Matthew 18

1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2. And after calling a little child to Him, Jesus set him in their midst,

3. And said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, there is no way that you shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5. And whoever shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me.

6. But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to offend, it would be better for him that a millstone be hung around his neck and he be sunk in the depths of the sea.

7. Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come, yet woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8. And if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

9. And if your eye causes you to offend, pluck it out and throw it away; for it is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than to have two eyes and be cast into the fire of Gehenna.

10. Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven continually look upon the face of My Father, Who is in heaven.

11. For the Son of man has come to save those who are lost.

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 on the mountains and search for the one that went astray?

13. And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

14. Likewise, it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

15. So then, if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he is willing to hear you, you have gained your brother.

16. But if he will not listen, take with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17. And if he fails to listen to them, tell it to the church. But if he also fails to listen to the church, let him be to you as the heathen and the tax collector.

18. Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on the earth will have already been bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth will have already been loosed in heaven.(see Appendix A)

19. Again I say to you, that if two of you on earth shall agree concerning any matter that they wish to request, it shall 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 midst of them.”

21. Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?”

22. Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven.

23. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a certain king, who would take account with his servants.

24. And after he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor who owed him ten thousand talents.

25. But since he did not have anything 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. Because of this, the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

27. And being moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.

28. Then that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred silver coins; and after seizing him, he choked him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe.’

29. As a result, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’

30. But he would not listen; instead, he went and cast him into prison, until he should pay the amount that he owed.

31. Now when his fellow servants saw the things that had taken place, they were greatly distressed; and they went to their lord and related all that had taken place.

32. Then his lord called him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you implored me.

33. Were you not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had compassion on you?’

34. And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors, until he should pay all that he owed to him.

35. Likewise shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother’s offenses from the heart.”