Matthew 18:18-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:25

But forasmuch as he had not to pay ,.... Every sinner is insolvent; sinful man has run out the whole stock of nature, and is become a bankrupt, and has nothing to offer by way of composition; nor has he any righteousness to answer for him, nor any works of righteousness which deserve that name: and if he had, these are nothing in point of payment: for a debt of sin cannot be discharged by a debt of obedience; since God has a prior right to the latter; and in paying it, a man does but what is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:26

The servant therefore fell down ,.... At his feet, upon his knees, or on his face, to the ground; not being able to stand before him, or look him in the face, and much less to answer the demands of his law and justice; but owned the debt, and his present inability to pay, and worshipped him : the Vulgate Latin reads it, "prayed", or entreated him, saying, Lord have patience with me ; give me but time, spare me a little longer, send me not to prison, and I will pay thee all: a very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:27

Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion ,.... Or had compassion on him, showed pity to him, and extended mercy towards him; not that he was moved hereunto by any actions of his, as his prostrating himself before him, and his worshipping him, nor by his cries and entreaties, nor by his promises, which were not at all to be depended on, but by his own goodness, and will; for not to anything that this man said, or did, nor to any deserts of his, but to the pure mercy, and free... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:28

But the same servant went out ,.... From his Lord's palace and presence, immediately, directly, after he had got his pardon and liberty: and found one of his fellow servants ; a fellow creature and Christian; not only one of the same nature and species; but of the same profession of religion, and in the service of the same kind and generous master: which owed an hundred pence ; which, if understood of Roman pence, each penny being seven pence halfpenny of our money, amounted to no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:29

And his fellow servant fell down at his feet ,.... In the most humble and submissive manner, just as he himself had done a little before at the feet of his Lord: and besought him, saying, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all ; using the very same words, in which he had expressed himself to his Lord, and had succeeded. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:30

And he would not ,.... Have patience with him, give him time for payment, and forbear severity at present, as he requested: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt ; had him before a proper officer, and proved his debt, and got him sent to jail, there to lie till the whole debt was paid; which, as it discovered ill nature, severe usage, so, great ignorance and stupidity; for a prison will pay no debt: which sets forth the rigorous proceedings of some church members... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:31

So when his fellow servants saw what was done ,.... What hard usage, and ill treatment, their fellow servant met with; the Syriac reads, "their fellow servants", being the fellow servants both of the creditor and the debtor: they were very sorry ; they were greatly grieved and troubled at the cruelty of the one, and the unhappiness of the other; being more tenderhearted, and of a more forgiving spirit than he: and came and told unto their Lord all that was done ; to their fellow... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:32

Then his Lord, after that he had called him ,.... Or ordered him to be called, and brought before him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant ! Munster's Hebrew Gospel reads, "thou servant of Belial"; thou cruel and hard hearted man to thy fellow servant, and ungrateful creature to me, on whom my goodness to thee has not made any impression, nor taken any effect: I forgave thee all that debt : all that vast debt of ten thousand talents, and that freely: because thou desiredst me :... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:33

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion ..... It is but reasonable, what ought to be, and may be expected, that such who have received mercy, should show mercy; and as the Lord had compassion on this man, and had forgiven him such an immense sum, and saved him, his wife and children, from being sold for bondslaves, the least he could have done after this, would have been to have followed such an example, and have had mercy, as his Lord says to him, on thy fellow servant ; between... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 18:34

And his Lord was wroth ,.... Very angry, greatly incensed, and justly provoked at such inhuman treatment: and delivered him to the tormentors , or jail keepers. The Ethiopic version renders it, "to them that judge", or the judges; Munster's Hebrew Gospel, "to the punishers", or such that inflicted punishment according to the decree of the judge: from both, the sense may be, that he was delivered over to proper judges of his case, to be treated as the nature of it required, to be cast... read more

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