Bible Strands
Matthew 18:30
But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The unmerciful servant acts after the first debtor begs for patience and promises repayment. He denies the plea and orders the debtor confined to prison until the debt is settled.
The words — The Greek οὐκ (ouk) “not” negates ἤθελεν (ēthelen) “he was willing,” forming a direct refusal. The verb ἔβαλεν (ebalen) literally means “he cast,” describing the forced transfer to prison.
The thread — The decree of imprisonment for unpaid debt aligns with the confinement orders detailed in 1 Kings 22:27. The observers’ distress over the ruling parallels the moral weight recorded in 1 Kings 21:27.
Why it lands — The text presents a servant who receives debt cancellation yet denies a fellow debtor the same relief. It requires the reader to acknowledge that refusing mercy while claiming to receive it creates a direct contradiction in conduct.
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
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
- 1 Kings 22:27 and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”