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He grabbed him and began to choke him. &#8216Pay back what you owe me!&#8217 he demanded. <a href="/nlt/matthew/18.htm">New Living Translation</a> “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. <a href="/esv/matthew/18.htm">English Standard Version</a> But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ <a href="/bsb/matthew/18.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ <a href="/blb/matthew/18.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But the same servant having gone out, found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii, and having seized him, he was throttling him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' <a href="/kjv/matthew/18.htm">King James Bible</a> But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/18.htm">New King James Version</a> “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ <a href="/nasb_/matthew/18.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ <a href="/nasb/matthew/18.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, &#8216Pay back what you owe.&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/matthew/18.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ <a href="/lsb/matthew/18.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ <a href="/amp/matthew/18.htm">Amplified Bible</a> But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’ <a href="/csb/matthew/18.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe! ’ <a href="/hcsb/matthew/18.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, Pay what you owe!&#8217 <a href="/asv/matthew/18.htm">American Standard Version</a> But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. <a href="/cev/matthew/18.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> But as this official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, "Pay me what you owe!" <a href="/erv/matthew/18.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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. <a href="/gwt/matthew/18.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. 'Pay what you owe!' he said. <a href="/gnt/matthew/18.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said. <a href="/isv/matthew/18.htm">International Standard Version</a> "But when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, 'Pay what you owe!' <a href="/msb/matthew/18.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ?Pay back what you owe me!? <a href="/net/matthew/18.htm">NET Bible</a> After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' <a href="/nheb/matthew/18.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' <a href="/wbt/matthew/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest. <a href="/wey/matthew/18.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, "'Pay me all you owe.' <a href="/web/matthew/18.htm">World English Bible</a> “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/18.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him one hundred denarii, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which you owe. <a href="/blb/matthew/18.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But the same servant having gone out, found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii, and having seized him, he was throttling him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' <a href="/ylt/matthew/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest. <a href="/slt/matthew/18.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> But that servant having come, found one of his fellow-servants who owed him one hundred drachmas, and having seized, he choked him, saying, Give back to me what thou owest.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/18.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.’ <a href="/nabre/matthew/18.htm">New American Bible</a> When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/18.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/18.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him one hundred cents; and he seized him, and tried to choke him, saying to him, Give me what you owe me. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/18.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But that servant went out and found one of his associates who had owed him a hundred denarii, and he seized him and throttled him, and he said to him, “Give me that which you owe me.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/18.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hold of him, and took him by the throat, saying: Pay me what you owe. <a href="/godbey/matthew/18.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>And that servant having gone out, found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him one hundred denaria: seized him, throttled him, saying, Pay me what you owe me.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/18.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> But that servant going out, found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing, throttled him, saying, Pay me what thou owest. <a href="/mace/matthew/18.htm">Mace New Testament</a> but this very servant presently after met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him an hundred pence: and violently seizing him, said, pay me the debt. <a href="/wey/matthew/18.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, "'Pay me all you owe.' <a href="/worrell/matthew/18.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>But, going forth, that servant found one of his fellow-servants, who was owing him a hundred denaries; and, having laid hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay, if you are owing anything!'<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/18.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>But that <Fr>same<FR> servant, as he was going out, met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him <Fr>but<FR> an hundred pence; and he laid hold on him and seized <Fr>him<FR> by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest <Fr>me: <a href="/parallel/matthew/18-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=5289" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/18.htm">The Unforgiving Servant</a> …27His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. 