Matthew 18
18
The Greatest in the Kingdom
Mk 9:33–37; Lk 9:46–48
1#Mk 9:33–37; Lk 9:46–48At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, 3#1Pe 2:2; 1Co 14:20and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4#Mt 23:11–12Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5#Mt 25:40And whoever receives one such little child in My name receives Me.
Temptations to Sin
Mk 9:42–48; Lk 17:1–2
6#Mk 9:42“But whoever misleads one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7#Lk 17:1; 1Co 11:19Woe to the world because of temptations! For it must be that temptations come, but woe to that man by whom the temptation comes! 8#Mt 5:29–30; 25:41Therefore 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 lame or maimed than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire. 9#Mt 5:22; 5:29And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than having two eyes to be thrown into the fire of hell.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Lk 15:5–7
10#Lk 1:19; Heb 1:14“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11#Lk 19:10For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12#Lk 15:4–7; Mt 21:28“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search for the one which went astray? 13And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine which never went astray. 14#Jn 17:12So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
The Brother Who Sins
Lk 17:3
15#Lev 19:17; 1Co 9:19–21“Now if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16#Dt 19:15; Jn 8:17But if he does not listen, then take with you one or two others, that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established.#Ps 8:2. 17#2Th 3:6; Mt 5:46If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18#Mt 16:19; Jn 20:23“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19#Mt 7:7; Ac 12:5“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20#Mt 28:20; Jn 20:19For where two or three are assembled in My name, there I am in their midst.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21#Mt 18:15; Lk 17:3–4Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23#Mt 13:24“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began to settle the accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.#Several million pounds. 25#Lev 25:39; 2Ki 4:1But since he was not able to pay, his master ordered that he be sold with his wife, their children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26#Mt 8:2“So the servant fell on his knees, pleading with him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28#Mt 20:2“But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.#A few pounds. He laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe.’
29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and entreated him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’
30“But he would not and went and threw him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellow servants saw what took place, they were very sorry and went and told their master all that had taken place.
32“Then his master, after he had summoned him, said to him, ‘O you wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33#Col 3:13Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?’ 34#Mt 5:25–26His master was angry and delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt.
35#Pr 21:13; Mt 6:14–15“So also My heavenly Father will do to each of you, if from your heart you do not forgive your brother for his trespasses.”
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Matthew 18: MEV
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Military Bible Association
Matthew 18
18
True Greatness
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a child, whom he put among them, 3and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Temptations to Sin
6“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!
8“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell#18.9 Gk Gehenna of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10“Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. 11#18.11 Other ancient authorities add verse 11, For the Son of Man came to save the lost 12What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14So it is not the will of your#18.14 Other ancient authorities read my Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
Reproving Another Who Sins
15“If another member of the church#18.15 Gk If your brother sins against you,#18.15 Other ancient authorities lack against you go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.#18.15 Gk the brother 16But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Forgiveness
21Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church#18.21 Gk if my brother sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven#18.22 Or seventy times seven times.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents#18.24 A talent was worth more than fifteen years' wages of a laborer was brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;#18.28 The denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister#18.35 Gk brother from your heart.”
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.