This song tells the story of a man forgiven a great debt—yet unwilling to show mercy to another. It’s a cautionary blues about grace received, mercy refused, and the cost of a hardened heart.
Scripture Matthew 18:23–35
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Lyrics
Verse 1
I stood before the master, debt piled high as a wall
Yeah, I stood before the master, debt piled high as a wall
I said, Have mercy on me, sir, I ain’t got a thing at all
Verse 2
He looked down from his table, saw the fear in my eyes
Yes, he looked down from his table, saw the fear in my eyes
He said, I forgive that debt, son, let your burden slide
Verse 3
Walked out free in the sunshine, chains gone from my feet
Yeah, I walked out free in the sunshine, chains gone from my feet
Whole world felt lighter, mercy tasted sweet
Verse 4
But I found my brother later, owed me just a dime
Yeah, I found my brother later, owed me just a dime
I grabbed him by the collar, said, Pay me back this time
Verse 5
He fell down on the ground, said, Please give me some grace
Yes, he fell down on the ground, said, Please give me some grace
But my heart turned colder, mercy left no trace
Verse 6
I threw him in the prison, turned my back and walked away
Yeah, I threw him in the prison, turned my back and walked away
Forgot what I’d been given earlier that day
Verse 7
Word got back to the master, carried on the wind
Yes, word got back to the master, every cruel thing I did
He said, Didn’t I forgive you? Why you hard on him?
Verse 8
He called me back before him, fire in his tone
Yeah, he called me back before him, voice cold as stone
Mercy ain’t mercy, when you keep it for your own
Verse 9
He handed me to the jailer, debt back on my name
Yes, he handed me to the jailer, debt back on my name
Said, You reap what you refuse, mercy ain’t a game
Verse 10
Now I sing this low and lonesome, lesson cut in bone
Yeah, I sing this low and lonesome, lesson cut in bone
If you been forgiven, don’t harden up your soul
Verse 11
The measure that you’re giving, coming back around
Yeah, the measure that you’re giving, coming back around
Mercy or the hammer, choose the sound
Verse 12
So forgive your brother freely, let that old debt die
Yeah, forgive your sister freely, let that old debt die
Or you’ll face the same judgment… when your day comes by
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