Parable of the Unforgiving Servant - Bible Lessons for Kids
Teaching kids about forgiveness becomes especially meaningful through the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, a powerful story Jesus told to show the importance of mercy and grace. There are many engaging, age-appropriate ideas that help children understand why God calls us to forgive others just as we have been forgiven, using simple explanations, hands-on activities, and faith-filled conversations that connect biblical truth to everyday life.
WHAT IS A PARABLE?
A parable was a short story that Jesus used to teach people about God. These stories helped people understand what Jesus was saying because He connected them to people’s everyday lives. Parables can also be easier to remember than long speeches.
THE PARABLE OF THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant is found in Matthew 18:21–35. In this parable, Jesus tells about a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed the king ten thousand bags of gold. When the servant said he could not pay the debt, the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and all he had be sold.
The servant begged for mercy, and the king cancelled the debt and let him go. Later, that same servant found a fellow servant who owed him a hundred silver coins. When the man said he could not pay, the servant had him thrown into prison.
When the king heard what had happened, he was very angry. He called the servant back and told him he should have shown mercy, just as the king had shown mercy to him. Then the king had the unforgiving servant thrown into prison. Jesus ends the parable by warning that this is how God will treat those who do not forgive others from the heart.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant - Bible Lessons for Kids
If you’re looking for some print-and-go lessons to teach about the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, be sure to check out our scripted lesson plans, printable crafts, and discussion questions. These lessons are perfect for kids aged 3-8.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
This parable is a response to a question that Peter asked. Peter asked how many times he was expected to forgive a brother when he sins. Jesus responds with a symbolic number: seventy times seven. This phrase was a symbol meaning an unlimited number of times.
In the parable, the King completely wiped out the debt, saying the servant didn't need to pay it. In the same way, God forgives us and washes us clean of all our sins. God calls us to forgive each other in return. Forgiving someone can be hard, but refusing to forgive is wrong. If we refuse to forgive others, we show that we don't truly understand God's forgiveness.
LET GO OF THE HEAVY STUFF - an OBJECT LESSON for kids
Object lessons are powerful because they take abstract ideas and make them concrete for kids. Forgiveness can be a hard concept to explain with words alone, but when children can see and feel something, it clicks. In the “Letting Go of the Heavy Stuff” object lesson, holding a laundry basket weighed down with a heavy object helps kids understand what it’s like to carry anger or a grudge. The physical weight gives language to a feeling many kids already know but may not know how to describe.
As the weight is removed, kids see that forgiveness can bring relief. This lesson connects directly to the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant by showing that forgiveness isn’t just a gift we give to someone else; it’s also a gift for the person doing the forgiving. When we hold on to anger, it weighs us down, but when we forgive, our hearts feel lighter. Because Jesus has forgiven us so much, we are free to let go of the heavy stuff and choose forgiveness too.
For a scripted object lesson, check out The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant for Older Kids.
A FORGIVING HEART CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL
Simple crafts can have a powerful message. In this craft, kids will cut out two hearts and glue them using tabs so they can be opened like a book. One heart reads “I can forgive others,” and the other bears Ephesians 4:32: “Forgive one another, just as in Christ God forgave you” (NIV).
Once the hearts are assembled, the kids can decorate their little books however they would like. The template pieces can be found in The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant for Preschool.
A HEART THAT FORGIVES CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS
Older kids will do a lacing craft to remind them of the main idea from this lesson.
Older kids will enjoy the printable heart craft in The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant for Older Kids, where they use a hole punch along the edges of their heart pieces, then weave yarn in and out of the holes to sew the hearts together and create a pouch.
As kids complete their craft, remind them that Jesus has forgiven us much, and that we can choose to forgive others, too! Forgiveness helps repair relationships and can make our hearts feel lighter.
OTHER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ABOUT THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT
For more ideas about teaching forgiveness, check out Forgiveness Bible Lessons for Kids.
Act it Out: Have kids take turns being the different people in the parable and act it out. Then act out real-life scenarios in which kids might need to show forgiveness. Model how to forgive. For example, saying “It’s OK” after someone apologizes isn’t very effective, because it wasn’t OK that someone wronged them. Instead, say, “I forgive you”.
Forgiveness Chain: Make a paper chain with kids. As you make the chain, talk about things that people do that might require forgiveness. For example, “someone pushed me on the playground”, or “someone took my cookie”. Then use scissors to cut the chain, symbolizing forgiveness for those who wronged us.
Make Erasers: Erasers are a great symbol of forgiveness, so why not make some erasers? Follow the instructions from Babble Dabble Do for how to make erasers using eraser clay.
YouTube videos about the unforgiving servant
YouTube can be a great resource for helping kids visualize a story. But be sure to preview all videos you plan to show to ensure they are age-appropriate and align with your teaching goals. Here are a couple of suggestions:
WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT THE PARABLES OF JESUS?
This lesson is part of a five-week series on the Parables of Jesus. The other lessons include The Parable of the Talents, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, The Parable of the Mustard Seed, and The Parable of the Great Banquet.
And for more parable lessons, from an earlier parable series, check out Parable of Jesus for Older Kids and Parables of Jesus for Preschool.
