²³ “For this reason ^(A)the kingdom of heaven ^[a]is like a king who wanted to ^(B)settle accounts with his slaves. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ^[b]ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵ But since he ^[c](C)did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he ^(D)be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. ²⁶ So the slave fell to the ground and ^(E)prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ ²⁷ And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and ^(F)forgave him the ^[d]debt. ²⁸ But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred ^[e]denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ ²⁹ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ ³⁰ But he was unwilling, ^[f]and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. ³¹ So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. ³² Then summoning him, his master *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ^33 (G)Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the ^[g]torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. ^35 (H)My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your ^[h]heart.”

⁵⁴ And He was also saying to the crowds, “^(A)Whenever you see a cloud rising ^[a]in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. ⁵⁵ And whenever you feel a ^[b]south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a ^(B)hot day,’ and it turns out that way. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! ^(C)You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?

⁵⁷ “And ^(D)why do you not even judge by yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ For ^(E)when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to ^[c]settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid up ^[d]the very last ^[e](F)lepton.”

²⁰ “For I say to you that unless your ^(A)righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

²¹ “^(B)You have heard that ^[a]the ancients were told, ‘^(C)You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to ^(D)the court.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to ^(E)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘^[b]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to ^[c](F)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the ^[d](G)fiery hell. ²³ Therefore, if you are ^(H)presenting your ^[e]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your ^[f]offering there before the altar and go; first be ^(I)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your ^[g]offering. ^25 (J)[h]Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, ^(K)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last ^[i]quadrans.