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.”
Currently Selected:
Matthew 18: NKJV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Matthew 18
18
1 In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst.
3 And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me.
6 But whoever will have led astray one of these little ones, who trust in me, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be submerged in the depths of the sea.
7 Woe to a world that leads people astray! Although it is necessary for temptations to arise, nevertheless: Woe to that man through whom temptation arises!
8 So if your hand or your foot leads you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life disabled or lame, than to be sent into eternal fire having two hands or two feet.
9 And if your eye leads you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be sent into the fires of Hell having two eyes.
10 See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man has come to save what had been lost.
12 How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray?
13 And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.
14 Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost.
15 But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother.
16 But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
17 And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector.
18 Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven.
19 Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst."
21 Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him: "I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times.
23 Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it.
26 But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.'
27 Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt.
28 But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: 'Repay what you owe.'
29 And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: 'Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.'
30 But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt.
31 Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord called him, and he said to him: 'You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me.
33 Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?'
34 And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt.
35 So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts."
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in