One Who Owed Ten Thousand Talents - Matthew 18:24

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus continued his story as the brought to the king a man who, “owed him ten thousand talents” where we read:

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

The verse reads, “And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he had begun” which means “the certain king Jesus spoke of started, made a beginning and commenced”“to reckon” or “to settle accounts, make up together and take”, “one was brought” which means “one man was carried and presented” “unto him” or “unto the certain king”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “certain king” began to “settle accounts” with those who owed him money, and one particular man was “brought” to him.

The verse continues, “... which owed him ten thousand talents.” Matthew added the words, “which owed him” or “who was in obligation, debt or bound to the king for” “ten thousand talents” which means “ten thousand pieces of money made of silver or gold”. Matthew wrote how the particular man was in debt to the certain king by “ten thousand” sums of money.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how this was a tremendous amount that was owed to the king by this man. “Ten thousand talents” could have been as much as “ten million dollars” which is quite a hefty sum. The disciples who were hearing this story were more than likely alarmed by such an amount, and perhaps those reading these words are as well. God owns everything, and it would do well for every person to imagine themselves in the place of this man and realize God's Son Jesus paid their debt in full.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus tells how the king, “had begun to reckon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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