Matthew 18:35
 
Matthew 18:35
(KJV) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(1611 KJV) So likewise shall my heauenly Father doe also vnto you, if yee from your hearts forgiue not euery one his brother their trespasses.
(1587 Geneva Bible) So likewise shall mine heauenly Father doe vnto you, except ye forgiue from your hearts, eche one to his brother their trespasses.
(1526 Tyndale) So lyke wyse shall my hevenly father do vnto you except ye forgeve with youre hertes eache one to his brother their treaspases.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
(NIV) "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
(NASV) My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."
(THE MESSAGE) And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."
(AMP) So also My heavenly Father will deal with every one of you if you do not freely forgive your brother from your heart his offenses.
(NLT) “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
(ESV) So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
(CEV) That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don't forgive each of my followers with all your heart.
(NCV) "This king did what my heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
(1901 ASV) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
(HCSB) So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."
(NIRV) "This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
(NAB-Roman Catholic) So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with YOU if YOU do not forgive each one his brother from YOUR hearts.”
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
outwV kai o pathr mou o epouranioV poihsei umin ean mh ajhte ekastoV tw adeljw autou apo twn kardiwn umwn ta paraptwmata autwn
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
outwV kai o pathr mou o ouranioV poihsei umin ean mh ajhte ekastoV tw adeljw autou apo twn kardiwn umwn
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
L 019 - Seventh century
038 - (Majuscule) Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
W 032 - Fourth/fifth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “their trespasses”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
Here we have the story of the wicked servant who was forgiven 10,000 talents and was very grateful to the master for forgiving him his debt. However, this servant, instead of rejoicing, thought he would make a little extra money had found a person who owed him 100 pence which would be approximately equal to about 9 dollars in American Money or about 3 Pounds in the United Kingdom. This story delivers a very powerful salvation message. The servant was forgiven for the debt that he owed his master but even though he was forgiven this debt he proved that this forgiveness fell on stony ground. (Mat 13:5 KJV) Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: If this servant was truly saved, he would have forgiven the one who owed him a mere pittance in comparison to what he owed his master. Instead of forgiving the small debt, he tried to exact it but as the Scriptures teach our sins will find us out. (Num 32:23 KJV) But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. The result is that the wicked servant was thrown to the tormentors until he should pay the entire debt, in other words it is an eternal debt. This is akin to those who die unsaved and will be in Hell eternally paying for their sins.
Now to verse 35. It seems like Jesus is saying that our salvation depends upon our forgiving other their trespasses. However, this could not be because this would make it salvation by works and salvation is by grace. What is in view here is the fact that this servant is called a “wicked servant.” This means that he was never saved. This is why he was handed over to the tormentors until he should pay every cent of his debt, which would be akin to an unbeliever paying for their sins. Verse 35 is pointing to the unbelievers in the crowd who do not have the spirit of forgiveness which accompanies salvation. If a person is truly saved, then they will possess the spirit of forgiveness and will forgive people for their trespasses many times. When people sin against us it is like the 100 pence but as they continue to sin against God, it is like the 10,000 talents which make it unpayable. Unless a person becomes saved, they will be thrown to the tormentors, which means they will be sent to hell for their sins. The modern versions leave out the fact in verse 35 that we are to forgive concerning trespasses. When someone sins against us we who are saved must show the spirit of forgiveness. It is the ones who are unsaved that hold to the spirit of vengeance, just like the wicked servant. Whenever a salvation lesson is in view, then we must speak about the fact that we are forgiven all our sins and those who are not saved still retain all their sins. Even if we forgive a person a trespass against us, it does not guarantee their salvation but it does present a good testimony on our part that our salvation is real. The modern versions like to play down sin since many of the translators are unsaved.

Back