Matthew 18:28
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.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δοῦλος
servant
G1401
δοῦλος
servant
Strong's:
G1401
Word #:
4 of 25
a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
ἐκεῖνος
the same
G1565
ἐκεῖνος
the same
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
5 of 25
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνδούλων
fellowservants
G4889
συνδούλων
fellowservants
Strong's:
G4889
Word #:
9 of 25
a co-slave, i.e., servitor or ministrant of the same master (human or divine)
αὐτὸν
and took
G846
αὐτὸν
and took
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ
which
G3739
ὁ
which
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
11 of 25
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ὀφείλεις
owed
G3784
ὀφείλεις
owed
Strong's:
G3784
Word #:
12 of 25
to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty
αὐτὸν
and took
G846
αὐτὸν
and took
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κρατήσας
he laid hands
G2902
κρατήσας
he laid hands
Strong's:
G2902
Word #:
17 of 25
to use strength, i.e., seize or retain (literally or figuratively)
αὐτὸν
and took
G846
αὐτὸν
and took
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
18 of 25
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἔπνιγεν
him by the throat
G4155
ἔπνιγεν
him by the throat
Strong's:
G4155
Word #:
19 of 25
to wheeze, i.e., (causative, by implication) to throttle or strangle (drown)
λέγων,
saying
G3004
λέγων,
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
20 of 25
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Ἀπόδος
Pay
G591
Ἀπόδος
Pay
Strong's:
G591
Word #:
21 of 25
to give away, i.e., up, over, back, etc. (in various applications)
Cross References
Matthew 20:2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.Ezekiel 45:9Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.Deuteronomy 15:2And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.
Historical Context
Roman law permitted creditors to seize debtors physically and confine them. Grabbing by the throat was aggressive but legal enforcement. However, the cultural shock lies in the timing—immediately after receiving massive debt cancellation, showing no transformation of character despite experiencing extraordinary mercy.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you minimize sins against you while magnifying your own righteousness, reversing the proper perspective?
- What does the servant's violence despite receiving mercy reveal about hearts that experience forgiveness intellectually but not transformationally?
- How does comparing others' debts to you (100 denarii) versus your debt to God (10,000 talents) affect your willingness to forgive?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence (ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, hekaton dēnaria)—approximately 100 days' wages, roughly $15,000 today. Significant but manageable: the ratio is 600,000:1 (10,000 talents vs. 100 denarii). This staggering disproportion illustrates how any sin against us is infinitesimally small compared to our offenses against God's infinite majesty.
He laid hands on him, and took him by the throat (ἔπνιγεν αὐτόν, epnigen auton)—the Greek indicates violent choking, attempting to throttle payment from him. The same man who moments ago prostrated himself pleading for mercy now physically assaults his debtor. This shocking juxtaposition reveals hypocrisy: receiving grace without extending it, experiencing forgiveness without forgiving. The violence exposes an unchanged heart.