Now this was something a little harder for me to read...
A certain man had amassed an enormous debt, borrowed from the coffers of the king's treasury. Now I don't know what happened to all that money - maybe he gambled it away frivolously, or maybe it was a dream business venture or two gone down the tubes. Whatever it was, the man and his family were left pretty much living on credit.
The time came that the treasury needed to call in the debt it was owed, maybe to build some new roadways or upgrade the palace, and the man who owed so much money was summoned to arrange payment. With much trepidation, he arrived at the palace, knowing the money was gone and he had no way of repaying his debt. He was called in before the king and his treasurer. He bowed and waited, trembling, for he knew the punishment for those who could not pay their debts.
The final tally read out before them shook him to his core. He sadly shook his head that he could not pay. The king, in response, declared that according to the law of the land, his family and property would be sold to recover some of the debt, and the man himself would remain in debtors prison until the remainder was paid. Of course, that meant he would never be free, for how can you make money from a prison cell?
Heartbroken, he fell prostrate before the king, begging for mercy. He pled for time to repay his debt - that he would return every penny! The king's heart was touched, and even though the debt was huge, so huge he knew the man could never pay it all, he told the treasurer to wipe that slate clean, and the man, shocked at the verdict, walked free from the palace doors.
He should have been grateful beyond measure! He should have wept with joy at the chance of a new start and giddily shared it around! Instead, that brush with doom, or his greed or need for money to feel secure, made him look with harsh judgement on a friend passing by, to whom he had lent a few dollars. Grabbing him by the collar, he demanded his money returned to him! When his friend stammered that he didn't have that money right then, he was marched off to debtors prison in return.
Now it so happened that someone from the palace who had witnessed the king's astonishing pardon, also watched this man's unmerciful treatment of his friend. Shocked, he reported what he'd seen to the king, who was outraged by the misuse of his mercy. He again summoned the man before him - and declared that since that man had shown no mercy to his friend, that judgement would be his also!
Now we know that this story Jesus told (Matt 18:21-35) represents us, and the way God forgives us our huge debts, and how we need to be forgiving also. But therein is the warning. It's repeated in the Lord's Prayer and also in Mark 11:26. Unforgiveness in us means that God can't forgive us! And while that might seem harsh, psychologically we know it is true! We cannot find healing while hanging onto resentment. Only forgiveness allows us to let go and find healing. Forgive. Let go of resentment, and his healing will find you.
