Matthew 18:28 - “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!’
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 18:28" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:28, is part of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, told by Jesus. Its meaning is deeply tied to the broader message of the parable. Here's a breakdown:
"But that servant went out...": This refers back to the servant in the parable who had been forgiven an immense debt (ten thousand talents, a huge sum) by his master (God, representing God's forgiveness). This highlights the irony and immediate contrast with what follows.
"...and found one of his fellow servants...": This is a servant who is equal in standing (relative to the master) as the man who was just forgiven
"...who owed him one hundred denarii...": A denarius was a day's wage for a common laborer. One hundred denarii was still a significant sum, but drastically less than the ten thousand talents he'd been forgiven (think of the difference between owing a few dollars and owing millions).
"...and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'": This action illustrates the unforgiving nature of the servant. He shows no compassion or mercy despite having just received immense forgiveness himself. The violence of "grabbed him" and "took him by the throat" emphasizes his lack of empathy and the severity of his demand. He is enforcing his right to be paid back, something he has every right to do, but is doing so without any compassion.
In context, the verse means:
1. Hypocrisy of Unforgiveness: The verse illustrates the hypocrisy of someone who has received great forgiveness but refuses to extend even a small amount of forgiveness to others.
2. Contrast in Scale: The vast difference between the debt forgiven to the first servant and the debt owed to him highlights the pettiness of his demand. God's forgiveness is immense and transformative; holding onto small grudges is disproportionate.
3. Lack of Empathy: The servant's violent reaction shows a complete lack of empathy. He doesn't remember what it was like to be burdened by debt and desperate for mercy.
4. The Importance of Extending Forgiveness: This verse sets the stage for the rest of the parable, which teaches that those who have been forgiven must also be forgiving. God expects those He forgives to forgive others. The inability to forgive others demonstrates a failure to truly grasp the magnitude of God's forgiveness.
In summary, Matthew 18:28 is a powerful illustration of the tragic flaw of unforgiveness. It highlights the stark contrast between God's boundless mercy and humanity's often petty and unforgiving nature. The servant's actions are a cautionary tale about the importance of extending grace and compassion to others, just as we have received grace and compassion ourselves.
Matthew 18:28 - “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!’
What does "Matthew 18:28" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:28, is part of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, told by Jesus. Its meaning is deeply tied to the broader message of the parable. Here's a breakdown:
"But that servant went out...": This refers back to the servant in the parable who had been forgiven an immense debt (ten thousand talents, a huge sum) by his master (God, representing God's forgiveness). This highlights the irony and immediate contrast with what follows.
"...and found one of his fellow servants...": This is a servant who is equal in standing (relative to the master) as the man who was just forgiven
"...who owed him one hundred denarii...": A denarius was a day's wage for a common laborer. One hundred denarii was still a significant sum, but drastically less than the ten thousand talents he'd been forgiven (think of the difference between owing a few dollars and owing millions).
"...and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'": This action illustrates the unforgiving nature of the servant. He shows no compassion or mercy despite having just received immense forgiveness himself. The violence of "grabbed him" and "took him by the throat" emphasizes his lack of empathy and the severity of his demand. He is enforcing his right to be paid back, something he has every right to do, but is doing so without any compassion.
In context, the verse means:
1. Hypocrisy of Unforgiveness: The verse illustrates the hypocrisy of someone who has received great forgiveness but refuses to extend even a small amount of forgiveness to others.
2. Contrast in Scale: The vast difference between the debt forgiven to the first servant and the debt owed to him highlights the pettiness of his demand. God's forgiveness is immense and transformative; holding onto small grudges is disproportionate.
3. Lack of Empathy: The servant's violent reaction shows a complete lack of empathy. He doesn't remember what it was like to be burdened by debt and desperate for mercy.
4. The Importance of Extending Forgiveness: This verse sets the stage for the rest of the parable, which teaches that those who have been forgiven must also be forgiving. God expects those He forgives to forgive others. The inability to forgive others demonstrates a failure to truly grasp the magnitude of God's forgiveness.
In summary, Matthew 18:28 is a powerful illustration of the tragic flaw of unforgiveness. It highlights the stark contrast between God's boundless mercy and humanity's often petty and unforgiving nature. The servant's actions are a cautionary tale about the importance of extending grace and compassion to others, just as we have received grace and compassion ourselves.