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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 18:23

διὰ τοῦτο suggests that the aim of the parable is to justify the apparently unreasonable demand in Matthew 18:22 : unlimited forgiveness of injuries. After all, says Jesus, suppose ye comply with the demand, what do your remissions amount to compared to what has been remitted to you by God? ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ : a man, a king; king an afterthought demanded by the nature of the case. Only a great monarch can have such debtors, and opportunity to forgive such debts. συνᾶραι λόγον (found again in Matthew 25:19), to hold a reckoning. δούλων : all alike servants or slaves in relation to the king. So human distinctions are dwarfed into insignificance by the distance between all men and God.

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See also Matthew 18:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Matthew 18:23. _THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM_] In respect to _sin,_ _cruelty_, and _oppression_, God will proceed in the kingdom of heaven (the dispensation of the Gospel) as he did in former times...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED ... - The phrase, “the kingdom of heaven,” here has reference to the church, or to the way in which God will deal with his people. “It shall be in my church...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    6. INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES. CONCERNING FORGIVENESS. CHAPTER 18 1. Concerning the Little Ones and Offences. (Matthew 18:1 .) 2. The Son of Man to Save What is Lost. (Matthew 18:11 .) 3. The Chu...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE DUTY OF FORGIVENESS ILLUSTRATED BY THE PARABLE OF THE UNGRATEFUL SERVANT. With Matthew 18:21 _ cf._ Luke 17:4, which makes repentance a condition. The Rabbis taught (_Yoma,_ 86_ b)_ that one must...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I tell you not up to seven times, but up to seventy times s...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Matthew 18:1-35) Matthew 18:1-35 is a most important chapter for Christian Ethics, because it deals with those qualities which should characterize the personal relationships o...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THEREFORE. On account of this. Greek. _dia_ (App-104.Matthew 18:1; Matthew 18:1), _touto._ A CERTAIN KING. a man (App-123.). king (Hebraism). WOULD. wished. Greek. _thelo_. App-102. TAKE ACCOUNT. to...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Forgiveness of Sins. Luke 17:3-4 God's forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _a certain king, which would take account of his servants_ The picture is drawn from an Oriental Court. The provincial governors, farmers of taxes, and other high officials are summoned before a despo...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἨΘΈΛΗΣΕΝ ΣΥΝΑ͂ΡΑΙ ΛΌΓΟΝ ΜΕΤᾺ ΤΩ͂Ν ΔΟΎΛΩΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. The picture is drawn from an Oriental Court. The provincial governors, farmers of taxes, and other high officials, are summoned before a despotic sove...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    FORGIVENESS OF SINS Luke 17:3-4 God’s forgiveness of sinners suggests the duty of forgiveness among men....

