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Mat_18:33. On the well-known double καί used comparatively, see Klotz, ad Devar. p. 635. Baeumlein, Partik. p. 153.
ἔδει ] the moral oportuit.
τοῖς βασανισταῖς ] to the tormentors (Dem. 978, 11; 4Ma_6:11) to torture him, not merely to cast him into prison, which latter was only a part of their functions (Fritzsche). The idea involved in βασανίζειν is of essential importance, typifying as it does the future βάσανος of Gehenna. Comp. Mat_8:29; Luk_16:23; Rev_14:10. Grotius well observes, though he takes the βασανιστάς as = δεσμοφύλακας (Kuinoel, de Wette), “utitur autem hic rex ille non solo creditoris jure, sed et judicis.”
ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ ] as in Mat_18:30. until he shall have paid. Though not expressly asserted, it is a legitimate inference from the terms of the passage (comp. Mat_5:26) to say: τουτέστι διηνεκῶς , οὔτε γὰρ ἀποδώσει ποτέ , Chrysostom.
Doctrine, of the parable: The remission which thou hast obtained from God of thy great unpayable debt of sin, must stimulate thee heartily to forgive thy brother the far more trifling debt which he has incurred as regards thee; otherwise, when the Messianic judgment comes, the righteousness of God will again rise up against thee, and thou wilt be cast into Gehenna to be punished eternally; comp. Mat_5:25 f., Mat_6:14 f.
That motive, drawn from the forgiving mercy of God, could only be exhibited in all its significance by the light shed upon it in the atoning death of Christ (Eph_4:32, Col_3:12 f.), so that Jesus had to leave to the future, which was fast approaching, what, as yet, could be but inadequately understood (so far we have here a ὕστερον πρότερον ), and hence our passage is not inconsistent (Socinian objection) with the doctrine (also expressly contained in Mat_20:28, Mat_26:28) of satisfaction.
ἀπὸ τ . καρδ . ὑμ .) from your heart, therefore out of true, inward, heartfelt sympathy, not from a stoical indifference. Comp. Mat_18:33. This is the only instance in the New Testament of ἀπό being used in connection with this phrase; elsewhere it is ἐκ that is employed. But comp. the classical expressions ἀπὸ γνώμης , ἀπὸ σπουδῆς , ἀπὸ φρενός , and the like; also ἀπὸ καρδίας in Antoninus ii. 3, and ἀπὸ τῆς ψυχῆς . Dem. 580, 1.