Matthew 18:23 (GNV)

Passage

Therefore is the kingdome of heauen likened vnto a certaine King, which would take an account of his seruants.

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Master, howe oft shall my brother sinne against me, and I shall forgiue him? vnto seuen times?

Matthew 18:22 Iesus said vnto him, I say not to thee, Vnto seuen times, but, Vnto seuentie times seuen times.

Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdome of heauen likened vnto a certaine King, which would take an account of his seruants.

Matthew 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought vnto him, which ought him ten thousand talents.

Matthew 18:25 And because he had nothing to pay, his Lord commanded him to be solde, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and the dette to be payed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "kingdome", "heauen", "likened", "vnto", "certaine", and "take". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "kingdome", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Iesus said vnto him I say not..." into verse 24's "And when he had begun to reckon...", so "therefore" and "kingdome" 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 "therefore" and "kingdome" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.