Matthew 18
1 In that hour came the disciples unto 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 And he called to him a little child, 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, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise 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 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:
And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming 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 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.
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!
Alas for the world because of such temptations! There cannot but be temptations but sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!
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 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)
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)
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)
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.
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.
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 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?
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 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.
14 Even so it is not the will of your 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 little ones should be lost.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
“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 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 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.
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 have come together in my name, I am present 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 up, and said to Jesus, “Master, how often am I to forgive someone who wrongs me? As many as seven times?”
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.
But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.
Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished 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.
When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him ten thousand bags of gold;
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.
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 worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
The servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 And 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 a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.
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.’
29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.
His fellow servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. ‘Have patience with me,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you.’
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.
But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should 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 went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.
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:
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.
33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?
Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till 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 shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”
