Matthew 18:32

KJV

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} his {G846} lord {G2962}, after that he had called {G4341} him {G846}, said {G3004} unto him {G846}, O thou wicked {G4190} servant {G1401}, I forgave {G863} thee {G4671} all {G3956} that {G1565} debt {G3782}, because {G1893} thou desiredst {G3870} me {G3165}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the master summoned his servant and said, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt just because you begged me to do it.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.

American Standard Version

Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 18:32 captures the indignant rebuke of the lord in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, highlighting the profound moral failure of one who, having received immeasurable grace, refused to extend a comparatively minor mercy to another. This pivotal moment underscores the expectation that divine forgiveness, once received, must transform the heart to mirror that same generosity towards others, exposing the wickedness of ingratitude and the severe consequences of withholding compassion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic turning point in Jesus' Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, found in [Matthew 18:23-35](/matthew/18-23-35 "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant"). The parable itself is Jesus' direct answer to Peter's question in [Matthew 18:21](/matthew/18-21 "Peter Asks About Forgiveness") about how many times one should forgive a brother. Jesus' response, "Seventy times seven," immediately precedes this parable, which illustrates the boundless nature of divine forgiveness and the corresponding obligation for human forgiveness. The lord's initial act of forgiving the servant's astronomical debt in [Matthew 18:27](/matthew/18-27 "The Lord Forgives the Servant's Debt") sets up the shocking contrast with the servant's subsequent mercilessness towards his fellow servant, making the lord's rebuke in verse 32 a powerful condemnation of hypocrisy and spiritual ingratitude. The parable concludes with a stern warning about the consequences of unforgiveness in [Matthew 18:34-35](/matthew/18-34-35 "Consequences of Unforgiveness").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient world, debt was a serious matter, often leading to debt slavery. The sum of "ten thousand talents" (implied from [Matthew 18:24](/matthew/18-24 "The First Servant's Great Debt")) was an impossibly vast amount, equivalent to millions of denarii, far exceeding any individual's ability to repay. It represented the national revenue of a small kingdom. This hyperbole emphasizes the immeasurable debt humanity owes to God for sin. In stark contrast, "a hundred denarii" (implied from [Matthew 18:28](/matthew/18-28 "The Second Servant's Small Debt")) was a relatively small sum, perhaps a few months' wages for a laborer. The cultural expectation was that a master had absolute authority, and his mercy was a profound act of grace. For a servant to receive such extraordinary mercy and then immediately deny it to another, especially for a trivial sum, would have been seen as a grave offense against both the master's honor and basic human decency.

