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compassion； released him and forgave him the debt。 But that
servant went out； and found one of his fellow…servants which owed
him a hundred pence； and he laid hold on him and took him by the
throat； saying； Pay what thou owest。 So his fellow…servant fell
down and besought him； saying； Have patience with me and I will
pay thee。 And he would not； but went and cast him into prison
till he should pay that which was due。 So when his
fellow…servants saw what was done； they were exceeding sorry； and
came and told unto their lord all that was done。 Then his lord
called him unto him and saith to him； Thou wicked servant； I
forgave thee all that debt because thou besought me； shouldst not
thou also have mercy on thy fellow…servant as I had mercy on
thee？〃
〃And is this all？〃 Nekhludoff suddenly exclaimed aloud； and the
inner voice of the whole of his being said； 〃Yes； it is all。〃 And
it happened to Nekhludoff； as it often happens to men who are
living a spiritual life。 The thought that seemed strange at first
and paradoxical or even to be only a joke； being confirmed more
and more often by life's experience； suddenly appeared as the
simplest； truest certainty。 In this way the idea that the only
certain means of salvation from the terrible evil from which men
were suffering was that they should always acknowledge themselves
to be sinning against God； and therefore unable to punish or
correct others； because they were dear to Him。 It became clear to
him that all the dreadful evil he had been witnessing in prisons
and jails and the quiet self…satisfaction of the perpetrators of
this evil were the consequences of men trying to do what was
impossible； trying to correct evil while being evil themselves；
vicious men were trying to correct other vicious men； and thought
they could do it by using mechanical means； and the only
consequence of all this was that the needs and the cupidity of
some men induced them to take up this so…called punishment and
correction as a profession； and have themselves become utterly
corrupt； and go on unceasingly depraving those whom they torment。
Now he saw clearly what all the terrors he had seen came from；
and what ought to be done to put a stop to them。 The answer he
could not find was the same that Christ gave to Peter。 It was
that we should forgive always an infinite number of times because
there are no men who have not sinned themselves； and therefore
none can punish or correct others。
〃But surely it cannot he so simple；〃 thought Nekhludoff； and yet
he saw with certainty； strange as it had seemed at first； that it
was not only a theoretical but also a practical solution of the
question。 The usual objection； 〃What is one to do with the evil
doers？ Surely not let them go unpunished？〃 no longer confused
him。 This objection might have a meaning if it were proved that
punishment lessened crime； or improved the criminal； but when the
contrary was proved； and it was evident that it was not in
people's power to correct each other； the only reasonable thing
to do is to leave off doing the things which are not only
useless； but harmful； immoral and cruel。
For many centuries people who were considered criminals have been
tortured。 Well； and have they ceased to exist？ No； their numbers
have been increased not alone by the criminals corrupted by
punishment but also by those lawful criminals； the judges；
procureurs； magistrates and jailers； who judge and punish men。
Nekhludoff now understood that society and order in general
exists not because of these lawful criminals who judge and punish
others； but because in spite of men being thus depraved； they
still pity and love one another。
In hopes of finding a confirmation of this thought in the Gospel；
Nekhludoff began reading it from the beginning。 When he had read
the Sermon on the Mount； which had always touched him； he saw in
it for the first time to…day not beautiful abstract thoughts；
setting forth for the most part exaggerated and impossible
demands； but simple； clear； practical laws。 If these laws were
carried out in practice （and this was quite possible） they would
establish perfectly new and surprising conditions of social life；
in which the violence that filled Nekhludoff with such
indignation would cease of itself。 Not only this； but the
greatest blessing that is obtainable to men； the Kingdom of
Heaven on Earth would he established。 There were five of these
laws。
The first （Matt。 v。 21…26）； that man should not only do no
murder； but not even be angry with his brother； should not
consider any one worthless： 〃Raca；〃 and if he has quarrelled with
any one he should make it up with him before bringing his gift to
Godi。e。； before praying。
The second （Matt。 v。 27…32）； that man should not only not commit
adultery but should not even seek for enjoyment in a woman's
beauty； and if he has once come together with a woman he should
never be faithless to her。
The third （Matt。 33…37）； that man should never bind himself by
oath。
The fourth （Matt。 38…42）； that man should not only not demand an
eye for an eye； but when struck on one cheek should hold out the
other； should forgive an offence and bear it humbly； and never
refuse the service others demand of him。
The fifth （Matt。 43…48）； that man should not only not hate his
enemy and not fight him； but love him； help him； serve him。
Nekhludoff sat staring at the lamp and his heart stood still。
Recalling the monstrous confusion of the life we lead； he
distinctly saw what that life could be if men were brought up to
obey these rules； and rapture such as he had long not felt filled
his soul； just as if after long days of weariness and suffering
he had suddenly found ease and freedom。
He did not sleep all night； and as it happens to many and many a
man who reads the Gospels he understood for the first time the
full meaning of the words read so often before but passed by
unnoticed。 He imbibed all these necessary； important and joyful
revelations as a sponge imbibes water。 And all he read seemed so
familiar and seemed to confirm； to form into a conception； what
he had known long ago； but had never realised and never quite
believed。 Now he realised and believed it； and not only realised
and believed that if men would obey these laws they would obtain
the highest blessing they can attain to； he also realised and
believed that the only duty of every man is to fulfil these laws；
that in this lies the only reasonable meaning of life； that every
stepping aside from these laws is a mistake which is immediately
followed by retribution。 This flowed from the whole of the
teaching； and was most strongly and clearly illustrated in the
parable of the vineyard。
The husbandman imagined that the vineyard in which they were sent
to work for their master was their own； that all that was in was
made for them； and that their business was to enjoy life in this
vineyard； forgetting the Master and killing all those who
reminded them of his existence。 〃Are we do not doing the same；〃
Nekhludoff thought； 〃when we imagine ourselves to be masters of
our lives； and that life is given us for enjoyment？ This
evidently is an incongruity