←
Explanation for:
Matthew
18
:
30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt.
9
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In that instance, the amount owed was ten thousand talents, while the other was merely a hundred denarii; one stood condemned before his master, and the other was indebted to his friend. The former had the chance to receive forgiveness, yet his master granted him total absolution, finding no merit in him, regardless of how small. However, the forgiven debtor failed to appreciate this grace and, fueled by fury, seized his fellow servant and cast him into prison until the debt was settled. Witnessing this, his fellow servants were deeply disturbed by the incident. How shocking the ungratefulness! Despite having recently experienced an act of mercy himself, he refused to extend kindness even then, opting instead to choke his friend before confining him."},{"author-name":"Chromatius of Aquileia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a3df6d7a747a33b4f4a_Chromatius%20of%20Aquileia.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"When Peter sought clarification on this matter, the Lord instructed that one should forgive their brother not merely seven times, but rather seventy times seven. He then illustrated His point with a parable about a king and his servant. This servant, though undeserving, was granted immense mercy by his master, who forgave him a staggering amount of debt. However, when it came to a fellow servant who owed him a relatively small sum, he denied giving similar mercy. Consequently, it was just that he was delivered to the tormentors and faced the appropriate penalty of condemnation. Did he not merit such suffering? Despite his master's benevolence, he acted unjustly and harshly toward his fellow man. This narrative offers a clear message for us: if we fail to forgive our brothers who trespass against us, or the offenses of their sins, we ourselves risk facing similar consequences. Although this comparison addresses a particular circumstance, the parable conveys a profound and unmistakable truth."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Master had fully pardoned him of all his obligations, yet he had shown no mercy to a servant under his authority."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"This parable conveys that a person who harbors anger toward their neighbor and fails to offer forgiveness for their wrongs will not only find that God does not pardon their sins, but also that previously forgiven transgressions will be brought back to mind. The parable illustrates that the compassionate king released the debtor from his obligation; however, due to the debtor's lack of mercy towards his brother, the king reinstated the debt and handed him over to the tormentors for punishment related to that obligation."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"Let the Lord reveal the depth of His mercy towards His servant when he seeks forgiveness for his transgressions, and let it also highlight the callousness of a person towards another when that individual pleads for the absolution of his wrongs. It is reminiscent of how the guilty ask for compassion from others, mirroring the sinner's request for pardon from God for his wickedness. The sinner humbly prostrates himself before God, pleading for patience and promising to amend his ways. Likewise, the servant humbled himself, saying, \\"Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.\\" Similarly, the debtor knelt before his fellow man, begging for leniency and vowing to settle his dues, entreating, \\"Have patience with me, and I will repay all your debt.\\" The Lord of all, in His mercy, forgave the sinner’s numerous offenses, extending grace and canceling the debt. Yet, the man, who was shown such mercy, refused to extend that forgiveness to his fellow servant. Instead, he chose to imprison him until he could repay the debt owed. Who among the unyielding would not feel shame upon hearing such a parable? The Almighty grants forgiveness for the weightiest of my grievous sins when I earnestly seek His mercy and vow to amend my ways. Yet, as a lowly being, I withhold forgiveness from my neighbor for even the smallest infraction or debt, despite his sincere pleas for pardon and promises of repayment. What shall be the outcome of my unforgiving heart? Hear this: \\"And when the nobles saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and reported to their lord all that transpired.\\""},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Despite the weight of these words, he remained unyielding in his profound cruelty. Had he chosen to forgive, it would have transcended mere humanity and entered the realm of obligation and duty. Indeed, had he shown mercy before reconciling with the master, it would have been a testament to his own generosity; however, after extending forgiveness for numerous transgressions, he found himself compelled, as if by an inescapable duty, to maintain no animosity towards his fellow servant. Yet, the debtor disregarded this entirely and, filled with rage, cast him into prison until the debt was repaid."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Christ teaches that all efforts should be made to bring the lost back to salvation, and excommunication from the church should only occur after persistent disobedience, allowing room for their return upon genuine repentance. However, Peter struggles to grasp this concept fully; he believes there must be a limit to forgiveness for those who sin, prompting him to inquire how many times he should forgive a brother who wrongs him. Jewish teachers had suggested forgiving three times, but Peter, recognizing a higher standard may be necessary, asks if forgiving seven times would suffice. Jesus responds by indicating that Peter must extend forgiveness an infinite number of times. Regarding members of the church who sin, they too must be forgiven continually, provided they genuinely repent. In relation to personal grievances, which is the focus of Peter's question, Jesus' directive on forgiveness should be taken without exception."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"“What are you doing, man?” St Chrysostom exclaims. “Are you not plunging a sword into yourself and turning the favor of the sovereign against you?” Yet he was completely oblivious to this truth. He showed no intention of postponing the repayment of a minor debt, opting instead to imprison the debtor until the debt was settled. In his relentless pursuit of justice, he harshly confines the debtor, failing to realize that he condemns his own self in the process. This is the nature of humanity; one becomes unfeeling and cruel when one “departs from God,” strays from the righteous path, forgets the mercies of God, and surrenders to sinful desires. Those who are blind to their own faults are quick to harshly judge the sins of others, just as David, while ensnared in his own sin, pronounced death upon the neighbor who took the last sheep from the poor man. Are we not similar in our own failings? How frequently do we condemn others for the slightest trespass against our dignity, for a careless remark that wounds our pride? Our hearts often seethe with a desire to retaliate for these trivial wrongs and to restore our honor. \\n\\nWe hardly consider that God permits these grievances so that we may reflect on how we continuously offend His mercy. These moments serve to humble our egos, allowing us to forgive the small debts of our neighbors so that we can approach our heavenly Father with confidence, saying, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Our hearts are aware of everything; they recognize all. Even our closest relatives cannot shield us from the awareness that our conscience bears witness against us. The offended truth of God, which demands mercy from those who have received forgiveness, ignites compassion, even among witnesses of human cruelty."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The following text presents a series of actions and teachings that conclude Jesus Christ’s journey through Galilee. Beginning with His departure to Caesarea and the inquiry, \\"Who do men say that I am?\\" this compilation includes lessons about resisting temptation and the parable concerning the retrieval of the lost by the Son of Man, all intricately linked together (18:15-20, 21-35). Furthermore, the Evangelist Matthew introduces a discourse on how to address individuals who cause offense—differentiating between those who refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing and those who do recognize it and seek pardon. In the first scenario, several progressively serious steps are recommended to help the offender realize their error, while in the second, boundless forgiveness is encouraged. It remains uncertain whether the Lord delivered these teachings simultaneously. However, when considering the earlier remarks from the Saviour and the interactions among the Apostles, one might discern a correlation between the two discussions. Notably, neither St. Luke nor St. Mark record this dialogue on this occasion. This conversation offers insight into the moments when the Apostles should exercise the authority to bind and decide, while also illustrating a noble aspect of Christlike character in relation to others—namely, self-humbling and a vigilant effort to avoid leading others astray. Thus, the internal cohesiveness of the directives remains intact, though the external historical context remains ambiguous due to the Evangelist’s brief mention of the Apostles’ dispute among themselves. As we depart from the Galilean region, it is important to acknowledge that we do not have a complete understanding of all the occurrences there. The situations in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—events that prompted such severe warnings from the Lord (Luke 10:13-15)—are beyond our knowledge."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
