Matthew 18:23 (YLT)

Passage

`Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,

Nearby Context

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter having come near to him, said, `Sir, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him--till seven times?'

Matthew 18:22 Jesus saith to him, `I do not say to thee till seven times, but till seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:23 `Because of this was the reign of the heavens likened to a man, a king, who did will to take reckoning with his servants,

Matthew 18:24 and he having begun to take account, there was brought near to him one debtor of a myriad of talents,

Matthew 18:25 and he having nothing to pay, his lord did command him to be sold, and his wife, and the children, and all, whatever he had, and payment to be made.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "reign", "heavens", "likened", "king", "take", "reckoning", and "servants". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "reign" and "heavens", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Jesus saith to him I do not..." into verse 24's "and he having begun to take account...", so "reign" and "heavens" 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 "reign" and "heavens" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.