Show Don't Tell: Matthew 18:21-35

Instead of saying "Jesus taught unlimited forgiveness," do the math. Peter thinks he's being generous: "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?" The rabbis said three. Jesus: "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Stop counting. Then the parable: a king settles accounts. One servant owes ten thousand talents—millions of dollars, more than he could earn in thousands of lifetimes. Impossible debt. He begs for time. The king, moved with compassion, cancels the entire debt. Watch that servant leave, find a fellow servant who owes him a hundred denarii—a few months' wages. He grabs him by the throat: "Pay back what you owe me!" Same plea, different response: he throws him into prison. The other servants report this. The king summons the forgiven servant: "You wicked servant. I canceled all that debt because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy?" He hands him over to jailers until he pays everything. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."