Matthew 18:30

Monday, 13 April 2026

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

“And he would not. But having departed, he cast him into prison until that he should pay the ‘owing’.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the co-servant falling down at the feet of the unforgiving servant, begging for patience so that he could repay his debt. The narrative continues with, “And he would not.”

The words are stated entirely without concern. Here we have just the opposite reaction to when he begged for the same relief –

27And having gut-wrenched, the lord of that servant, he dismissed him.

30And he would not.

We’re dealing with an uncaring buffoon here. That continues to be seen in the next words, “But having departed, he cast him into prison.” Based on what happened to him just a short time earlier, it is hard to imagine the thinking.

Even if he wasn’t shown mercy, one would think he would be willing to set up a payment plan or something, but some people are incorrigible. They see a situation that could cause harm or distress to others and, without a care in the world, they press on. Where this type of thinking comes from is disturbing to consider. As for the poor co-servant, he was left to rot in prison, “until that he should pay the ‘owing’.”

This would be a miserable existence. If he were bought as a child, he would have no family to care for him or help get him out. If he wasn’t a great servant, or if his master was a creep too, he would receive no help from him. Would friends be willing to save up for his release? The situation would be depressing and seemingly hopeless.

Life application: It is hard to go through life without offending someone. In fact, sometimes it can be hard to go through a week without offending someone. But there is a difference between hard-hearted and uncaring offense and other types of offense.

There are many people who live to be offended. You will never be able to please someone like that. There are people who take offense easily because of their upbringing or inability to empathize with whatever situation occurred between them and those who unintentionally offend them.

There are times when two people will be attempting to do something nice for each other, and both others miss the significance of the act. Thus, both get offended when they should have been rejoicing at the kind deed of the other. This type of situation makes for great movies.

There are so many ways people can be offended. But there are likewise an almost infinite number of ways that people will offend. When it is intentional while also being harmful to others, that reveals a dark streak in a person. But humans are flawed people who can become insensitive to those around them.

When this happens, it doesn’t just affect the single relationship, such as a divorce, for example. The Lord sees the callous and uncaring attitude behind the act. He certainly cannot be pleased with such an attitude.

Jesus came to the earth despite an unlimited number of offenders railing against Him from day to day for thousands of years. We have ignored God, maligned Him, offended His glory through idolatry, perversion, bitterness, murder, and so forth.

If God is willing to overlook the offenses of others in hopes of us turning to Him, shouldn’t we be willing to reconcile with those who ask for it? To not do so is to fail to see the goodness of God and to act according to His nature.

Let us consider our ways and strive to overlook offenses when we are asked to do so.

Lord God, it is hard to imagine what You see in us. Humanity has been set on a constant course of disobedience and rebellion. And yet, You have overlooked these things and sent Jesus anyway. What manner of love is this?! How thankful we are for Your infinite grace and mercy. Amen.