Matthew 18:33 (LSB)

Passage

Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:31 So, when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

Matthew 18:32 Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

Matthew 18:33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’

Matthew 18:34 And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

Matthew 18:35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "should", "fellow", "slave", and "same". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "should", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 32's "Then summoning him his lord said to..." into verse 34's "And his lord moved with anger handed...", so "mercy" and "should" 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 "should" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.