Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 18:32

"Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:" — Matthew 18:32 (ASV)

The king now calls the servant whom he had forgiven “wicked” (v.32) and, forgoing selling him, turns him over to the “torturers” (cf. vv.6, 8–9). He is to be tortured till he pays back all he owes (v.34), which he can never do.