New Testament · Gospels and Acts

Matthew chapter 18

Around that time, the came to Jesus and asked, “So who actually ends up being the greatest in God’s ?”Jesus called a over and had the child stand right there in the middle of them.Then he said, “Here’s the truth: unless you and become like little children, you won’t even enter God’s kingdom.”So whoever as this little child — that’s the person who’s actually the greatest in God’s kingdom.And anyone who a child like this one because of me — they’re actually welcoming me.But if anyone causes one of these who in me to stumble and fall away — honestly, it would be better for that person to have a massive hung around their neck and be thrown into the deep sea.What a tragic world this is because of all the ! Those things will inevitably come, but it’s going to be terrible for the person through whom they come.If your hand or your foot is causing you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter missing a hand or foot than to be thrown into the with both hands and both feet.And if your eye is causing you to stumble, rip it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter life with one eye than to be thrown into the fire of with both eyes.“Be careful that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. Because I’m telling you, their in heaven are always my Father in heaven.”[This verse is not included in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts.]“What do you think? If someone has a hundred and one of them , won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go search for the one that wandered away?”And if he finds it, I’m telling you the truth — he’s about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that didn’t wander off.In the same way, your Father in heaven doesn’t want even a single one of these little ones to be .“If your , go and talk to them about it privately, just the two of you. If they listen to you, you’ve .”But if they won’t listen, bring one or two others along so that ‘every matter can be confirmed by two or three .’If they refuse to listen to them, bring it to the whole gathered community. And if they refuse to listen even to , then treat them as you would a or someone outside the community.“I’m telling you the truth: whatever you on earth will have already been bound in heaven, and whatever you on earth will have already been released in heaven.”“And here’s another thing I’m telling you: if two of you here on earth about anything you’re asking for, my Father in heaven will make it happen for you.”Because wherever two or three , I’m right there with them.”Then Peter came up to him and asked, “, how many times should I my brother or sister who keeps failing me? As many as times?”Jesus said to him, “Not seven times — I’m telling you, .”“That’s why God’s kingdom is like a king who decided to with his .”When he started the audit, one man was brought to him who owed .Since he had no way to pay it back, the master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he owned be to cover the debt.So the servant before the master and begged, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back everything!’The master’s that servant. He released him and completely .But that same servant went out and found one of his who owed him a . He grabbed him by the throat and started choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’His fellow servant fell down and him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back!’But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into until he could pay back the debt.When the other servants saw what happened, they were . They went and told their master the whole story.Then the master called the servant in. ‘You servant,’ he said. ‘I cancelled that entire massive debt of yours because you begged me to.’‘Shouldn’t you have to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?’The master was . He handed him over to the until he paid back everything he owed.“And that’s exactly what my heavenly Father will do to each of you — unless you your from your heart.”