“To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and discover that the prisoner was you.”—Lewis B. Smedes

I was tasked recently to prepare a Bible study for youth about forgiveness. Immediately, I thought about the the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:21-35. But having to prepare a Bible study about it, forced me to look at it in a different way.

I started giving it a fresh look. Read through it various of times. I studied the context and the illustrations that it shows. I prayed about it. And the more I prayed, the more I discovered.

When I thought I was done with the study, I didn’t submit it. I was doubting if I was really completed with the study. Then the next morning, on my way to work, the song “Forgiveness” from Matthew West started playing in the radio. I don’t believe this was a coincidence. I needed to remind my youth group about this song and the whole message behind it. But before continuing, let’s look at the parable in Matthew 18:21-35: