Mat 18:24-34 | RWP | e4.org | Ten thousand talents ( μυριων ταλαντων ). A talent was 6,000 denarii or about a thousand dollars or 240 pounds. Ten thousand times this is about ten or twelve million dollars, an enormous sum for that period. We live today in the age of national debts of billions of dollars or even of pounds sterling. The imperial taxes of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria for one year were only 600 talents while Galilee and Perea paid 200 (Josephus, Ant . xi. 4). But oriental kings were free in the use of money and in making debts like the native kings of India today.

‏ Matthew 18:24-34

Ten thousand talents ( μυριων ταλαντων ). A talent was 6,000 denarii or about a thousand dollars or 240 pounds. Ten thousand times this is about ten or twelve million dollars, an enormous sum for that period. We live today in the age of national debts of billions of dollars or even of pounds sterling. The imperial taxes of Judea, Idumea, and Samaria for one year were only 600 talents while Galilee and Perea paid 200 (Josephus, Ant. xi. 4). But oriental kings were free in the use of money and in making debts like the native kings of India today.

Had not wherewith to pay ( μη εχοντος αυτου αποδουνα ). There is no "wherewith" in the Greek. This idiom is seen in Lu 7:42; 14:14; Heb 6:13. Genitive absolute though αυτον in the same clause as often in the N.T.

To be sold ( πραθηνα ). First aorist passive infinitive of πιπρασκω. This was according to the law (Ex 22:3; Le 25:39, 47). Wife and children were treated as property in those primitive times.

The debt ( το δανιον ). The loan. Common in the papyri for a loan. The interest had increased the debt enormously. "This heavy oriental usury is of the scenery of the parable" (McNeile).

A hundred pence ( εκατον δηναρια ). A denarius was worth about eight and a half pence. The hundred denarii here were equal to some "fifty shillings" (Bruce), "about 4 pounds" (McNeile), "twenty pounds" (Moffatt), "twenty dollars" (Goodspeed), "100 shillings" (Weymouth) . These are various efforts to represent in modern language the small amount of this debt compared with the big one.

Took him by the throat ( επνιγεν ). "Held him by the throat" (Allen). It is imperfect, probably inchoative, "began to choke or throttle him." The Roman law allowed this indignity. Vincent quotes Livy (iv. 53) who tells how the necks were twisted (collum torsisset) and how Cicero (Pro Cluentio, xxi.) says: "Lead him to the judgment seat with twisted neck (collo obtorto)."

What thou owest ( ε τ οφειλεις ). Literally, "if thou owest anything," however little. He did not even know how much it was, only that he owed him something. "The 'if' is simply the expression of a pitiless logic" (Meyer).

And he would not ( ο δε ουκ ηθελεν ). Imperfect tense of persistent refusal.

Till he should pay ( εως αποδω ). This futuristic aorist subjunctive is the rule with εως for a future goal. He was to stay in prison till he should pay. "He acts on the instinct of a base nature, and also doubtless in accordance with long habits of harsh tyrannical behaviour towards men in his power" (Bruce). On imprisonment for debt among the Greeks and Romans see Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, pp. 270,330.

Told ( διεσαφησαν ). Made wholly clear to their own lord. That is the usual result in the long run. There is a limit to what people will put up with.

Shouldst thou not? ( ουκ εδε σε? ) "Was it not necessary?" The king fits the cap on this wicked slave that he put on the poor debtor.

The tormentors ( τοις βασανισταις ). Not to prison simply, but to terrible punishment. The papyri give various instances of the verb βασανιζω, to torture, used of slaves and others. "Livy (ii. 23) pictures an old centurion complaining that he was taken by his creditor, not into servitude, but to a workhouse and torture, and showing his back scarred with fresh wounds" (Vincent).

Till he should pay all ( εως [ου] αποδω παν ). Just as in verse 30, his very words. But this is not purgatorial, but punitive, for he could never pay back that vast debt.