Matthew 18
1 About that time we disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who [among us will be] the most important when God [MTY/EUP] [makes you] king?”
At that hour his disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is really greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Jesus called a child to come, and he placed that child in our midst.
When he had called a little child to him, Jesus set him among them, and answered.
3 He said, “Think about this: If you [(pl)] do not change [the way you(pl) think] and become [as humble] as little children, you [(pl)] will surely not go to the place where God [MTY/EUP] rules.
"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 The people who become as humble as this child [or any child] is, will be the most important people among those over whom God rules.
"Whoever therefore will humble himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;
5 Also, when those who, [because they love] me, welcome [a] child like this one, [God considers] that they are welcoming me.”
"and whoever receives one such child for my sake, receives me.
6 “If you cause someone who believes in me to sin, [even if it is someone who is socially unimportant like] this little child, [God will severely punish you]. If a heavy stone were fastened around your neck and you were thrown into the deep waters of the sea, [people would consider that you had been severely punished. But God will punish] you more severely [than that if you cause someone to sin]
"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 It will be terrible for those [MTY] who cause others to stop believing in me. [God will punish them eternally]. It is inevitable that there will be [those who] cause others to stop believing in me. But it will be horrible for everyone who does that.
"Woe unto the world because of such stumbling-blocks! They will surely come, but woe unto each man by whom they come!
8 So, if you [are wanting to use] one of your hands or feet to sin, [stop using that hand or foot! Even if you have to] cut it off [to avoid sinning, do it] [MET]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you are maimed or lame and do not have a hand or a foot. But it is not good that you continue to have your two hands and two feet [and do] [MTY] [the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown into [hell], where there is eternal fire burning. (aiōnios g166, questioned)
"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 what you see you [makes you want] to sin, [stop looking at those things! Even if you have to] gouge out one of your eyes and throw it away [to avoid sinning, do it] [HYP]! It is good [that you not sin and] go where you will live [with God eternally, even though while you are still here on earth] you have only one eye. But it is not good that you continue to have your two eyes [and do the sinful things you want to, and as a result], you are thrown {God throws you} into hell where there is eternal fire burning.” (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 “Make an effort that you [(pl)] do not despise [even] one of these children. I tell you [(pl)] truly that [since] the angels [live] in heaven [in the presence of] my Father, [they will report to him if you mistreat the children].
"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.
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
12 What do you [(pl)] think [you would do in the following situation]? If you had 100 sheep and one of them got lost, you would surely leave the 99 sheep [that are] on the hill and go and search for the lost one [RHQ], would you not?
"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 you found it, I affirm to you [(pl)] that you would rejoice very much. You would be happy that 99 sheep did not stray away, but you would rejoice even more [because you had found] the sheep that had strayed away.
"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 In the same way [that shepherds do not want one of] their [sheep to stray away], so [God], your Father in heaven, does not want [even] one of these children to go to hell.” (questioned)
"Just so it is not the will of my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
15 “If a fellow believer sins [against you], go [to him], and when you two are alone, reprove him [for sinning against you]. If that person listens to you [and feels sorry that he has sinned against you], you will have restored [your friendship with] that person.
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him, between yourself and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.
16 If that person will not listen to you [nor feel sorry that he has sinned against you], go get one or two other people [who will listen to what you both have to say]. Have them go with you so that [what is written] {[Moses wrote]} [in the Scriptures might happen: ] ‘[When one person accuses another in some matter], it should be confirmed by [at least] two or three people {[at least] two or three people should confirm it} [before that person can be declared] guilty {[before they declare that person guilty]}.’
"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 the one who has sinned against you will not listen to them [or does not feel sorry that he has sinned against you], tell that to the congregation [so that they can rebuke him]. If that person will not listen to the congregation [or feel sorry that he has sinned against you, exclude him from being a member of your congregation, just like] you [would exclude] pagans, tax collectors, [and others who do not believe in God and sin greatly].
"but if he will not heed the church, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.
18 Keep this in mind: Whatever you decide on earth [about punishing] or [not punishing a member of your congregation] is what has also been decided by [God] in heaven {what [God] in heaven has also decided}.
"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 Also note this: If [at least] two of you [who live] here on earth agree together about something you ask [God] for [DOU], [God], my Father [who is] in heaven, will give you what you ask for.
"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 [This is true], because wherever [at least] two or three of you assemble because you believe in me [MTY], I am [spiritually] present with you. I [will hear what you ask for and I will ask God to do it for you].”
"For wherever there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I among them."
21 Then Peter approached [Jesus] and said to him, “How many times must I forgive a fellow believer who [keeps on] sinning against me? [If he keeps asking me to forgive him, must I forgive him] as many as 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 tell you [that the number of] times [you must forgive someone is] not just up to seven, but [you must] ([forgive him] 77 times/never stop forgiving him).
"I do not tell you ‘till seven times,’"answered Jesus, "but till seventy times seven.
23 [In order to illustrate] why [you should do this], I [will tell you a story in which] God [MTY/EUP], [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over, is compared {I compare God, [who cares for] the people whose lives he rules over} to a king [and his officials]. That king told [some of his servants that he wanted] his officials to pay what they owed him.
"Thus the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 [So those officials were brought to the king to] settle [their accounts with him]. [One of the officials who were brought] owed the king several million dollars.
"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars.
25 But because he did not have [enough money] to pay [what he owed], the king demanded that he, his wife, his children and all he possessed be sold [to someone else, and that the king] be repaid [with] {receive} [the money that was paid for them].
"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 Then that official, [knowing that he did not have the money to pay that huge debt], fell on his knees [in front of the king] and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!’
27 The king, [knowing that the official could never pay all that huge debt], felt sorry for him. So he canceled his debt and released him.
"So then the master pitied his slave, and let him go, and forgave him his debt.
28 Then this official went to another one of the king’s officials who owed him a bit less than a year’s wages. He grabbed him [by the throat], started choking him, and said to him, ‘Pay back what you owe [me]!’
"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 That official fell on his knees and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you all of it, [eventually].’
"Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’
30 But this official kept refusing [to cancel that small debt that the man owed him]. Instead, he [caused that official to be] put in prison [and to stay there] until he could pay back all the money that he owed him.
"But he would not; on the contrary he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When the other officials [of the king] learned that this had happened, they felt very distressed. So they went to the king and reported in detail what had happened.
"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 the king summoned the official [who had owed him several million dollars]. He said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I canceled that huge debt [that you owed me] because you begged me [to do so]
"Immediately his master summoned him and said. "‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me.
33 You should have been merciful [and canceled your fellow official’s debt], just like I was merciful to you [and canceled your debt] [RHQ]!’
"‘Ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had pity on you?’
34 The king was very angry. He handed this official over to some jailers who would torture him severely until he paid all of the debt that he owed.”
"Then in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, until he should pay him all his debt.
35 [Then Jesus continued by saying], “That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if you do not [feel merciful and] sincerely forgive a fellow believer [who sins against you].”
"So will my heavenly Father do to you also, unless from your heart each one of you forgive his brother."