* **Key Themes:** Matthew 18:32 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel of Matthew and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Forgiveness and Mercy**, exemplified by the lord's initial act of grace, which mirrors God's abundant forgiveness of human sin. This verse then pivots to highlight the theme of **Human Responsibility to Forgive**, emphasizing that those who have received such immense mercy are morally obligated to extend it to others. The lord's condemnation of the "wicked servant" underscores the **Gravity of Unforgiveness**, portraying it not merely as a lapse but as a profound moral failing that contradicts the very nature of the kingdom of heaven. This aligns with Jesus' teaching in the [Lord's Prayer](/matthew/6-12 "The Lord's Prayer - Forgive Us Our Debts"), where forgiveness from God is linked to our forgiveness of others. Ultimately, the parable, through this verse, reinforces the **Ethics of the Kingdom**, where compassion, mercy, and forgiveness are not optional but essential characteristics of those who claim to belong to God's family, as further elaborated in the Beatitudes in [Matthew 5:7](/matthew/5-7 "Blessed are the Merciful").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **wicked (Greek, _ponērós'_):** From a derivative of πόνος, meaning "hurtful," "evil," or "malicious." This word describes the servant's character as inherently bad, not merely making a mistake, but acting from a corrupt heart. It emphasizes that his unforgiveness was not a minor oversight but a deep moral failing, showing a destructive and culpable disposition. The lord's use of this term highlights the severe nature of the servant's ingratitude and lack of compassion.
* **servant (Greek, _doûlos'_):** From δέω, meaning "a slave" or "bond-man." This term underscores the servant's absolute subservience and dependence on his lord. It reminds the audience of the vast power differential and the lord's complete authority to forgive or condemn. The servant, as a _doûlos_, had no inherent rights to demand mercy, making the lord's initial forgiveness an act of pure grace, and the servant's subsequent behavior a profound betrayal of his position and the mercy he received.
* **forgave (Greek, _aphíēmi'_):** From ἀπό and ἵημι, meaning "to send forth," "to release," or "to dismiss." In this context, it specifically means "to forgive" or "to remit" a debt. The perfect tense implied by the Aorist active indicative (ἀφῆκά) emphasizes the completed and enduring nature of the lord's forgiveness. This act of complete release makes the servant's subsequent demand for payment from his fellow servant all the more egregious, as he had personally experienced the liberating power of this very act.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him,"**: This phrase sets the scene for the confrontation. The lord, having heard of the servant's merciless actions, deliberately summons him. The act of "calling him" implies a formal summons, a moment of reckoning, where the lord is about to address the grave injustice committed. It highlights the lord's awareness and his intent to hold the servant accountable for his actions.
* **"O thou wicked servant,"**: This is a direct, sharp, and condemning address. The vocative "O thou" emphasizes the personal nature of the rebuke, while "wicked servant" is a powerful indictment of the servant's character. It signifies that the servant's behavior was not merely a lapse in judgment but stemmed from a morally corrupt heart, demonstrating a profound lack of gratitude and compassion, especially after receiving such immense mercy himself.
* **"I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:"**: This clause serves as the foundation for the lord's condemnation. He reminds the servant of the immense, total forgiveness he had previously extended ("all that debt"). The reason for this forgiveness is explicitly stated: "because thou desiredst me," meaning the servant had pleaded for mercy. This highlights the stark hypocrisy: the servant received mercy when he asked for it, but refused to grant it when asked by another, despite having been completely released from an unpayable obligation. This contrast underscores the servant's ingratitude and moral depravity.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. The lord's address, "**O thou wicked servant,**" functions as a direct **Condemnation** and a rhetorical **Exclamation**, conveying his profound disappointment and moral outrage. The entire parable, of which this verse is a part, operates as an **Allegory**, where the lord represents God, the first servant represents humanity, and the two debts represent the immeasurable debt of sin owed to God versus the comparatively small offenses committed against fellow humans. The **Juxtaposition** of the lord's boundless forgiveness ("all that debt") with the servant's subsequent mercilessness towards a much smaller debt ("a hundred denarii," implied from the context) creates a stark and damning contrast, amplifying the servant's wickedness. This contrast is central to the parable's message about the reciprocal nature of forgiveness within the kingdom of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 18:32 profoundly connects to the core of Christian theology, emphasizing that God's forgiveness is not merely transactional but transformative. The lord's rebuke reveals that true reception of divine grace should cultivate a heart of mercy, making unforgiveness a contradiction to the very experience of salvation. Our inability or unwillingness to forgive others, especially for offenses infinitely smaller than our own debt to God, demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding or rejection of the grace we have received. This verse underscores that God's character is both merciful and just, and while He freely forgives, He also expects His children to reflect His character in their relationships, holding them accountable for their stewardship of His grace.

