Matthew 18:25

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

Context of Matthew 18:25

23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 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. 26“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 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 any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.
• 2 Kings 4:1The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
• Nehemiah 5:5Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
• Isaiah 50:1This is what the Lord says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

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

• Charitableness
• Children
• Creditor
• Debtor
• Forgiveness
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Servant
• Sin
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Debtor
• Everlasting
• Gain
• Owe
• Patience
• Forgiveness
• Intercession
• Jesus Christ
• Matthew, the Gospel of
• Mercy; Merciful

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