28<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">But when</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1565.htm" title="1565: ekeinos (DPro-NMS) -- That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.">that</a> <a href="/greek/1401.htm" title="1401: doulos (N-NMS) -- (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.">servant</a> <a href="/greek/1831.htm" title="1831: Exelthōn (V-APA-NMS) -- To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.">went out,</a> <a href="/greek/2147.htm" title="2147: heuren (V-AIA-3S) -- A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.">he found</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: hena (Adj-AMS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.">one</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">of his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4889.htm" title="4889: syndoulōn (N-GMP) -- From sun and doulos; a co-slave, i.e. Servitor or ministrant of the same master.">fellow servants</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hos (RelPro-NMS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">who</a> <a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: ōpheilen (V-IIA-3S) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">owed</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him</a> <a href="/greek/1540.htm" title="1540: hekaton (Adj-ANP) -- One hundred. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred.">a hundred</a> <a href="/greek/1220.htm" title="1220: dēnaria (N-ANP) -- A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.">denarii.</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/2902.htm" title="2902: kratēsas (V-APA-NMS) -- From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain.">He grabbed</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: auton (PPro-AM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him</a> <a href="/greek/4155.htm" title="4155: epnigen (V-IIA-3S) -- To choke, throttle, strangle; hence: I drown. Strengthened from pneo; to wheeze, i.e. to throttle or strangle.">and began to choke him,</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">saying,</a> <a href="/greek/591.htm" title="591: Apodos (V-AMA-2S) -- From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.">‘Pay</a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">back</a> <a href="/greek/5100.htm" title="5100: ti (IPro-ANS) -- Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.">what</a> <a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: opheileis (V-PIA-2S) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">you owe me!’</a> 29So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/6-12.htm">Matthew 6:12</a> And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. <a href="/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41-43</a> “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. / When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” / “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. <a href="/luke/17-3.htm">Luke 17:3-4</a> Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. / Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” <a href="/ephesians/4-32.htm">Ephesians 4:32</a> Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. <a href="/colossians/3-13.htm">Colossians 3:13</a> Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. <a href="/james/2-13.htm">James 2:13</a> For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. <a href="/romans/12-19.htm">Romans 12:19</a> Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” <a href="/proverbs/19-17.htm">Proverbs 19:17</a> Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. <a href="/proverbs/21-13.htm">Proverbs 21:13</a> Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. <a href="/genesis/50-17.htm">Genesis 50:17</a> ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. <a href="/exodus/21-2.htm">Exodus 21:2</a> If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. <a href="/deuteronomy/15-1.htm">Deuteronomy 15:1-2</a> At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. / This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed. <a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Nehemiah 5:7-12</a> and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them / and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. / So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? ... <a href="/psalms/37-21.htm">Psalm 37:21</a> The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving. <a href="/psalms/103-10.htm">Psalm 103:10</a> He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe.an hundred.<a href="/matthew/18-3.htm">Matthew 18:3</a> And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.pence.<a href="/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2</a> And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.and took.<a href="/deuteronomy/15-2.htm">Deuteronomy 15:2</a> And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.<a href="/nehemiah/5-7.htm">Nehemiah 5:7,10,11</a> Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them… <a href="/nehemiah/10-31.htm">Nehemiah 10:31</a> And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/18-27.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/matthew/18-27.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/matthew/17-10.htm">Demanded</a> <a href="/john/12-5.htm">Denarii</a> <a href="/matthew/14-26.htm">Exclaimed</a> <a href="/matthew/12-24.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/matthew/24-49.htm">Fellow-Bondmen</a> <a href="/revelation/6-11.htm">Fellowservants</a> <a href="/matthew/24-49.htm">Fellow-Servants</a> <a href="/matthew/17-5.htm">Found</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-11.htm">Grabbed</a> <a href="/matthew/18-8.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/matthew/14-31.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/matthew/18-12.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/zechariah/2-3.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/matthew/8-28.htm">Met</a> <a href="/psalms/73-2.htm">Nearly</a> <a href="/revelation/7-10.htm">Owe</a> <a href="/matthew/18-24.htm">Owed</a> <a href="/philemon/1-19.htm">Owest</a> <a href="/matthew/18-26.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/matthew/18-26.htm">Payment</a> <a href="/john/12-5.htm">Pence</a> <a href="/matthew/14-3.htm">Seized</a> <a href="/matthew/11-12.htm">Seizing</a> <a href="/matthew/18-27.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/matthew/18-23.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/john/12-5.htm">Shillings</a> <a href="/matthew/18-27.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/matthew/12-43.htm">Sooner</a> <a href="/nahum/2-12.htm">Strangling</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-10.htm">Throat</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/18-32.htm">Bondman</a> <a href="/matthew/18-30.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/matthew/22-23.htm">Demanded</a> <a href="/mark/6-37.htm">Denarii</a> <a href="/matthew/21-20.htm">Exclaimed</a> <a href="/matthew/18-29.htm">Fellow</a> <a href="/matthew/18-31.htm">Fellow-Bondmen</a> <a href="/matthew/18-31.htm">Fellowservants</a> <a href="/matthew/18-31.htm">Fellow-Servants</a> <a href="/matthew/20-6.htm">Found</a> <a href="/matthew/22-6.htm">Grabbed</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/matthew/20-31.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/matthew/19-29.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/matthew/22-15.htm">Meeting</a> <a href="/matthew/27-32.htm">Met</a> <a href="/mark/4-37.htm">Nearly</a> <a href="/luke/16-5.htm">Owe</a> <a href="/matthew/18-30.htm">Owed</a> <a href="/luke/16-5.htm">Owest</a> <a href="/matthew/18-29.