Matthew 18:33 (ASV)

Passage

shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Matthew 18:32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:

Matthew 18:33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?

Matthew 18:34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.

Matthew 18:35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "shouldest", "thou", "fellow-servant", "even", and "thee". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "shouldest", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 32's "Then his lord called him unto him..." into verse 34's "And his lord was wroth and delivered...", so "mercy" and "shouldest" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "shouldest" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.