Matthew 18:25

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Matthew 18:25 is a poignant verse from the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, narrated by Jesus. It highlights the dire consequences faced by a servant unable to repay an immense debt to his master.

Context

This verse is found within a parable that Jesus tells immediately after Peter asks about the limits of forgiveness (Matthew 18:21). The parable describes a servant who owes his lord an astronomical sum—ten thousand talents. This debt is so vast that it would be impossible for the servant to ever repay it. Matthew 18:25 depicts the lord's initial, severe command in response to the servant's inability to pay, reflecting the legal and social norms of the time regarding insolvency.

Key Themes

  • Insurmountable Debt: The amount owed (ten thousand talents) was equivalent to many millions of dollars in modern currency, representing an amount that could never be repaid by a single individual. It emphasizes the servant's utter bankruptcy.
  • Severe Consequences of Default: The command to sell the servant, his family, and all his possessions illustrates the harsh realities of debt slavery in the ancient world. This was a common legal recourse for creditors to recoup losses, underscoring the absolute power of the master and the desperate plight of the debtor.
  • Divine Justice (implied): While seemingly harsh, this command represents the just consequence within the legal framework of the time for such an enormous, unpayable debt. It sets the stage for the lord's subsequent act of mercy, which is pivotal to the parable's message.

Cultural & Historical Context

In ancient societies, including the Roman Empire and the Near East, debt was a serious matter. When individuals could not pay their debts, they, along with their families, could legally be sold into slavery or forced labor to settle the obligation. This practice ensured that creditors had a means of recovery, but it also meant financial ruin could lead to the complete loss of freedom and livelihood for an entire family. The lord's command in this verse is not an act of unusual cruelty but a reflection of the established legal and economic practices of the era.

Practical Application

Matthew 18:25 serves as a stark illustration of our own spiritual debt before God. Just as the servant owed an unpayable sum, humanity's sin creates a debt to God that we cannot repay through our own efforts. This verse highlights the overwhelming nature of our spiritual predicament without divine intervention. It sets the stage for understanding the immense grace and forgiveness that the lord (representing God) later extends (Matthew 18:27), and ultimately, the expectation for us to extend similar mercy to others, as emphasized in the parable's conclusion (Matthew 18:35). It reminds us that God's forgiveness is a gift, not something earned, and it compels us to be forgiving people.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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