Bible Strands
Matthew 18:31
When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus concludes his parable to the disciples by describing the reaction of the other servants who witnessed the debtor's imprisonment. They observe the events and immediately report the entire situation to their master.
The words — Ἐλυπήθησαν (elupēthēsan) translates to "they were grieved," marking their emotional response to the injustice they witnessed. Ἰδόντες (Idontes) means "having seen," establishing that their report stems directly from firsthand observation.
The thread — This pattern of empathetic witness appears in Romans 12:15, which commands believers to weep with those who weep, and Hebrews 13:3, which urges remembering prisoners as if bound with them. Mark 3:5 also demonstrates Jesus' own sorrow at witnessing hardened hearts.
Why it lands — The text states that observers of injustice must report the events to the master rather than remain silent. It requires readers to acknowledge wrongdoing and bring it before authority instead of normalizing it.
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
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
- Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.
- Genesis 37:2 This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
- Psalms 119:136 My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.
- Jeremiah 9:1 Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.
- Luke 14:21 The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
- Luke 19:41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it
- Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.
- Psalms 119:158 I look on the faithless with loathing because they do not keep Your word.