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    Ver 23. "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten tho...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN IS CHARACTERIZED BY FORGIVENESS MATTHEW 18:21-35:_ Jesus taught us just to keep on forgiving (seventy times seven). (Matthew 18:22) Are we like the man that owed several mill...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΏΜΟΙΏΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. от_ ΌΜΟΙΌΩ (G3666) сравнить, уподобить; _pass._ уподобиться или стать подобным, Ή ΘΈΛΗΣΕ Ν _aor. ind. act. от_ ΘΈΛΩ (G2309) хотеть, желать, ΣΥΝΆΡΑΙ _aor. inf. act. от_ ΣΥΝΑΊ...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED, &C.— "_For this reason,_ or, with respect to this matter, I may properly say that _the kingdom of heaven,_ in its constitution and final process, _may be li...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Section 46 JESUS TRAINS THE TWELVE IN PERSONAL RELATIONS (Parallels: Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-50) TEXT: 18:1-35 A. Humility and True Greatness 1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Wh...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    B. JESUS ANSWERS: NO LIMIT: MERCIFULNESS IS THE RULE IN GOD'S KINGDOM! (18:22-35) Matthew 18:22 JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I SAY NOT UNTO THEE, UNTIL SEVEN TIMES; BUT, UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN. On another...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. THEREFORE - `with reference to this matter,' IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED UNTO CERTAIN...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    16 See Deu_19:15; Joh_8:17; 2Co_3:1. 18 See Mat_16:19. 19 The Lord continues in the same vein. If we should attempt to apply these privileges and promises now it would only bring reproach on His name...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    18:23 king (b-13) Lit. 'a man a king.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    OFFENDING THE LITTLE ONES. THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 1-14. Ambition reproved, and humility taught by the example of a little child (Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46)....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A CERTAIN KING] i.e. God. WHICH WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT] RV 'would make a reckoning with his servants.' 'We are the servants with whom He takes account. This account, as is plain, is not the final reckonin...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT (peculiar to St. Matthew). The lesson is that, inasmuch as God has forgiven us the great and unpayable debt which as sinners we owe to Him, so we also must forgive our brethren...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 18 Chapter 18 is the fourth section of what Jesus taught. It ends in the same way as the other sections ‘Now when Jesus had finished...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED ... — Over and above the direct teaching of the parable it has the interest, as regards its form, of being, in some sense, an advance on those of chapter 13,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    FORGIVEN YET UNFORGIVING Matthew 18:21-35 _Seventy times seven_ is illimitable forgiveness. These numbers denote the perfection of perfection; and if God asks so much of _us,_ what is _He_ not prepa...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    What a sad state of heart prompted this question! How absolutely opposed to the whole genius of the Master's teaching and example! He replied by an act, and a statement growing out of that act. The ch...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER Matthew 18:21-35. _“Then Peter, coming to Him, said, Lord, how frequently shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? Jesus says to him, I do not say u...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until sev...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE KING AND HIS SERVANTS_ ‘Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.’ Matthew 18:23 The parable shows how absolutely the forgivenes...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    23._The kingdom of heaven is compared. _As it is difficult to bend us to mercy, and as we are quickly seized with weariness, particularly when we have to bear with many faults of brethren, our Lord co...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 18 the great principles proper to the new order of things are made known to the disciples. Let us search a little into these sweet and precious instructions of the Lord. They may be looked...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN,.... The Gospel church state, or the church of Christ under the Gospel dispensation, and the methods of God's dealings in it; LIKENED UNTO A CERTAIN KING: or "a man...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. Ver. 23. _Which would take account of his servants_] This God doth daily. 1. In the preaching...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Therefore_ In this respect; _the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king_ Here our Lord illustrates the excellent morality of the preceding verse by a lively parable; in which is shown “the...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; the dealings of Christ with men in the end of the world and the day of judgment, which were to usher in the last and crowning stage of his mediatorial dispensation. See Matthew...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT. THEREFORE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN LIKENED UNTO A CERTAIN KING WHICH WOULD TAKE ACCOUNT OF HIS SERVANTS. "Therefore," because unlimited forgiving in disposition and...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Though the Lord Jesus has been seen to forego His own rights, He who is by right infinitely great, the disciples show the opposite attitude in desiring some rights above those of others in the kingdom...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 untowa...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 18:35"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XIV Only, I have said these things with the view of referring his return when he comes with hiskingdom to the consummation, when he commanded the servants to whom he...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 18:23 Therefore G1223 G5124 kingdom G932 heaven G3772 like G3666 (G5681) certain G444 king G935 who...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PARABLE OF THE FORGIVEN SERVANT WHO COULD NOT HIMSELF FORGIVE This subject of repentance and forgiveness was of such importance under the Kingly Rule of Heaven that Jesus now tells a parable abou...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 18:23. THEREFORE. Because this readiness of forgiveness is the Christian principle. A MAN THAT IS A KING. Perhaps in antithesis to the heavenly king, what is true of the former is much more...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 18:1-14 forbade offences _against_ the humble. This section teaches how the humble should deal with offences: (1.) as regards the Christian assembly (Matthew 18:15-20); (2.) as regards his own...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    MAKE A RECKONING (συναρα λογον). Seen also in Matthew 25:19. Perhaps a Latinism, _rationes conferre_. First aorist active infinitive of συναιρω, to cast up accounts, to settle, to compare accounts w...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    KINGDOM (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:2). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Matthew 18:23 The Unmerciful Servant. The key-notes of this parable are to be found at the beginning and end. It was spoken in order to show that a man should set no limit to the forgiveness of injuri...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Sermon on the child text. Discipline in the church. Unity in prayer. Law of forgiveness. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Peter. CONCLUSION: Those are truly great who are truly humble and good, and...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 18:1. _Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?_ The comparative μειζων _greater,_ is put here for the superlative. By the kingdom of heaven, they meant the worldly glory of the church in...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE. He now uses a parable to explain this idea of forgiveness. A KING WHO DECIDED TO CHECK ON HIS SERVANTS' ACCOUNTS. A king had people working for him who managed h...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants._ THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT I. That we are all God’s debtors. Debt in the New Testament is a co...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 18:1 The Community of the Messiah Revealed. This is the fourth of Jesus’ five major teachings in Matthew’s Gospel (see Introduction: Key Themes). Jesus instructs his disciples...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 18:22. UNTIL SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.—That is, as often as there is a cause—a certain number is put for an uncertain (_John Wesley_). Matthew 18:24. TEN THOUSAND TALENTS.—The tal...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 18:1 _Discourse concerning the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and the mutual duties of Christians_._ _(Mark 9:33; Luke 9:46-42.)...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now at the same time there came disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew 18:1) Oh, boy how they longed for this. You're talking about motivation, and the disc...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Luke 16:1;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    A certain king [α ν θ ρ ω π ω β α σ ι λ ε ι]. Lit., a man, a king. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a human king. Take account of his servants [σ υ ν α ρ α ι λ ο γ ο ν μ ε τ α τ ω ν δ ο υ λ ω ν α υ...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GOD'S FORGIVENESS FOR SINS Matthew 6:14; _Matthew 18:21_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS The question which the words of our first text propound, is, Is forgiveness conditional? In answering this query we would...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Therefore — In this respect....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our blessed Saviour, to enforce the foregoing doctrine of mutual forgiveness, propounds. parable; the main scope of which is to shew, that unless we do actually forgive and pass by injuries done to us...

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Old Testament