New English Translation
Matthew 18:25
25Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made.
Matthew 18:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
- New International Version (NIV)Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
Context of Matthew 18:25
23“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt.
Read all of Matthew 18Matthew 18:25 word by word
μὴ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος πραθῆναι καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει καὶ ἀποδοθῆναι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- But forasmuch asδέde · thenG1161
- heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- hadἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- notμήmē · notG3361
- to payἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
- lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
- commandedκελεύωkeleuō · to orderG2753
- to be soldπιπράσκωpipraskō praō · to sellG4097
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- wifeγυνήgunē · woman: wifeG1135
- childrenτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- thatὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
Cross-references for Matthew 18:25
- Leviticus 25:39“‘If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, you must not subject him to slave service.
- 2 Kings 4:1Now a wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.”
- Nehemiah 5:5And now, though we share the same flesh and blood as our fellow countrymen, and our children are just like their children, still we have found it necessary to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have been subjected to slavery, while we are powerless to help, since our fields and vineyards now belong to other people.”
- Isaiah 50:1This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s divorce certificate by which I divorced her? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold because of your sins; because of your rebellious acts I divorced your mother.
Commentaries on Matthew 18:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25He had not to pay - That is not being able to pay. As there could not be the smallest probability that a servant, wholly dependent on his master, who was now absolutely insolvent, could ever pay a debt he had contracted of more than 67 millions! - so is it impossible for a sinner, infinitely indebted to Divine justice, ever to pay a mite out of the talent. Commanded him to be sold - his wife - children, etc. - Our Lord here alludes to an ancient custom…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25His lord commanded him to be sold - By the laws of the Hebrews they were permitted to sell debtors, with their wives and children, into servitude for a time sufficient to pay a debt. See 2 Kings 4:1; Leviticus 25:39-46; Amos 8:6.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-35Verses 21-35 Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be sold as a slave. It is the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-35Peter thought forgiving seven times was generous, but Jesus surprised him. A disciple should graciously forgive like God does, without limits and freely (see Matthew 18:10–14). If someone does not forgive in this way, it shows they have not experienced God's forgiveness for themselves (18:35; see 6:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made--(See 2Ki 4:1; Ne 5:8; Le 25:39).Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 18:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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