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?”
At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, and said: Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said,
And Jesus called a little child to him, and placed him 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 said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, anyone who will humble themselves like this child – that person will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And anyone who, for the sake of my name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
And whoever receives one such little child on my account, 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 ensnares one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that 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!
Alas for the world because of snares! for it is necessary that snares come: but alas for that man by whom the snare 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)
If, then, your hand or your foot ensnares you, cut it off, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, than, having two hands or two feet, to be thrown 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 your eye ensnares you, pull it out, and throw it from you. It is better to enter into life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell-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.
Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, That their angels in heaven do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
For the Son of man has come to save that which is 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 think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them go astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains, and seek for that which has gone 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 it so be that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go 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.
Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is 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.
And if your brother sin against you, go and tell him of his fault between you and him alone; if he hear 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 hear you, take with you one or two more, that, by 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.
But if he refuse to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he also refuse to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican.
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.
Verily, I say to you, my disciples, Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth, shall be 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, that if two of you agree on earth about any thing for which they will ask, it shall be done for them by 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 that have come together for my sake, there I am 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 came to him, and said: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?
22 But Jesus answered, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.
Jesus said to him: I say to you, Not till seven times, but till seventy times seven.
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 heaven is likened to a king that wished to settle 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;
And when he began to make a settlement, there was brought to him one that owed him ten thou sand 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.
But as he was not able to pay, his lord commanded him, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, to be sold, 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.’
Therefore, the servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, Lord, and I will pay you all.
27 The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt.
And the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and let him go, 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 that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hold of him, and took him by the throat, saying: Pay me what 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.’
Then his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.
30 But the other would not, but went and put him in prison until he should pay his debt.
And he would not; but went and threw him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
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.
When his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very sad, and went and made known to their lord all that was done.
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 called him and said to him: Wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you besought me.
33 Shouldn’t you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’
Ought you not to have had mercy on your fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on you?
34 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt.
And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all that was due 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 will my heavenly Father do to you, if, from your hearts, you forgive not every one his brother’s offenses.
