Forgiveness and the Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21-35
Matt.18.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τοτε: ADV
- προσελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Κυριε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ποσακις: ADV
- αμαρτησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- εμε: PRON,acc,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αδελφος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- αφησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- επτακις: ADV
Parallels
- Matt.18.22 (structural): Direct immediate continuation: Jesus' answer to Peter's question ('up to seven times?') — 'seventy times seven' — expands the forgiveness instruction.
- Luke 17:3-4 (verbal): Parallel teaching about forgiving a brother who sins, including the specific image of forgiving 'seven times' if he repents, closely matching Peter's 'seven times' formulation.
- Matt.6:14-15 (thematic): Earlier Matthean teaching linking divine forgiveness to human forgiveness — God forgives those who forgive others, providing theological basis for Peter's question.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Paulic exhortation to 'bear with one another and forgive' as the Lord forgave you, echoing the ethic of persistent forgiveness addressed in Matt 18:21.
- Ephesians 4:32 (thematic): Another apostolic injunction to be kind and forgiving to one another, grounding interpersonal forgiveness in God's forgiveness and reinforcing the moral imperative behind Peter's query.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
- Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often shall I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
Matt.18.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Ου: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εως: CONJ
- επτακις: ADV
- αλλα: CONJ
- εως: CONJ
- εβδομηκοντακις: ADV
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl
Parallels
- Luke 17:3-4 (thematic): Also teaches forgiveness of repeated offenses—if a brother repents even after sinning repeatedly (seven times in a day), one must forgive him, echoing Matthew's call to abundant forgiveness.
- Matt.18:23-35 (structural): The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant immediately follows and exemplifies why Jesus demands forgiving 'seventy‑seven times'—to illustrate God’s mercy and the necessity of forgiving others.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Commands believers to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave them, reflecting Matthew’s principle of generous, repeated forgiveness.
- Ephesians 4:32 (thematic): Urges kindness and forgiving one another 'as God in Christ forgave you,' paralleling Jesus’ ethic of limitless forgiveness.
- Luke 6:37 (thematic): Affirms the reciprocity of forgiveness—'forgive, and you will be forgiven'—reinforcing Matthew’s emphasis on forgiving others without strict numerical limits.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."
- Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."
Matt.18.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,acc,sg,n
- ωμοιωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ανθρωπω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- βασιλει: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ος: PRO,nom,sg,m
- ηθελησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- συναραι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτου·: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.18:21-22 (structural): Peter's question about how often to forgive (up to seven times) directly prompts the parable and frames its lesson on unlimited forgiveness (then Jesus answers 'seventy-seven times').
- Matt.18:32-35 (structural): The closing application and punishment of the unforgiving servant repeats and enforces the parable's point: because the servant would not forgive others, his own forgiveness was revoked—explicit moral conclusion of the story.
- Matt.6:12,14-15 (verbal): The Lord's Prayer asks for forgiveness of debts and immediately coupled teaching warns that forgiving others is required if one expects God's forgiveness—same reciprocity theme as the parable.
- Luke 7:41-43 (thematic): Jesus' parable of the two debtors (given in response to Simon the Pharisee) highlights gratitude and the magnitude of forgiveness as motive for forgiving others, paralleling the moral dynamic in Matthew's parable.
- Eph.4:32 (thematic): Paul's ethical exhortation to forgive one another as God forgave you echoes the parable's central command: believers must extend the mercy they have received rather than exact punishment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
- Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Matt.18.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρξαμενου: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- συναιρειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- προσηνεχθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- οφειλετης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μυριων: NUM,gen,pl,m
- ταλαντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 7:41-43 (thematic): Jesus' parable of two debtors—one forgiven a great debt—parallels the theme of debt, mercy, and forgiveness.
- Luke 16:1-8 (thematic): The shrewd manager calls in his master's debtors and adjusts accounts; shares concerns with reckoning, debtors, and financial accounting.
- Matt.18:25 (verbal): Immediate sequel to 18:24: the servant is unable to pay; a direct verbal and narrative continuation of the same scene.
- Matt.18:27 (structural): Resolution of the parable where the master forgives the enormous debt—structurally linked as the outcome to the debtor brought before him.
