Matthew 18
1 On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him, “Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?
2 Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said,
And having called in a child, Jesus set it in the midst of them.
3 “I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven at all.
And he said, Truly I say to you, if ye are not turned, and become as children, ye will, no, not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
4 Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
He therefore who will make himself lowly as this child, this man is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.
5 And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
And whoever will receive one such child in my name receives me.
6 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.
But whoever may cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is advantageous for him that a donkey-powered millstone were hanged on his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks. For it is necessary that the stumbling-blocks come, yet woe to that man through whom the stumbling-block comes.
8 “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)
And if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to stumble, cut them off and cast from thee. It is good for thee to enter into life crippled or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
9 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)
And if thine eye causes thee to stumble, remove it and cast it from thee. It is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. (Geenna g1067)
10 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.
See that ye not disparage one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in the heavens their agents do always behold the face of my Father in the heavens.
For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.
12 “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?
What does it seem to you? If it happens a hundred sheep are with some man, and one of them went astray, after going (having left the ninety-nine on the mountains), does he not seek the one going astray?
13 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.
And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you, that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.
14 So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost.
So, it is not a purpose before your Father in the heavens, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 “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.
But if thy brother should sin against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he should hear thee, thou have gained thy brother.
16 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.
But if he should not hear, take with thee one or two besides, so that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 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.
And if he is heedless of them, speak to the church. But if he is also heedless of the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the tax collector.
18 “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.
Truly I say to you, however many things ye may bind on the earth will be things that are bound in heaven, and however many things ye may loose on the earth will be things that that are loosed in heaven.
19 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.
Again I say to you truly, that if two of you should agree on the earth concerning every matter, whatever they might ask, it will happen for them from my Father in the heavens.
20 For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.”
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus, “Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?”
Then Peter having come to him, he said, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?
22 But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
Jesus says to him, I say to thee, not until seven times, but until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
Because of this the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a king, who wanted to settle account with his bondmen.
24 When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;
And when he began to settle, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 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.
But of him not having to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all things, as many as he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
The bondman therefore having fallen down, worshiped him, saying, Lord, be patient toward me and I will pay thee all.
27 The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
And having felt compassion, the lord of that bondman released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 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.’
But after going out, that bondman found one of his fellow bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having grabbed him, he choked him, saying, Pay me if thou owe anything.
29 His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
So his fellow bondman having fallen down at his feet, besought him, saying, Be patience toward me, and I will pay thee.
30 But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.
But he would not, instead, having left him, he cast him into prison until he would pay that which was owed.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.
And when his fellow bondmen saw the things that happened, they were extremely sorry. And after coming, they reported to their lord all the things that happened.
32 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.
Then his lord having summoned him, he says to him, Thou evil bondman, I forgave thee all that debt because thou besought me.
33 Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
Was it not necessary for thee also to be merciful to thy fellow bondman, as I also was merciful to thee?
34 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
And having become angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors until he would pay all that was due to him.
35 So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye do not forgive each man his brother, from your hearts, their trespasses.
