Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 18:28
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
28. found ] perhaps, even sought him out.
one of his fellowservants ] By this is meant the debt of man to man, offences which men are bound to forgive one another.
an hundred pence ] i. e. denarii. The Denarius was a day’s wages (ch. Mat 20:2). The sum therefore is about three months’ wages for an ordinary labourer, by no means a hopeless debt as the other was; see note ch. Mat 26:7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants which owed him an hundred pence – Greek, denarion; Latin, denarius; a Roman silver coin in common use. When Greece became subject to the Romans, and especially under the emperors, the denarius was regarded as of equal value with the Attic drachma – about 7 1/2 d. sterling, or 15 cents (circa 1880s); consequently, this debt was about 15 dollars – a very small sum compared with what had been forgiven to the first servant. Perhaps our Saviour, by this, meant to teach that the offences which our fellow-men commit against us are very small and insignificant compared with our offences against God. Since God has forgiven us so much we ought to forgive each other the small offences which are committed.
Took him by the throat – Took him in a violent and rough manner – half choked or throttled him. This was the more criminal and base, as he had himself been so kindly treated and dealt so mildly with by his lord.
Besought – Entreated, pled with him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. A hundred pence] Rather denarii. The denarius was a Roman coin, worth about seven-pence halfpenny English. The original word should be retained, as our word penny does not convey the seventh part of the meaning. A hundred denarii would amount to about 3l. 2s. 6d. British, or, if reckoned as some do, at seven-pence three farthings, the sum would be 3l. 4s. 7d.
Took him by the throat] . There is no word I am acquainted with, which so fully expresses the meaning of the original, , as the Anglo-saxon term throttle: it signified (like the Greek) to half choke a person, by seizing his throat.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
28. But the same servant went out,and found one of his fellow servantsMark the difference here.The first case is that of master and servant; in this case, both areon a footing of equality. (See Mt18:33, below.)
which owed him an hundredpenceIf Jewish money is intended, this debt was to the otherless than one to a million.
and he laid hands on him, andtook him by the throathe seized and throttled him.
saying, Pay me that thouowestMark the mercilessness even of the tone.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 , which is used by the Jews l 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, c.”
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.
l Apud Castell. Lexic. Polyglott. col. 1314.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A hundred pence ( ). A denarius was worth about eight and a half pence. The hundred denarii here were equal to some “fifty shillings” (Bruce), “about 4 pounds” (McNeile), “twenty pounds” (Moffatt), “twenty dollars” (Goodspeed), “100 shillings” (Weymouth) . These are various efforts to represent in modern language the small amount of this debt compared with the big one.
Took him by the throat (). “Held him by the throat” (Allen). It is imperfect, probably inchoative, “began to choke or throttle him.” The Roman law allowed this indignity. Vincent quotes Livy (iv. 53) who tells how the necks were twisted (collum torsisset) and how Cicero (Pro Cluentio, xxi.) says: “Lead him to the judgment seat with twisted neck (collo obtorto).”
What thou owest ( ). Literally, “if thou owest anything,” however little. He did not even know how much it was, only that he owed him something. “The ‘if’ is simply the expression of a pitiless logic” (Meyer).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Found. Either went in search of him, as he himself had been sought out by his Lord, or came upon him accidentally in the street.
A hundred pence [ ] . Less than a millionth part of his own debt.
Took him by the throat [ ] . Lit., throttled. Wyc., strangled. Compare were choked, Mr 5:13. Creditors often dragged their debtors before the judge, as the Roman law allowed them to do, holding them by the throat. Thus Livy (iv. 53), relates how, a difficulty having arisen between the consul Valerius and one Menenius, the tribunes put an end to the contest, and the consul ordered into prison (collum torsisset, twisted the neck) the few who appealed. And Cicero (” Pro Cluentio, ” 21) :
“Lead him to the judgment – seat with twisted neck [ ] .” Compare Cicero, “In 100 Verrem,” 4 10.
What thou owest [ ] . Lit., If thou owest anything. Not that the creditor is uncertain about the fact of the debt, though some uncertainty about the exact amount may be implied. This would agree with found, in the sense of coming upon accidentally. Compare Mt 13:44. He came suddenly upon him and recognized him as a debtor, though not certain as to the amount of his debt. Meyer remarks, “The if is simply the expression of a pitiless logic. If thou owest anything (as thou dost) pay!” The word pay [] is emphatic in position.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
(28) Which owed him an hundred pence.Here the calculation is simpler than in Mat. 18:24. The hundred pence are a hundred Roman denarii (the denarius being equal to sevenpence-halfpenny), a hundred days wages of the labourer and soldier, enough to provide a meal for 2,500 men (Joh. 6:7). There is a considerable truthfulness in the choice of such a sum, which has, perhaps, been too little noticed. Had our Lord been seeking simply a rhetorical antithesis between the infinitely great and the infinitely little, it would have been easy to select some small coin, like the denarius, the as, or the quadrans, as the amount of the fellow-servants debt. But to the fishermen of Galilee the hundred pence would appear a really considerable sum, and when they came to interpret the parable they would thus be led to feel that it recognised that the offences which men commit against their brothers may, in themselves, be many and grievous enough. It is only when compared with their sins against God that they sink into absolute insignificance.
