[1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?" [2] And calling to him a child, he put him in
the midst of them, [3] and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and
become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4]
Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. [5] "Whoever receives one such child 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 great millstone fastened round his neck
and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. [7] "Woe to the world for
temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations 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 with
two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. [10] "See that you do not
despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their
angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. [11] 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 go in search of the
one that went astray? [12] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he
rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
[13] So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these
little ones should perish. [14] "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. [15] But if he does not listen, take one or two
others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of
two or three witnesses. [16] 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. [17] Truly, 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. [18] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on
earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in
heaven. [19] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in
the midst of them." [20] Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how
often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven
times?" [21] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but
seventy times seven. [22] "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared
to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [23] When he
began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand
talents; [24] and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold,
with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
[25] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything.' [26] And out of pity for him the
lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [27] But that
same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed
him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you
owe.' [28] So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience
with me, and I will pay you.' [29] He refused and went and put him in
prison till he should pay the debt. [30] When his fellow servants saw what
had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported
to their lord all that had taken place. [31] Then his lord summoned him and
said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you
besought me; [32] and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant,
as I had mercy on you?' [33] And in anger his lord delivered him to the
jailers, till he should pay all his debt. [34] So also my heavenly Father
will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your
heart."
