Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Matthew 18:23

"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Charitableness;   Creditor;   Debtor;   Forgiveness;   God Continued...;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Kingdom of Heaven;   Sin;   Scofield Reference Index - Life;   Parables;   Thompson Chain Reference - Accountability;   Moral Bankruptcy;   Parables;   Poverty, Spiritual;   Poverty-Riches;   Spiritual;   Stewardship;   Stewardship-Ownership;   Truth;   The Topic Concordance - Forgiveness;   Kingdom of God;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Creditors;   Forgiveness of Injuries;   Mercy;   Parables;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Forgiveness;   Grace;   Lending;   Mercy;   Patience;   Talent;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Discipline;   Follow, Follower;   Forgiveness;   Gospel;   Guilt;   Wages;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Brotherly Love;   Ethics;   Forgiveness;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Parables;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Debt;   Ethics;   Forgiveness;   Money;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Debt, Debtor;   Debt, Debtor (2);   Discourse;   Doctrines;   Guilt (2);   Justice (2);   Kindness (2);   Lord's Prayer (Ii);   Love (2);   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Mercy;   Money (2);   Palestine;   Paradox;   Prayer (2);   Prophet;   Retribution (2);   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Slave, Slavery;   Steward, Stewardship;   Sympathy;   Tares ;   Vengeance (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Forgiveness;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Justification;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Debt;   Forgiveness;   Intercession;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Latin;   Mercy;   Of;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for April 27;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore is the kingdome of heauen likened vnto a certaine king, which would take accompt of his seruants.
King James Version
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
English Standard Version
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
New American Standard Bible
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
New Century Version
"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to collect the money his servants owed him.
Amplified Bible
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thereefore is the kingdome of heauen likened vnto a certaine King, which would take an account of his seruants.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
Legacy Standard Bible
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
Berean Standard Bible
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Contemporary English Version
This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like: One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him.
Complete Jewish Bible
Because of this, the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared with a king who decided to settle accounts with his deputies.
Darby Translation
For this cause the kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who would reckon with his bondmen.
Easy-to-Read Version
"So God's kingdom is like a king who decided to collect the money his servants owed him.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who wanted to take an accounting from his servants.
Good News Translation
because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts.
Lexham English Bible
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
Literal Translation
Because of this the kingdom of Heaven has been compared to a man, a king, who desired to take account with his slaves.
American Standard Version
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
Bible in Basic English
For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who went over his accounts with his servants.
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
International Standard Version
"That is why the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Etheridge Translation
THEREFORE is the kingdom of the heavens likened to a royal person [fn] who would take the account from his servants.
Murdock Translation
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like to some king, who wished to have a reckoning with his servants.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore is the kyngdome of heauen, lykened vnto a certayne man, that was a kyng, which woulde take accomptes of his seruauntes.
English Revised Version
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his servants.
World English Bible
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who was minded to settle accounts with his servants.
Weymouth's New Testament
"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the kyngdom of heuenes is licned to a kyng, that wolde rekyn with hise seruauntis.
Update Bible Version
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man [who was] a king, who would make a reckoning with his slaves.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king who would take account of his servants.
New King James Version
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
New Living Translation
"Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.
New Life Bible
"The holy nation of heaven is like a king who wanted to find out how much money his servants owed him.
New Revised Standard
"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For this cause, hath the kingdom of the heavens become like unto a man, a king, who wished to settle an account with his servants;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants.
Revised Standard Version
"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore is ye kingdome of heven lykened vnto a certayne kynge which wolde take a countis of his servauntis.
Young's Literal Translation
`Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore is ye kingdome of heaue lickened vnto a kynge which wolde reken wt his seruauntes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
In this respect the gospel-kingdom may be represented by that of a temporal prince, who had a mind to call his servants to account.
THE MESSAGE
"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"The Boss's place is like a rancher who had loaned money to some of his cowboys.

