Devine Scripture

Matthew 18:33

What does Matthew 18:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 18:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 18:33 means

The king posed a direct, convicting question to the wicked servant, highlighting the moral inconsistency of his actions: shouldn't he also have shown mercy to his fellow-servant, mirroring the immense mercy he himself had received? This question underscores the principle of reciprocity in forgiveness within God's Kingdom. The king implies that receiving grace creates an obligation to extend grace, and a failure to do so demonstrates an ungrateful heart that never truly appreciated the depth of the initial pardon.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Was it not right for you to have mercy on the other servant, even as I had mercy on you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-bondman, as I also had compassion on thee?

Context

This verse contains the king's central question to the unforgiving servant, immediately following the reminder of the colossal debt that was forgiven in verse 32. This rhetorical question exposes the servant's hypocrisy and serves as the moral crux of the parable, directly leading to the king's wrath and the servant's deserved punishment described in verse 34.

v.32Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:

v.33This passage

v.34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 5:44

    but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;

  • Luke 6:35

    But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.

  • Ephesians 4:32

    and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

  • Matthew 6:12

    And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

  • Colossians 3:13

    forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

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