Matthew 18:23
New International Version
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

New Living Translation
“Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him.

English Standard Version
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

Berean Standard Bible
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Berean Literal Bible
Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens has become like to a man, a king, who desired to settle accounts with his servants.

King James Bible
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

New King James Version
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

New American Standard Bible
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

NASB 1995
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

NASB 1977
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a certain king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

Legacy Standard Bible
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

Amplified Bible
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

Christian Standard Bible
“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

American Standard Version
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who was a King, wanting to take an account of his servants.

Contemporary English Version
This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like: One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants.

English Revised Version
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would make a reckoning with his servants.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"That is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Good News Translation
because the Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts.

International Standard Version
"That is why the kingdom from heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Literal Standard Version
Because of this was the kingdom of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who willed to take reckoning with his servants,

Majority Standard Bible
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

New American Bible
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

NET Bible
"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

New Revised Standard Version
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king who would take account of his servants.

Weymouth New Testament
"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.

World English Bible
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

Young's Literal Translation
'Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Unforgiving Servant
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! 23Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 13:24
Jesus put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Matthew 18:24
As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.

Matthew 25:19
After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

is.

Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 13:24,31,33,44,45,47,52
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: …

Matthew 25:1,14
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom…

which.

Matthew 25:19-30
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them…

Luke 16:1,2
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods…

Luke 19:12-27
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return…

Jump to Previous
Account Accounts Bondmen Cause Compared Determined Heaven Heavens Kingdom Likened Reason Reckon Reckoning Reconcile Servants Settle Settlement Slaves Wanted Wished
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Account Accounts Bondmen Cause Compared Determined Heaven Heavens Kingdom Likened Reason Reckon Reckoning Reconcile Servants Settle Settlement Slaves Wanted Wished
Matthew 18
1. Jesus warns his disciples to be humble and harmless,
7. to avoid offenses,
10. and not to despise the little ones;
15. teaches how we are to deal with our brothers when they offend us,
21. and how often to forgive them;
23. which he sets forth by a parable of the king who took account of his servants,
32. and punished him who showed no mercy to his fellow servant.














(23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened . . .--Over and above the direct teaching of the parable it has the interest, as regards its form, of being, in some sense, an advance on those of chapter 13, i.e., as more fully bringing out human interests, and so more after the pattern of those that are characteristic of St. Luke.

Verses 23-35. - Christ illustrates his precept by the parable of the unmerciful servant, and the stern lesson which he himself enunciates at its close. Verse 23. - Therefore; i.e. because such is the infinite nature of the pardon to be meted out to an offending brother. The kingdom of heaven. The rule observed in the government of Christ's kingdom with regard to forgiveness is represented by the procedure of a certain earthly king. The picture supposes some great Oriental potentate, with numerous viceroys or satraps, who have to render to him an account of revenues received. These are called servants in the sense that, though they are high officials, they are the monarch's subordinates and dependents. Both Herodotus and Xenophon apply the term "slave" (δοῦλος) to the great officers of state. Immense sums of money would pass through their hands. This accounts for the enormous debt of the officer in the parable. Webster and Wilkinson compare the East India Company's collectors, who are high civil servants of the company, that is, now, of the government. If we regard the parable in a general light, as illustrating God's dealings with sinful man, we must see in the "taking account of his servants," not the judgment of the last day, but those many occasions when God makes a man turn his eyes inward and learn how he stands in the sight of his Lord. Such occasions are sickness, misfortune, great change of circumstances, a new year, reproach of conscience, however aroused, - these and such like incidents awaken a man to his true position, show him his delinquencies and misery.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Because of
Διὰ (Dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

this,
τοῦτο (touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

kingdom
βασιλεία (basileia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 932: From basileus; properly, royalty, i.e. rule, or a realm.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heaven
οὐρανῶν (ouranōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3772: Perhaps from the same as oros; the sky; by extension, heaven; by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel.

is like
ὡμοιώθη (hōmoiōthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3666: To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.

a king
βασιλεῖ (basilei)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935: A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

who
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

wanted
ἠθέλησεν (ēthelēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to settle
συνᾶραι (synarai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4868: To compare (settle) accounts, make a reckoning. From sun and airo; to make up together, i.e. to compute.

accounts
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

with
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

servants.
δούλων (doulōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 18:23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like (Matt. Mat Mt)
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