Matthew 18:33

33 ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

Matthew 18:33 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 18:33

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion.
&c.] 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 whom, and him, there was not so great a distance, as between him, and his Lord; and the sum so small that was owing to him, as not to be mentioned with his:

even as, I had pity on thee;
such an instance of pity and compassion did not only set him an example, worthy of his imitation, but laid him under an obligation to have acted such a part.

Matthew 18:33 In-Context

31 His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened.
32 At once his master called him and said, "`Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me:
33 ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
34 "So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him.
35 "In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts."
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