Peter once asked Jesus: How often shall I forgive my brother that sins
against me? Are seven times enough? Jesus answered: Not seven times, but
seventy times seven. And He told the following parable: A king would
make reckoning with his servants, and there came one that owed him ten
thousand talents.[5] But as he had not wherewith to pay, the king
commanded that he and his wife and children and all that he had should
be sold, and payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him
and said: Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And his
lord, being moved with compassion, forgave him the debt. But that
servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants that owed him a
hundred shillings,[6] and he laid hold on him and took him by the
throat, saying: Pay me what thou owest! So his fellow-servant fell down
and besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
And he would not, but went and cast him into prison. So when his
fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came
and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him and
said: Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou
besoughtest me; shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy
fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? And his lord cast him into
prison, till he should pay all that was due. So shall also my heavenly
Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your
hearts. (Matt. 18:21-35.)
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Footnote 5: A talent is about one thousand dollars.
Footnote 6: About fifteen dollars.
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