The Life of Christ
10,000 talents according to Roman calculation equal approximately 3 million American dollars today.
• According to Jewish calculation the amount comes closer to 10 million American dollars.
• If these are gold talents instead of silver, the value jumps to approximately 150 million American dollars.
• This striking amount illustrates our debt of sin before God prior to salvation.
• It is a debt so high we could never pay it off, no matter how long we worked.
Mt. 18:25-27 “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26 The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.”
It is only out of divine compassion that we are forgiven such an enormous debt of sin.
• Compassion was released only after the man demonstrated his sincere repentance by falling down and prostrating himself.
Mt. 18:28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’”
A denarius equaled about one day’s wage; in this case the debt equaled approximately three month’s salary — a significant amount, but within reach to repay.
• One hundred denarii would be considered 1/6000 of the debt owed by the first servant.
• This much smaller debt represents the offense we carry toward a fellow believer who has in some way offended us.
• By demanding immediate payment can put that other person in an impossible position; they cannot necessarily come up with this amount of money in such a short amount of time.
• The physical abuse was completely inappropriate.
Mt. 18:29 “So, his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’”
This second servant cries out for mercy, uttering the identical words spoken by the first servant.
• “Give me some more time and I will pay you back!”
Mt. 18:30 “He was unwilling, however, but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.”
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