Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 18:33
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?
33. Cp. the Lord’s Prayer, where forgiveness of others is put forward as the claim for divine pardon.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion] , Did it not become thee also? What a cutting reproach! It became ME to show mercy, when thou didst earnestly entreat me, because I am MERCIFUL, It became thee also to have shown mercy, because thou wert so deep in debt thyself, and hadst obtained mercy.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion….. 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Shouldst thou not? ( ?) “Was it not necessary?” The king fits the cap on this wicked slave that he put on the poor debtor.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
(33) Even as I had pity on thee.The comparison of the two acts, the implied assumption that the pity of the one act would be after the pattern of the other, was, we may believe, designed to lead the disciples to the true meaning of the prayer they had been taught to use, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 18:33 . On the well-known double used comparatively , see Klotz, ad Devar . p. 635. Baeumlein, Partik . p. 153.
] the moral oportuit .
] to the tormentors (Dem. 978, 11; 4Ma 6:11 ) to torture him, not merely to cast him into prison, which latter was only a part of their functions (Fritzsche). The idea involved in is of essential importance, typifying as it does the future of Gehenna. Comp. Mat 8:29 ; Luk 16:23 ; Rev 14:10 . Grotius well observes, though he takes the as = (Kuinoel, de Wette), “utitur autem hic rex ille non solo creditoris jure, sed et judicis.”
] as in Mat 18:30 . until he shall have paid . Though not expressly asserted, it is a legitimate inference from the terms of the passage (comp. Mat 5:26 ) to say: , , Chrysostom.
Doctrine, of the parable : The remission which thou hast obtained from God of thy great unpayable debt of sin, must stimulate thee heartily to forgive thy brother the far more trifling debt which he has incurred as regards thee; otherwise, when the Messianic judgment comes, the righteousness of God will again rise up against thee, and thou wilt be cast into Gehenna to be punished eternally; comp. Mat 5:25 f., Mat 6:14 f.
That motive, drawn from the forgiving mercy of God, could only be exhibited in all its significance by the light shed upon it in the atoning death of Christ (Eph 4:32 , Col 3:12 f.), so that Jesus had to leave to the future, which was fast approaching, what, as yet, could be but inadequately understood (so far we have here a ), and hence our passage is not inconsistent ( Socinian objection) with the doctrine (also expressly contained in Mat 20:28 , Mat 26:28 ) of satisfaction.
. . .) from your heart , therefore out of true, inward, heartfelt sympathy, not from a stoical indifference. Comp. Mat 18:33 . This is the only instance in the New Testament of being used in connection with this phrase; elsewhere it is that is employed. But comp. the classical expressions , , , and the like; also in Antoninus ii. 3, and . Dem. 580, 1.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
Ver. 33. Shouldst not thou also, &c. ] Which because he did not, his patent was called in again into the pardoning office, and he deservedly turned over to the tormentor. God will set off his own and all hearts else, from a merciless man, from a griping oppressor, as he did from Haman; not a man opened his mouth to intercede for him, when he fell before that Jewess, the queen. “For he shall have judgment without mercy,” saith St James, “that hath showed no mercy;” whereas “mercy rejoiceth against judgment,” as a man doth against his adversary, whom he hath subdued, Jas 2:13 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 18:33 . ; was it not your duty? an appeal to the sense of decency and gratitude. . There was condescension in putting the two cases together as parallel. Ten thousand acts of forgiveness such as the culprit was asked to perform would not have equalled in amount one act such as he had got the benefit of. The fact in the spiritual sphere corresponds to this.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Shouldest, &c. = Was it not binding on thee?
had compassion = pitied, as in the next clause. Same word.
even as I = as I also.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 18:33. ; did it not behove?) It did, indeed, by the highest rule of equity.[849]- , thy fellow-servant) whom thou oughtest to have pitied; My servant, by injuring whom thou hast injured Me.
[849] , all) Comp. the in Mat 18:34. O how royal is as well His lenity, as also His severity!-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
even: Mat 5:44, Mat 5:45, Luk 6:35, Luk 6:36, Eph 4:32, Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2, Col 3:13
Reciprocal: Exo 23:9 – ye know Deu 15:15 – General Psa 18:25 – With the Psa 109:16 – he remembered Lam 2:2 – swallowed Jon 4:11 – should Zec 11:6 – I will no Mat 5:7 – are Luk 10:33 – he had 1Pe 3:8 – having 1Jo 4:11 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8:33. A simple request brought the remission of a vast obligation In favor of this servant. That fact should have induced him to grant this comparatively small favor that was so earnestly requested by his fellow-servant.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 18:33. Shouldest not thou? The duty of forgiveness is obvious, yet so imperfectly performed.