Definition: The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage from Matthew 18:26. It’s a really interesting and somewhat complex idea, so we’ll go through it step-by-step. Here's the basic meaning: Jesus is telling a story about how to deal with someone who is constantly complaining or trying to get his attention. He’s saying: "This person is really upset, and they are begging for patience. I'm going to show you how to respond." Let’s unpack it into smaller parts: “The servant therefore fell down…” – This refers to Jesus himself. He was feeling overwhelmed by the negativity of this person. “…and worshipped him…” – This is a very unusual phrase. It doesn't mean Jesus worshiped God in the traditional sense (like praying or offering sacrifices). Instead, it means he surrendered his own frustration and anger to Jesus. He was admitting that his feelings were too intense for him to handle. “…saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” – This is the core of the story. He's begging for someone else (the one who’s complaining) to be patient with him. He’s asking for forgiveness and a promise that he will eventually make things right. The phrase "pay thee all" means he wants a full apology or restitution for his problems. What does this story teach us? This story is about taking responsibility for your feelings. It's a powerful reminder that: We all have anger and frustration: Everyone feels upset sometimes, especially when something isn’t right. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed: Jesus was feeling incredibly burdened by the negativity of this person. Asking for forgiveness is important: It's a good idea to humbly ask someone else to be patient with you, even if it feels difficult. In essence, Jesus is teaching us that when we’re struggling with intense emotions, we need to acknowledge them, apologize, and seek forgiveness from someone else. --- Do you want me to: Explain this passage in more detail? Talk about the context of this story (which Gospels mention it)?