- Luke 12:58-59 (thematic): Instructions about settling with an opponent before a magistrate echo the motif of accounting, judgment, and reconciliation found in Matthew's reckoning scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
- When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Matt.18.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- εχοντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- αποδουναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εκελευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- πραθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- γυναικα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- αποδοθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
Parallels
- Matthew 18:23–34 (structural): Same parable (the Unforgiving Servant); v.25 is part of the king's sentence—ordering the servant, his wife, children and possessions to be sold to pay his debt.
- 2 Kings 4:1–7 (thematic): A widow's sons are threatened with being taken as servants by a creditor for unpaid debt; Elisha provides oil to raise money to pay the debt—narrative parallel of family threatened by sale to satisfy obligations.
- Proverbs 22:7 (thematic): 'The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender'—a proverb summarizing the social reality that debt can produce servitude, which the verse vividly depicts.
- Leviticus 25:39–43 (allusion): Regulations concerning Israelites selling themselves into servitude because of poverty and the treatment of such servants—legal/ideological background for the image of sale for debt.
- Matthew 6:12, 6:14–15 (verbal): The Lord's Prayer speaks of 'debts' (Matt 6:12) and Jesus links forgiving others to being forgiven (6:14–15); connects the debt-language and the moral demand to release/forgive debts that the parable addresses.
Alternative generated candidates
- And since he had no means to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
- And since he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and the payment to be made.
Matt.18.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πεσων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προσεκυνει: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- λεγων·Μακροθυμησον: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- επ᾽εμοι: PREP+PRON,dat,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- αποδωσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
Parallels
- Matthew 18:29 (verbal): The fellow servant uses essentially the same wording—“Have patience with me, and I will pay you”—a direct verbal parallel within the same parable.
- Matthew 6:12, 14-15 (thematic): The Lord’s Prayer asks to ‘forgive us our debts,’ and Jesus elsewhere links receiving God’s forgiveness with the obligation to forgive others (if you forgive others, your Father will forgive you).
- Luke 7:41-43 (thematic): Parable of the two debtors: a creditor forgives large debts, highlighting mercy and the debtor’s relief—parallel theme of debt-forgiveness and gratitude.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Paul’s injunction to forgive one another as the Lord forgave you echoes the parable’s ethical demand that recipients of mercy must themselves extend mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all."
- Then the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all."
Matt.18.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- σπλαγχνισθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δουλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εκεινου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απελυσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- δανειον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αφηκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matt.18.33-35 (structural): Immediate continuation of the parable: v.27’s act of releasing the servant is set against the servant’s later refusal and the parable’s closing injunction (v.35) that we must forgive others as we have been forgiven.
- Matt.6.14-15 (thematic): Teaching of Jesus linking divine forgiveness to human forgiveness—those who forgive others will be forgiven—echoes the parable’s moral demand.
- Luke 15.20-24 (verbal): The father 'had compassion' (σπλαγχνισθείς) and restores the prodigal son, mirroring the same compassionate verb and the theme of merciful release in Matthew 18:27.
- Ps.103.10-13 (allusion): God’s merciful treatment—he does not repay us according to our sins and shows fatherly compassion—provides the Old Testament background for the parable’s depiction of compassionate forgiveness.
- Eph.4.32 (thematic): Calls believers to be kind and forgiving 'as God in Christ forgave you,' reflecting the parable’s model of a creditor who freely cancels a debt and the ethical implication for Christians.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the lord of that servant, moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
- And the lord of that servant, moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
Matt.18.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εξελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκεινος: PRON,dem,nom,sg,m
- ευρεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- συνδουλων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ος: PRO,nom,sg,m
- ωφειλεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εκατον: NUM,nom,sg,m
- δηναρια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- κρατησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- επνιγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγων·Αποδος: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg + VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ει: COND
- τι: ADV
- οφειλεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 18:23 (structural): Opening verse of the same parable (the king settling accounts) that establishes the context for the servant who is owed a hundred denarii.
- Matthew 18:34-35 (structural): Conclusion and moral of the parable (the master’s punishment of the unforgiving servant), directly linked to the violence in v.28 and the teaching on forgiveness.
- Luke 7:41-43 (verbal): Parable of two debtors uses debt-and-forgiveness imagery to teach why one who is forgiven much will love more—verbal/thematic parallel to the debt motif in Matthew’s parable.
