Matthew 18

Matthew · Chapter 18

Matthew 18:30

1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.25But 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.26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
ButδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

he was willing,ἤθελεν,ēthelenG2309
to will/desire

θέλω (thelō) θέλω (the strengthened form ἐθέλω is found in Hom., and is the more frequently in Attic; see Rutherford, NPhr., 415f.), [in LXX for חפץ ,אבה; with neg., מאן pi., etc. ;] to will, be willing, wish, desire (more frequently than βούλομαι, which see, in vernac. and late Gk., also in MGr.; for various views as to its relation to β., see Thayer, 286; but see also BL, §24, see word): absol., Rom.9:16, 1Co.4:19 12:18, Jas.4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Act.18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.20:21, Mrk.14:36, Jhn.15:7, Rom.7:15, 16 1Co.4:21 7:36, Gal.5:17; with inf., Mat.5:40, Mrk.10:43, Jhn.6:21, 67 R …

butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

having goneἀπελθὼνapelthōnG0565
to go away

ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai) ἀπέρχομαι, [in LXX chiefly for הלךְ ;] 1. to go away, depart (also, in late writers, with "perfective" force, to arrive at a destination, the thought being carried on to the goal; M, Pr., 111f., 247; MM, see word); (a) absol.: Mat.13:25, al.; ptcp., ἀπελθών, used pleonastically with other verbs as in Heb. (Dalman, Words, 21), Mat.13:28, al.; (b) with mention of place or person: εἰς, Mat.14:15; ἐπί, Luk.24:24; πρός, Rev.10:9; ἀπό, Luk.1:38; ἐξω, Act.4:15; ἐκεῖ, Mat.2:22. …

he castἔβαλενebalenG0906H
to throw: throw

βάλλω (ballō) βάλλω, [in LXX for נפל, שׂום, ידד, etc. ;] prop., of a weapon or missile; then generally, of things and persons, lit. and metaphorically, to throw, cast, put, place: with accusative, before εἰς, Mat.4:18, and frequently ἐπί, Mat.10:34; κάτω, Mat.4:6; ἔξω, Mat.5:13; ἀπό, Mat.5:29; ἐκ, Mrk.12:44; δρέπανον, Rev.14:19; μάχαιραν, Mat.10:34; κλῆρον, Mat.27:35; of fluids, to pour: Mat.9:17, Jhn.13:5; pass., to be laid, to lie ill: Mat.9:2; ἐβλήθη (timeless aor., M, Pr., 134), Jhn.15:6; intrans., to rush (Bl., §53, 1): Act.27:14. Metaphorical, β. εἰς τ. καρδίαν, Jhn.13:2 (cf. usage in π., without id …

himαὐτὸνautonG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

intoεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

prisonφυλακὴνphulakēnG5438G
prison/watch: prison

φυλακή (phulakē) φυλακή, -ῆς, ἡ (φυλάσσω) [in LXX chiefly for מִשְׁמֶרֶת and cogn. forms, also for כֶּלֶא etc. ;] (a) actively, a guarding, guard, watch (Hom., Plat., Xen., al.): cogn. accusative, φυλάσσειν φυλακάς, to keep watch, Luk.2:8; (b) of those who keep watch (as also Lat. custodia), a guard; pl., sentinels, a guard (Hom., al.): Act.12:10; (with) of the place where persons are kept under guard, a prison (Hdt., Thuc., al.): Mat.14:10, Mrk.6:17, Luk.3:20, Act.5:19, 2Co.6:5, 1Pe.3:19, Rev.18:2, al.; …

untilἕωςhe'ōsG2193
until

ἕως (heōs) ἕως, relative particle (Lat. donee, usque), expressing the terminus ad quem (cf. Burton, §321ff.). I. As conjunction; 1. till, until; (a) of a fact in past time, with indic.: Mat.2:9, al. (Wis.10:14, al.); (b) ἕως ἄν, with subjc. aor.: Mat.2:13 5:18, Mrk.6:10, al.; without ἄν (M. Pr., 168f.; Lft., Notes, 115), Mrk.14:32 (Burton, §325), Luk.12:59, 2Th.2:7, al.; (with) with indic., present (Burton, §328; BL, §65, 10): Mrk.6:45, Jhn.21:22, 23 1Ti.4:13. 2. C. indic., as long as, while (Burton, §327): Jhn.9:4 (Plat., Phaedo, 89c). II. As an adverb (chiefly in late writers). …

what of himοὗhouG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

he may payἀποδῷapodōG0591
to pay

ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) ἀπο-δίδωμι [in LXX for מָכַר, שׁוּב hi., נָתַן, שָׁלֵם pi., etc. ;] to give up or back, restore, return: Mat.27:58, Luk.4:20 9:42 19:8; esp. of wages, debts, oaths, etc. (MM, see word), to render what is due, to pay (Deiss., LAE, 334 f.): absol., Mat.18:25, 28, Luk.7:42. with accusative, Mat.5:26 18:29-30, 34 20:8 21:41 22:21, Mrk.12:17, Luk.10:35 12:59 20:25, Rom.13:7, Heb.12:11, Rev.22:2; ὅρκους, Mat.5:33 (cf. Num.30:3, Deu.23:21 al.); of conjugal duty, τ. ὀφειλήν, 1Co.7:3; ἀμοιβάς, 1Ti.5:4; μαρτύριον, to give (as in duty bound) testimony, Act.4:33; λόγον, to render account, Mat.12:36, Luk …

is being owed.ὀφειλόμενον.¶opheilomenonG3784
to owe

ὀφείλω (opheilō) ὀφείλω [in LXX: Deu.15:2, Isa.24:2 (נָשָׁה), Eze.18:7 (חוֹב), Wis.12:15, 20, al. ;] to owe, be a debtor: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.18:28, Luk.7:41 16:7, Phm 18; id. with dative of person(s), Mat.18:28, Luk.16:5. Pass., to be owed, to be due: τ. ὀφειλόμενον, Mat.18:30, 34. Metaphorical: absol. (= Rabbinic חַיָּב; see McNeile, in l), Mat.23:16, 18; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Rom.13:8; with inf., to be bound or obliged to do (of. Westc., Epp. Jo., 50), Luk.17:10, Jhn.13:14 19:7, Act.17:29, Rom.15:1, 27, 1Co.5:10 7:36 9:10 11:7 11:10, 2Co.12:14, Eph.5:28, 2Th.1:3 …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.