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?”
Just then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who ranks higher than others 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,
So He called a young child to Him, and, bidding him stand 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.
said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted 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.
Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others 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 for my sake receives one young child such as this, 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 shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck and to be drowned in the depths 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!
"Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!
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)
If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall into sin, cut it off and away with it. It is better for you to enter into Life crippled in hand or foot than to remain in possession of two sound hands or feet but be thrown into the fire of the Ages. (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 your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it; it is better for you to enter into Life with only one eye, than to remain in possession of two eyes but be thrown into the Gehenna 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.
"Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access to my Father who is in Heaven.
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 do you yourselves think? Suppose a man gets a hundred sheep and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that is straying?
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 succeeds in finding it, in solemn truth I tell you that he rejoices over it more than he does 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.
Just so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
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.
"If your brother acts wrongly towards you, go and point out his fault to him when only you and he are there. If he listens to you, you have gained your 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 will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.
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.
If he refuses to hear them, appeal to the Church; and if he refuses to hear even the Church, regard him just as you regard a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
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.
I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed.
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.
I also solemnly tell you that if two of you here on earth agree together concerning anything whatever that they shall ask, the boon will come to them from my Father who is in Heaven.
20 For where two or three have come together in my name, I am present with them.”
For where there are two or three assembled 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?”
At this point Peter came to Him with the question, "Master, how often shall my brother act wrongly towards me and I forgive him? seven times?"
22 But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
"I do not say seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven times.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
"For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.
24 When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;
But as soon as he began the settlement, one was brought before him who owed 10,000 talents,
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.
and was unable to pay. So his master ordered that he and his wife and children and everything that he had should be sold, and payment 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 servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you the whole.'
27 The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
"Whereupon his master, touched with compassion, set him free 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 no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, "'Pay me all you owe.'
29 His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
"His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, "'Only give me time,' he said, 'and I will pay you.'
30 But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.
"He would not, however, but went and threw him into prison until he should pay what was due.
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.
His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had 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.
At once his master called him and said, "'Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me:
33 Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
34 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
"So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him.
35 So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
"In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts."