He laid hands on him.We are shocked, and are meant to be shocked, by the brutal outrage with which the creditor enforces his claim, but it doubtless was but too faithful a picture of what the disciples had often witnessed, or, it may be, even practised. We are tempted to ask whether this really represents any phenomena of the spiritual life. Can a man who has really been justified and pardoned become thus merciless? The experience of every age, almost of every household, shows that the inconsistency is but too fatally common. The man is not consciously a hypocrite, but he is as yet double minded (Jas. 1:8), and the baser self is not conquered. In the language of the later teaching of the New Testament the mans faith is not one which worketh by love (Gal. 5:6). He is justified, but not as yet sanctified.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
28. Went out From his Lord’s presence, to inflict the severity. This sets the contrast in a more aggravating light. Fresh from the mercy of his Lord, he goes forth to inflict cruelty upon his fellow. So do men. They are, indeed, often at the same moment, spared of God and unsparing of others.
A hundred pence He owed his Lord ten thousand talents; some ten or fifteen million dollars! He could not forgive a hundred pence, about fifteen dollars! This reminds us how much more God does forgive us than we can forgive others. Oglethorpe, governor of Georgia, said, in a passion, to Mr. Wesley: “That vile servant of mine misbehaves, though he knows I never forgive.” “Then,” said Mr. Wesley, “I hope you never sin.” The beautiful reproof overcame the angry governor.
Took him by the throat Literally, grasping, he choked him. The plaintiff in a Roman suit customarily seized the defendant and drew him to the court. The present prosecutor performs the act with a merciless violence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii (one hundred day’s wages for a low-paid worker), and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ”
And then what follows is intentionally grotesque. The servant had a fellow servant who owed him the equivalent of one hundred days wages for a low paid worker. On one scale this equalled the value of four gold coins (one sixtieth of a talent). But he was so little moved by the forgiveness that had been offered to him that he grabbed him by the throat and demanded immediate repayment. Note that he was not only demanding, but violent. He was furious that this man had not repaid his debt. Ideas of forgiveness were totally foreign to him. The offer of forgiveness to him had not touched him.
There are indications in Rabbinic literature that grabbing a debtor by the throat was an accepted procedure of the day. But the emphasis here is on an increasing lack of compassion (thus later the king will deliver the unforgiving servant to the ‘torturers’). When men lack compassion that attitude of heart grows until it becomes positive evil. No man stands still. As he grows older he either softens or hardens.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Revolting lack of mercy:
v. 28. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants which owed him an hundred pence; and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
v. 29. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
v. 30. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Note the emphasis: Hardly had he left the presence of the king when this happened; it was the identical servant that had received such an immeasurable present of mercy. “He found,” not accidentally, but after deliberate search; the malice of the deed brought out. The fellow-servant owed him but a hundred denarii , that is, at 16 2
/ 3
cents per denarius , less than seventeen dollars, an insignificant sum, one that could not even come into consideration beside the immense debt which the king had just canceled for him. But here is the height of brutality: Seizing him by the throat, he choked him, after the manner permitted a creditor according to Roman law. In the harshest possible form he threatens to bring him before the tribunal unless immediate payment be made. Taken by surprise and filled with fear, the fellow-servant fell down and implored and begged for extension of time. The sum being so small, he could easily find ways and means of paying, if his creditor would but have patience. But the latter had no intention of doing so, he wanted to wreak his vengeance upon the poor fellow. Going away, he cast him into prison until such a time as he would be able to make payment of the debt. It was the climax of harshness.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 18:28. Which owed him an hundred pence The Roman penny, or denarius, here spoken of, being in value about seven-pence halfpenny of our money, the whole sum which was due to him did not much exceed three pounds sterling; therefore the servant’s demanding this trifle in so rough a manner from his fellow-servant, immediately on his coming out of the palace, where so much lenity had been shewed to him in a matter of far greater importance, manifested the very basest disposition in the man. The word , which we render took him by the throat, imports the doing so in the most furious manner, so as almost tostrangle him; and therefore more strongly expresses the man’s cruelty.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mat 18:28 . A hundred denarii , about forty Rhenish Gulden, or 23 thalers [about 3, 9s. sterling] (a denarius being not quite equal to a drachma), what a paltry debt compared with those talents of which there were a hundred times a hundred!
