Matthew 18:31 (DBY)

Passage

But his fellow-bondmen, having seen what had taken place, were greatly grieved, and went and recounted to their lord all that had taken place.

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:29 His fellow-bondman therefore, having fallen down [at his feet], besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.

Matthew 18:30 But he would not, but went away and cast him into prison, until he should pay what was owing.

Matthew 18:31 But his fellow-bondmen, having seen what had taken place, were greatly grieved, and went and recounted to their lord all that had taken place.

Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, having called him to [him], says to him, Wicked bondman! I forgave thee all that debt because thou besoughtest me;

Matthew 18:33 shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-bondman, as *I* also had compassion on thee?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fellow-bondmen", "having", "seen", "taken", "place", "greatly", "grieved", and "went". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "fellow-bondmen" and "having", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "But he would not but went away..." into verse 32's "Then his lord having called him to...", so "fellow-bondmen" and "having" 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 "fellow-bondmen" and "having" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.