- Ephesians 4:32 (thematic): Exhortation to be kind and forgiving to one another, as God forgave you—reflects the ethical lesson Jesus draws from the parable.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Command to forgive grievances against one another as the Lord forgave you; parallels the parable’s emphasis on reciprocal forgiveness.
Alternative generated candidates
- But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him he began to choke him, saying, "Pay what you owe."
- But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized him and began to choke him, saying, "Pay what you owe."
Matt.18.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πεσων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- συνδουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- παρεκαλει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- λεγων·Μακροθυμησον: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- επ᾽εμοι: PREP+PRON,dat,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- αποδωσω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
Parallels
- Matthew 18:26 (verbal): Earlier in the same parable the debtor kneels and uses essentially the same plea—'Have patience with me, and I will pay you'—showing near‑verbatim repetition of the request.
- Matthew 18:21–22 (thematic): Peter's question about how often to forgive and Jesus' reply (seventy‑times‑seven) frame the parable's theme of unlimited mercy and the expectation of forgiveness among brothers.
- Philemon 1:18–19 (thematic): Paul offers to personally repay any debt owed by Onesimus to Philemon—paralleling the language and idea of one party promising to make good another's obligation and pleading for mercy or reconciliation.
- Luke 17:3–4 (thematic): Jesus instructs repeated forgiveness when a brother repents ('if he repents, forgive him'), reinforcing the parable's call to show mercy and to release debts when repentance or pleading occurs.
Alternative generated candidates
- So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you."
- So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you."
Matt.18.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- ηθελεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αλλα: CONJ
- απελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- εβαλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- εις: PREP
- φυλακην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εως: CONJ
- ου: PART
- αποδω: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- οφειλομενον: VERB,pres,pass,part,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Matt.18.34 (verbal): Same parable — the master likewise hands the unforgiving servant over to the jailers until he should pay all owed; closely parallels wording and narrative outcome.
- Matt.5.25-26 (verbal): Jesus' warning about being handed to the judge and thrown into prison 'until you have paid the last penny' uses the same imagery and legal consequence of imprisonment until debt is satisfied.
- Luke 7:41-43 (thematic): Parable of the two debtors contrasts forgiveness and indebtedness — thematically related to mercy shown (or withheld) toward debtors in Matthew 18's parable.
- Luke 12:58-59 (thematic): Admonition to settle with an adversary to avoid being delivered to the officer and thrown into prison; parallels the legal/penal motif of imprisonment for unresolved obligations.
- Prov.22:7 (thematic): Proverbial principle that 'the borrower is servant to the lender' reflects the broader cultural/ethical background of debt leading to bondage, underlying the parable's depiction of imprisonment for debt.
Alternative generated candidates
- He refused; instead he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
- But he refused; instead he went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was owed.
Matt.18.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- ουν: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- συνδουλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- γενομενα: VERB,aor,mid/pass,part,acc,pl,n
- ελυπηθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- σφοδρα: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ελθοντες: PART,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- διεσαφησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εαυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- παντα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- γενομενα: VERB,aor,mid/pass,part,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Matthew 18:28 (verbal): Describes the action (the fellow servant seizing and demanding payment) that directly caused the other servants' distress; shares vocabulary and immediate narrative context within the same parable.
- Matthew 18:32-34 (structural): Continues the narrative—after the servants report, the master summons the offending servant and delivers judgment; shows the consequence of the reported incident.
- Matthew 18:15 (thematic): Gives the procedural principle of bringing a matter before others (one or two or the church) for accountability—parallels the community’s role in reporting wrongdoing to an authority.
- Colossians 3:13 (thematic): Contrasts the parable’s outcome by exhorting believers to forgive one another as the Lord forgave them, highlighting the moral/religious issue at stake in the reported incident.
Alternative generated candidates
- When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed and went and reported to their lord all that had happened.
- When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed and went and reported to their lord all that had happened.
Matt.18.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- προσκαλεσαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Δουλε: PRON,dat,sg,m+NOUN,voc,sg,m
- πονηρε: ADJ,voc,sg,m
- πασαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οφειλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εκεινην: DEM,acc,sg,f
- αφηκα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- επει: CONJ
- παρεκαλεσας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- με·: PRON,acc,sg,1
Parallels
- Matthew 18:26-27 (verbal): Immediate context of the parable: the servant begs for mercy and the master forgives the entire debt—these verses provide the narrative lead-up to 18:32 and share key wording and action.
