< Matthew 18 >

1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
At that time the disciples came to Jesus inquiring, Who shall be the greatest in the Reign of Heaven?
2 He called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
Jesus calling to him a child, placed him in the midst of them,
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.
and said, Indeed, I say to you, unless you be changed, and become as children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever, therefore, shall become humble like this child.
5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
Nay, whosoever receives one such child, in my name, receives 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 whosoever shall ensnare any of these little ones, who believe in me, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were sunk in the ocean.
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 snares! Snares indeed there must be; nevertheless, alas for the ensnarer!
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)
Wherefore, if your hand or foot ensnare you, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or feet to be cast into the everlasting 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)
And if your eye ensnare you, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter one-eyed into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (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 contemning any of these little ones; for I assure you, that in heaven, their angels continually behold the face of my heavenly Father:
and the Son of Man is come to recover the lost.
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 have a hundred sheep, and one of them has strayed, will he not leave the ninety-nine upon the mountains, and go in quest of the stray?
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 happens to find it, indeed, I say to you, he derives greater joy from it, than from the ninety-nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Thus it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that any of these little 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.
Wherefore, if your brother trespass against you, go and expostulate with him, when you and he are alone together. If he hear you, you have gained 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 will not hear, take one or two along with you, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses everything may be ascertained.
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 despises them, tell the congregation; and if he despise the congregation also, let him be to you as a pagan or a publican.
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.
Indeed, I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
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 say to you, whatever two of you upon the earth shall agree to ask, shall 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 wherever two or three are assembled in my name, I am in the midst of 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 approaching, said to him, Master, if my brother repeatedly trespass against me, how often must I forgive him? must I seven times?
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Jesus answered, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
In this the Administration of Heaven resembles a king, who determined to settle accounts with his servants.
24 When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
Having begun to reckon, one was brought, who owed him ten thousand talents.
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.
But that servant not having the means to pay; his master, to obtain payment, commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had should be sold.
26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'
Then the servant, throwing himself prostrate before his master, cried, Have patience with me, my lord, and I will pay the whole.
27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
And his master had compassion upon him, and dismissed him, remitting 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 this servant, as he went out, meeting one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.
29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you all.'
His fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, 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.
And he would not, but instantly caused him to be imprisoned, until he should discharge the 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.
His fellow-servants seeing this, were deeply affected, and went, and informed their master of all that had passed.
32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.
Then his master, having given orders to call him, said to him, You wicked servant: all that debt I forgave you, because you besought me.
33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'
Ought not you to have shown such pity to your fellow-servant, as I showed to you?
34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due.
So his master, being provoked, delivered him to the jailors, to remain in their hands until he should clear the debt.
35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you do not each forgive your brother his trespasses from your heart."
Thus will my heavenly Father treat every one of you, who forgives not, from his heart, his brother.

< Matthew 18 >