Matthew 18:21-35

JMNT(i) 21 Then, approaching, Peter said to Him, "Master (or: Lord), how many times shall my brother be habitually wronging me (or: failing to do or perform unto me as he rightfully should; committing a sin [which penetrates] into me [like being hit with an arrow]), and I shall continue to let it pass away for him (or: forgive him)? Until seven times?" 22 Jesus is then saying to him, "I don't normally say 'Till seven times,' but rather, 'Until seventy times seven!' 23 "Because of this [situation and reason], the heavens' reign (or: the kingdom of the heavens and the sovereignty emanating from the atmospheres) is likened to a man – a king – who willed and intended to settle [the] account [s] with his slaves. 24 "Now at his beginning to proceed settling, one person was led toward him: a debtor [owing] ten thousand talents (probably = millions of dollars; [ten thousand was the highest number used in calculating; a talent was the largest denomination of currency, = sixty million denarii; therefore this was a staggering amount of debt – Jesus is obviously using hyperbole, as no slave could owe that much]). 25 "So, at his not having [the means] to pay [it] back, the owner gave orders for him to be immediately sold, as well as the wife, the children and everything – as many things as he is presently having – and then for payment to be made. 26 "Therefore, upon falling down, the slave was repeatedly doing obeisance to him, repeatedly saying, 'Be long-enduring in you strong emotions so as to be patient with me, and I will progressively pay back everything to you!' 27 "So, being moved with compassion in the pit of his stomach, the owner of that slave released him and canceled the debt for him. 28 "Yet, upon going out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who was owing (or: who continued being indebted to) him one hundred denarii, and, grabbing him, he began to choke [him], saying, 'Pay back the debt, since you continue owing me something!' 29 "Therefore, upon falling down, his fellow slave kept on calling upon him for help, even entreating and continuing to beg him, repeatedly saying, 'Be long-enduring in you strong emotions so as to be patient with me, and I will progressively pay [it] back to you!' 30 "However, he continued being unwilling, and furthermore, upon going off, he had him thrown into prison (or: jail), until he could (or: should; would) pay back what was continuing to be owed. 31 "Then, upon seeing the things that were happening, his fellow slaves experienced tremendous pain and were filled with extreme grief, and so after coming, they made it thoroughly clear and gave a distinct picture to their owner about all the things that were happening. 32 "At that point, after calling him [i.e., the first slave] to himself, the owner proceeds saying to him, 'O worthless and wicked slave! I cancelled that entire debt for you, since you begged and entreated me. 33 "'Was it not of necessity binding [on; for] you, also, to dispense mercy to your fellow slave, just as I myself also dispensed mercy to you?' 34 "So, internally swelling with indignation and anger, his owner handed him over to 'the men who to test folks' (those who apply the touchstone to determine the grade and to show the quality of fine metals) until where [the occasion or situation develops that] he could (or: would) pay back all that continued being owed. 35 "My heavenly Father (or: My Father, Who inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) will be progressively dealing with you folks in this same way (or: will continue doing to you men in like manner), too, if each person does not release and forgive his brother (and let things flow away for him), from your hearts."