So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Parallel translations
- WEB So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to 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.
- ESV When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.
- 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 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 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 them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
- Mark 3:5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
- Heb 13:3Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
- Luke 14:21So that servant came, and shewed 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
- Jer 9:1Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
- Luke 19:41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
- Gen 37:2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
- Ps 119:136Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
- Heb 13:17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
- Ps 119:158I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
- Rom 9:1–3I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
- 2 Cor 11:21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) 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
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