Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
- KJV Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
- ESV “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
- NKJV Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
- NASB “For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
- NLT “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus likens the kingdom to a king settling accounts with his servants. The parable will illustrate God's mercy and the obligation it places on the forgiven.
Overview
The settling of accounts pictures the reckoning each person has before God. The kingdom of heaven operates by mercy received and mercy extended. This opening frame prepares for a story that measures our debt to God against the small debts others owe us, teaching the necessity of forgiveness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 13:24Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Rom 14:12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
- Matt 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matt 13:44–45The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
- Matt 13:47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish.
- Luke 16:1–2Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- Luke 19:12–27So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- Matt 13:52Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
- 2 Cor 5:10–11For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Matt 13:33He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”
- Matt 25:14For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
- Matt 13:31He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.
- Matt 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Matt 25:19–30After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 18:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.