Matthew 18

Who Is the Most Important Person in the Kingdom?

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus. They asked him, "Who is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand among them.3 Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.4 Anyone who becomes as free of pride as this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
6 "But what if someone leads one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If he does, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be drowned at the bottom of the sea.
7 "How terrible it will be for the world because of the things that lead people to sin! Things like that must come. But how terrible for those who cause them!
8 "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with only one hand or one foot than to go into hell with two hands and two feet. In hell the fire burns forever.9 If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

The Story of the Lost Sheep

10-11 "See that you don't look down on one of these little ones. Here is what I tell you. Their angels in heaven can go at any time to see my Father who is in heaven.
12 "What do you think? Suppose a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away. Won't he leave the 99 sheep on the hills? Won't he go and look for the one that wandered off?13 What I'm about to tell you is true. If he finds that sheep, he is happier about the one than about the 99 that didn't wander off.14 It is the same with your Father in heaven. He does not want any of these little ones to be lost.

When Someone Sins Against You

15 "If your brother sins against you, go to him. Tell him what he did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won him back.
16 "But what if he won't listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, 'Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.' (Deuteronomy 19:15)17 But what if he also refuses to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if he refuses to listen even to the church? Then don't treat him as your brother. Treat him as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.
18 "What I'm about to tell you is true. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.
19 "Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you.20 Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."

The Servant Who Had No Mercy

21 Peter came to Jesus. He asked, "Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.
23 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to collect all the money his servants owed him.24 As the king began to do it, a man who owed him millions of dollars was brought to him.25 The man was not able to pay. So his master gave an order. The man, his wife, his children, and all he owned had to be sold to pay back what he owed.
26 "The servant fell on his knees in front of him. 'Give me time,' he begged. 'I'll pay everything back.'
27 "His master felt sorry for him. He forgave him what he owed and let him go.
28 "But then that servant went out and found one of the other servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said.
29 "The other servant fell on his knees. 'Give me time,' he begged him. 'I'll pay you back.'
30 "But the first servant refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison. The man would be held there until he could pay back what he owed.31 The other servants saw what had happened. It troubled them greatly. They went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 "Then the master called the first servant in. 'You evil servant,' he said. 'I forgave all that you owed me because you begged me to.33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on the other servant just as I had mercy on you?'34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers. He would be punished until he paid back everything he owed.
35 "This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your 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.