The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” (A)

22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.[a]

23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents[b] was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.(B)

26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c](C) He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down[d] and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master 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, as I had mercy on you?’(D) 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister[e] from your heart.”(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:22 Or but seventy-seven times
  2. 18:24 A talent is worth about 6,000 denarii, or twenty years’ wages for a laborer
  3. 18:28 A denarius = one day’s wage
  4. 18:29 Other mss add at his feet
  5. 18:35 Other mss add their trespasses

21 Then tote Peter Petros came proserchomai to · ho Jesus autos and said legō, “ Lord kyrios, how posakis often must I forgive aphiēmi my egō brother adelphos when he sins hamartanō against eis me egō? · ho · kai Up heōs to seven heptakis times ?” 22 Jesus Iēsous said legō to him autos, · ho I do not ou say legō to you sy, up heōs to seven heptakis times , but alla up heōs to seventy hebdomēkontakis times seven hepta. 23 Therefore dia houtos the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is like homoioō a king basileus who hos decided thelō to settle synairō accounts logos with meta · ho his autos servants. 24 And de when he autos had begun archō to settle synairō them, a man heis who owed opheiletēs ten thousand myrios talents talanton was brought prospherō to him autos. 25 And de since he autos did not have echō the means to repay apodidōmi the debt, his ho master kyrios commanded keleuō that he autos be sold pipraskō along kai with his ho wife gynē and kai · ho children teknon and kai everything pas hosos he had echō, and kai that payment apodidōmi be made . 26 So oun the ho servant fell piptō to the ground prostate proskyneō before him autos, saying legō, ‘ Have makrothumeō patience with epi me egō, and kai I will repay apodidōmi you sy everything pas.’ 27 Moved splanchnizomai with compassion , · de the ho master kyrios of ho that ekeinos servant released apolyō him autos and kai forgave aphiēmi him autos the ho debt daneion. 28 But de that ho same ekeinos servant then went out exerchomai and found heuriskō one heis of ho his autos fellow syndoulos servants who hos owed opheilō him autos a hundred hekaton denarii dēnarion; and kai seizing krateō him autos by the throat began to choke pnigō him, saying legō, ‘ Pay apodidōmi back what ei tis you owe opheilō.’ 29 Therefore oun his autos fellow servant syndoulos fell piptō to the ground · ho and pleaded parakaleō with him autos, saying legō Have makrothumeō patience with epi me egō, and kai I will repay apodidōmi you sy.’ 30 But de he ho refused ou thelō. Instead alla, he went aperchomai and threw ballō him autos in eis prison phylakē until heōs he should pay apodidōmi back the ho debt opheilō. 31 So oun when his autos fellow servants syndoulos saw · ho what ho had happened ginomai, they became indignant lypeō and kai went erchomai and told diasapheō · ho their heautou master kyrios all pas that ho had taken place ginomai. 32 Then tote his autos master kyrios called proskaleō him autos in · ho and said legō to him autos, ‘You wicked ponēros servant! I forgave aphiēmi you sy all pas · ho that ekeinos debt opheilē because epei you pleaded parakaleō with me egō. 33 And should dei not ou you sy also kai have had mercy eleeō on · ho your sy fellow syndoulos servant , even as hōs I kagō had mercy on eleeō you sy?’ 34 And kai in anger orgizō · ho his autos master kyrios handed paradidōmi him autos over to the ho prison basanistēs guards to torture him until heōs hos he should pay apodidōmi back all pas · ho he owed opheilō. 35 So houtōs also kai will · ho my egō heavenly ouranios Father patēr · ho do poieō to you hymeis, unless ean mē you each hekastos forgive aphiēmi · ho your autos brother adelphos from apo · ho your hymeis heart kardia.”

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