T.

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which
would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon,
one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But
forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be
made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord
of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and
forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one
of his fellow-servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid
hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou
owest. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought
him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he
would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the
debt. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very
sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his
lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant,
even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered
him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from
your hearts forgive not every one his brother their
trespasses."--MATT. xviii. 23-35.

This parable, and that of the Good Samaritan, as has been justly
suggested by Fred. Arndt, although historically separate, are logically
related, like two branches that spring from one stem: together they
express a Christian's duty to his brother in respect of injuries. When a
brother inflicts an injury on you, forgive him; when a brother suffers
an injury from another, help him. Forgiving love is taught in this
parable; helpful love in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The immediate occasion of this parable is obviously Peter's question,
"How oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?" but how
Peter's question springs from the preceding context does not so readily
appear. The Natural History of the process in that apostle's mind was
probably something of this sort: The