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/matthew/18-29.htm">Payment</a> <a href="/mark/6-37.htm">Pence</a> <a href="/matthew/21-35.htm">Seized</a> <a href="/luke/22-54.htm">Seizing</a> <a href="/matthew/18-29.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/matthew/18-31.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/mark/6-37.htm">Shillings</a> <a href="/matthew/18-29.htm">Slave</a> <a href="/mark/3-6.htm">Sooner</a> <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Strangling</a> <a href="/romans/3-13.htm">Throat</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 18</div>1. <a href="/matthew/18-1.htm">Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,</a> 7. <a href="/matthew/18-7.htm">to avoid offenses,</a> 10. <a href="/matthew/18-10.htm">and not to despise the little ones;</a> 15. <a href="/matthew/18-15.htm">teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,</a> 21. <a href="/matthew/18-21.htm">and how often to forgive them;</a> 23. <a href="/matthew/18-23.htm">which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,</a> 32. <a href="/matthew/18-32.htm">and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The act of going out signifies a transition from receiving mercy to interacting with others, highlighting the expectation of extending the same grace received. This reflects the biblical principle of forgiveness as seen in <a href="/matthew/6-12.htm">Matthew 6:12</a>, where believers are taught to forgive others as they have been forgiven.he found one of his fellow servants The term "fellow servants" indicates a peer relationship, emphasizing equality among individuals. This mirrors the Christian teaching that all believers are equal before God, as seen in <a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a>. The encounter with a fellow servant underscores the communal aspect of faith, where relationships are governed by love and forgiveness.who owed him a hundred denarii A hundred denarii was a significant but manageable debt, equivalent to about a hundred days' wages. This contrasts sharply with the enormous debt the first servant was forgiven, illustrating the disparity between human offenses and divine forgiveness. The comparison serves to highlight the pettiness of holding grudges over relatively minor offenses when one has been forgiven much greater sins.He grabbed him and began to choke him The physical aggression depicted here is a stark contrast to the mercy shown by the master earlier in the parable. This act of violence symbolizes the destructive nature of unforgiveness and the human tendency towards retribution. It serves as a warning against allowing anger and bitterness to dictate actions, as advised against in <a href="/ephesians/4-31.htm">Ephesians 4:31-32</a>.saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ The demand for repayment reflects a legalistic mindset, focusing on justice rather than mercy. This attitude is contrary to the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized forgiveness and reconciliation over strict adherence to the law. The insistence on repayment can be seen as a metaphor for the human inclination to seek personal justice rather than trusting in God's ultimate judgment, as discussed in <a href="/romans/12-19.htm">Romans 12:19</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_unforgiving_servant.htm">The Unforgiving Servant</a> A servant who, despite being forgiven a massive debt by his master, refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him by a fellow servant. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_fellow_servant.htm">The Fellow Servant</a> Another servant who owes the unforgiving servant a relatively small amount of money, symbolizing the minor offenses we encounter in daily life. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_master.htm">The Master</a> Represents God, who shows immense mercy and forgiveness, setting the standard for how we should forgive others. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_debt.htm">The Debt</a> The hundred denarii, a small debt compared to what the unforgiving servant was forgiven, symbolizes the minor grievances we hold against others. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_confrontation.htm">The Event of Confrontation</a> The unforgiving servant's harsh treatment of his fellow servant highlights the hypocrisy and lack of mercy that Jesus warns against.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_weight_of_forgiveness.htm">The Weight of Forgiveness</a> Understand the magnitude of God's forgiveness towards us and how it should compel us to forgive others. <a href="/topical/h/hypocrisy_in_unforgiveness.htm">Hypocrisy in Unforgiveness</a> Recognize the inconsistency in accepting God's grace while withholding it from others. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_unforgiveness.htm">The Danger of Unforgiveness</a> Unforgiveness can lead to spiritual bondage and hinder our relationship with God. <a href="/topical/p/practical_forgiveness.htm">Practical Forgiveness</a> Implement daily practices of forgiveness, remembering that no offense against us compares to our offenses against God. <a href="/topical/r/reflecting_god's_character.htm">Reflecting God's Character</a> Strive to mirror God's mercy and compassion in our interactions with others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_18.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 18</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_marital_sex.htm">What defines the Christian Church?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_women_missionaries.htm">What does the Bible say about women as missionaries?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_jesus'_mission_change_to_all_nations.htm">Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to preach to Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6), but later command them to go to all nations (Matthew 28:19)?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_matthew_16_28_prophecy.htm">How can we reconcile Jesus's prophecy in Matthew 16:28 that some disciples would not die before seeing the Son of Man coming with the fact that they all eventually died?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/18.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) Which owed him an hundred pence.