Matthew:18

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* At that time the disciples came to Jesus , saying , "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ?" * And calling to him a child , he put him in the midst of them , * and said , "Truly , I say to you , unless you turn and become like children , you will never enter the kingdom of heaven . * Whoever humbles himself like this child , he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven . * "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me ; * but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin , it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea . * "Woe to the world for temptations to sin ! For it is necessary that temptations come , but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes ! * And 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 maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire . * And 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 with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire . * "See that you do not despise one of these little ones ; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven . * What do you think ? If 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 ? * And if he finds it , truly , I say to you , he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray . * So it 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 , go and tell him his fault , between you and him alone . If he listens to you , you have gained your brother . * But if he does not listen , take one or two others along with you , that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses . * If he refuses to listen to them , tell it to the church ; and if he refuses to listen even to the church , let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector . * Truly , I say to you , whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven , and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . * Again I say to you , if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask , it will be done for them by my Father in heaven . * For where two or three are gathered in my name , there am I in the midst of them ." * Then Peter came up and said to him , "Lord , how often shall my brother sin against me , and I forgive him ? As many as seven times ?" * Jesus said to him , "I do not say to you seven times , but seventy times seven . * "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants . * When he began the reckoning , one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents ; * and as he could not pay , his lord ordered him to be sold , with his wife and children and all that he had , and payment to be made . * So the servant fell on his knees , imploring him , `Lord , have patience with me , and I will pay you everything .' * And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt . * But that same servant , as he went out , came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii ; and seizing him by the throat he said , `Pay what you owe .' * So his fellow servant fell down and besought him , `Have patience with me , and I will pay you .' * He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt . * When his fellow servants saw what had taken place , they were greatly distressed , and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place . * Then his lord summoned him and said to him , `You wicked servant ! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me ; * and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant , as I had mercy on you ?' * And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers , till he should pay all his debt . * So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you , if you do not forgive your brother from your heart ."

---