|
Chapter 18 |
| 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. |
