Matthew 18:28

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.

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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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!’
KJV
But 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.
WEB
“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
ASV
But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
DARBY
But that bondman having gone out, found one of his fellow-bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he throttled him, saying, Pay [me] if thou owest anything.
BLB
But having gone out, that servant found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii. And having seized him, he was choking [him], saying, ‘Repay what you owe!’
ÅB
«Men da denne tjeneren gikk ut, traff han en av medtjenerne sine som skyldte ham hundre penninger. Og han tok kvelertak på ham og sa: ‘Betal det du skylder!’
OTB
Men da den tjeneren gikk ut, fant han en av sine medtjenere som skyldte ham hundre denarer. Han grep ham og begynte å kvele ham. 'Betal tilbake det du skylder meg!' krevde han.
B1930
Men da denne tjener gikk ut, traff han en av sine medtjenere som skyldte ham hundre penninger, og han tok fatt på ham og holdt på å kvele ham og sa: Betal det du skylder!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 45:9

    For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’

    Read in context
  • Matthew 20:2

    He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 15:2

    This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 58:3

    “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 5:10–11

    I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 5:7

    and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 10:31

    When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel every debt.

    Read in context