Matthew 18:26

Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The indebted servant speaks to his master immediately after the master orders the sale of the servant, his wife, his children, and all his possessions to cover the unpaid debt. The servant kneels and verbally requests time to repay the full amount.

The words — Πεσὼν (Pesōn) translates literally as "having fallen down," and προσεκύνει (prosekunei) denotes the physical act of bowing or kneeling before the master. These terms document the exact posture of submission that accompanies the servant's verbal plea.

The thread — The identical plea for patience and promise to repay recurs when a fellow servant repeats the request to a debtor in Matthew 18:29. The posture of kneeling before a figure of authority also parallels the leper’s approach in Matthew 8:2.

Why it lands — The text records a debtor acknowledging total inability to pay and making a direct appeal for extended time. It requires the reader to confront whether they demand immediate justice for others while demanding patience for themselves.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΠεσὼνPesōnHaving fallen down οὖνountherefore ὁhothe δοῦλοςdoulosservant προσεκύνειprosekuneiwas bowing on his knees αὐτῷautōto him λέγων·legōnsaying;κύριε,kurielord μακροθύμησονmakrothumēsondo have patience ἐπ᾽ep᾽with ἐμοί,emoime myself,καὶkaiand πάνταpantaall ἀποδώσωapodōsōI will pay σοι.¶soito you.

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Matthew 18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
Luke 7:43 “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Matthew 8:2 Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
Romans 10:3 Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.