The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
THE PARABLE OF THE UNF0RGIV-
ING DEBTOR.

SCENE 1.--JEsus illustrates the require
ments of the kingdom of Heaven respecting
the matter of forgiveness, by relating par
able of certain temporal (human) king,
who was making settlement with his min
listers, one of whom was found to be de-
faulter to the amount of ten thousand tai
ents-more than ten million dollars (see
margin of the Revison). The picture is true
to facts in the history of ancient govern
ments. The debt of Julius Cesar was more
than million dollars above his assets; that
of Mark Antony more than two millions; and
Milo more than four millions. The default
ing minister is represented as having been
arrested and brought before his sovereign,
who commanded him and all his family to be
sold into slavery that the proceeds, together
with all his available assets, might be applied
to the satisfaction of the debt. This judg-
ment was in accordance with ancient law In
dealing with insolvent debtors. When he
heard the Judgment, the condemned man
Frustrated himself before his sovereign and
begged for mercy, promising that il an ex-
tension of time were granted he would make
full payment in settlement of his accounts.
The king was moved with compassion by the
appeal of his distressed minister, and not only
released him from arrest, but from his obliga-
ton to pay-"forgave him the loan" (see mar
gin of Revision). The described minister
(servant) may have been the ruler of prov
moe, or collector of revenues, from which
stipulated amount previously agreed upon
was demanded for the royal treasury, and
49,. IaI n lnoY fhar q m
an embezzlement.
Illustrative Note.
It has always been common in the East to
call the court officials the slaves OF the king;
They are as dependent on his arbitrary will
as slave on his master, aud with the servll-
ity which despotism engenders, they often
seem to delight in calling themselves by that
name. In kindred, but not degrading splr-
itual sense, Paul delights to call himself
doulas (slave) of JESUS CHBIsT, and so James,
Peter, Jude. 10 the parable. therefore, the
kings servants" are the great officers of the
government, who received his revenues and
attended to their disbursement. 1t was quite
possible in one of the great Oriental despot-
isms for treasurer, or the satrap or prov
ince, to embezzle as much as twelve millions
of dollars DR.. BrOGdus " The American
Commentary on Matthew"
SCENE 1.-THE royal defanlter, who had
been pardoned by his merciful sovereign is
next represented in his dealings with fell
low-courtier, who is his debtor in the small
sum of hundred shillings. about fifteen dol
lars, and whom he brutally seizes and de-
mands immediate payment. According to
the forms of administering ancient law,
creditor was permitted to seize debtor and
forcibly bring him before magistrate for
judgment. JESUS had before employed this
custom to illustrate a similar subject of his
discourse, contained in the Sermon on the
Mount ". 20; see Lesson, August p, 1881.
The unfortunate debtor humbly pleads foI
time, and promises surely to pay. But hii
brutal creditor will show no mercy, and he
is sentenced to imprisonment till the debi
is paid. 1t frequently occurs that those who
have been the recipients of great favors are
least disposed to favor others. An ancient
method of enforcing the payment of debt was
condemning the debtor to prison till he Oh
his friends should pay. This form of judg-
ment was employed to meet the case of thosG
who, having means, we're disposed to defraud
their creditors. The debtor of the story was
willing to pay, and asked for merciful sus
pension of Judgment, which was refused by
one who, it was probably well known, had sue
cessfully made similar pleai in case involv
ing a vastly greater Indebtedness. The out
rageous proceedings so aroused the sorrowfu
indignation of his fellow-courtiers that the
case was reported to their sovereign.