- Matthew 18:33 (structural): Direct continuation/contrast: the master’s response in 18:33 (anger and punishment) completes the narrative and underscores the contrast with the forgiven servant’s later behaviour.
- Matthew 6:14-15 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that God’s forgiveness of us is conditional on our forgiving others echoes the moral point of the parable in 18:32–35.
- Luke 7:41-43 (verbal): Parable of the two debtors: similar imagery of debt, forgiveness, and gratitude; uses comparable language about cancelling debts and the moral lesson about response to forgiveness.
- Luke 17:3-4 (thematic): Instruction to forgive a repentant brother repeatedly highlights the same ethical demand for mercy and forgiveness that the master expected of his forgiven servant.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
- Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.
Matt.18.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουκ: PART
- εδει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- ελεησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- συνδουλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ως: CONJ
- καγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- ηλεησα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 6:14-15 (verbal): Direct teaching that forgiveness of others is required in order to receive the Father's forgiveness—same conditional logic as the parable's demand for mercy.
- Mark 11:25-26 (thematic): Emphasizes forgiving others when praying so that God will forgive you, echoing the reciprocal expectation of mercy in Matthew 18.
- Luke 17:3-4 (thematic): Instructs repeated forgiveness of a repentant brother (up to seven times), reflecting the New Testament ethic of ongoing mercy toward others.
- Colossians 3:13 (verbal): Commands believers to forgive one another 'as the Lord forgave you,' closely paralleling the model of divine mercy appealed to in Matthew 18:33.
- Ephesians 4:32 (verbal): Calls for kindness and forgiveness 'as God forgave you in Christ,' using the same theological basis (God's mercy) that undergirds the parable's demand for interpersonal mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?"
- Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?"
Matt.18.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οργισθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,m,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- παρεδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- βασανισταις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- εως: CONJ
- ου: PART
- αποδω: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- οφειλομενον: VERB,pres,pass,ptc,acc,n,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 18:35 (structural): Immediate conclusion of the parable: the warning that the heavenly Father will deal likewise with those who do not forgive — explicates the meaning of the servant’s punishment.
- Matthew 5:25-26 (verbal): Uses the same juridical motif and language of being held until full payment is made (‘you will not get out until you have paid the last penny’), paralleling detention until recompense.
- Luke 12:58-59 (verbal): Similar courtroom/prison imagery — being handed over and detained until one has paid — echoing the ‘delivered… to the tormentors/until he should pay’ motif.
- James 2:13 (thematic): Direct moral parallel: judgment without mercy for those who have shown no mercy — ties the parable’s ethical lesson (failure to forgive leads to punitive judgment) to New Testament teaching on mercy and judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all that was due.
- And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all that was owed him.
Matt.18.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουτως: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ουρανιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ποιησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- εαν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αφητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εκαστος: ADJ,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αδελφω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- καρδιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 6:14-15 (verbal): Directly parallels the promise that the heavenly Father will forgive (or not) in response to human forgiveness; both link divine withholding of forgiveness to failure to forgive others.
- Mark 11:25 (verbal): Commands forgiveness in connection with prayer so that the Father in heaven may forgive you—echoes the causal link between forgiving others and receiving the Father's forgiveness.
- Luke 17:3-4 (thematic): Teaches repeated, heart-level forgiveness of a sinning brother; resonates with Matthew's emphasis on forgiving from the heart as a moral obligation among disciples.
- Ephesians 4:32 (thematic): Calls Christians to forgive one another as God in Christ forgave them—reflects Matthew's reciprocity motif where divine treatment corresponds to human forgiveness.
- Colossians 3:13 (verbal): Urges bearing with and forgiving one another 'as the Lord forgave you,' paralleling Matthew's idea that the Father's forgiveness is tied to believers' willingness to forgive.
Alternative generated candidates
- So also my Father in heaven will deal with you, unless each of you from your hearts forgives his brother."
- So also my Father who is in heaven will do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.
Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?'
Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But since he had no means to pay, his lord commanded that he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold, and payment be made.
Then the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that servant, moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'
He refused; rather he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had happened.
Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.'
'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all that was due. So likewise my Father in heaven will do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.
Forgive one another from your heart; for if you do not, your Father in heaven will also deal with you as this man did.'