] Creditors (as the Roman law allowed them to do) often dragged their debtors before the judge, holding them by the throat. Clericus and Wetstein on this passage.
, ] is not to be taken, as is often done, as though it were equivalent to , . For where , like si quid , is used in the sense of quicquid (see Khner, ad Xen. Anab . i. 10. 18), always has a conditional force, which would be out of place in the present instance; but, with Fritzsche and Olshausen, to trace the expression to Greek urbanity , would be quite incongruous here. Neither, however, are we to affirm, with Paulus and Baumgarten-Crusius, that the conditional expression is rather more severe in its tone, from representing the man as not being even certain in regard to the debt; for the certainty of the debt is implied in the terms of the passage, and, moreover, in the . was necessarily to be presupposed on the part of the . No, the is simply the expression of a pitiless logic: PAY, if thou owest anything ( being emphatic). From the latter the former follows as matter of necessity. If thou owest anything (and such is the case), then thou must also pay, and therefore I arrest thee!
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
Ver. 28. And he laid hands on him, and took him, &c. ] Had he truly apprehended the pardon of his own sins, he would not have been so cruel to others. Had he thoroughly dyed his thoughts in the rich mercies of God, he would have shown more mercy to men. Therefore the apostles (when our Saviour had bidden them forgive, though it were often in the same day) said unto the Lord, “Increase our faith.” As who should say, The more we can believe thy love and mercy to us, the readier shall we be to do all good offices to men. But how rigid and cruel was David to the Ammonites, while he lay in his sin, and before he had renewed his faith, 2Sa 12:30-31 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
28. ] Perhaps we must not lay stress on , as indicating any wrong frame of mind already begun, as Theophylact does: the sequel shews how completely he had ‘gone out’ from the presence of his Lord. At all events the word corresponds to the time when the trial of our principle takes place: when we ‘go out’ from the presence of God in prayer and spiritual exercises, into the world. We may observe, that forgiveness of sin does not imply a change of heart or principle in the sinner .
The fellow-servant is probably not in the same station as himself, but none the less a fellow-servant. The insignificance of the sum is to shew us how trifling any offence against one another is in comparison to the vastness of our sin against God. Chrysostom finely remarks: , , . , ; , , ; Hom. lxi. 4, p. 616.
] So ‘obtorto collo ad prtorem trahor,’ Plaut. Pnul. iii. 5. 45. See other examples in Wetstein. The , which is beyond doubt the true reading, must be understood as a haughty expression of one ashamed to meet the mention of the paltry sum really owing, and by this very expression generalizing his unforgiving treatment to all who owed him aught.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 18:28-34 . The other side of the picture .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 18:28 . . .: a fellow -slave though a humble one, which he should have remembered, but did not. : some fifty shillings; an utterly insignificant debt, which, coming out from the presence of a king, who had remitted so much to him, he should not even have remembered, far less been in the mood to exact. . : seizing, he choked, throttled him, after the brutal manner allowed by ancient custom, and even by Roman law. The act foretokens merciless treatment: no remission of debt to be looked for in this quarter. . In the some ingenious commentators (Fritzsche, e.g. ) have discovered Greek urbanity! (“Non sine urbanitate Graeci a conditionis vinculo aptarunt, quod a nulla conditione suspensum sit.”) Weiss comes nearer the truth when he sees in it an expression of “merciless logic”. He will have payment of whatever is due, were it only a penny.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
found = sought and found.
owed = was owing.
pence. Greek. denaria. See App-51.
laid hands on = seized.
took him by the throat = began throttling him.
that = what.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
28.] Perhaps we must not lay stress on , as indicating any wrong frame of mind already begun, as Theophylact does:-the sequel shews how completely he had gone out from the presence of his Lord. At all events the word corresponds to the time when the trial of our principle takes place: when we go out from the presence of God in prayer and spiritual exercises, into the world. We may observe, that forgiveness of sin does not imply a change of heart or principle in the sinner.
The fellow-servant is probably not in the same station as himself, but none the less a fellow-servant. The insignificance of the sum is to shew us how trifling any offence against one another is in comparison to the vastness of our sin against God. Chrysostom finely remarks: , , . , ; , , ; Hom. lxi. 4, p. 616.
