彼得曾问耶稣: 一个人若屡次得罪他,原谅这个人7次是否就算足够了。耶稣说不够,而是70个7次。最后耶稣说你应该从心里饶恕这个人,也就是说你要自始至终原谅他或者说你根本没感觉人家得罪你了,这样才是好的。
耶稣就此打了个比喻,说一个人欠国王1000万两银子,因为还不起,国王就怜悯他,免了他的这个巨债。可是随后这个人因为同伴只欠他10两银子还不起而把人家关进监狱里。国王知道他如此不怜悯同伴后也把这个人掌刑并关进监狱里。
欠1000万两银子的这个人其实就是比喻我们这些彻头彻尾的罪人,罪之大根本不可能靠自己的努力赎还; 国王就是比喻上帝,他怜悯我们所以用他儿子耶稣的宝血免了我们一切的罪,并赐祝福与永生。我们的同伴就是比喻家人,教会弟兄姐妹,同事,邻居,朋友等等。同伴有这样那样的不足,有不同的脾气性格,有懒惰的,有勤劳的,时不时做些我们可能看不惯的事情,各种矛盾不一而论。尽管如此,相比于我们对神的亏欠(我们欠神太多太多),我们的同伴欠我们很少或者根本不欠什么。我们心里若真心承认并感受到神借着耶稣基督对自己的赦免,我们就有了赦免原谅同伴的力量,因此原谅70个7次,又算得了什么呢? 又怎么会感觉到被得罪呢?
太18:21 那时彼得进前来、对耶稣说、主阿、我弟兄得罪我、我当饶恕他几次呢。到七次可以么。
Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?"
太18:22 耶稣说、我对你说、不是到七次、乃是到七十个七次。
Jesus said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
太18:23 天国好象一个王、要和他仆人算帐。
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
太18:24 才算的时候、有人带了一个欠一千万银子的来。
When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
太18:25 因为他没有甚么偿还之物、主人吩咐把他和他妻子儿女、并一切所有的都卖了偿还。
But because he couldn't pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
太18:26 那仆人就俯伏拜他说、主阿、宽容我将来我都要还清。
The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'
太18:27 那仆人的主人、就动了慈心、把他释放了、并且免了他的债。
The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
太18:28 那仆人出来、遇见他的一个同伴、欠他十两银子、便揪着他、掐住他的喉咙、说、你把所欠的还我。
"But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
太18:29 他的同伴就俯伏央求他、说、宽容我吧、将来我必还清。
"So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'
太18:30 他不肯、竟去把他下在监里、等他还了所欠的债。
He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
太18:31 众同伴看见他所作的事、就甚忧愁、去把这事都告诉了主人。
So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
太18:32 于是主人叫了他来、对他说、你这恶奴才、你央求我、我就把你所欠的都免了.
Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
太18:33 你不应当怜恤你的同伴、像我怜恤你么。
Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'
太18:34 主人就大怒、把他交给掌刑的、等他还清了所欠的债。
His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.
太18:35 你们各人、若不从心里饶恕你的弟兄、我天父也要这样待你们了。
So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds."