Mat 18 | Comm | STEP | At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

‏ Matthew 18

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called to him a little child, and put him in the midst of them, 3 and he said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me. 6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe to the world because of temptations to sin! For temptations must come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck 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 the fire of hell. 10 "See that you do not 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. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 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 and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every matter may be established by the word of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

21 Then Peter came to him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but 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 began the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And as he was not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 The master of that servant took pity on him, 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 denarii; and he laid hands on 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, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he refused, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and went and told their master all that had happened. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to each of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."