Matthew 18:28
Context18:28 After 1 he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. 2 So 3 he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, 4 saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 5
Matthew 18:30
Context18:30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.
Matthew 18:34
Context18:34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him 6 until he repaid all he owed.


[18:28] 1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
[18:28] 2 tn Grk “one hundred denarii.” The denarius was a silver coin worth about a day’s wage for a laborer; this would be about three month’s pay.
[18:28] 3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so.” A new sentence was started at this point in the translation in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.
[18:28] 4 tn Grk “and he grabbed him and started choking him.”
[18:28] 5 tn The word “me” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
[18:34] 6 tn Grk “handed him over to the torturers,” referring specifically to guards whose job was to torture prisoners who were being questioned. According to L&N 37.126, it is difficult to know for certain in this instance whether the term actually envisions torture as a part of the punishment or is simply a hyperbole. However, in light of the following verse and Jesus’ other warning statements in Matthew about “fiery hell,” “the outer darkness,” etc., it is best not to dismiss this as mere imagery.