ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Matthew 18.23-35

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"21. Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? 22. Jesus says unto him, I say not unto you, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven."

"23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. 24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. 25. But forasmuch as he had not with which to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and sons, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26. The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 27. And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28. But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what you owe. 29. So his fellow-servant fell down and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. 30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay that which was due. 31. So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32. Then his lord called him unto him, and says to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you besoughtest me: 33. should not you also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you? 34. And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due. 35. So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts." (Matthew 18:21-35, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"21. Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22. Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven."

"23. Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. 24. When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25. But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26. The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ 27. The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28. “But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29. “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ 30. He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. 31. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. 32. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. 33. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ 34. His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. 35. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”" (Matthew 18:21-35, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

"23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. talents: a talent is 750.ounces of silver, which after five shillings the ounce is 187.li. 10.s. 25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. worshipped him: or, besought him 27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. pence: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents 29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." (Matthew 18:21-35, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"21. Then Peter having come near to him, said, 'Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, till seven times?' 22. Jesus saith to him, 'I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven."

"23. 'Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants, 24. and he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents, 25. and he having nothing to pay, his lord did command him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made. 26. The servant then, having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying, Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all; 27. and the lord of that servant having been moved with compassion did release him, and the debt he forgave him. 28. 'And, that servant having come forth, found one of his fellow-servants who was owing him an hundred denaries, and having laid hold, he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owest. 29. His fellow-servant then, having fallen down at his feet, was calling on him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all; 30. and he would not, but having gone away, he cast him into prison, till he might pay that which was owing. 31. 'And his fellow-servants having seen the things that were done, were grieved exceedingly, and having come, shewed fully to their lord all the things that were done; 32. then having called him, his lord saith to him, Evil servant! all that debt I did forgive thee, seeing thou didst call upon me, 33. did it not behove also thee to have dealt kindly with thy fellow-servant, as I also dealt kindly with thee? 34. 'And having been wroth, his lord delivered him to the inquisitors, till he might pay all that was owing to him; 35. so also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye may not forgive each one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.'" (Matthew 18:21-35, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.