So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
Parallel translations
- KJV So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
- BSB When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
- NKJV So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
- NASB So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened.
- NLT “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened.
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 other servants are grieved by what they see and report it to the king. The community recognizes the wrong and brings it before the master.
Overview
The distress of the fellow servants reflects how plainly unjust the man's behavior is in light of the mercy he received. Their reporting it to the king sets the stage for accountability. It signals that such hypocrisy does not escape the notice of the master who showed mercy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
- Mark 3:5When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
- Heb 13:3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.
- Luke 14:21“That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’
- Jer 9:1Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
- Luke 19:41When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,
- Gen 37:2This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father.
- Ps 119:136Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. TZADI
- Heb 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
- Ps 119:158I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don’t observe your word.
- Rom 9:1–3I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
- 2 Cor 11:21I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet in whatever way anyone is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.
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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 18:31 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.