Matthew 18
Who Is the Greatest?
aAt that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you aturn and bbecome like children, you cwill never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 aWhoever humbles himself like this child is the bgreatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 a“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but awhoever causes one of these blittle ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin
7 “Woe to the world for atemptations to sin! bFor it is necessary that temptations come, cbut woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 aAnd 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 with two hands or two feet to be thrown into bthe eternal fire. 9 aAnd if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the bhell of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise aone of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven btheir angels always csee the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 aWhat do you think? bIf a man 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? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So ait is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If Your Brother Sins Against You
15 a“If your brother sins against you, bgo and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have cgained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established aby the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, atell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, blet him be to you as ca Gentile and ca tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, awhatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you aagree on earth about anything they ask, bit will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are agathered in my name, bthere am I among them.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often awill my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? bAs many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished ato settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him aten thousand btalents. 25 aAnd since he could not pay, his master ordered him bto be sold, with his wife and cchildren and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant afell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and aforgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred adenarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 aAnd should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 aAnd in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, buntil he should pay all his debt. 35 aSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother bfrom your heart.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.