Matthew 18
1 Around that time the disciples came to Jesus, and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 Jesus called over a small child. He had the child stand in front of them.
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 “I tell you the truth, unless you change the way you think and become like little children, you won't ever enter the kingdom of heaven,” he told them.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 “But whoever humbles themselves and becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever accepts a little child like this in my name accepts me.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But anyone who makes one of these little ones who trust in me sin, it would be better for them to have a large millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 What a disaster is coming on the world for all its temptations to sin! Temptations will surely come, but it will be a disaster for the person through whom the temptation comes!
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It's better for you to enter eternal life crippled or lame rather than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into eternal fire. (aiōnios g166)
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast [them] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (aiōnios g166)
9 If your eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it away. It's better for you to enter eternal life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the fire of judgment. (Geenna g1067)
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Geenna g1067)
10 Make sure you don't look down on these little ones. I tell you that in heaven their angels are always with my heavenly Father.
Take heed 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 which is in heaven.
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 What do you think about this? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that's lost?
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if he finds it, I tell you he really rejoices over that sheep more than the ninety-nine that didn't get lost.
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 In the same way my heavenly Father does not want any of these little ones to be lost.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 If a brother sins against you, go and point out the wrong to him, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you've won your brother over.
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he doesn't listen, then take one or two more people with you, so that by two or three witnesses the truth can be confirmed.
But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 If, however, he refuses to listen to them, then tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church as well, then treat him as a foreigner and a tax-collector.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 I tell you the truth, whatever you ban on earth will be banned in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth will be allowed in heaven.
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 I also tell you that if two of you agree here on earth about something you're praying for, then my heavenly Father will do it for you.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather together in my name, I'm there with them.”
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “How many times should I forgive my brother for sinning against me? Seven times?”
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 “No, not seven times. I would say seventy times seven!” Jesus told him.
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 “This is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with those servants who owed him money.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 As he began to settle accounts, one servant was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 Since he didn't have the money to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all his possessions, so that the debt could be paid back.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant fell down on his knees and said to his master, ‘Please be patient with me! I will pay everything back!’
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 The master took pity on the servant, released him, and canceled the debt.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But when that same servant went out he found one of his fellow-servants who owed him just a hundred denarii. He grabbed him by the neck and choked him, saying, ‘Pay me back what you owe me!’
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 His fellow-servant threw himself down at the man's feet and begged him, ‘Please be patient with me! I will pay you back!’
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 But the man refused, and went and threw his fellow-servant into prison until he paid back what he owed.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what took place they were shocked and upset. They went and told their master everything that had happened.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then the master called the man back in and told him, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you all your debt because you begged me to.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldn't you have been merciful to your fellow-servant as well, just as I was merciful to you?’
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 His master became angry and handed him over to the jailors until he had repaid all the debt.
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 This is what my heavenly Father will do to every one of you unless you sincerely forgive your brothers.”
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
