Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

1) Who is the story about? Who is the main character? The King or the high level servant? Why? 2) Why does the King decide to forgive the debt? 3) Why does the servant not follow the example of the king and forgive the debt? 4) If the Kingdom of God is like this parable, then what do we learn about the Kingdom of God?

1. The story is about a servant who has a very large debt, practically millioins of dollars in today's terms, to his ruling king. The main character in the story is the servant who was to pay back his debt to his king because the story revolves around the servants reception of compassion and then his choice to not return the favor given him by his king. The king is a very vital part however, because his example of love and compassion is the main ideal set for the parable.

2. The King decides to forgive the debt because of two reasons. The first is that the King took pity on his poor servant and his economic situtaion. He felt moved by the servant's heart's desire to save his family from a life of slavery because of his own faults. Another perspective is that the King, who was indeed a King, didn't have any true rush to gather the debts because after all his was a king, so he most likely had more dough than a bakery. But, for religious sake, he took great pity on his "humble" servant.

3. The servant does not follow the example of the king and forgive the debt because the servant is not affraid of his fellow servant like he is of the king. He sees that other servant as no better then him and not deserving of his compassion. Its all about social stature. It's like a student kissing a teachers rear for an extension, then punching a classmate who doesn't have the assignmen on him. There's no level of respect.

4. We learn that the Kingdom of God is an ideal of equality;that no one man is greater then any other man. It's like a chain-effect, to truly understand and be a part of the Kingdom of God you have to continue the flow of love and compassion to others. It is not enough to just receive. To be apart of the Kingdom of God, you must do unto others and you wish others to do unto you. (The Golden Rule)!!