Matthew 18

Who Is the Greatest?

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 3 "I assure you," He said, "unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child-this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.
6 "But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me-it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea! 7 Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes. 8 If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

9 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 "See that you don't look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of My Father in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save the lost. 12 What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray? 13 And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray.

14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Restoring a Brother

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won't listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you. 18 I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. 19 Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them."

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
22 "I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus said to him, "but 70 times seven. 23 For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him.

25 Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
26 "At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!'

27 Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'
29 "At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30 But he wasn't willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.

31 When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.
32 "Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.

35 So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart."

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.