The Parable of the Forgiving King Bible Lesson for Children
This is a Bible lesson about Jesus’ parable of the forgiving king. It is one of several lessons covering some of the parables of Jesus. The others are listed on this parable lessons summary page. This lesson on the parable of the forgiving king can help kids understand that we should be willing to forgive others because God has forgiven us. This parable is really about the unforgiving servant as much as the forgiving king.
Lesson Title: The Parable of the Forgiving King
Bible Text: Matthew 18:21-35
Learning Objective: To help the children understand that those who have experienced the forgiveness of God should demonstrate that same forgiveness to others.
The Lead
Choose a free, printable activity from the list of related Bible activities on the parable of the forgiving king that will be good to open the lesson. As children complete the activity, explain that today’s lesson is one of many parables or stories that Jesus told and is about forgiving other people. Use the chosen activity to introduce the parable.
Read the story from the Bible or invite a child to read the story aloud. Depending on the age and maturity of your kids, you may want simply to tell the story in your own words.
The Lesson
Select an appropriate number of printable activities from the list of related Bible activities on the parable of the forgiving king and use them to engage your kids in the story. As they work on the activities, emphasize the following truths:
- Our sin toward God is greater than we could ever hope to pay for.
- God offers His forgiveness to all who will receive it through faith in Jesus Christ.
- We should be willing to forgive those who have hurt us just as God has forgiven us.
- Jesus’ told the parable of the lost sheep in response to Peter’s question about the number of times we should be willing to forgive someone (v. 21). Jesus said “70 times seven” to represent an unlimited number of times. That is, we are to be prepared to forgive endlessly, just as God has forgiven us for a debt of sin we can never repay. (This concept may be more appropriate for older kids, but it’s important to keep in mind for all children.)
The Landing
Help the children understand that while it’s easy to be angry or hold a grudge when someone hurts us, God wants us to forgive just as He has forgiven us for the ways we have hurt Him.
