God’s Grace is the Model for Forgiveness
Excerpt
Selling the man into slavery would recover virtually none of the loss, though it might abate some of the king’s anger: the most expensive slave recorded would sell for only a talent, the average being one-twentieth to one-fifth of that (Jeremias 1972:211). Jewish custom prohibited the sale of women and children, but Jesus’ hearers recognized that a pagan king wouldn’t care about such just technicalities (compare m. Soá¹a 3:8; t. Soá¹a 2:9; Jeremias 1972:180, 211; Derrett 1970:38; Via 1967:138–39). In all, the king was bound to lose at least 9,999 talents (as much as 99,990,000 days’ wages, or roughly 275,000 years’ wages for an average worker) despite the sale. Perhaps this was one reason the king canceled the debt at the pitiable sight of the fool offering to pay it all back.*More
Keener, Craig S. Matthew. Vol. 1. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997. Print. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series.
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