What Jesus Did! 'Freed from Debt!' — Matthew 18:23-27

Friday, August 29, 2025

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[Talking about being forgiving, Jesus continued,] "Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn't pay, so his master ordered that he be sold — along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned — to pay the debt.

"But the man fell down before his master and begged him, 'Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.' Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt."

— Matthew 18:23-27 NLT

Key Thought

Have you ever gotten yourself in a hole you couldn't get out of? Most of us have. When we find ourselves in that kind of situation, there is only one solution: grace. We need someone bigger than we are and with more resources than we have to redeem us and ransom us from a situation we don't have the ability to salvage. Like the debtor in this parable, we were hopelessly over our heads and deep in debt. We would never have the resources to repay even a small portion of our spiritual debt, much less the enormous resources needed to pay off the huge debt we owe because of our sin (1 John 1:8). But God, in Jesus, paid it (1John 2:1-2). He forgave us because of his mercy and grace. How can we ever thank him enough?

Today's Prayer

Thanks, dear Father, for your enormous gift of grace that redeemed me and brought me into your family. I will live my life in thanks and praise for your gift. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Romans 5:6-9
  • Ephesians 2:8-10
  • 1 Peter 1:18-19

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 18:23-27 NLT — "Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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