So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’
Parallel translations
- WEB The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
- KJV The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
- BSB Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
- ESV So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
- NKJV The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
- NLT “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’
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
The servant falls down and begs for patience, promising to repay everything. His plea is sincere but his promise is impossible to keep.
Overview
In desperation the servant pleads for time, vowing full repayment he could never make. His posture of humble pleading is right, yet the sum is hopeless, which is the point: we cannot repay God. Only mercy, not delayed payment, can meet his need, as the king's response reveals.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Luke 7:43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
- Matt 18:29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
- Matt 8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
- Rom 10:3For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
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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 18:26 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.