Matthew 18:23 (KJV)

Passage

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

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

Matthew 18:25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "kingdom", "heaven", "likened", "certain", "take", and "account". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "kingdom", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

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