] So obtorto collo ad prtorem trahor, Plaut. Pnul. iii. 5. 45. See other examples in Wetstein. The , which is beyond doubt the true reading, must be understood as a haughty expression of one ashamed to meet the mention of the paltry sum really owing, and by this very expression generalizing his unforgiving treatment to all who owed him aught.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 18:28. , having gone forth) being now released from his difficulties. Before the accounts had been examined, he treated his fellow-servant more tenderly; the very joy of recovered liberty, or restored health, etc., is accompanied by a greater danger of sin:[844] see Joh 5:14; 2Ki 20:13.[845]- , a hundred denarii)[846] The names of coins are neuter in Greek. This was a sufficiently large debt for a fellow-servant: but nothing in comparison with even a single talent, and ten thousand is a hundred times a hundred.-, …, pay, etc.) An importunate demand.-, if)[847] a particle of some force for since.
[844] So that it is even then in particular, that one becomes liable to anger.-V. g.
[845] See Jer 34:8-16.-(I. B.)
[846] E. V. An hundred pence. The denarius was about sevenpence three farthings.-(I. B.)
[847] Bengel reads , which he interprets, IF, i.e. SINCE thou owest me something. E. M. has -that which, or whatsoever thou owest.-(I. B.)
BCD Orig. 3,622a read . But abc Vulg. Lucifer support the of Rec. Text.-ED.
, he found) After you have experienced the divine free favour, soon the opportunity will present itself to thee of adopting either a similar, or else a different mode of action.-V. g.
, one) It sometimes happens that one wishes well to all (other) men, and yet remains inimical and hostile at least to one particular person.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
an hundred: Rather, “a hundred denarii,” as our penny does not convey one seventh of the meaning. This would amount to about 3. 2s. 6d. English; which was not one six hundred thousandth part of the 10,000 talents, even calculating them as Roman talents.
pence: “The Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is sevenpence halfpenny.” Mat 20:2
and took: Deu 15:2, Neh 5:7, Neh 5:10, Neh 5:11, Neh 10:31, Isa 58:3, Eze 45:9
Reciprocal: Pro 28:3 – poor man Jer 34:16 – and brought Mat 6:12 – as Mat 10:29 – farthing Mat 22:19 – a penny Mar 6:37 – pennyworth Mar 12:15 – a penny Mar 14:5 – pence Luk 7:41 – pence Luk 15:8 – pieces Luk 20:24 – a penny Joh 6:7 – pennyworth Jam 2:13 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8:28
Gratitude should have prompted this man to show kindness to all others with whom he would have any dealings. Instead, he found a man who owed him a hundred pence ($1,600) and demanded payment, at the same time handling him brutally.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 18:28. An hundred pence (denaries)=3 or $15. A comparatively small sum. The transgressions of our fellowmen against us are trifling in comparison to our sin against God.
Took him by the throat. Allowed by the Roman law. An unforgiving spirit is quick to apply the harshest legal measures.
Pay whatever thou owest. His own debt fully forgiven, yet he insists: He who owes must pay! The payment of a just debt, is demanded; the worst crimes have been committed under plea of justice. That the servant went out may be significant, since it is true that when we go out from, forsake the presence of, our forgiving Lord, we become unforgiving. Only when near Him are we like Him.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 18:28-30. But the same servant Thus graciously freed from such an immense debt; went out From the presence of his master; and found one of his fellow-servants which owed him a hundred pence A hundred Roman denarii, each in value about seven pence halfpenny sterling, and the whole amounting only to three pounds two shillings and sixpence. And he took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest Thus, by demanding this trifling sum in so rough a manner, and that immediately on coming out of the palace where so much lenity and mercy had been shown him in a matter of far greater importance, he manifested a most base, selfish, unfeeling, and cruel disposition. The word , rendered, he took him by the throat, implies that he almost strangled him. And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet As he had done at his lords feet; and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, &c. Using the very words which he himself had used but just before on the like occasion. And he would not Having so soon forgot, or not considering, the much greater mercy that had been shown to himself so lately, in the like circumstances, by their common master; but, being insolent and inexorable, and resolved not to wait a moment, he went with him before a magistrate, and cast him into prison Protesting he should lie there till he should pay the whole debt.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The reaction of the forgiven servant was appalling. He proceeded to try to collect a debt from a fellow slave and even resorted to physical violence to obtain it. A denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer or a foot soldier. [Note: Tob 5:14; Tacitus Annales 1:17.] Therefore the debt owed was substantial, but compared with the debt the king had forgiven the creditor servant it was trivial.
Both debtors appealed to their respective creditors similarly (Mat 18:26; Mat 18:29). Yet the servant creditor remained unmoved, hardhearted. He threw his fellow servant into the debtor’s prison until he could extract the full amount of his debt from him. Other servants of the king, who were aware of the situation and deeply distressed by it, reported everything to their lord "in detail" (Gr. diesaphesan).