The Greatest and the Lost
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. Matthew 18:34 · Berean Standard Bible
In his anger, the king hands the servant over to be tortured until he pays back everything — which means forever, since he never could.
The forgiveness that was freely given is now revoked. Refusing to extend mercy has the most serious consequences.
The king delivers a devastating final judgment.
The story takes its darkest turn. The mercy that was given can be forfeited when you refuse to pass it on.
The master delivers the servant to torturers (basanistais) until full payment — since the debt is unpayable, this implies perpetual punishment for unforgiveness.
The severity of the consequence matches the severity of the moral failure; the reversal of grace carries eschatological weight.
The narrator describes the master's final judgment on the unforgiving servant.
The servant who refused mercy now loses the mercy he had received. The punishment is as boundless as the debt that was once forgiven.
32Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Read all of Matthew 18 — Who is the greatest? A child. What matters most? The one who wandered off. Forgiveness isn't optional — it's the air the kingdom breathes.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad