Matthew 18:35
Saturday, 18 April 2026
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:35
“And thus, My Father, the celestial, He will do to you if not you should forgive each, his brother, from your hearts their transgressions.” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus completed the substance of His parable concerning the unforgiving servant, having used it as an example of dealings in the kingdom of the heavens.
As noted, His words were a veiled reference to what was coming upon Israel in their state of rejecting Christ, a self-inflicted wound that continues to this day. Understanding this, He next says, “And thus, My Father, the celestial, He will do to you.”
In some texts, the word used to describe the Father is ouranios, heavenly. It is a word already seen five times. However, a different word is used in most texts, epouranios, celestial. It is derived from epi, upon, and ouranos, heaven.
As such, it literally means “upon-heaven,” and, thus, it indicates that which is celestial, meaning what is related to the sky, outer space, or heaven, and which often implies divine, ethereal, or superb quality.
The word is also used once in John 3:12. All other uses are found in Paul’s writings and in the book of Hebrews, which is most likely written by Paul. Jesus tells the disciples that this is how they (the word “you” is plural) will be treated “if not you should forgive each, his brother, from your hearts.”
Stating it this way, Jesus brings it to mean each person individually. God will look on all of them, and the ones that don’t have the proper attitude in this matter will likewise be treated. It must be remembered that the parable, despite having real implications for the nation of Israel, is still based on the thought of asking for leniency.
The co-servant acknowledged his debt and promised to pay it, begging for time. Nothing was said about outright forgiveness without repayment. A debt was owed, and leniency was requested. At a minimum, it should have been granted.
The words “from your hearts” signify that what is forgiven is to be complete, in both action and mind. Once it is done, it isn’t to be called to mind again. With that, the verse and the chapter end with “their transgressions.”
These words are not in many manuscripts, even as far back as the Latin Vulgate. Some believe they were added in to soften the abrupt ending and to align with Matthew 6:15. Either way, some manuscripts include them, some don’t. As long as it is understood that this is the case, people have the knowledge of the difference.
This summary thought to the parable does not say that what was forgiven by God will be reimposed upon a person if his attitude is contrary to Jesus’ words. It says that the celestial Father will mete out the same treatment to a person that was meted out in the parable. That treatment was –
“And having been angry, his master, he surrendered him to the torturers until that he should pay all the ‘being owed’ him.”
In Christ, all debts are paid for our sin. To say this is not true is to say that Christ’s shed blood was insufficient to deal with our sin. If all our sin debt is paid, then there is no more sin debt to pay. However, because the parable was speaking of imposing law upon others, even if a person is saved, if he returns to law observance, what does Paul say while using circumcision as a benchmark of this apostasy? It is found in Galatians 5 –
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Galatians 5:1-6
A person who returns to the law becomes a debtor to the whole law. That is now what is owed. If the person was saved, there will be no rewards for that person from that point on. When he stands before Christ at the Bema seat, his life and works will go through the fire. Paul says he will be saved, but only as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
For the person who was never saved, he bears the full burden of the law, including all of the associated curses that are included in the law. This is what Jesus is ultimately referring to. Be wise. Hold fast to the grace of Christ. And be sure to instruct others on the freedom from law that is found in Christ.
Life application: Matthew 18 follows logically in type after Chapter 17, which poignantly showed that there is a future for Israel. The words of Jesus are given to show who will enter the kingdom of the heavens, meaning people of child-like faith. Such faith is wholly contrary to law observance.
Jesus then proceeded to speak of those who are to be excluded, meaning those who sin against their brother and will not heed the counsel of the offended, nor of his witnesses, nor of the called-out assembly. Such are to be treated as “the ethnicity and the taxmen.”
Jesus then went on to explain who such an offender is in the parable of the unforgiving servant. Even though the words have a surface intent of revealing a cold and unforgiving heart, the root of the parable revealed how Israel got into the mess it remains in, even to this day. They reinserted the law into their national worship after Christ came and fulfilled it.
As such, the debt they owe must be paid. Until it is, by collectively receiving Jesus, they will not enter into the millennium so carefully described in the previous chapter. Once again, we are learning the lesson of the law. It is the great enemy of a relationship with God. What we need is not more law. What we need is Jesus. Let us remember this.
Lord God, help us to be forgiving when asked, willing to let go of the things that cause trouble and division between us and others. And help us to stand fast on the grace that was bestowed upon us through the giving of Jesus. May we never diminish this grace in our lives or in the lives of others. Amen.
