Matthew 18:26 (LSB)

Passage

Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and was prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:24 When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

Matthew 18:25 But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.

Matthew 18:26 Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and was prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

Matthew 18:27 And feeling compassion, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.

Matthew 18:28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "slave", "fell", "ground", "prostrating", "himself", "before", and "saying". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "slave", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 25's "But since he did not have the..." into verse 27's "And feeling compassion the lord of that...", so "therefore" and "slave" 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 "slave" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.