Matthew Chapter 18 verse 23 Holy Bible
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
read chapter 18 in ASV
For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king, who went over his accounts with his servants.
read chapter 18 in BBE
For this cause the kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who would reckon with his bondmen.
read chapter 18 in DARBY
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
read chapter 18 in KJV
read chapter 18 in WBT
Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
read chapter 18 in WEB
`Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,
read chapter 18 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 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.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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.
