Matthew 18:1–35
1At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2Jesus called a little child over and had him stand right in the middle of the group. 3Then he said, "I tell you the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child — that person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name is welcoming me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for that person to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come; but woe to the person through whom the offense comes! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It's better to enter life crippled or maimed than to have both hands and both feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. 9If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away. It's better to enter life with one eye than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10Be careful not to look down on any of these little ones. I'm telling you, their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11For the Son of Man came to save what was lost. 12What do you think? If a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders off, won't he leave the 99 on the hills and go searching for the one that strayed? 13I tell you the truth: if he finds it, he's happier about that one sheep than about the 99 that never wandered off. 14In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15If your brother sins against you, go and talk to him privately, just the two of you. If he listens, you've won your brother back. 16But if he won't listen, bring one or two others with you, so that every word may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, bring the matter before the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. 18I tell you the truth: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19I also tell you this: if 2 of you on earth agree together about anything you pray for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20Because wherever 2 or 3 gather together in my name, I am right there with them." 21Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to 7 times?" 22Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, until 7 times: but, until 70 times 7. 23That's why the kingdom of heaven is like a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began going through the records, a man was brought before him who owed him 10,000 talents. 25Since the man couldn't pay, the king ordered that he, his wife, his children, and everything he owned be sold to cover the debt. 26The servant fell to his knees and worshipped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay back everything.' 27The king's heart was filled with compassion. He released the man and forgave the entire debt. 28But that same servant went out and found a fellow servant who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged, 'Please, be patient with me! I'll pay you back!' 30But he refused. Instead, he had the man thrown into prison until the debt was paid in full. 31When the other servants saw what happened, they were deeply upset. They went and reported the whole thing to the king. 32The king summoned the servant and said, 'You wicked servant! I forgave your entire debt because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have shown mercy to your fellow servant, just as I showed mercy to you?' 34In his anger, the king handed him over to be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed. 35My heavenly Father will treat each of you the same way if you don't forgive your brother from your heart."