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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 18:23 - 18:35
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_18:23-35
23"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25But since he did not have the means 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. 26So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.'27And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. 28But 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.'29So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.'30But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all the debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'34And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
Mat_18:23 "a king" This parable is unique to Matthew. In Aramaic (Jesus spoke Aramaic, not Hebrew) this term could have meant "a king's official."
Mat_18:24 "ten thousand talents" This was a huge amount. Six hundred talents was the yearly Roman tax for southern Palestine. This parable is purposeful oriental exaggeration (hyperbole). Often Jesus used this literary technique to drive home the point of His parables. See Special Topic at Mat_17:24.
Mat_18:25 People (and their families) could be sold into slavery for debts (cf. Lev_25:39; 2Ki_4:1; Neh_5:5; Isa_50:1). The king's threat was a real threat!
Mat_18:26; Mat_18:29 "have patience with me and I will repay you everything" These are the exact words of both Mat_18:26; Mat_18:29. This is the heart of the parable. In Mat_18:30 he has no mercy on another human who pleads for it!
Mat_18:34 "the torturers" In Aramaic this was possibly " jailers."
Mat_18:35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart" This is a third class conditional sentence which meant potential future action. Forgiveness should/must result in forgiving (cf. Mat_5:7; Mat_6:14-15; Mat_7:1-2; Mat_10:8; Luk_6:36; Col_3:13; Jas_2:13; Jas_5:9). Forgiveness is not the basis of our salvation but a sure evidence of being forgiven. However, Jesus leaves open the question about those who claim to know Him, but refuse to forgive other believers! Parables cannot, do not, answer all the theological questions!
▣ "heart" See Special Topic at Mat_5:8.
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