Matthew 18 · Verse 27

Matthew 18:27

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
Matthew 18:27, King James Version

Matthew 18:27 in other translations

BSBHis master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
WEBThe lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
ASVAnd the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
YLTand the lord of that servant having been moved with compassion did release him, and the debt he forgave him.
DARBYAnd the lord of that bondman, being moved with compassion, loosed him and forgave him the loan.
BBEAnd the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, let him go, and made him free of the debt.
WebsterThen the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

What does Matthew 18:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt--Payment being hopeless, the master is first moved with compassion; next, liberates his debtor from prison; and then cancels the debt freely.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 27. The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, etc. He had pity on him. He saw his distressed condition. He pitied his family. He forgave him the whole debt. This represents the mercy of God to men. They had sinned. They owed to God more than could be paid. They were about to be cast off. But God has mercy on them, and in conexion with their prayers, forgives them. We are not to interpret the circumstances of a parable too strictly. The verse about selling the wife and children is not to be taken literally, as if God was about to punish them for the sins of their father; but it is a circumstance thrown in to keep up the story; to make it consistent; to explain why the servant was so anxious to obtain a delay of the time of payment.

(v) "loosed him" Ps 78:38

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Moved with compassion - Or with tender pity. This is the source of salvation to a lost world, the tender pity, the eternal mercy of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:21-35

Though we live wholly on mercy and forgiveness, we are backward to forgive the offences of our brethren. This parable shows how much provocation God has from his family on earth, and how untoward his servants are. There are three things in the parable: 1. The master's wonderful clemency. The debt of sin is so great, that we are not able to pay it. See here what every sin deserves; this is the wages of sin, to be…

Read the full comment on Matthew 18:21-35 →

Matthew 18:27 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣπλαγχνισθεὶςSplagchnistheisHaving been moved with compassionG4697
δὲdenowG1161
ὁhotheG3588
κύριοςkuriosmasterG2962
τοῦtouof theG3588
δούλουdoulouservant,G1401
ἐκείνουekeinouthat [one]G1565
ἀπέλυσενapelusenreleasedG630
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
καὶkaiandG2532
τὸtotheG3588
δάνειονdaneiondebtG1156
ἀφῆκενaphēkenforgaveG863
αὐτῷ.autōhim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 18:27

  • Psalms 145:8

    The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

  • Psalms 86:15

    But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

  • Psalms 86:5

    For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

  • Nehemiah 9:17

    And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

  • Psalms 78:38

    But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

  • Hosea 11:8

    How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

  • Judges 10:16

    And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
moved.
Jud 10:16; Ne 9:17; Ps 78:38; 86:5,15; 145:8; Ho 11:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 18:26

    The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

  • Matthew 18:27

    Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

  • 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.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El señor, movido á misericordia de aquel siervo, le soltó y le perdonó la deuda.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le seigneur de cet esclave-là, touché de compassion, le relâcha et lui remit la dette.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Herr jenes Knechtes aber, innerlich bewegt, gab ihn los und erließ ihm das Darlehn.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Misertus autem dominus servi illius, dimisit eum, et debitum dimisit ei.