Matthew

The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 18, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 18 New English Translation

Questions About the Greatest

   1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a child, had him stand among them, 3 and said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 4 Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.
   6 "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. 8 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 crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 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 to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

   10 "See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.

Restoring Christian Relationships

   15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.
   18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19 Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them."
   21 Then Peter came to him and said, "LORD, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

   23 "For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Because he was not able to repay it, the LORD ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' 27 The LORD had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!' 29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' 30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their LORD everything that had taken place. 32 Then his LORD called the first slave and said to him, 'Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?' 34 And in anger his LORD turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart."

King James Version

   1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
   2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
   3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
   4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
   5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
   6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
   7 ¶ Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
   8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
   9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
   10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
   11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
   12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
   13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
   14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
   15 ¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
   16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
   17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
   18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
   19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
   20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
   21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
   22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
   23 ¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
   24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
   25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
   26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
   27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
   28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
   29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
   30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
   31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
   32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
   33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
   34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
   35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.