Matthew 18

Who Is Greatest?

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a child, placed the child among them, 3and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles themselves like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Causing Little Ones to Stumble

6“But whoever causes one of these little ones who trust in me to stumble, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone hung around the neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of causes of stumbling! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom the stumbling comes. 8If your hand or foot causes you to stumble, 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. 9And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear 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 Gehenna of fire.

Do Not Despise the Little Ones

10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 12What do you think? If a person has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will that person not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go search for the one that wandered? 13And if they find it, truly I tell you, they rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not wander. 14In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

When a Brother or Sister Sins

15“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault between you and that person alone. If they listen to you, you have gained your brother or sister. 16But if they do not listen, take one or two others with you, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If they refuse to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. And if they refuse to listen even to the assembly, let them be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

Forgiveness Without Counting

21Then Peter came and asked him, “Lord, how many times will my brother or sister sin against me and I forgive them? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not tell you up to seven times, but seventy-seven times.

The Unforgiving Servant

23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began settling, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since the man could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and everything he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell down before him and pleaded, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27The servant's master was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave the debt. 28But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’ 29His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were deeply distressed. They went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?’ 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he should pay everything he owed. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to you if each of you does not forgive your brother or sister from the heart.”