked in the advanced agrarian culture of the first century C.E. Further, it was meant to challenge the acceptance of that system as one worth valuing and pursuing - one which Jesus' peers hoped to emulate at the apocalypse.

The parable is as relevant now as then, as many Christians envision a future where the second coming of Christ comes not as a nonviolent, peace-loving hippie, but rather an armed-to-the-teeth warlord ready to wipe out everyone who hasn't expressed allegiance. Does that really jibe with Jesus? Jesus would say no. His earliest followers would agree. They influenced the world not through force but with persuasion.

The parables were meant to provoke change, to mess with people. How does it mess with you?