--Here the calculation is simpler than in <a href="/matthew/18-24.htm" title="And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents.">Matthew 18:24</a>. The "hundred pence" are a hundred Roman denarii (the denarius being equal to sevenpence-halfpenny), a hundred days' wages of the labourer and soldier, enough to provide a meal for 2,500 men (<a href="/john/6-7.htm" title="Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.">John 6:7</a>). There is a considerable truthfulness in the choice of such a sum, which has, perhaps, been too little noticed. Had our Lord been seeking simply a rhetorical antithesis between the infinitely great and the infinitely little, it would have been easy to select some small coin, like the denarius, the as, or the quadrans, as the amount of the fellow-servant's debt. But to the fishermen of Galilee the "hundred pence" would appear a really considerable sum, and when they came to interpret the parable they would thus be led to feel that it recognised that the offences which men commit against their brothers may, in themselves, be many and grievous enough. It is only when compared with their sins against God that they sink into absolute insignificance.He laid hands on him.--We are shocked, and are meant to be shocked, by the brutal outrage with which the creditor enforces his claim, but it doubtless was but too faithful a picture of what the disciples had often witnessed, or, it may be, even practised. We are tempted to ask whether this really represents any phenomena of the spiritual life. Can a man who has really been justified and pardoned become thus merciless? The experience of every age, almost of every household, shows that the inconsistency is but too fatally common. The man is not consciously a hypocrite, but he is as yet "double minded" (<a href="/james/1-8.htm" title="A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.">James 1:8</a>), and the baser self is not conquered. In the language of the later teaching of the New Testament the man's faith is not one which "worketh by love" (<a href="/galatians/5-6.htm" title="For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.">Galatians 5:6</a>). He is justified, but not as yet sanctified.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/18.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 28. - Went out - straightway from his lord's presence, where he had been so mercifully treated, while the remembrance of his free and undeserved forgiveness must have been still fresh. Found. Lighted upon by chance, as it were. Here, rather, was providentially offered an opportunity of showing that his lord's goodness was not thrown away, but had entered his heart and controlled his conduct towards others. One of his fellow servants. An official of the king, but probably in an inferior position to that which he himself occupied. Seeing this man, he is reminded of a paltry debt which this person owed him. He remembers this fact; he forgets his late experience. An hundred pence (denarii; see on Matthew 20:2); equivalent to some £3 of our money, and a sum not a millionth part of his own debt to his master; the proportion, as some say, may be stated more accurately as 1 to 1,250,000. The enormous difference between these two amounts represents the disproportion between the offences of our neighbours against us and those of which we are guilty towards God; and how small is the forgiveness on our side compared with that which God freely accords to our infinite debt to him! We must consider also the parties to whom these debts are owing - on one side, the worm man; on the other, Almighty God. Took him by the throat (ἔπνιγε); was throttling him. Thus precluding all prayer and remonstrance. Such brutal treatment was not what he himself had experienced. Pay me that thou owest; ὅτι ὀφείλεις: quod debes. Many manuscripts and late editors (e.g., Lachmann, Tregelles, Tischendorf, Alford, Westcott and Hort) soften the demand by reading εἴ τι ὀφείλεις, si quid debes, "if thou owest aught," as though the creditor were ashamed of mentioning the paltry sum due; or else it is simply a fashion of speaking, not to be pressed as if any doubt was intimated concerning the debt. It might almost be rendered, "Pay, since thou owest something." Not thus had his lord addressed him in the first instance. <a href="/commentaries/matthew/18-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>But when δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. that ἐκεῖνος (ekeinos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1565.htm">Strong's 1565: </a> That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed. servant δοῦλος (doulos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1401.htm">Strong's 1401: </a> (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. went out, Ἐξελθὼν (Exelthōn) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1831.htm">Strong's 1831: </a> To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue. he found εὗρεν (heuren) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2147.htm">Strong's 2147: </a> A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find. one ἕνα (hena) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1520.htm">Strong's 1520: </a> One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. of his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. fellow servants συνδούλων (syndoulōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4889.htm">Strong's 4889: </a> From sun and doulos; a co-slave, i.e. Servitor or ministrant of the same master. who ὃς (hos) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. owed ὤφειλεν (ōpheilen) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty. him αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. a hundred ἑκατὸν (hekaton) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1540.htm">Strong's 1540: </a> One hundred. Of uncertain affinity; a hundred. denarii. δηνάρια (dēnaria) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1220.htm">Strong's 1220: </a> A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius. He grabbed κρατήσας (kratēsas) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2902.htm">Strong's 2902: </a> From kratos; to use strength, i.e. Seize or retain. him αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. and began to choke [him], ἔπνιγεν (epnigen) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4155.htm">Strong's 4155: </a> To choke, throttle, strangle; hence: I drown. Strengthened from pneo; to wheeze, i.e. to throttle or strangle. saying, λέγων (legōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ‘Pay Ἀπόδος (Apodos) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_591.htm">Strong's 591: </a> From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc. back εἴ (ei) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. what τι (ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5100.htm">Strong's 5100: </a> Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. you owe [me].? ὀφείλεις (opheileis) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/18-28.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 18:28 But that servant went out and found (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/18-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 18:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 18:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/18-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 18:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 18:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>