Matthew 18 25

Matthew 18:25 kjv

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Matthew 18:25 nkjv

But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.

Matthew 18:25 niv

Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

Matthew 18:25 esv

And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Matthew 18:25 nlt

He couldn't pay, so his master ordered that he be sold ? along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned ? to pay the debt.

Matthew 18 verses

Matthew 18 25 Meaning

Matthew 18:25 describes the master's just and immediate command for the repayment of an immense, unpaid debt: that the indebted servant, along with his entire family and all his possessions, be sold to recover the principal. This verse illustrates the complete and devastating consequences of failing to satisfy an overwhelming financial obligation according to the harsh but prevailing customs of the ancient world. It starkly highlights the servant's utter bankruptcy and inability to pay, setting the scene for the extraordinary grace that follows.

Matthew 18 25 Context

Matthew 18:25 is part of Jesus's "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" (Matt 18:23-35), which Jesus told immediately after Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone (Matt 18:21). Peter's suggestion of "seven times" was already generous, but Jesus responds with an astonishing "seventy-seven times" (or "seventy times seven" in some translations, implying boundless forgiveness, Matt 18:22).

The parable itself vividly illustrates this boundless forgiveness. The servant owes his master a colossal debt—ten thousand talents (Matt 18:24), an astronomical sum far beyond what anyone could realistically earn or repay in a lifetime. This immense debt represents the insurmountable spiritual debt humanity owes to God because of sin. Verse 25 then presents the master's just and expected response to this unpayable debt within the economic and legal framework of the ancient Near East and Roman world: selling the debtor, his wife, children, and all his possessions into slavery or liquidation to attempt to recoup the loss. This was a common, albeit brutal, legal practice, highlighting the extreme measures to secure payment. This harsh consequence sets a sharp contrast for the overwhelming grace that the master is about to show (Matt 18:27), profoundly emphasizing the magnitude of the forgiveness given.

Matthew 18 25 Word analysis

• But since (Ἐπειδὴ δέ - Epeidē de): A causal conjunction indicating "because indeed" or "for inasmuch as." It introduces the immediate reason for the master's command, linking the servant's inability to pay with the subsequent harsh consequence.
• he could not pay (οὐκ εἶχεν ἀποδοῦναι - ouk eichen apodounai):
  • ouk: the strong negative particle, indicating "not at all" or "absolutely not."
  • eichen: imperfect tense of "to have" or "to be able." It describes a continuous or ongoing state of incapacity.
  • apodounai: "to give back," "to repay," "to render what is due."
  • Significance: This phrase underlines the servant's utter and hopeless financial bankruptcy regarding such a vast debt. This spiritual impossibility for humans to earn or merit salvation by their own efforts is critical to the parable's allegory.
• his master (ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ - ho kyrios autou):
  • kyrios: "master," "lord," "owner." This term underscores the sovereign authority and absolute rights of the figure who represents God in the parable.
• commanded (ἐκέλευσεν - ekeleusen): A direct, decisive, and authoritative order. It implies a legal judgment based on the established laws of debt.
• that he (αὐτόν - auton): Refers to the servant himself, the primary debtor, whose freedom is now forfeit.
• and his wife (καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα - kai tēn gynaika): "And the wife." This inclusion reveals the devastating scope of ancient debt laws, where not only the debtor but his immediate family could be subjected to sale and servitude to satisfy an obligation. It portrays the complete ruin.
• and children (καὶ τὰ τέκνα - kai ta tekna): "And the children." Further emphasizes the generational impact and total desolation, demonstrating that debt's consequences extended to the innocent. This detail heightens the tragedy and magnitude of the demanded repayment.
• and all that he had (καὶ πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν - kai panta hosa eichen):
  • panta: "all things."
  • hosa: "whatever," "as much as."
  • Significance: Reinforces the absolute forfeiture. Not a single possession or asset would be spared. It's a picture of utter material deprivation, leaving the servant with absolutely nothing.
• be sold (πραθῆναι - prathēnai): An infinitive meaning "to be sold," denoting the outcome of the master's command – their forcible liquidation into servitude or for assets.
• and payment be made (καὶ ἀποδοθῆναι - kai apodothēnai):
  • apodothēnai: "to be given back," "to be rendered," "to be repaid."
  • Significance: The purpose of the sale was not simply punitive but restitutive—to recover the debt. This highlights the principle of justice: debt must be repaid. The spiritual parallel is that the debt of sin must be satisfied before holiness.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "he could not pay": This central phrase establishes the servant's absolute incapacity. It metaphorically reflects humanity's inability to reconcile itself to God through its own righteousness or works. We are spiritually bankrupt.
• "his master commanded... be sold": This phrase demonstrates the rightful authority of the master (representing God) to issue a decree of judgment for a debt that cannot be paid. It underscores the justice that necessitates consequences for unatoned sin.
• "he and his wife and children and all that he had be sold": This vivid detail paints a picture of complete and total forfeiture. It's not just personal freedom, but all relational ties and material security are stripped away. This represents the absolute ruin that awaits humanity if the debt of sin is left unpaid, leading to eternal separation from God and spiritual death (Rom 6:23). It accentuates the drastic contrast with the later act of masterly mercy.

Matthew 18 25 Bonus Section

• Hyperbolic Scale: Jesus used an extreme example (ten thousand talents) in the previous verse (v.24) and continued that hyperbole in verse 25 with the utter devastation of the servant and his entire family. This literary device emphasizes the immense gap between humanity's capacity to pay its debt to God and God's infinite righteousness. No human being, through their own works or efforts, can pay for their sins.
• Precedent in Ancient Laws: While severe, the selling of individuals, wives, and children into debt servitude had clear precedents in various ancient law codes, including those of the Near East (like the Code of Hammurabi) and also Roman law, under which Judea was then operating. Old Testament passages also mention debt-bondage (e.g., Neh 5:1-5; 2 Kgs 4:1-7). This made the master's command in the parable legally sound and comprehensible to Jesus' original audience, highlighting the weight and reality of such consequences.
• The Problem of Divine Justice: This verse illustrates the very problem that the Gospel resolves. How can a just and holy God simply overlook sin, which is an offense against His infinite holiness, without a penalty? This verse showcases that the debt must be paid, setting up the redemptive work of Christ who would "pay" that debt.

Matthew 18 25 Commentary

Matthew 18:25 presents the initial, unwavering reality of justice in the face of an insurmountable debt. The servant's inability to pay the colossal ten thousand talents (representing the incalculable spiritual debt of humanity to God) leads to the master's command for complete and devastating restitution through the sale of the servant, his wife, children, and all possessions. This reflects the prevailing legal and economic customs of the ancient world where such severe measures were not seen as unjust but as standard for profound debt.

Theologically, this verse establishes the absolute necessity of payment for a debt of such magnitude. It paints a stark picture of human spiritual bankruptcy before a holy God. Without intervention, humanity's "debt" of sin, which cannot be repaid by any personal effort or merit, would justly lead to complete loss and spiritual death. This harsh backdrop is crucial for appreciating the master's incredible, almost incomprehensible, act of compassion in forgiving the debt (v.27), an act that mirrors God's unilateral grace in Christ for humanity's sin. The verse therefore is not merely a descriptive detail but a powerful setup that highlights the profundity of divine forgiveness by contrasting it with the strict, dire consequences of natural justice.