Matthew 18:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moved with compassion, the king releases the servant and cancels the entire debt.
What Does Matthew 18:27 Mean?
The king does far more than the servant begged. Moved with compassion, he releases him and forgives the whole debt outright. The servant asked for time; he received total pardon.
This is the gospel pictured in a single act. The immeasurable debt is simply cancelled, not because it was small or repayable, but because the king was moved by mercy. Here is how God deals with the debt of sin in Christ, freely and fully forgiving what we could never pay. The whole parable turns on this compassion, and every hearer is meant to see himself as the one so mercifully forgiven.
Matthew 18:27 in the Original Language
splanchnizomai (σπλαγχνίζομαι), 'moved with compassion' -- to be stirred to mercy from deep within.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 18:27
What does Matthew 18:27 mean?
Moved with compassion, the king releases the servant and cancels the entire debt.