Contextual Overview

21 Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times! 23 "For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' 27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!' 29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' 30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

is: Matthew 3:2, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45, Matthew 13:47, Matthew 13:52, Matthew 25:1, Matthew 25:14

which: Matthew 25:19-30, Luke 16:1, Luke 16:2, Luke 19:12-27, Romans 14:12, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 40:20 - lifted up Daniel 6:2 - that Mark 11:25 - forgive Luke 7:41 - a certain Luke 19:15 - that he

Cross-References

Genesis 18:4
Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree.
Genesis 18:5
And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant's home. After that you may be on your way." "All right," they replied, "you may do as you say."
Genesis 18:6
So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread."
Genesis 18:7
Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Genesis 18:25
Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?"
Genesis 20:4
Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, "Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation?
2 Samuel 24:17
When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to the Lord , "Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As for these sheep—what have they done? Attack me and my family."
Job 8:3
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?
Job 34:17
Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,
Psalms 73:28
But as for me, God's presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven,.... The Gospel church state, or the church of Christ under the Gospel dispensation, and the methods of God's dealings in it;

likened unto a certain king: or "a man", "a king", pointing either to Christ, the king Messiah, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords, the King of saints and churches; who, as God, has a natural kingdom of providence, and as man and Mediator, a kingdom of grace; and will have a more visibly glorious one, both in this world and in the other; or rather, the Father of Christ, as appears from the application of the parable, in Matthew 18:35, who is the living God, and everlasting King: whose is the kingdom of nature, grace, and glory:

which would take account of his servants; not all mankind, though these are all in a sense his servants, and accountable to him; nor only ministers of the Gospel, who are so in an eminent and peculiar sense, and must give an account to God of their time and talents, and souls committed to them; but all that bear the Christian name, that are professors of religion, that are either really or nominally the subjects and servants of God. These, it is sometimes the will and pleasure of God, to "take account of": not of their persons, or number, but of their conduct and behaviour; which, as it will be more fully done at death, or at judgment, so sometimes is taken in this life: God sometimes calls, and brings, professors of religion to an account, and reckons with them by afflictive dispensations of providence; when he puts them upon reflecting how they have spent their time, made use of their talents and gifts, and have behaved in their families, and in the world, and church; or by dealing roundly with men's consciences, awakening and convincing them of their sins, of omission and commission, which seems to be intended here.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened ... - The phrase, “the kingdom of heaven,” here has reference to the church, or to the way in which God will deal with his people. “It shall be in my church as it was with a certain king; or God will deal with the members of his church as a certain king did with his servants.” See the notes at Matthew 3:2. This parable (see Matthew 13:3) is related to show the duty of forgiving others. It is not necessary to suppose that it was a true narrative, but only that it illustrated the truth which he was teaching. At the same time it may be true that such an occurrence really took place.

Would take account of his servants - To take account means to reckon, to settle up affairs. The word “servants” here means, probably, petty princes, or, more likely, collectors of the revenue or taxes. Among the ancients kings often farmed out, or sold for a certain sum, the taxes of a particular district or province. Thus, when Judea was subject to Egypt or Rome, the kings frequently sold to the high priest the taxes to be raised from Judea on condition of a much smaller sum being paid to them. This secured to them a certain sum, but it gave occasion to much oppression in the collection of the taxes. It is probable that some such persons are intended by the word servants.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 18:23. Therefore is the kingdom — In respect to sin, cruelty, and oppression, God will proceed in the kingdom of heaven (the dispensation of the Gospel) as he did in former times; and every person shall give an account of himself to God. Every sin is a debt contracted with the justice of God; men are all God's own servants; and the day is at hand in which their Master will settle accounts with them, inquire into their work, and pay them their wages. Great Judge! what an awful time must this be, when with multitudes nothing shall be found but sin and insolvency!

By servant, in the text, we are to understand, a petty king, or tributary prince; for no hired servant could possibly owe such a sum as is here mentioned.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile