Matthew 18

Greatness in the Kingdom—Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Causing Others to Lose Faith—Mark 9:42–50; Luke 17:1–4

6 “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.

7 How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!
8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.

9 If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.
10 “Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.t

The Lost Sheep—Luke 15:1–7

12 “What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed?13 I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed.

14 In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.

Dealing With Believers When They Do Wrong

15 “If a believer does something wrong,t go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation may be verified by two or three witnesses.17 If he ignores these witnesses, tell it to the community of believers. If he also ignores the community, deal with him as you would a heathen or a tax collector.

18 I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free.
19 “I can guarantee again that if two of you agree on anything here on earth, my Father in heaven will accept it.

20 Where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”

Personally Forgiving Others

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me? Seven times?”22 Jesus answered him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy times seven.23 “That is why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.24 When he began to do this, a servant who owed him millions of dollars was brought to him.25 Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account.

26 Then the servant fell at his master’s feet and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay everything!’
27 “The master felt sorry for his servant, freed him, and canceled his debt.

28 But when that servant went away, he found a servant who owed him hundreds of dollars. He grabbed the servant he found and began to choke him. ‘Pay what you owe!’ he said.
29 “Then that other servant fell at his feet and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’

30 But he refused. Instead, he turned away and had that servant put into prison until he would repay what he owed.
31 “The other servants who worked with him saw what had happened and felt very sad. They told their master the whole story.32 “Then his master sent for him and said to him, ‘You evil servant! I canceled your entire debt, because you begged me.

33 Shouldn’t you have treated the other servant as mercifully as I treated you?’
34 “His master was so angry that he handed him over to the torturers until he would repay everything that he owed.

35 That is what my Father in heaven will do to you if each of you does not sincerely forgive other believers.”

Matthew 18

1 In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:6 But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!8 And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.9 And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.10 See 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 who is in heaven.11 For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.12 How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and 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 And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.25 But forasmuch as he had not wherewith 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 therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.27 And 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 a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.29 So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.31 So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32 Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:33 shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.35 So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.