How Many Times Should You Forgive? What Matthew 18:21-35 Says About Keeping Score

Today on Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reflects on our all‑too‑human habit of “keeping score” in relationships, using a simple hiking story to illuminate Jesus’ powerful parable in Matthew 18:21–35. As he contrasts a servant’s enormous forgiven debt with the petty, unforgiven “10 dollars” owed by another, Dr. Brad unpacks the radical, even “absurd,” nature of God’s grace and challenges us to stop treating forgiveness like a spreadsheet. Along the way, he explores how our forgetfulness of the mercy we’ve received fuels resentment, how community plays a role in calling out injustice, and offers a practical action step to help us release small grudges in light of the immeasurable forgiveness God has already given.Key TakeawaysKeeping score quietly poisons relationships – We often build mental “ledgers” of small slights and inconveniences, even when no real wrong has been done.Grace is intentionally “unfair” in our favor – The massive difference between the two debts in Matthew 18 is designed to show that God’s grace doesn’t balance books; it erases them.We are the unmerciful servant – The parable is less about a cruel villain and more a mirror of us when we receive mercy but refuse to extend it to others.Unforgiveness is usually forgetfulness – We tend to withhold grace not out of calculated cruelty, but because we forget how deeply and freely we’ve already been forgiven.Community is part of God’s accountability system – In the story, it’s the fellow servants who first notice the injustice and bring it to the king, showing how loving community calls out “that’s not okay.”Links referenced in this episode:voiceofgoddaily.comThe "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your lifeApplicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the readingA recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.A prayer for your day.A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)