* [Colossians 3:13](/colossians/3-13 "Forgiving One Another")
* [Ephesians 4:32](/ephesians/4-32 "Be Kind and Forgiving")
* [Luke 6:36-37](/luke/6-36-37 "Be Merciful, Just as Your Father Is Merciful")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 18:32 challenges us to deeply reflect on the magnitude of God's forgiveness in our own lives. Have we truly grasped the "ten thousand talents" of our sin debt that God has graciously canceled? If so, how can we possibly withhold forgiveness for the "hundred denarii" owed to us by others? This verse serves as a powerful mirror, revealing the state of our hearts. Unforgiveness is not a neutral stance; it is labeled as "wicked" because it betrays the very grace that has set us free. It poisons our relationships, hinders our spiritual growth, and distorts our understanding of God's character. To truly live as forgiven people means to actively and willingly extend that same radical, costly forgiveness to those who have wronged us, breaking cycles of bitterness and embracing the liberating power of mercy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "ten thousand talents" has God forgiven in your life, and how does remembering that shape your perspective on forgiving others?**
* **Is there anyone in your life whom you are currently struggling to forgive? What steps can you take to release that "debt" in light of the mercy you have received?**
* **How might holding onto unforgiveness be hindering your own spiritual well-being or your relationship with God?**
* **What does it mean to be a "wicked servant" in the context of unforgiveness, and how can you ensure your heart reflects gratitude rather than ingratitude?**

### FAQ

**Why is the servant called "wicked" (ponērós) if he just refused to forgive a small debt?**

Answer: The servant is called "wicked" not merely for refusing to forgive a small debt in isolation, but for doing so immediately after being forgiven an immeasurably large, unpayable debt himself. The Greek word _ponērós_ (G4190) signifies a deep moral corruption, a hurtful or malicious disposition. His actions are deemed wicked because they reveal a profound ingratitude and a heart that has failed to be transformed by the immense mercy he received. He understood the desperate plea for mercy when he was the one begging, but he refused to show that same understanding and compassion to another. This hypocrisy and lack of empathy, especially after experiencing such grace, is what earns him the strong condemnation from his lord. It highlights that unforgiveness, in this context, is a betrayal of divine grace and a manifestation of a corrupt heart.

**Does this parable mean God will revoke forgiveness if we don't forgive others?**

Answer: This parable does not suggest that God's forgiveness, once truly received through faith in Christ, is conditional or can be revoked. Rather, it illustrates that a genuine experience of God's radical forgiveness inevitably leads to a transformed heart that desires to extend mercy to others. The consequences faced by the unforgiving servant in [Matthew 18:34-35](/matthew/18-34-35 "The Unforgiving Servant's Punishment") are not a revocation of a past, true forgiveness, but rather a demonstration that one who consistently refuses to forgive others has likely never truly grasped or received the depth of God's forgiveness for themselves. Their unforgiveness reveals a heart that remains unrepentant and unregenerate, and therefore, still under the full weight of its original debt to God. Jesus' teaching here, much like in [Matthew 6:14-15](/matthew/6-14-15 "Forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer"), emphasizes that our willingness to forgive is a *fruit* and *evidence* of having truly received God's forgiveness, not a *condition* for receiving it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 18:32, within the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "ten thousand talents" debt, which was so graciously forgiven by the lord, perfectly prefigures the immeasurable debt of sin that humanity owes to a holy God. No human effort or good deed could ever repay this cosmic debt. It is Christ, the true Lord, who fully paid this debt through His sacrificial death on the cross. He became the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offering Himself as the perfect, once-for-all atonement for our transgressions. Just as the servant was forgiven because he "desiredst" mercy, so too, we are forgiven when we, recognizing our utter bankruptcy, turn to Christ in faith, pleading for His mercy. His death on Calvary is the ultimate demonstration of divine forgiveness, where [God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated"). Therefore, the "wicked servant" who refused to forgive highlights the profound spiritual blindness and ingratitude of those who reject or fail to embody the radical, self-giving love and forgiveness that Christ modeled and accomplished. Our capacity to forgive others flows directly from our experience of being completely forgiven by Christ, for [in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace](/ephesians/1-7 "Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood"). The call to forgive, as seen in this parable, is thus a call to participate in the very character of Christ, who even from the cross prayed, "[Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing](/luke/23-34 "Luke 23:34 - Jesus Forgives on 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

Luke 19:22

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Romans 3:19

¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Matthew 25:26

His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: