Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/599

 not wherewith  to  pay  it,  his  lord  commanded  that  he  should  be sold,  and  his  wife  and  children  and  all  that  he  had,  and  payment to be  made.”

But that  servant,  falling  down,  besought  him,  saying:  “Have patience with  me,  and  I will  pay  thee  all.”  Now  the  lord  of that  servant,  being  moved  with  compassion,  let  him  go,  and  forgave him  the  debt.

But when  that  servant  was  gone  out,  he  found  one  of  his fellow-servants that  owed  him  a hundred  pence,  and  laying  hold of him  he  throttled  him,  saying:  “Pay  what  thou  owest!”

Then his  fellow-servant,  falling  down,  besought  him,  saying: “Have patience  with  me,  and  I will  pay  thee  all.”  Yet  he  would not; but  went  and  cast  him  into  prison  till  he  should  pay  the  debt. Now his  fellow-servants,  seeing  what  was  done,  were  very  much grieved ; and  they  came  and  told  their  lord  all  that  was  done.

Then his  lord  called  him  and  said  to  him:  “Thou  wicked servant, I forgave  thee  all  the  debt,  because  thou  besoughtest  me. Shouldst not  thou,  then,  have  had  compassion  on  thy  fellow-servant, even as  I had  compassion  on  thee?”  And  his  lord,  being  angry, delivered him  to  the  torturers  until  he  should  pay  all  the  debt. So also shall  My  heavenly  Father  do  to  you,  if  you  forgive  not everyone his  brother  from  your  hearts.

The authority  of  the  apostles.  Our  Lord  gave  the  power  of  binding and loosing  to  the  other  apostles  also;  but  as  He  had  already  made Peter the  foundation-rock  of  the  Church  and  the  key-bearer  of  the kingdom of  heaven,  it  is  clear  that  the  other  apostles  (and  their  suc-