29-00
The Story of the Unmerciful Servant
This title can also be translated as: “About what happened when a servant did not show mercy” or “What happened when a servant did not show mercy?”
29-01
One day
This phrase introduces an event that happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
asked Jesus, “Master, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “called Jesus his master and asked him if he should forgive his brother as many as seven times when he sins against him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
Jesus said, “Not seven times, but 70 times seven!”
This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus told him to forgive not only seven times, but 70 times seven!” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
my brother
This term sometimes included people who were not actually siblings, but who shared another very strong connection such as religion, ethnic background, etc.
sins against me
This could also be translated as: “does something wrong against me.”
Not seven times, but 70 times seven!
This could be translated as: “You should not forgive only seven times, rather you should forgive 70 times seven times.” Jesus was not talking about an exact number. He was saying that we should forgive people every time they sin against us.
70 times
This could also be written in words: “seventy times.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
By this, Jesus meant that we should always forgive
This could be translated as: “Jesus wanted to say that we should always forgive anyone who sins against us.”
this story
The story is in the form of a parable. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-parables/01.md]])
29-02
Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One of his servants owed a huge debt worth 200,000 years’ wages.”
This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants, one of whom owed a huge debt worth 200,000 years’ wages.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
The kingdom of God is like
Other ways to say this are: “God’s rule over people is like” or “The way God rules people can be compared to.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-simile/01.md]])
is like a king who
This could be translated as: “is like the kingdom of a king who” or “can be compared with the rule of a king who.”
to settle accounts with his servants
This could mean to collect the debts his servants owed him or to collect the money his servants had borrowed from him.
200,000
This can be written in words: “two hundred thousand years.” It represents an exceptionally long time. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
29-03
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
the king said, ‘Sell this man and his family as slaves to pay his debt.’
This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “the king said to sell this man and his family as slaves to pay his debt.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])
Sell this man and his family as slaves
This was a command from the king.
to pay his debt
This could mean to pay back the money he owed to the king.
to pay his debt
It can be stated that the reason the man would be sold was so that the money received from selling him could pay part of what he owed to they king. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
29-04
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
fell on his knees
This could mean quickly knelt down on the ground. This was a way to show his humility and his desire for the king to help him. Make sure it doesn’t sound like he fell down accidentally. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])
before the king
This means: in front of the king.
and said, ‘Please be patient with me, and I will pay the full amount that I owe you.’
This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “and asked him to please be patient with him, and he would pay the full amount that he owed him.’ (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])
felt pity
This could mean felt compassion for or felt sorry for. The king knew that the servant and his family would suffer greatly if they were sold into slavery.
canceled all of his debt
This can be translated as: “said that the servant did not need to pay back any of the money that he owed the king.”
29-05
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
a fellow servant
This refers to another man who was also a servant of the king.
and said, ‘Pay me the money that you owe me!’
This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “and told him to pay him the money that he owed him.’ (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])
29-06
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
The fellow servant
Translate this phrase in the same way as in 29:05.
fell on his knees
This phrase has the same meaning as in 29:04. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-symaction/01.md]])
and said, ‘Please be patient with me, and I will pay the full amount that I owe you.’
This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “and asked him to please be patient with him, and he would pay the full amount that he owed him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])
threw his fellow servant into prison
This could also be translated as: “had the man put into prison.” The word threw is figurative and means it was done in a forceful way.
29-07
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
what had happened
This could mean that the servant had refused to cancel the other servant’s debt and had put him into prison.
were greatly disturbed
This could mean deeply grieved or very distressed.
everything
This could mean they told the king what the servant had done to his fellow servant.
29-08
General Information
Jesus continues the story.
called the servant
This could mean commanded the servant to come to him or ordered his guards to bring the servant to him.
and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave your debt because you begged me. You should have done the same.’
This is a quotation within a quotation. The entire quotation can be restated so that this portion is an indirect quotation: “and called him a wicked servant. He said that he had forgiven him his debts because he begged him. He should have done the same.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotesinquotes/01.md]])
You wicked servant!
The king said this to emphasize how wicked the servant was. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
begged me
This could be translated as: “pleaded with me” or “urgently asked me to be merciful.”
You should have done the same
This could mean You should have forgiven the man who owed you, just as I forgave you.
threw
This could mean commanded his guards to put. Consider how threw was translated in frame 29:06. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-explicit/01.md]])
29-09
Then Jesus said
Some languages may add: “to his disciples.”
Jesus said, “This is what my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This is a direct quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation: “Jesus said that his heavenly Father will do this to every one of his disciples if they do not forgive their brother from their heart.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-quotations/01.md]])
This
This refers back to the way the king punished the unforgiving servant in 29:08.
you…you…your…your
All occurrences of these words are plural. Jesus is speaking to his disciples, but this parable teaches a general truth that applies to all believers. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-pronouns/01.md]])
my heavenly Father
This could mean my Father in heaven. Jesus is expressing his unique, personal relationship to God the Father. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples/01.md]])
your brother
See how you translated this in 29:01.
from your heart
The phrase from your heart is an idiom that means sincerely. Alternate translation: “with sincerity” or “truly” or “genuinely” or “honestly.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])
heart
Here heart is a metonym for a person’s inner being. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-metonymy/01.md]])
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.