The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 18:1-35

The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 18:1-35

 

Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

 

Matthew 18:2 He called a child over, placed it in their midst,

 

Matthew 18:3 and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Matthew 18:5 And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

 

Matthew 18:6 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

 

Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

 

Matthew 18:8 If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire.

 

Matthew 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into fiery Gehenna.

 

Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.

 

Matthew 18:11

 

Matthew 18:12 What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?

 

Matthew 18:13 And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.

 

Matthew 18:14 In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.

 

Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.

 

Matthew 18:16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

 

Matthew 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

 

Matthew 18:18 Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

Matthew 18:19 Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

 

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

 

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

 

Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

 

Matthew 18:23 That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

 

Matthew 18:24 When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.

 

Matthew 18:25 Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.

 

Matthew 18:26 At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'

 

Matthew 18:27 Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

 

Matthew 18:28 When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount.  He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'

 

Matthew 18:29 Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

 

Matthew 18:30 But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.

 

Matthew 18:31 Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.

 

Matthew 18:32 His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.

 

Matthew 18:33 Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'

 

Matthew 18:34 Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.

 

Matthew 18:35 So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."