Matthew 18 27

Matthew 18:27 kjv

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:27 nkjv

Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:27 niv

The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:27 esv

And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:27 nlt

Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

Matthew 18 verses

Matthew 18 27 Meaning

Matthew 18:27 illustrates the profound, immeasurable compassion and grace of God, symbolized by the lord in the parable. This verse depicts an astonishing act of mercy where an immense and unpayable debt is completely cancelled, leading to the full release of the debtor. It underscores the radical nature of divine forgiveness, given without prior merit from the servant, driven solely by the master's pity. This act sets the stage for the crucial lesson on how believers, having received such extraordinary forgiveness, are then morally obligated to extend similar compassion and forgiveness to others, particularly for their smaller transgressions.

Matthew 18 27 Context

Matthew chapter 18, often called the "Discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven" or "Church Discipline," focuses on the characteristics of those who belong to the Kingdom and how they should live together. The chapter begins with a lesson on humility and becoming like a child (v. 1-4), warns against causing others to stumble (v. 5-9), and emphasizes the value of each believer to God (v. 10-14), symbolized by the parable of the lost sheep. It then moves into instructions for addressing sin within the community (v. 15-20). This specific verse, Matthew 18:27, is part of the "Parable of the Unforgiving Servant" (v. 23-35), which Jesus tells in response to Peter's question about how many times one should forgive a brother (v. 21). Peter suggests "seven times," but Jesus dramatically elevates this by implying limitless forgiveness ("seventy-seven times" or "seventy times seven," v. 22). The parable illustrates the boundless forgiveness received from God, emphasizing that this experience must fundamentally transform the believer's attitude toward forgiving others. The astronomical, unpayable debt (10,000 talents) highlights the immeasurable spiritual debt of sin humanity owes to God, making the master's compassion and cancellation of it a striking parallel to God's grace.

Matthew 18 27 Word analysis

• Then the lord (ὁ κύριος, ho Kyrios): Refers to the master, ruler, or owner. In the parable, he represents God. His title emphasizes his absolute authority and ownership, making his subsequent action of forgiveness all the more significant as a demonstration of power tempered by grace.
• of that servant (τοῦ δούλου, tou doulou): Refers to a slave or bondservant. In ancient Near Eastern context, one could become a slave to repay debt, symbolizing the complete indebtedness and powerlessness of humanity before God due to sin.
• was moved with compassion (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, esplanchnisthē): From splanchnizomai, meaning to be moved in one's bowels, intestines, or inward parts. This term signifies a deep, visceral empathy and pity. It's not mere intellectual assent or external duty but a profound emotional response from the core of one's being. This highlights that the master's act of forgiveness was rooted in heartfelt mercy, mirroring God's deep love and pity for humanity.
• released him (ἀπέλυσεν αὐτόν, apelysen auton): From apolyō, meaning to set free, send away, release. This signifies the removal of legal obligation and personal bondage. The servant was no longer bound by his debt or his servanthood specifically tied to that debt.
• and forgave (ἀφῆκεν, aphēken): From aphiēmi, meaning to let go, send away, abandon, permit, forgive. This is the crucial act of remitting the debt entirely. It signifies a complete cancellation, making the servant completely free from financial burden and the consequence of the debt. This word is also frequently used for the forgiveness of sins in the New Testament (e.g., Matt 6:12).
• him the debt (αὐτῷ τὸ δάνειον, autō to daneion): The 'him' refers to the servant. 'The debt' (daneion) is what was lent or borrowed. The immense sum of 10,000 talents represents a debt literally impossible for anyone in that historical context to repay, hyperbolically illustrating the infinite nature of humanity's sin-debt to God.
• Word-group analysis:
  • "was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt": This sequence shows a clear progression: heartfelt emotion leading to concrete action. The compassion (splanchnizomai) is the underlying motivation for both the release (apolyō) from physical constraint (like debt-bondage or prison) and the full cancellation (aphiēmi) of the financial obligation. It underscores the complete and unmerited nature of divine grace.

Matthew 18 27 Bonus section

• Hyperbole: The amount of "ten thousand talents" is an extreme hyperbole, chosen deliberately to convey a debt that is humanly impossible to repay. This dramatically underscores the immeasurability of humanity's sin-debt against God, making the master's act of forgiveness even more staggering and a clear metaphor for God's boundless grace.
• Economic Context: A "talent" was not a coin but a unit of weight, representing about 75 pounds of precious metal (gold or silver). At 6,000 denarii per talent (where a denarius was a day's wage), 10,000 talents amounted to 60,000,000 denarii. This was many centuries' worth of wages for an average laborer, truly a sum that could never be repaid. The cancellation of such a debt signifies complete, overwhelming freedom from an otherwise inescapable burden.
• Foregiveness as Remittance: The Greek word for "forgave" (aphiēmi) is the same word used for "forgive" in the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:12) when asking for forgiveness of "debts" (sins). This linguistic link emphasizes that God's forgiveness of our sins is akin to the master's cancellation of an immense debt.
• Contrast to Law: In ancient Near Eastern law, such a massive debt would likely lead to generational debt slavery or worse. The master's action directly contravenes the typical harsh economic realities, embodying a divine mercy that transcends human legal systems.

Matthew 18 27 Commentary

Matthew 18:27 is the pivotal moment of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, demonstrating the master's astounding and unwarranted grace. The master's deep compassion for his utterly indebted servant drives him to a completely selfless act: canceling an unpayable sum of money that literally bound the servant and his family into perpetual servitude. This action highlights God's character as One who is "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4) and willing to forgive infinite spiritual debts, symbolized by the "10,000 talents." The verb "was moved with compassion" signifies a profound, gut-level empathy, showing God's forgiveness is not a cold legal transaction but springs from the depths of His merciful heart. This generous act of clemency establishes the moral baseline for Christian conduct: having received such vast, immeasurable forgiveness from God, believers are inherently obligated to extend genuine forgiveness, particularly for relatively minor transgressions, to those who owe them. It sets the standard that the depth of God's forgiveness towards us should define the breadth of our forgiveness towards others.