Matthew 18:24–35

When the God of all forgives us the hard faults — shown by the many talents — if we ourselves do not remit to fellow-servants the hundred denarii, that is, the few worldly slips, then from the hatred of evil in them the angels set over us, who share the same yoke of mastery with us, make accusation before God — not as informing one who does not know (for he knows all as God), but rather, as is fitting, asking that those who choose to despise and dishonor the laws of mutual love be usefully disciplined.

And if we suffer the repayment for these things, either we are disciplined in the present life, as if handed over to torturers by trials and illnesses, or at least we are punished in the age to come. That God disciplines convertibly, transforming the disobedient and hard to lead toward what is better, is easy to see; for divine scripture is full of such things — as in the wise saying, “Whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son he accepts,” and again, “Endure for discipline,” and what follows.