Matthew 18:25

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

But forasmuch as {G1161} he {G846} had {G2192} not {G3361} to pay {G591}, his {G846} lord {G2962} commanded {G2753} him {G846} to be sold {G4097}, and {G2532} his {G846} wife {G1135}, and {G2532} children {G5043}, and {G2532} all {G3956} that {G3745} he had {G2192}, and {G2532} payment to be made {G591}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and since he couldn't pay, his master ordered that he, his wife, his children and all his possessions be sold to pay the debt.

Berean Standard Bible

Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.

American Standard Version

But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 18:25, a pivotal verse within Jesus's Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, starkly illustrates the immediate and severe consequences faced by a debtor unable to satisfy an astronomical financial obligation. It depicts the master's legal command to sell the servant, his family, and all his possessions to recoup the unpayable debt, setting the stage for the profound contrast between human insolvency and divine, boundless mercy that is central to the parable's overarching message about forgiveness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, which Jesus narrates in response to Peter's question about the frequency of forgiveness in [Matthew 18:21-22](/matthew/18-21-22 "Peter's Question on Forgiveness"). The parable begins in [Matthew 18:23](/matthew/18-23 "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Begins") by introducing a king who wishes to settle accounts with his servants. The preceding verse, [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The Servant's Immense Debt"), establishes the immense, humanly impossible debt of ten thousand talents owed by one servant. Matthew 18:25 then describes the master's initial, legally sound, and utterly devastating response to this servant's inability to pay, highlighting the gravity of the situation before the narrative pivots to the master's unexpected act of compassion in [Matthew 18:27](/matthew/18-27 "The Master Forgives the Debt"). The harshness of this command underscores the magnitude of the master's subsequent grace and sets up the dramatic irony of the servant's later unforgiveness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, including the Greco-Roman world of Jesus's time, debt was a serious matter with severe legal ramifications. When a person became insolvent, the prevailing legal and social customs allowed creditors to seize assets, and in extreme cases, to sell the debtor and their family into temporary or permanent servitude to satisfy the debt. This practice, known as debt slavery, was a common, albeit harsh, legal recourse. The command to sell the servant, his wife, children, and all his possessions was not an act of unusual cruelty but a reflection of the established legal and economic practices of the era, ensuring that the creditor had a means of recovery for losses incurred. This context is crucial for understanding the absolute power of the master and the desperate, hopeless plight of the debtor, which would have resonated deeply with Jesus's audience.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 18:25 contributes significantly to several key themes within the parable and the broader teachings of [Matthew's Gospel](/matthew "The Gospel According to Matthew"). Foremost among these is the theme of **Insurmountable Debt**, vividly portrayed by the "ten thousand talents" in [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The Debt of Ten Thousand Talents"), which renders the servant's situation utterly hopeless and emphasizes the impossibility of self-redemption. This verse also highlights the **Severity of Consequences for Sin and Unpaid Debt**, reflecting the just and lawful outcomes for those who cannot meet their obligations, whether financial or moral. Furthermore, it subtly introduces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Authority**, as the lord's command demonstrates his absolute power over the servant's life and possessions. This initial, seemingly unyielding decree serves as a dramatic foil, setting the stage for the paramount theme of **Unmerited Grace and Forgiveness**, which is powerfully revealed in the subsequent verses and forms the core of the parable's message about God's boundless mercy and the reciprocal expectation for believers.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **kýrios (Greek, _kýrios'_):** This word, translated as "lord" (G2962), signifies supreme authority and control. In the context of the parable, it refers to the master who holds absolute power over his servant, including the right to command his sale and that of his family. The term "lord" also carries theological weight, often used to refer to God, thereby subtly linking the earthly master's authority to divine sovereignty within the parable's allegorical framework.
* **pipráskō (Greek, _pipráskō'_):** Meaning "to sell" (G4097), this verb underscores the dire consequence of the servant's insolvency. It describes the act of disposing of someone or something as merchandise or into slavery. In this verse, it vividly portrays the complete loss of freedom, dignity, and livelihood for the servant and his entire family, highlighting the harsh realities of debt slavery in the ancient world.
* **apodídōmi (Greek, _apodídōmi'_):** Translated as "to pay" (G591) or "payment to be made," this verb means "to give away, i.e., up, over, back." It refers to the act of rendering what is due, whether a debt, a reward, or a recompense. Here, its use emphasizes the master's demand for the full restitution of the immense debt, setting up the dramatic tension of the servant's utter inability to fulfill this obligation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But forasmuch as he had not to pay,"**: This opening clause establishes the servant's complete financial insolvency. The Greek phrase indicates a lack of means, an utter inability to meet the colossal debt of ten thousand talents mentioned in [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The Servant's Unpayable Debt"). It highlights the servant's desperate and hopeless predicament, emphasizing that no personal effort or resource could ever suffice to settle such an astronomical sum.
* **"his lord commanded him to be sold,"**: This is the master's initial, legally sanctioned response to the servant's inability to pay. The command to "be sold" refers to the practice of debt slavery, where the debtor himself would be sold into servitude to work off the debt. This demonstrates the master's absolute authority and the severe, yet culturally accepted, consequence for unpayable debt.
* **"and his wife, and children, and all that he had,"**: The command extends beyond the servant himself to include his entire household and all his possessions. This detail underscores the comprehensive and devastating nature of the judgment. In ancient societies, the family was an economic unit, and their sale was a common means to maximize recovery for a creditor. This paints a picture of total ruin and loss for the servant, emphasizing the magnitude of the debt and the severity of its legal implications.
* **"and payment to be made."**: This concluding phrase reiterates the master's ultimate goal: the full satisfaction of the debt. Despite the drastic measures of selling the servant and his family, the underlying purpose is to ensure that the payment is rendered. This highlights the principle of justice and accountability that governs the master's initial actions, setting the stage for the profound act of mercy that will follow.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to enhance its impact. **Legal Decree** is evident in the master's "commanded," which reflects the formal and binding nature of legal pronouncements in ancient societies regarding debt. The severity of the command, extending to the sale of the servant's **wife** and **children**, serves as a form of **Hyperbole** (though the hyperbole of the debt itself is in [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The Ten Thousand Talents Debt")), emphasizing the utterly catastrophic consequences of the servant's insolvency and the immense scale of the debt. This extreme measure is designed to shock the listener and underscore the servant's complete lack of resources. Furthermore, the entire scenario sets up a powerful **Contrast** between the harshness of the initial legal demand and the unexpected, overwhelming mercy that the lord subsequently demonstrates, which is crucial for the parable's central message.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 18:25 serves as a profound theological mirror, reflecting humanity's spiritual predicament before a holy God. Just as the servant owed an unpayable sum, humanity's sin creates an infinite debt against God's perfect law and righteousness, a debt we are utterly incapable of repaying through our own efforts or good works. This verse highlights the just consequences of such a debt, which, without divine intervention, would lead to spiritual bankruptcy and eternal separation. It underscores the overwhelming nature of our spiritual predicament and the dire necessity of a merciful act from God, setting the stage for the glorious truth of God's unmerited grace and the forgiveness offered through Christ.

