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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 18:23 Context: Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001a.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451a.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/matthew/18-23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/matthew/18-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="//biblehub.com/crossref/">Cross Refs</a> > Matthew 18:23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/18-22.htm" title="Matthew 18:22">◄</a> Matthew 18:23 <a href="../matthew/18-24.htm" title="Matthew 18:24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Context</div>      <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-23.htm" target="_top"><b>23</b></a></span>For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-24.htm" target="_top"><b>24</b></a></span>When he had begun to settle <i>them,</i> one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-25.htm" target="_top"><b>25</b></a></span>But since he did not have <i>the means</i> to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-26.htm" target="_top"><b>26</b></a></span>So the slave fell <i>to the ground</i> and prostrated himself before him, saying, Have patience with me and I will repay you everything. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-27.htm" target="_top"><b>27</b></a></span>And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-28.htm" target="_top"><b>28</b></a></span>But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and <i>began</i> to choke <i>him,</i> saying, Pay back what you owe. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-29.htm" target="_top"><b>29</b></a></span>So his fellow slave fell <i>to the ground</i> and <i>began</i> to plead with him, saying, Have patience with me and I will repay you. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-30.htm" target="_top"><b>30</b></a></span>But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-31.htm" target="_top"><b>31</b></a></span>So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-32.htm" target="_top"><b>32</b></a></span>Then summoning him, his lord said to him, You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-33.htm" target="_top"><b>33</b></a></span>Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-34.htm" target="_top"><b>34</b></a></span>And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/matthew/18-35.htm" target="_top"><b>35</b></a></span>My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. <p><br /><br /><a href="//www.lockman.org" target="_top">NASB ©1995</a><div class="vheading2">Parallel Verses</div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/18.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/18.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/dbt/matthew/18.htm">Darby Bible Translation</a></span><br />For this cause the kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who would reckon with his bondmen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/18.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/18.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king who would take account of his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/18.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/18.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/18.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,<div class="vheading2">Library</div><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/simpson/days_of_heaven_upon_earth_/may_31_whosoever_therefore_shall.htm">May 31. "Whosoever Therefore Shall Humble Himself as this Little Child" (Matt. xviii. 4). </a><br></span><span class="snippet">"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child" (Matt. xviii. 4). You will never get a humble heart until it is born from above, from the heart of Christ. For man has lost his own humanity and alas, too often has a demon heart. God wants us, as Christians, to be simple, human, approachable and childlike. The Christians that we know and love best, and that are nearest to the Lord, are the most simple. Whenever we grow stilted we are only fit for a picture gallery, and we are only good <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/simpson/days_of_heaven_upon_earth_/may_31_whosoever_therefore_shall.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Rev. A. B. Simpson—</span><span class="citation2">Days of Heaven Upon Earth </span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/the_lost_sheep_and_the.htm">The Lost Sheep and the Seeking Shepherd</a><br></span><span class="snippet">If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth Into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray!--MATT. xviii. 12. We find this simple parable, or germ of a parable, in a somewhat more expanded form, as the first of the incomparable three in the fifteenth chapter of Luke's Gospel. Perhaps our Lord repeated the parable more than once. It is an unveiling of His inmost heart, and therein a revelation of the very heart of God. <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/the_lost_sheep_and_the.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/persistence_of_thwarted_love.htm">Persistence of Thwarted Love</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'If so be that he find it.'--MATT. xviii. 13. 'Until he find it.'--LUKE xv. 4. Like other teachers, Jesus seems to have had favourite points of view and utterances which came naturally to His lips. There are several instances in the gospels of His repeating the same sayings in entirely different connections and with different applications. One of these habitual points of view seems to have been the thought of men as wandering sheep, and of Himself as the Shepherd. The metaphor has become so familiar <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/persistence_of_thwarted_love.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/forgiven_and_unforgiving.htm">Forgiven and Unforgiving</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.' --MATT. xviii. 22. The disciples had been squabbling about pre-eminence in the kingdom which they thought was presently to appear. They had ventured to refer their selfish and ambitious dispute to Christ's arbitrament. He answered by telling them the qualifications of 'the greatest in the kingdom'--that they are to be humble like little children; that they are to be placable; that they are to use all means <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/forgiven_and_unforgiving.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/the_law_of_precedence_in.htm">The Law of Precedence in the Kingdom</a><br></span><span class="snippet">'At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, 3. 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. 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions_of_holy_scripture_b/the_law_of_precedence_in.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Alexander Maclaren—</span><span class="citation2">Expositions of Holy Scripture</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet_talks_on_prayer/six_sweeping_statements.htm">Six Sweeping Statements. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">Jesus' own words make this very clear. There are two groups of teachings on prayer in those three and a half years as given by the gospel records. The first of these groups is in the Sermon on the Mount which Jesus preached about half-way through the second year of His ministry. The second group comes sheer at the end. All of it is in the last six months, and most of it in the last ten days, and much of that on the very eve of that last tragic day. It is after the sharp rupture with the leaders that <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet_talks_on_prayer/six_sweeping_statements.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">S. D. (Samuel Dickey) Gordon—</span><span class="citation2">Quiet Talks on Prayer</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/sermons_on_selected_lessons_of_the_new_testament/sermon_xxxii_on_the_words.htm">On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 15, "If Thy Brother Sin against Thee, Go, Shew Him his Fault Between Thee and Him Alone;" And</a><br></span><span class="snippet">1. Our Lord warns us not to neglect one another's sins, not by searching out what to find fault with, but by looking out for what to amend. For He said that his eye is sharp to cast out a mote out of his brother's eye, who has not a beam in his own eye. Now what this means, I will briefly convey to you, Beloved. A mote in the eye is anger; a beam in the eye is hatred. When therefore one who has hatred finds fault with one who is angry, he wishes to take a mote out of his brother's eye, but is hindered <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/sermons_on_selected_lessons_of_the_new_testament/sermon_xxxii_on_the_words.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Saint Augustine—</span><span class="citation2">sermons on selected lessons of the new testament</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/sermons_on_selected_lessons_of_the_new_testament/sermon_xxxi_on_the_words.htm">On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xviii. 7, Where we are Admonished to Beware of the Offences of the World. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">1. The divine lessons, which we have just heard as they were being read, warn us to gather in a stock of virtues, to fortify a Christian heart, against the offences which were predicted to come, and this from the mercy of the Lord. "For what is man," saith Scripture, "saving that Thou art mindful of him?" [2694] "Woe unto the world because of offences," [2695] saith the Lord; the Truth says so; He alarmeth and warneth us, He would not have us to be off our guard; for surely He would not make us desperate. <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/sermons_on_selected_lessons_of_the_new_testament/sermon_xxxi_on_the_words.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">Saint Augustine—</span><span class="citation2">sermons on selected lessons of the new testament</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/wilmot-buxton/the_life_of_duty_a_years_plain_sermons_v_2/sermon_lvii_the_forgiveness_of.htm">The Forgiveness of Sins. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">(Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.) S. MATTHEW xviii. 28, "Pay me that thou owest." The Gospel shows us in a parable a picture of a king who called his servants to a reckoning. That King is the Lord God Almighty. We are His servants, and He calls us to account every day. All we possess we owe as a debt to God. Day by day He gives us our food, and supplies our wants by His good Providence. On every hour of our existence is written, Jehovah-Jireh--The Lord will provide. Day by day God takes <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/wilmot-buxton/the_life_of_duty_a_years_plain_sermons_v_2/sermon_lvii_the_forgiveness_of.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—</span><span class="citation2">The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the_mind_of_jesus/fourth_day_forgiveness_of_injuries.htm">Fourth Day. Forgiveness of Injuries. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."--Luke, xxiii. 34. Many a death-struggle has been made to save a friend. A dying Saviour gathers up His expiring breath to plead for His foes! At the climax of His own woe, and of human ingratitude--man-forsaken, and God-deserted--His faltering voice mingles with the shout of His murderers,--"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" Had the faithless Peter been there, could he have wondered at the reply to a former <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the_mind_of_jesus/fourth_day_forgiveness_of_injuries.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">John R. Macduff—</span><span class="citation2">The Mind of Jesus</span><p><span class="headingtext"><a href="//christianbookshelf.org/baring-gould/the_village_pulpit_volume_ii_trinity_to_advent/lix_the_preacher_and_his.htm">Lix. The Preacher and his Hearers. </a><br></span><span class="snippet">22nd Sunday after Trinity. S. Matthew xviii. 23. "The kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants." INTRODUCTION.--I have been a good deal abroad, over the Continent of Europe, and whenever I am in a little country inn, I make a point of going into the room where the men are smoking and drinking wine or beer, and hearing their opinions on the politics of the day, and of their country. Now, my experience tells me that in country taverns in France, and <a href="//christianbookshelf.org/baring-gould/the_village_pulpit_volume_ii_trinity_to_advent/lix_the_preacher_and_his.htm" title="continued">…</a><br></span><span class="citation">S. Baring-Gould—</span><span class="citation2">The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent</span><p><div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 NIV</a> • <a href="/nlt/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 NLT</a> • <a href="/esv/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 ESV</a> • <a href="/nasb/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 NASB</a> • <a href="/kjv/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 KJV</a> • <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 Bible Apps</a> • <a href="/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23 Parallel</a> • <a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/18-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 18:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 18:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/18-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 18:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 18:24" /></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></td></tr></table></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mp/matthew/18-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /><iframe src="//biblemenus.com/adframebhbl.htm" width="122" height="250" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <div id="bot"><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /></div><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhparnew.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></body></html>