Matthew 18
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
At that hour his disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is really greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them
When he had called a little child to him, Jesus set him among them, and answered.
3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
"Whoever therefore will humble himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;
5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
"and whoever receives one such child for my sake, receives me.
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
"But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung about his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
"Woe unto the world because of such stumbling-blocks! They will surely come, but woe unto each man by whom they come!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, 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 stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, than to keep both hands or both feet and be cast into the everlasting burning. (aiōnios g166)
9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire. (Geenna g1067)
"If your eye keeps causing you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with only one eye, than to keep both eyes and be cast into the Gehenna of fire. (Geenna g1067)
10 See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
"See to it that you never despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father in heaven.
11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
12 “What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray?
"How does it seem to you, when a man has a hundred sheep and loses one of them? Will he not leave the ninety and nine on the hills, to go and search for the one that has strayed?
13 If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray.
"And if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you solemnly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that never strayed away.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
"Just so it is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him, between yourself and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.
16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
"But if he will not listen to you, take one or two others along, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he will not listen to them, tell the church;
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
"but if he will not heed the church, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
"I tell you all in solemn truth that whatever you forbid upon earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
"And again I tell you that if two of you on earth symphonize your praying concerning anything for which you have asked, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
"For wherever there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I among them."
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
Just then Peter came to him, and asked him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
"I do not tell you ‘till seven times,’"answered Jesus, "but till seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
"Thus the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars.
25 But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
"And since he was unable to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, toward the payment of the debt.
26 The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!’
27 The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.
"So then the master pitied his slave, and let him go, and forgave him his debt.
28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
"But on his way out, that slave met a fellow slave who owed him fifty dollars. Seizing him by the throat, and nearly choking him, he exclaimed, "‘Pay me what you owe me!’
29 “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
"Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’
30 He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.
"But he would not; on the contrary he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.
"When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very angry; and they went and explained to their master all that had happened.
32 Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
"Immediately his master summoned him and said. "‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me.
33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’
"‘Ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had pity on you?’
34 His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.
"Then in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, until he should pay him all his debt.
35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
"So will my heavenly Father do to you also, unless from your heart each one of you forgive his brother."
