Matthew 18:31

31 So [when] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went [and] reported to their master everything that had happened.

Matthew 18:31 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 18:31

So when his fellow servants saw what was done
What hard usage, and ill treatment, their fellow servant met with; the Syriac reads, "their fellow servants", being the fellow servants both of the creditor and the debtor:

they were very sorry;
they were greatly grieved and troubled at the cruelty of the one, and the unhappiness of the other; being more tenderhearted, and of a more forgiving spirit than he:

and came and told unto their Lord all that was done;
to their fellow servant, by one that had so lately received such favours from him: this may be expressive of the concern of some members of churches at such conduct: who, though they may not have strength and number sufficient to oppose such measures, yet being secretly grieved at such cruel methods, go to the throne of grace, and spread the case before the Lord, tell him all that is done by way of complaint; which, is no impeachment of his omniscience, only shows their trouble for such malpractices, and the sense they have, by whom only such grievances can be redressed.

Matthew 18:31 In-Context

29 Then his fellow slave threw himself to the ground [and] began to implore him, saying, 'Be patient with me and I will repay you!'
30 But he did not want to, but rather he went [and] threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed.
31 So [when] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were extremely distressed, and went [and] reported to their master everything that had happened.
32 Then his master summoned him [and] said to him, 'Wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me!
33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I also showed mercy to you?'

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("saw") which is understood as temporal
  • [b]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("went") has been translated as a finite verb
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.