And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
Parallel translations
- WEB He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
- KJV And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
- BSB But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
- NASB But he was unwilling, and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed.
- NLT But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
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
Refusing mercy, the servant throws his debtor into prison until the debt is paid. He withholds the very compassion that had been freely given to him.
Overview
The forgiven servant's cold refusal and harsh imprisonment of his fellow servant reveal a heart hardened against grace. His action is the opposite of the king's mercy toward him. This unmerciful conduct is what triggers the judgment that follows and frames Jesus' warning about unforgiveness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Kgs 21:27–29When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- 1 Kgs 22:27Say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.”’”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 18:30 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
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