Matthew 18:31 (KJV)

Passage

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Matthew 18:30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Matthew 18:31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Matthew 18:32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "fellowservants", "done", "very", "sorry", "came", "told", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "fellowservants" and "done", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "And he would not but went and..." into verse 32's "Then his lord after that he had...", so "fellowservants" and "done" 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 "fellowservants" and "done" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.