Matthew 18:33

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

Matthew 18:33 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
English Standard Version (ESV)
33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'
New Living Translation (NLT)
33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
The Message Bible (MSG)
33 Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?'
American Standard Version (ASV)
33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
33 Shouldn't you have treated the other servant as mercifully as I treated you?'
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on the other servant just as I had mercy 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 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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