Matthew 18 35

Matthew 18:35 kjv

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 nkjv

"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

Matthew 18:35 niv

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Matthew 18:35 esv

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Matthew 18:35 nlt

"That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart."

Matthew 18 verses

Matthew 18 35 Meaning

This verse is the concluding statement of Jesus' Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35). It powerfully conveys that the Heavenly Father will treat His children in the same manner they treat others regarding forgiveness. If a believer does not genuinely and sincerely forgive their fellow believers for their offenses, God will, in turn, not grant them the spiritual freedom and grace related to their own trespasses, thereby reflecting His justice and emphasis on transformed hearts.

Matthew 18 35 Context

Matthew chapter 18 primarily addresses dynamics within the community of believers, the "kingdom of heaven" on earth. It begins with the disciples' question about greatness in the kingdom, leading Jesus to emphasize humility, becoming like a child, and not causing little ones to stumble. This segues into the parable of the lost sheep, highlighting God's pursuit of each individual. The latter part of the chapter, specifically verses 15-20, discusses how to address a brother who sins, advocating for reconciliation. It is Peter's follow-up question in verse 21, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" that directly prompts Jesus' response in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-34). This parable illustrates a servant who was forgiven an immense, unpayable debt by his king, only to then refuse to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller, manageable debt. Matthew 18:35 serves as the powerful concluding application and moral of this parable, stressing that the Father's dealings with His children mirror their willingness to extend genuine forgiveness. The historical context reflects a Jewish culture that had parameters for forgiveness, sometimes limiting it to a few times; Jesus pushes this boundary to a limitless, heartfelt command for those who have received such profound mercy from God.

Matthew 18 35 Word analysis

• So (οὕτως - houtōs): This Greek adverb means "thus, in this manner, in the same way." It functions as a direct connective, establishing a strong, consequential parallel between human action (not forgiving) and divine reaction (Heavenly Father's dealing). It highlights that God's justice aligns with the principle illustrated in the preceding parable.
• My heavenly Father (Πατὴρ ὁ οὐράνιος - Patēr ho ouranios): "Father" signifies intimate relationship, authority, and perfect righteousness. "Heavenly" emphasizes divine perspective and ultimate judgment, beyond earthly limitations. This phrase stresses that God Himself, not just some abstract principle, is directly involved in this reciprocal process.
• also will do to you: The word "also" reinforces the exact parallel with the unforgiving servant's fate in the parable. "Will do to you" implies a definite consequence, an act of divine justice and alignment of our spiritual reality with our outward actions. It is not about losing salvation but about experiencing God's disciplinary hand or withheld blessings/communion.
• if each of you: This phrase underscores the universal applicability of the command. It is not an abstract concept but a personal expectation for every believer. There are no exceptions; individual responsibility for forgiveness is central.
• from his heart (ἐκ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν - ek tōn kardiōn hymōn): This is crucial. "From his heart" specifies that the forgiveness must be genuine, sincere, and internal, not merely superficial, ritualistic, or outwardly coerced. It speaks to the inner disposition and spiritual transformation, emphasizing that bitterness and resentment must be truly released, not just suppressed. The "heart" in biblical terms is the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral character.
• does not forgive (μὴ ἀφῆτε - mē aphēte): "Not forgive" uses the negative particle mē which indicates a prohibitive or conditional negative. "Forgive" is from aphiēmi, meaning to "send away, release, dismiss, permit, abandon, let go, remit (debt), pardon (sin)." It encapsulates the act of releasing an offense and the one who committed it from any claim or resentment. This encompasses the full cancellation of the debt or wrong in one's heart.
• his brother (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ - ton adelphon autou): "Brother" primarily refers to a fellow believer in the Christian community, as emphasized in Matt 18:15 and chapter context. However, it can also extend to humanity in general. The call to forgive extends to those within the faith community whom we interact with most closely, acknowledging common Fatherhood in Christ.
• his trespasses (τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτοῦ - ta paraptōmata autou): "Trespasses" comes from paraptōma, meaning "a false step, a blunder, a deviation from uprightness, an offense, a transgression." It refers to wrongful actions or sins committed against another. The plural "trespasses" implies that this applies to multiple offenses, not just a single instance.
• "So My heavenly Father also will do to you...": This phrase emphasizes the principle of divine reciprocity. The Father's response is directly proportionate to the sincerity of our forgiveness.
• "if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother...": This words-group highlights the personal and internal nature of the command. It's an individual responsibility, and the lack of internal, genuine forgiveness carries spiritual consequence.

Matthew 18 35 Bonus section

This verse is often cited as one of the most sobering and challenging commands regarding Christian conduct. While it clearly connects our forgiveness to God's, it's critical to understand it within the broader theological framework of grace. It does not teach that believers lose their salvation if they struggle with unforgiveness, as salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5). Instead, it highlights the disciplinary aspect of God's fatherly relationship with His children (Heb 12:5-11), where continued unforgiveness, a fundamental characteristic opposite to God's nature, indicates an unregenerate heart or severe spiritual immaturity that incurs divine disfavor and hinders one's communion and walk with God. It emphasizes that true conversion involves a changed heart, from which forgiveness naturally flows, and that consistent unforgiveness contradicts the very essence of God's character displayed in the Gospel. This verse underlines the profound ethical implications of having been forgiven by God.

Matthew 18 35 Commentary

Matthew 18:35 acts as the ultimate summary and practical application of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, reinforcing a core truth of the kingdom of heaven: God's forgiveness of us is vast and freely given, and it serves as the ultimate motivation and model for our forgiveness of others. The conditional nature of "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if..." is not about earning salvation, but about the manifestation of a truly regenerated heart and maintaining communion with God. Unforgiveness of a "brother" reveals a lack of understanding or appropriation of the radical grace received from God. The phrase "from his heart" is paramount, moving beyond mere words or outward actions to genuine inner release of anger, bitterness, and resentment. Failure to forgive genuinely leads to spiritual consequences: a strained relationship with God, an inability to fully receive and experience His peace, and remaining bound by the bitterness one harbors, which essentially replicates the unforgiving servant's imprisonment. This verse urges believers to align their character with God's compassionate and merciful nature, living out the forgiveness they themselves have so generously received.

• Example 1: A believer holds a grudge against a friend for a past betrayal. Despite praying, they find little peace and their spiritual life feels stagnant. Matt 18:35 suggests this inner blockage (unforgiveness "from his heart") is hindering the experience of God's full grace and communion.
• Example 2: After a heated church conflict, some members refuse to reconcile genuinely, harboring ill will. This verse indicates their Heavenly Father will mirror that unforgiving posture in His dealings with them, impacting their walk, not necessarily their salvation, but their spiritual freedom and relationship with Him and each other.