So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Parallel translations
- WEB So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
- BSB That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
- ESV So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
- NKJV “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
- NASB My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
- NLT “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
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 applies the parable: the Father will likewise judge those who do not forgive their brothers from the heart. Heartfelt forgiveness is the necessary fruit of having been forgiven.
Overview
The warning is sobering yet consistent with grace: those who refuse to forgive show they have not grasped or received God's forgiveness. Genuine, heartfelt mercy toward others is the evidence and outflow of saving grace (compare Matthew 6:14-15). The parable thus binds our forgiveness of others to the immense forgiveness we have in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 6:14–15For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
- Jas 2:13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
- Luke 6:37–38Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
- Mark 11:25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
- Matt 6:12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Prov 21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
- Prov 21:13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
- Matt 7:1–2Judge not, that ye be not judged.
- Luke 16:15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
- Rev 2:23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
- Zech 7:12Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
- Jas 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
- Jas 3:14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- Jer 3:10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
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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 18:35 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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