Matthew 18
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: “Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
2 He called a little child to himself, and set him 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 tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all.
4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child — that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
But, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck.
7 "Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks. For there will always be something to cause people to stumble, but woe to the person through whom the stumbling block comes.
Alas for the world because of such snares! There cannot but be snares; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the everlasting fire. (aiōnios g166)
If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire. (aiōnios g166)
9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the fire of hell. (Geenna g1067)
If your eye is a snare to you, 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 fiery Pit. (Geenna g1067)
10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
Beware of despising one of these lowly ones, for in Heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven.
12 "What do you think? If someone has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
What think you? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying?
13 If he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
And, if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you that he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray.
14 Even so it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in Heaven that not one of these lowly ones should be lost.
15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
If your Brother does wrong, go to him and convince him of his fault when you and he are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your Brother.
16 But if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
But, if he does 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 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to hear the church also, let him be to you as an unbeliever or a tax collector.
If he refuses to listen to them, speak to the Church; and, if he also refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will 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, truly I tell you, that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in Heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together 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 came to him and said, "Lord, how often can my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus: “Master, how often am I to forgive my Brother when he wrongs me? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
But Jesus answered: “Not seven times, but ‘seventy times seven.’
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him six million pounds;
25 But because he could not pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that 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 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'
Thereupon 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, released him, and forgave him the debt.
The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'
But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow-servants who owed him ten pounds. Seizing him by the throat, he said ‘Pay what you owe me.’
29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'
Thereupon his fellow-servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due.
But the other would not, but went and put him in prison till he should pay his debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done.
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 called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
Upon that 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 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'
Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow-servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due.
Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you do not each forgive your brother his trespasses from your heart."
So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart.”
