Matthew 18
18
Who Is the Most Important Person in the Kingdom?
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus. They asked him, “Then who is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven?”
2Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand among them. 3Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don’t, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Anyone who takes the humble position of this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven. 5Anyone who welcomes a little child like this one in my name welcomes me.
Do Not Cause People to Sin
6“What if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If they do, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned at the bottom of the sea. 7How terrible it will be for the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Things like that must come. But how terrible for the person who causes them! 8If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with only one hand than go into hell with two hands. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with only one foot than go into hell with two feet. In hell the fire burns forever. 9If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
The Story of the Wandering Sheep
10-11“See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones. Here is what I tell you. Their angels in heaven are always with my Father who is in heaven.
12“What do you think? Suppose a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep on the hills? Won’t he go and look for the one that wandered off? 13What I’m about to tell you is true. If he finds that sheep, he is happier about the one than about the 99 that didn’t wander off. 14It is the same with your Father in heaven. He does not want any of these little ones to die.
When Someone Sins Against You
15“If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them back. 16But what if they won’t listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’ (Deuteronomy 19:15) 17But what if they also refuse to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if they refuse to listen even to the church? Then don’t treat them as a brother or sister. Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.
18“What I’m about to tell you is true. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.
19“Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you. 20Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.”
The Servant Who Had No Mercy
21Peter came to Jesus. He asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.
23“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to collect all the money his servants owed him. 24As the king began to do it, a man who owed him 10,000 bags of gold was brought to him. 25The man was not able to pay. So his master gave an order. The man, his wife, his children, and all he owned had to be sold to pay back what he owed.
26“Then the servant fell on his knees in front of him. ‘Give me time,’ he begged. ‘I’ll pay everything back.’ 27His master felt sorry for him. He forgave him what he owed and let him go.
28“But then that servant went out and found one of the other servants who owed him 100 silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said.
29“The other servant fell on his knees. ‘Give me time,’ he begged him. ‘I’ll pay it back.’
30“But the first servant refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison. The man would be held there until he could pay back what he owed. 31The other servants saw what had happened and were very angry. They went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“Then the master called the first servant in. ‘You evil servant,’ he said. ‘I forgave all that you owed me because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on the other servant just as I had mercy on you?’ 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers. He would be punished until he paid back everything he owed.
35“This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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Matthew 18: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 18
18
Who Is the Greatest?
1At #Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48; 22:24–27that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2Then Jesus called a little #Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:14–17child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, #Ps. 131:2; Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:16; (1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2)unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4#(Matt. 20:27; 23:11)Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5#(Matt. 10:42); Luke 9:48Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6#Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2; (1 Cor. 8:12)“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of offenses! For #Luke 17:1; (1 Cor. 11:19); 1 Tim. 4:1offenses must come, but #Matt. 26:24; 27:4, 5woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8#Matt. 5:29, 30; Mark 9:43, 45“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven #(Ps. 34:7); Zech. 13:7; (Heb. 1:14)their angels always #Esth. 1:14; Luke 1:19; Acts 12:15; (Rev. 8:2)see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11#Luke 9:56; John 3:17For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12#Matt. 18:12–14; Luke 15:4–7“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14Even so it is not the #(1 Tim. 2:4)will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Dealing with a Sinning Brother
15“Moreover #Lev. 19:17; (Luke 17:3, 4; Gal. 6:1); 2 Thess. 3:15; (James 5:19)if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, #(James 5:20); 1 Pet. 3:1you have gained your brother. 16But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that #Deut. 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a #Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5:9; (2 Thess. 3:6, 14; 2 John 10)heathen and a tax collector.
18“Assuredly, I say to you, #Matt. 16:19; (John 20:22, 23; 1 Cor. 5:4)whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19#(1 Cor. 1:10)“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, #(1 John 3:22; 5:14)it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered #Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:26together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? #Luke 17:4Up to seven times?”
22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, #(Matt. 6:14; Mark 11:25); Col. 3:13up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded #Ex. 21:2; Lev. 25:39; 2 Kin. 4:1; Neh. 5:5, 8that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you #Luke 7:41–43all that debt because you begged me. 33Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35#Prov. 21:13; Matt. 6:12; Mark 11:26; James 2:13“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.