Matthäus 18:28

28 Jener Knecht aber ging hinaus und fand einen seiner Mitknechte, der ihm hundert Denare schuldig war. Und er ergriff und würgte ihn und sprach: Bezahle, wenn du etwas schuldig bist.

Matthäus 18:28 Meaning and 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 more than three pounds and half-a-crown; a small sum, in comparison of the ten thousand talents which had been just now forgiven him: for so sins committed against men, against fellow creatures, or fellow Christians; are but small, when compared with those which are committed against God. All which circumstances, as that it was immediately after he had been forgiven himself; that it was a fellow servant he found: and the sum he owed him so inconsiderable, greatly aggravate his inhuman carriage, next related:

and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, pay
me that thou owest;
he laid hold on him in a violent manner, and used him with great inhumanity: he took him by the collar, and shook him, and griped him so hard about the neck, that he almost throttled, and strangled, or choked him, as the word signifies, and is so rendered in most versions. It answers to the Hebrew word (qnh) , which is used by the Jews F12 in the same sense:

``(qynxh) , he that throttles anyone (who is indebted to him) in the streets, and his friend comes up and says, let him go, and I will pay thee, he is free''

This man insisted on payment of the whole debt; which expresses the rigour and severity used by some professors of religion to their fellow Christians; who, having offended them, in ever so small a matter, will not put up with the affront, nor forgive the injury, without having the most ample satisfaction, and avenging themselves upon them to the uttermost.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Apud Castell. Lexic. Polyglott. col. 1314.

Matthäus 18:28 In-Context

26 Der Knecht nun fiel nieder, huldigte ihm und sprach: Herr, habe Geduld mit mir, und ich will dir alles bezahlen.
27 Der Herr jenes Knechtes aber, innerlich bewegt, gab ihn los und erließ ihm das Darlehn.
28 Jener Knecht aber ging hinaus und fand einen seiner Mitknechte, der ihm hundert Denare schuldig war. Und er ergriff und würgte ihn und sprach: Bezahle, wenn du etwas schuldig bist.
29 Sein Mitknecht nun fiel nieder und bat ihn und sprach: Habe Geduld mit mir, und ich will dir bezahlen.
30 Er aber wollte nicht, sondern ging hin und warf ihn ins Gefängnis, bis er die Schuld bezahlt habe.
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