LO - Matthew - 18

18:1  At that time the disciples came to Jesus inquiring, Who shall be the greatest in the Reign of Heaven?

18:2  Jesus calling to him a child, placed him in the midst of them,

18:3  and said, Indeed, I say to you, unless you be changed, and become as children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.

18:4  Whosoever, therefore, shall become humble like this child.

18:5  Nay, whosoever receives one such child, in my name, receives me:

18:6  but whosoever shall ensnare any of these little ones, who believe in me, it were better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were sunk in the ocean.

18:7  Alas for the world because of snares! Snares indeed there must be; nevertheless, alas for the ensnarer!

18:8  Wherefore, if your hand or foot ensnare you, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or feet to be cast into the everlasting fire.

18:9  And if your eye ensnare you, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter one-eyed into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

18:10  Beware of contemning any of these little ones; for I assure you, that in heaven, their angels continually behold the face of my heavenly Father:

18:11  and the Son of Man is come to recover the lost.

18:12  What think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them has strayed, will he not leave the ninety-nine upon the mountains, and go in quest of the stray?

18:13  And if he happens to find it, indeed, I say to you, he derives greater joy from it, than from the ninety-nine which went not astray.

18:14  Thus it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that any of these little ones should be lost.

18:15  Wherefore, if your brother trespass against you, go and expostulate with him, when you and he are alone together. If he hear you, you have gained your brother;

18:16  but if he will not hear, take one or two along with you, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses everything may be ascertained.

18:17  If he despises them, tell the congregation; and if he despise the congregation also, let him be to you as a pagan or a publican.

18:18  Indeed, I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind on the earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

18:19  Again, I say to you, whatever two of you upon the earth shall agree to ask, shall be granted them by my Father, who is in heaven.

18:20  For wherever two or three are assembled in my name, I am in the midst of them.

18:21  Then Peter approaching, said to him, Master, if my brother repeatedly trespass against me, how often must I forgive him? must I seven times?

18:22  Jesus answered, I say to you, not seven times, but seventy times seven times.

18:23  In this the Administration of Heaven resembles a king, who determined to settle accounts with his servants.

18:24  Having begun to reckon, one was brought, who owed him ten thousand talents.

18:25  But that servant not having the means to pay; his master, to obtain payment, commanded that he, and his wife and children, and all that he had should be sold.

18:26  Then the servant, throwing himself prostrate before his master, cried, Have patience with me, my lord, and I will pay the whole.

18:27  And his master had compassion upon him, and dismissed him, remitting the debt.

18:28  But this servant, as he went out, meeting one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred denarii, seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.

18:29  His fellow-servant, falling down, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you.

18:30  And he would not, but instantly caused him to be imprisoned, until he should discharge the debt.

18:31  His fellow-servants seeing this, were deeply affected, and went, and informed their master of all that had passed.

18:32  Then his master, having given orders to call him, said to him, You wicked servant: all that debt I forgave you, because you besought me.

18:33  Ought not you to have shown such pity to your fellow-servant, as I showed to you?

18:34  So his master, being provoked, delivered him to the jailors, to remain in their hands until he should clear the debt.

18:35  Thus will my heavenly Father treat every one of you, who forgives not, from his heart, his brother.