Matthew 18:34 - His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.
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What does "Matthew 18:34" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:34, is part of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: The parable is Jesus' response to Peter's question about how many times one should forgive a brother who sins against him (Matthew 18:21).
The Parable's Setup: A servant owes his master a massive, unpayable debt. The servant begs for mercy, and the master, moved with compassion, forgives the entire debt.
The Servant's Lack of Mercy: The same servant then finds a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount. Despite having just been forgiven a huge debt, he refuses to forgive the smaller debt and has the fellow servant thrown into prison until he can pay it back.
"His Lord Was Angry": The master hears about the unforgiving servant's actions. The master is furious because the servant, who had received such immense mercy, refused to extend similar mercy to another.
"Delivered Him to the Tormentors": This is the key part of the verse you asked about. "Tormentors" (Greek: basanistais) likely refers to jailers or torturers whose job was to inflict pain to extract payment. This suggests harsh imprisonment and punishment.
"Until He Should Pay All That Was Due to Him": This emphasizes that the punishment is not simply a matter of justice. The servant must suffer until he is able to pay back the enormous debt that was originally forgiven. This implies that he will never be able to pay the debt.
Overall Meaning:
Unforgiveness Has Consequences: The primary message is that unforgiveness has serious repercussions. God expects those who have received his forgiveness (which is immense) to be forgiving towards others.
Loss of Forgiveness: The unforgiving servant's initial forgiveness is revoked. He is punished as if he had never been forgiven in the first place. This suggests that God's forgiveness is conditional on our willingness to forgive others.
Eternal Significance: Many interpretations see the "tormentors" as a symbol of eternal judgment. The parable serves as a warning that those who do not forgive others will face God's judgment.
A Call to Genuine Forgiveness: The parable challenges believers to examine their own hearts and to cultivate a spirit of genuine forgiveness toward others, mirroring the forgiveness they have received from God.
In essence, Matthew 18:34 conveys the severe consequences of refusing to forgive others after having been forgiven oneself. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of extending mercy and compassion as God has shown mercy and compassion to us.
Matthew 18:34 - His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him.
What does "Matthew 18:34" mean?
This verse, Matthew 18:34, is part of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: The parable is Jesus' response to Peter's question about how many times one should forgive a brother who sins against him (Matthew 18:21).
The Parable's Setup: A servant owes his master a massive, unpayable debt. The servant begs for mercy, and the master, moved with compassion, forgives the entire debt.
The Servant's Lack of Mercy: The same servant then finds a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount. Despite having just been forgiven a huge debt, he refuses to forgive the smaller debt and has the fellow servant thrown into prison until he can pay it back.
"His Lord Was Angry": The master hears about the unforgiving servant's actions. The master is furious because the servant, who had received such immense mercy, refused to extend similar mercy to another.
"Delivered Him to the Tormentors": This is the key part of the verse you asked about. "Tormentors" (Greek: basanistais) likely refers to jailers or torturers whose job was to inflict pain to extract payment. This suggests harsh imprisonment and punishment.
"Until He Should Pay All That Was Due to Him": This emphasizes that the punishment is not simply a matter of justice. The servant must suffer until he is able to pay back the enormous debt that was originally forgiven. This implies that he will never be able to pay the debt.
Overall Meaning:
Unforgiveness Has Consequences: The primary message is that unforgiveness has serious repercussions. God expects those who have received his forgiveness (which is immense) to be forgiving towards others.
Loss of Forgiveness: The unforgiving servant's initial forgiveness is revoked. He is punished as if he had never been forgiven in the first place. This suggests that God's forgiveness is conditional on our willingness to forgive others.
Eternal Significance: Many interpretations see the "tormentors" as a symbol of eternal judgment. The parable serves as a warning that those who do not forgive others will face God's judgment.
A Call to Genuine Forgiveness: The parable challenges believers to examine their own hearts and to cultivate a spirit of genuine forgiveness toward others, mirroring the forgiveness they have received from God.
In essence, Matthew 18:34 conveys the severe consequences of refusing to forgive others after having been forgiven oneself. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of extending mercy and compassion as God has shown mercy and compassion to us.