* [Luke 7:41-43](/luke/7-41-43 "Parable of the Two Debtors")
* [Romans 3:23-24](/romans/3-23-24 "All Have Sinned and Are Justified by Grace")
* [Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Blotting Out the Legal Debt")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 18:25 powerfully confronts us with the reality of our own spiritual indebtedness. It forces us to acknowledge that, left to our own devices, we are as bankrupt before God as the servant was before his master. The severity of the lord's command, though culturally specific, serves as a stark reminder of the just consequences of sin and the impossibility of earning our salvation. This realization should not lead to despair but to a profound appreciation for the immeasurable grace and forgiveness extended to us through Christ. Understanding the depth of our own unpayable debt allows us to grasp the magnitude of God's mercy and compels us to extend similar grace and forgiveness to others, recognizing that we have been forgiven far more than we could ever forgive. It challenges us to live lives marked by humility, gratitude, and a willingness to release others from their debts, just as Christ has released us from ours.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "unpayable debt" in the parable help you understand the magnitude of your own sin before God?**
* **What emotions does the lord's initial command evoke in you, and how do these feelings prepare you for the subsequent act of mercy?**
* **In what ways might you be holding others accountable for "debts" against you, rather than extending the forgiveness you have received?**

### FAQ

**Why was the debt of ten thousand talents so significant, and what does it represent?**

Answer: The debt of ten thousand talents, mentioned in [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The Servant's Immense Debt"), was an astronomical sum, equivalent to many millions of dollars in modern currency and far more than any individual could ever earn or repay. It was a deliberate use of **hyperbole** by Jesus to signify an utterly unpayable, insurmountable debt. Theologically, it represents the infinite and immeasurable debt of sin that humanity owes to a holy God, a debt so vast that no human effort or good work could ever atone for it.

**Does the command to sell the servant's wife and children imply God is cruel or unjust?**

Answer: The lord's command in [Matthew 18:25](/matthew/18-25 "The Lord's Command to Sell") must be understood within its specific **historical and cultural context**. In ancient societies, debt slavery, including the sale of family members, was a legal and common practice for creditors to recover losses from insolvent debtors. The parable uses this harsh reality to underscore the servant's desperate situation and the just, albeit severe, consequences within that legal framework. It is not an indictment of God's character as cruel, but rather a dramatic setup to highlight the *contrast* with the lord's subsequent, unexpected, and extraordinary act of mercy in [Matthew 18:27](/matthew/18-27 "The Lord Forgives the Debt"). The parable's primary purpose is to teach about the nature of forgiveness, not to portray God as an unforgiving taskmaster.

**How does this verse relate to our need for salvation?**

Answer: Matthew 18:25 powerfully illustrates humanity's spiritual bankruptcy before God. Just as the servant had "not to pay" his immense debt, we, as sinners, are utterly incapable of paying the debt of our sin through our own efforts. This verse highlights our desperate need for a savior. It sets the stage for understanding that salvation is not earned but is a gift of divine grace, freely given by God because we cannot meet His righteous demands. It underscores that without God's merciful intervention, we face the just consequences of our spiritual insolvency.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 18:25, with its stark portrayal of an unpayable debt and the dire consequences, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate human predicament and the divine solution found in Jesus Christ. The servant's utter inability to pay his colossal debt mirrors humanity's spiritual bankruptcy before God, a debt of sin so immense that no human being could ever hope to repay it. This verse, therefore, implicitly points to the necessity of a divine intervention, a payment made by one who is not Himself indebted. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this need; He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the one who voluntarily took upon Himself the full weight of humanity's debt. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, as described in passages like [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "God Demonstrates His Love") and [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2-corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us"), Jesus "paid in full" what we could not. He redeemed us from the spiritual slavery to sin and death that was our just consequence, much like the servant faced debt slavery. His finished work on the cross is the ultimate act of divine mercy, transforming our status from condemned debtors to freely forgiven children of God, as celebrated in [Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Blotting Out the Legal Debt"), where our certificate of debt was canceled and nailed to the cross.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Nehemiah 5:5

Yet now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and [some] of our daughters are brought unto bondage [already]: neither [is it] in our power [to redeem them]; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

2 Kings 4:1

¶ Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.

Luke 7:42

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Leviticus 25:39

¶ And if thy brother [that dwelleth] by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

Nehemiah 5:8

And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing [to answer].

Isaiah 50:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Exodus 21:2

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.