Focused Passage

Matthew 18:21-35

Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community

Matthew moves from the disciples’ question about greatness, to Jesus’ child-centered call to humility, to warnings against causing little ones to stumble, to radical action against sin, to the Father’s care for the little ones, to the pursuit of wandering sheep, to procedures for confronting sin and involving the church, to binding and loosing with Christ’s presence, and finally to the necessity of unlimited forgiveness rooted in the King’s mercy.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24 As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him.

25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

28 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!’

29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’

30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.

32 Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.

35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular came προσελθὼν G4334 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to [Jesus] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - «ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] asked εἶπεν» G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular how many times ποσάκις G4212 Adverb - καὶ G2532 Conjunction shall I forgive ἀφήσω G863 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular my ἐμὲ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφός G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who sins ἁμαρτήσει G264 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular against εἰς G1519 Preposition me μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular Up to ἕως G2193 Preposition seven times ἑπτάκις G2034 Adverb
Verse 22

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular not Οὐ G3756 Adverb just ἕως G2193 Preposition seven times ἑπτάκις G2034 Adverb but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction - ἕως G2193 Preposition seventy-seven times ἑβδομηκοντάκις G1441 Adverb . . . ἑπτά G2033 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Or seventy times seven; see Genesis 4:24 LXX
Verse 23

Original words

Because of Διὰ G1223 Preposition this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλεία G932 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural is like ὡμοιώθη G3666 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - ἀνθρώπῳ G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular a king βασιλεῖ G935 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular who ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular wanted ἠθέλησεν G2309 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to settle συνᾶραι G4868 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active accounts λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular with μετὰ G3326 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural servants δούλων G1401 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Verse 24

Original words

As δὲ G1161 Conjunction he αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular began ἀρξαμένου G756 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Singular the settlements συναίρειν G4868 Verb - Present Infinitive Active a εἷς G1520 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular debtor ὀφειλέτης G3781 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular owing ten thousand μυρίων G3463 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural talents ταλάντων G5007 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural was brought προσηνέχθη* G4374 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.
Verse 25

Original words

Since δὲ G1161 Conjunction [the man] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb was unable ἔχοντος G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular to pay ἀποδοῦναι G591 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular ordered that ἐκέλευσεν G2753 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular he αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular be sold πραθῆναι G4097 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive - καὶ G2532 Conjunction to pay [his] debt ἀποδοθῆναι G591 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive along with καὶ G2532 Conjunction [his] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wife γυναῖκα G1135 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - ὅσα G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural he owned ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 26

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular servant δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular fell Πεσὼν G4098 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular on his knees προσεκύνει G4352 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular before him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Have patience Μακροθύμησον G3114 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular with ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition me ἐμοί G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular he begged λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I will pay ἀποδώσω G591 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular back σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 27

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction [His] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - ἐκείνου G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular - δούλου G1401 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular had compassion [on him] Σπλαγχνισθεὶς G4697 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction forgave ἀφῆκεν G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular his αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular debt δάνειον G1156 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [and] released ἀπέλυσεν G630 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 28

Original words

But when δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular that ἐκεῖνος G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular servant δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular went out Ἐξελθὼν G1831 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular he found εὗρεν G2147 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural fellow servants συνδούλων G4889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural who ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular owed ὤφειλεν G3784 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular a hundred ἑκατὸν G1540 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural denarii δηνάρια G1220 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He grabbed κρατήσας G2902 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and began to choke [him] ἔπνιγεν G4155 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular saying λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Pay Ἀπόδος G591 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular back εἴ G1487 Conjunction what τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you owe [me] ὀφείλεις G3784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
Verse 29

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular fellow servant σύνδουλος G4889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular fell down Πεσὼν G4098 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] begged παρεκάλει G3870 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Have patience Μακροθύμησον G3114 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular with ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition me ἐμοί G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction I will pay ἀποδώσω G591 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you {back} σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 30

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb he refused ἤθελεν G2309 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Instead ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction he went ἀπελθὼν G565 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] had [the man] thrown ἔβαλεν G906 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition prison φυλακὴν G5438 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular until ἕως G2193 Conjunction . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular he could pay ἀποδῷ G591 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular [his] τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular debt ὀφειλόμενον G3784 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 31

Original words

[When] οὖν G3767 Conjunction his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural fellow servants σύνδουλοι G4889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural saw Ἰδόντες G3708 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural what τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural had happened γενόμενα G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Accusative Neuter Plural vvv σφόδρα G4970 Adverb they were greatly distressed ἐλυπήθησαν G3076 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction they went ἐλθόντες G2064 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] recounted διεσάφησαν G1285 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural all πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural [of this] γενόμενα G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Accusative Neuter Plural to τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular their ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural master κυρίῳ G2962 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 32

Original words

Then Τότε G5119 Adverb - αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular summoned προσκαλεσάμενος G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] said λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [You] wicked πονηρέ G4190 Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular servant Δοῦλε G1401 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular I forgave ἀφῆκά G863 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular all πᾶσαν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular [your] ἐκείνην G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular debt ὀφειλὴν G3782 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular because ἐπεὶ G1893 Conjunction you begged παρεκάλεσάς G3870 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 33

Original words

Shouldn’t ἔδει G1163 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb you σὲ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction have had mercy ἐλεῆσαι G1653 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active on your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular fellow servant σύνδουλόν G4889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular just as ὡς G5613 Adverb I κἀγὼ G2504 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular [had] ἠλέησα G1653 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular on you σὲ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 34

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction In anger ὀργισθεὶς G3710 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular turned him over παρέδωκεν G3860 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural jailers to be tortured βασανισταῖς G930 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural until ἕως G2193 Preposition - οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular he should repay ἀποδῷ G591 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular all πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular that τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular he owed ὀφειλόμενον G3784 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Singular - 〈αὐτῷ〉 G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 35

Original words

That is how Οὕτως G3779 Adverb - καὶ G2532 Conjunction My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular heavenly οὐράνιος G3770 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατήρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular will treat ποιήσει G4160 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular each of ἕκαστος G1538 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural unless ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb you forgive ἀφῆτε G863 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural [your] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular brother ἀδελφῷ G80 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural heart καρδιῶν G2588 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.