18
1 In
that hour the
disciples came to
Jesus, saying, “Who
then is greatest
in the Kingdom of
Heaven?”
2 Jesus
called a little
child to himself,
and set him
in the middle
of them
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.
4 Whoever therefore
humbles himself
as this little
child is the
greatest in
the Kingdom of
Heaven.
5 Whoever receives
one such little
child in my
name 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
11 For the Son of Man came 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?
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.
14 Even so it
is not the
will of your
Father who is
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
20 For where two
or three are
gathered together
in my name,
there I am
in the middle
of 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?”
22 Jesus
said to him,
“I don’t tell
you until seven
times, but,
until seventy
times seven.
23 Therefore the Kingdom
of Heaven is
like a certain
king who wanted
to settle
accounts with
his servants.
24 When he had begun
to settle, one
was brought to
him who owed
him ten thousand
talents.
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.
26 The servant
therefore fell
down and knelt
before him,
saying, ‘Lord,
have patience
with me, and
I will repay you
all!’
27 The lord of
that servant,
being moved with
compassion, released him
and forgave him
the 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!’
29 “So his fellow
servant fell
down at his feet
and begged him,
saying, ‘Have
patience with me,
and I will repay
you!’
30 He would not,
but went and
cast him into
prison until he
should pay back
that which was
due.
31 So when his
fellow servants
saw what was
done, they were
exceedingly sorry,
and came and told
their lord all
that was done.
32 Then his lord
called him in
and said to
him, ‘You wicked
servant! I forgave
you all that
debt because you
begged me.
33 Shouldn’t you
also have had
mercy on your
fellow servant,
even as I
had mercy on
you?’
34 His lord was
angry, and
delivered him to
the tormentors until
he should pay
all that was
due to him.
35 So my heavenly
Father will also
do to you,
if you don’t
each forgive your brother
from your hearts
for his misdeeds.”