Then He showed the true ground upon which forgiveness is to be granted and the danger of cherishing an unforgiving spirit. In a parable He told of a king's dealing with the officers who administered the affairs of his government. Some of these officers were in receipt of vast sums of money belonging to the state. As the king investigated their administration of this trust, there was brought before him one man whose account showed a debt to his lord for the immense sum of ten thousand talents. He had 244 nothing to pay, and according to the custom, the king ordered him to be sold, with all that he had, that payment might be made. But the terrified man fell at his feet and besought him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Dernæst viste han dem den sande forudsætning for at kunne tildele tilgivelse og faren ved at have et utilgivende sind. I en lignelse fortalte han om, hvorledes en konge behandlede sine tjenere, der varetog hans interesser i regeringen. Nogle af disse tjenere forvaltede store pengesummer der tilhørte staten. Da kongen foretog en opgørelse over det dem betroede gods, førte man en mand frem for ham, hvis regnskab viste en gæld til hans herre på den umådelig store sum af ti tusind talenter. Han havde intet at betale med, og som det var skik og brug, befalede kongen, at han skulle sælges sammen med alt, hvad han ejede, for at gælden kunne blive betalt. Men den forfærdede mand kastede sig ned for ham og bønfaldt ham og sagde: "Hav tålmodighed med mig, så vil jeg betale dig det alt sammen." Da ynkedes den tjeners herre inderligt over ham og lod ham gå og eftergav ham gælden."