Matthew 18
1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:
And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
6 but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8 And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
9 And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire. (Geenna g1067)
And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Geenna g1067)
10 See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
12 How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.
And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
15 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
16 But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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.
19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
21 Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.
As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
26 The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.
But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:
Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?
Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.
In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
