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Matthew 18:21-35
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
  • Comparative primary texts about Sin and Justice from Mishna and Babylonian Talmud. At Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus, Rutgers University.
  • Vision II.2, Similitude IX.23, Shepherd of Hermas. (c.145)
  • Chapter VIII, On Prayer,  Tertullian (c. 199)
  • I.1, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XII, On Patience, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • Chapter XXI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • Epistle XXX (from the Roman Clergy to Cyprian) -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 250)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Homily LXI - Matthew 18:21, Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c. 380)
  • From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
  • "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant," Matthew 18:21-35, Martin Luther, c. 1522.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "They will find God severe and not too pleased, who do not forgive their brethren even if they have been purposely and grievously injured by them."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary
    • "How justly will those be condemned, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren!"
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Till seventy times seven - That is, as often as there is occasion. A certain number is put for an uncertain."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...till seven times?--This being the sacred and complete number, perhaps his meaning was, Is there to be a limit at which the needful forbearance will be full?"
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Observe Christ says, "My heavenly Father," not your. God will not be their heavenly Father unless they emulate his spirit of mercy, and are as ready to forgive others their trespasses as he is to forgive their own."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Matthew 18:21-35, Stanley Saunders, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2017.
    • "What might the practice of limitless forgiveness look like in a modern capitalist economy? Is it even possible?"
  • "Forgiveness 101," Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2017.
    • "Of course, Jesus’ response to Peter’s question doesn’t really provide an answer but rather points out the misdirection of the question itself."
  • "Ridiculous Forgiveness and Reasonable Evil," D Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2017.
    • "I expect that we are not ready to accept either, a) That our debt that God has forgiven was really all that hefty to begin with; or b) that the debt we refuse to forgive someone else is really all that light."
  • "The Reckoning," Liturgy for Peace, Michael Anthony Howard, 2017.
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2017.
  • Living by the Word, Chris Dorsey, The Christian Century, 2017.
    • "The failure to forgive disrupts, distorsts, and degrades community."
  • A Provocation, Richard Swanson, provokingthegospel, 2017.
    • "Forgiveness may indeed set them free, but not if it comes as a demand that perpetuates the abuse."
  • "The Story We Can't Believe," Andrew Prior, One Man's Web, 2017.
  • "It Ain't About Math!" Joe T. Mitchell, Modern Metanoia, 2017.
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2017.
  • "Forgiving 'Seventy-Seven' Times," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2017.
    • "How do these words of Jesus preach in your context where people may have had ‘forgiveness’ held over their heads as a weapon?"
  • "Never Judge, Always Forgive," Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus, 2017.
  • Exegesis, Terrance Callan, Mount St Mary's Seminary, 2017.
  • "Mercy in the Air," Glenn Monson, Law & Gospel Everywhere, 2017.
  • Commentary, Matthew 18:21-35 | Lisa Michaels | A Plain Account, 2017
    • "There is nothing about this passage that suggests the master forgives the debt and then offers the offensive servant unlimited access to his resources! There is nothing that suggests forgiveness is equal to allowing for perpetual cycles of abuse."
  • Evangelio Comentario del San Mateo 18:21-35 por David Cortes-Fuentes, Working Preacher, 2017.
  • "Forgive from the Heart," Commented Bible Passages from Taize, 2009.
  • Commentary, Matthew 18:21-35, Eric Barreto, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "Confrontation without forgiveness does not reflect the good news, and neither can forgiveness that eschews the confrontations that made forgiveness necessary in the first place speak truthfully about reconciliation and healing."
  • A Generous Forgiveness, Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2014.
    • "If we are unable to enter the spaces and places where we can sense the gravity of forgiveness, then we will not be preaching the theological weight of this passage from Matthew."
  • "Forgiveness and Freedom," David Lose, ...in the Meantime, 2014.
    • "...the reality this parable bespeaks is not easy. At the same time, it is so incredibly central, even essential, to our life in this world and in God's kingdom."
  • Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2014.
  • "Seventy Times Seven," The Moonshine Jesus Show Lectionarycast, Mark Sandlin and David Henson, 2014.
  • "Forgiving as We Have Been Forgiven," Alan Brehm, The Waking Dreamer.
    • "When we can look at those who inflict pain on us and see brothers and sisters, practicing what Desmond Tutu calls 'Ubuntu,' then we can begin to forgive as we have been forgiven."
  • "The Hardest Blessing," Jan Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook, 2014.
  • "Pesistent Forgiveness," Faith Element, 2014.
  • "The Weasel," Rick Morley, 2014.
  • "Forgiveness and Its Expectations," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2014.
    • "Forgiveness, it seems clear enough, is the life blood of the community. Without the community cannot exist."
  • "If You Do Not Forgive," Christopher Burkett, PreacherRhetorica, 2014.
  • "Accept One Another: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant," Dan Clendenin, Journey with Jesus, 2014.
    • "Jesus linked receiving forgiveness with offering forgiveness in a sort of law of reciprocity. "
  • "Forgiving," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2014.
    • "Forgiving, then, is separate from loving the other, separate from liking, separate from restoring trust in relationship, and certainly separate from forgetting."
  • The best film to consult for Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness and his absurdist parable is Martin Doblmeier’s PBS documentary The Power of Forgiveness , which has enough illustrative material for six months of sermons. Ed McNulty, Visual Parables.
  • "Peter," Frederick Buechner, Buechner Blog.
    • "From fisher of fish to fisher of people to keeper of the keys to shepherd. It was the Rock's final promotion, and from that day forward he never let the head office down again."
  • Comentario del San Mateo 18:21-35, Daniel Salazar, Working Preacher, 2014.
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, Matthew 18:21-35, Karl Jacobson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "Forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew is not only relational it is reciprocal and reliant."
  • "Confessions of an inconsistent peacenik," Fr. Rick Morley, a garden path, 2011.
  • Holy Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours, Matthew 18:21-35, David Ewart, 2011.
    • "Jesus is calling us to give up calculating offenses and forgivenesses; and instead to have a forgiving heart; a forgiven heart; a heart for forgiveness. This is a shift of ATTITUDE. But it is not an "anything goes" attitude. Forgiveness actually stands FOR some things; and therefore, does NOT stand for everything."
  • Discussion about Forgiveness, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2011.
  • "Radical Forgiveness and 9/11: Reflections on Matthew 18:21-35," Alyce McKenzie, Edgy Exegesis, Patheos, 2011.
    • "It seems like an uncanny coincidence that this parable about radical forgiveness is the lectionary text for September 11. We might prefer an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
  • "Kinda Dark in There," Nadia Bolz-Weber, The Hardest Question, 2011.
    • "From where will we attain this forgiveness for those who have caused us harm?"
  • Comentaio del Evangelio por Osvaldo Vena, San Mateo 18:21-35, Working Preacher, 2011.
  • Sharing God's Unlimited Forgiveness With Others, Exegesis by Richard Gribble, SermonStudio.
  • Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
    • "Does repentance need to precede forgiveness?"
  • First Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 14, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
  • "The reduction of the gospel to forgiveness of sins misses the point of the gospel which is about making people whole."
  • Commentary, Matthew 18:21-35, Clayton Schmit, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Forgiveness: Seven Times Seventy," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
    • "This teaching directly reverses the revenge of Lamech in the Old Testament who wanted revenge seventy times seven."
  • Matthew in the Margins, by Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia.
  • "Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Matthew 18:21-35," Transformed for Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost, James L. Boyce, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1993.
  • "Matthew 18:21-35, Pentecost 17," Perspectives on the Parables -- Glimpses on the Kingdom of God, Robert H. Albers, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1984.
  • "Power and Forgiveness in Matthew 18," Elaine Ramshaw, Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry, Volume XVIII, Number 4, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1998.
    • "A piecemeal and acontextual use of the texts on forgiveness and reconciliation in Matthew 18 can lead to the exclusion of some and the abuse of others. The chapter as a whole envisions a better way."
  • "Violent Parables and the Nonviolent Jesus," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Parables," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2006. (Matthew 14)
  • "Continual Forgiveness," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
    • "Is there someone in your life who is difficult to forgive?"
  • Wellspring of the Gospel, Ordinary 24A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner, Weekly Wellsprings.
  • "A 'Political' Interpretation of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35)," Roberta C. Allen.
    • "The huge variation in the sums involved may have been intended to illustrate the unbreachable gulf between 'sin' and human 'debt or crime'. Speech about God or his 'kingdom' is metaphorical and while use of human terms may help to explain our understanding the analogies always necessarily fall short."
  • "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant," wikipedia.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Albers, Robert H., "Perspectives on the Parables -- Glimpses of the Kingdom of God," Word & World, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Binau, Brad A., "'Holding On' and 'Letting Go': the Dynamics of Forgiveness," Word & World, 2007. (See Word & World 27.1 Forgiveness)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Boyce, James L., "Transformed for Disciple Community: Matthew in Pentecost," Word & World, 1993. (Section on this text begins on page 314.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bridges, Linda McKinnish, "Preaching the Parables in Matthew's Gospel in Ordinary Time: The Extraordinary Tales of God's World," Review & Expositor, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p.346, but is best read in context of entire article.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Carter, Warren, "Resisting and Imitating the Empire: Imperial Paradigms in Two Matthean Parables," Interpretation, 2002. (See also, "Parables," issue focus of Interpretation 56.3 (2002).)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • deBoer, Martinus C., "Ten Thousand Talents? Matthew's Interpretation and Redaction of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matt 18:23-35)," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1988.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Grindal, Gracia, "New Math," The Christian Century, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gustafson, Roger R., "Covenants Strained and Strengthened," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hock, Ronald F., "Romancing the Parables of Jesus," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • "Homiletical Helps on LSB Series A," Concordia Journal, 2005. (Section on this text begins on page 236)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerial
  • Hylen, Susan E. "Forgiveness and Life in Community," Interpretation, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Jones, Susan Pendelton, "Forgiven and Forgiving," The Christian Century, 1999.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kasdorf, Julia Spicher, "To Pasture, 'Amish Forgiveness,' Silence and the West Nickel Mines School Shooting," Cross Currents, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lee, In-Yong, "Jesus Math," The Christian Century, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • McClister, David, "'Where Two or Three Are Gathered Together,': Literary Structure as a Key to Meaning in Matt 17:22-20:19," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Reid, Barbara E., O.P., "Violent Endings in Matthew's Parables and Christian Nonviolence," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Scott, Bernard Brandon, "The King's Accounting: Matthew 18:23-34," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Senior, Donald, C.P., "Matthew 18:21-35, Expository Article," Interpretation, 1987.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Stortz, Martha E., "The Practice of Forgiveness: Disciples as Forgiven Forgivers," Word & World, 2007. (See Word & World 27.1 Forgiveness)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Willimon, William H., "'Our Kind of Crowd,'" Journal for Preachers, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Forgiving a Zillion Times," by Carla Pratt Keyes.  A Sermon for Every Sunday.  Video sermons from America’s best preachers for every Sunday of the Liturgical Year.
  • "Forgiving from your heart," the Rev. Dr. Alexander Evans, Day 1, 2014.
  • "An Exhortation to Forgiveness," Dr. Courtney Cowart, Day 1, 2011.
  • It Doesn't Pay, Richard E. Zajac, SermonStudio.
  • "Forgiveness: Seven Times Seventy" (trialogue sermon), "Forgiveness Is for Heroes," "Pockets of Poison: The Need for Forgiveness," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "Letting the Ending Surprise You," 17 Pentecost - 11 September 2005, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
  • "The Freeing of Forgiveness," the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Zanicky, Day 1, 2001.
  • "The Justice of Forgiveness," the Rev. Dr. Kathlyn James, Day 1, 1997.
  • "Unforgiven," the Rev. Alex Joiner, Day 1, 1996.
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2014. 2011.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," September 14, 2014, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Exodus 14:19-31 and The Longest Night: A Passover Story by Laurel Snyder, Romans 14:1-12 and A Child Is a Child by Brigitte Weninger, Matthew 18:21-35 andRabbit and Squirrel: A Tale of War and Peas by Kara LaReau. 2011.
  • "Over and Over Again," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
• Drama:
  • "Seventy Times Seven," from A Certain Jesus by Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications.
  • "Forgiveness," Janelle S. Ponte, dramatix.
  • "Phar-A-Non," Glenn A. Hascall, dramatix.
  • "Parable of the Merciless Teacher," Greg Brook, dramatix.
  • "Mowing Down Cats!" Michelle Pitman, dramatix.
  • "The Case of the Missing Case," Paul Clark, dramatix.
  • "Forgiveness - Dwarf Style," Dean Herring, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Matthew 18:22, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
  • Clip Art Images: Matthew 18:21-35, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
  • Matthew 18:21-35, Matthew 18:21-35, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
  • Matthew 18:21-35, Scripture Pics - graphics relating to RCL texts, Matt Baker, Germantown UMC, Ohio.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Matthew 18:21. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Forgiveness/Reconciliation
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew

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