Matthew 18:21-31

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?" 1
22 "No, not seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven, 2
23 because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts.
24 He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.
25 The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt.
26 The servant fell on his knees before the king. "Be patient with me,' he begged, "and I will pay you everything!'
27 The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go.
28 "Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. "Pay back what you owe me!' he said.
29 His fellow servant fell down and begged him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!'
30 But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything.

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Cross References 2

  • 1. 18.21, 22Luke 17.3, 4.
  • 2. 18.22Genesis 4.24.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. seventy times seven; [or] seventy-seven times.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.