Matthew 18:28

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus narrates the parable at the precise moment the forgiven servant leaves the master's presence to confront a fellow debtor.

The words — ἐξελθὼν (exelthōn) means "having gone out," marking the servant's departure from the master's court. εὗρεν (heuren) translates to "found," indicating the sudden encounter with a fellow servant who owed a hundred denarii.

The thread — The parable engages the debt-release mandate of Deuteronomy 15:2 and the denarius wage standard of Matthew 20:2, while confronting the violent oppression condemned in Ezekiel 45:9.

Why it lands — The text demands the reader acknowledge the immediate contradiction between receiving unconditional release and demanding strict repayment, requiring a direct accounting of one's own refusal to extend the same measure to others.

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

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 45:9 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’
Matthew 20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
Deuteronomy 15:2 This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed.
Isaiah 58:3 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
Nehemiah 5:7 and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them
Nehemiah 5:10 I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending the people money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.
Nehemiah 10:31 When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow and will cancel every debt.