Matthew 18
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Then which one is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens?
On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, “Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 And Jesus calling a little child to Him, placed it in the midst of them,
Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said,
3 and said, Truly I say unto you, unless you may be converted, and become as little children, you can not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
“I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all.
4 Therefore whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens;
Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 and whosoever shall receive such little child in my name, receives me.
And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
6 But whosoever may offend one of these little ones, who believe in me, it is good for him that a millstone may be hanged to his neck, and he may be drowned in the depth of the sea.
But, if anyone puts temptation in the way of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be best for them to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung around their neck.
7 Woe unto the world on account of offensives, for it is necessary that offensives come; but woe unto that man through whom the offense comes!
Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
8 If thy hand or thy foot offends thee, cut them off and cast them from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. (aiōnios g166)
9 And if thine eye offend thee, cast it from thee: it is good for thee having one eye entering into life, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of the fire. (Geenna g1067)
If your eye causes you to sin, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fires of Gehenna. (Geenna g1067)
10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that their angels in heaven do always behold the face of my Father who is in the heavens.
Beware of despising one of these little ones, for in heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
12 What seems to you? if there may be a hundred sheep to one man, and one of them may go astray, does he not, leaving the ninety and nine, going to the mountains, seek that which has gone astray?
“What think you? If a person owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will the person not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying?
13 And if it maybe that he finds it, truly I say unto you, that he rejoiceth more over it than over the ninety and nine that went not astray.
And, if they succeed in finding it, I tell you that they rejoice more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray.
14 So it is not the will of your Father who is in the heavens, that one of these little ones may perish.
So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost.
15 But if thy brother may sin, go, and convict him between thee and him alone: if he may hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother:
“If your brother or sister does wrong, go to them and convince them of their fault when you are both alone. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
16 if he may not hear thee, take with thyself one or two, in order that in the mouth of two or three witnesses the word may stand.
But, if they do not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.
17 But if he may not hear them, tell the church: and if indeed he may not hear the church, let him be to thee as a heathen and publican.
If they refuse to listen to them, speak to the church; and, if they also refuse to listen to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 Truly I say unto you, that whatsoever things you may bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever things you may loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
“I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in heaven to be allowed.
19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you may agree upon the earth concerning everything which you may ask, it shall be done unto you by my Father, who is in the heavens.
Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they will pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.”
21 Then Peter, coming to Him, said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?
Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus, “Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus says to him, I say not unto thee, Until seven time; but Until seventy times seven.
But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of the heavens is like unto a kingly man, who wished to make a reckoning with his servants.
Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And he beginning to reckon, one was brought to him owing him myriads of talents.
When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;
25 And he not having wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all things so many as he had, and payment to be made.
and, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had.
26 Then that servant falling down, continued to worship him, saying, Be patient with me, and I will pay you all.
The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, sent him away, and forgave him the debt.
The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
28 And that servant having gone out, found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him one hundred denaria: seized him, throttled him, saying, Pay me what you owe me.
But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. Seizing him by the throat, he said ‘Pay what you owe me.’
29 Then his fellow-servant falling down, continued to intreat him, saying, Be patient with me and I will pay thee.
His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
30 And he was not willing: but having gone away he cast him into prison, until he could pay that which was owing.
But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.
31 Then his fellow-servants seeing those things which had taken place, were grieved exceedingly, and coming related to their lord all the things which transpired.
When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.
32 Then his lord calling him says to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, since thou didst intreat me:
So the master sent for the servant, and said to him ‘You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt.
33 did it not behoove thee also to have mercy on thy fellow-servant, as I had mercy on thee?
Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
34 And his lord being angry delivered him to the tormenters, until he should pay all that was due him.
Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
35 Thus my Heavenly Father will also do unto you, if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.
So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
