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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:23 Lit has been compared to
  2. Matthew 18:24 By one estimate, a debt of 60 million working days for a laborer
  3. Matthew 18:25 Or was unable to
  4. Matthew 18:27 Or loan
  5. Matthew 18:28 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  6. Matthew 18:30 Lit but
  7. Matthew 18:34 I.e., jailors assigned to torture prisoners
  8. Matthew 18:35 Lit hearts

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