Matthew 18:27

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

Then {G1161} the lord {G2962} of that {G1565} servant {G1401} was moved with compassion {G4697}, and loosed {G630} him {G846}, and {G2532} forgave {G863} him {G846} the debt {G1156}.

So out of pity for him, the master let him go and forgave the debt.

His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:27 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-35), illustrating the profound compassion of a master towards his indebted servant.

Context

This parable is told by Jesus immediately after Peter asks how many times he should forgive his brother—"until seven times?" Jesus responds, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22). The parable then serves to explain the boundless nature of divine forgiveness and the expectation for believers to mirror that forgiveness.

In the narrative, a servant owes his lord an astronomical sum, "ten thousand talents," which was an effectively unpayable debt, representing many lifetimes of wages. This massive sum underscores the overwhelming nature of the debt and, by extension, the magnitude of God's forgiveness for our sins. The servant and his family were facing severe consequences, including being sold into slavery, a common practice for debt repayment in the ancient Near East.

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Mercy: The lord's decision to forgive the servant's immense debt was not based on the servant's merit or ability to repay, but purely on profound pity. This highlights God's character as merciful and gracious, ready to forgive beyond human comprehension.
  • Radical Forgiveness: The act of "loosing him, and forgave him the debt" signifies a complete and unreserved cancellation of an otherwise impossible obligation. It's a powerful picture of God's complete forgiveness of our spiritual debt of sin.
  • The Standard of Grace: While the verse focuses on the lord's compassion, it implicitly sets the stage for the parable's ultimate lesson: that those who have received such immense grace are compelled to extend it to others.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "moved with compassion" translates the Greek word splagchnizomai (σπλαγχνίζομαι). This powerful term signifies a deep, visceral pity, literally meaning to be moved in one's intestines or bowels. It's often used in the Gospels to describe Jesus's profound empathy and mercy towards those suffering (e.g., the leper in Mark 1:41, the multitudes in Matthew 9:36). It emphasizes a heartfelt, profound emotional response, not just a casual sympathy.

The word "forgave" comes from the Greek aphiēmi (ἀφίημι), which means to send away, release, let go, or pardon. It perfectly conveys the idea of the debt being entirely dismissed and the servant being set free from its burden.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the incredible grace and forgiveness God extends to humanity. Just as the master forgave the unpayable debt, so too has God, through Christ, forgiven our immense spiritual debt of sin. This divine act of mercy should inspire profound gratitude and, critically, compel us to extend similar mercy to others.

We are called to reflect the compassion we have received. As we remember the magnitude of our own forgiveness—a forgiveness that allows us to have salvation by grace through faith—we are then equipped and expected to forgive those who wrong us, even when their offenses seem significant to us, following the principle found in Colossians 3:13.

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.

  • Psalms 145:8

    The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

  • Hosea 11:8

    ¶ How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

  • Psalms 86:15

    But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

  • Nehemiah 9:17

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  • Judges 10:16

    And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

  • Psalms 86:5

    For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

  • Psalms 78:38

    But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
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