The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)

1In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?”

2And having summoned a little child, He set him in their midst 3and said, “Truly I say to you⁺, if you⁺ shall not be turned and become as the little children, you⁺ shall never enter into the kingdom of the heavens. 4Therefore whoever will humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens. 5And whoever shall receive one such little child in My name, he receives Me.

Temptations and Trespasses
(Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1–4)

6And whoever might cause to stumble one of these little ones believing in Me, it is better for him that a heavy millstone should be hung around his neck and he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

7Woe to the world because of the stumbling blocks. For it is a necessity that the stumbling blocks come, but woe to the man† through whom the stumbling block comes!

8Now if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you; it is better for you to enter into life crippled or lame† than, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than, having two eyes, to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.†

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1–7)

10See that you⁺ do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you⁺ that their angels in the heavens always see the face of My Father who is in the heavens.†

12What do you⁺ think? If unto any man there should be a hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, will he not leave† the ninety-nine on the mountains and, having gone, seek the one going astray? 13And if it should come to pass that he finds it, truly I say to you⁺ that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine not having gone astray. 14Thus it is not the will of your⁺† Father who is in the heavens that one of these little ones should be lost.

A Brother Who Sins
(Deuteronomy 19:15–21)

15And if your brother may sin against you,† go reprove him between you and him alone. If he may hear you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he may not hear, take with you one or two more, so that ‘every word may be stood upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.’† 17And if he may fail to hear them, say it to the church. And if he may fail to hear even the church, let him be unto you as the Gentile and the tax collector.

18Truly I say to you⁺, whatever you⁺ shall bind on the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you⁺ shall loose on the earth will be loosed in heaven.

Ask in My Name
(John 16:23–33)

19Again, truly† I say to you⁺ that if two of you⁺ on the earth shall agree about any matter that they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in the heavens. 20For where two or three are gathered together unto My name, there am I in their midst.”

The Unforgiving Servant
(Romans 12:14–21)

21Then, having come, Peter said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus says to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven!†

23Because of this, the kingdom of the heavens was likened to to a man, a king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24And on his having begun to settle, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents.† 25And on his having nothing to repay, the master commanded him to be sold—and the wife and the children and all of whatever he had—and repayment to be made.

26Therefore the servant, having fallen down, was bowing on his knees to him, saying, ‘Have patience† with me, and I will repay all to you.’

27And having been moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28But having gone out, that servant found one of his fellow servants who was owing him a hundred denarii.† And having seized him, he was choking him, saying, ‘Repay† what you owe!’

29Therefore, having fallen down,† his fellow servant was calling on him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you.†’

30But he was not willing. Rather, having gone, he cast him into prison until he should repay what was owed.

31Therefore his fellow servants, having seen the things having happened, were deeply grieved, and having gone, they made clear to their master all the things having happened.

32Then, having summoned him, his master says to him, ‘Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt because you called on me. 33Was it not necessary for you also to have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I also had mercy on you?’ 34And having become angry, his master delivered him to the tormenters until he should repay everything being owed to him.†

35Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you⁺ unless each of you⁺ may forgive his brother† from your⁺ hearts.”

Footnotes:

7 BYZ and TR to that man
8 BYZ and TR lame or crippled
9 Or the fire of hell
10 BYZ and TR include 11For the Son of Man came to save the lost; see Luke 19:10.
12 BYZ and TR does he not leave
14 WH My
15 NE and WH do not include against you.
16 Deuteronomy 19:15
19 TR does not include truly.
22 Or seventy-seven times; see Genesis 4:24 LXX
24 A talent was worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer.
26 BYZ and TR Master, have patience
28 A denarius was customarily a day’s wage for a laborer; see Matthew 20:2.
28 BYZ and TR Repay me
29 BYZ and TR include at his feet.
29 TR and I will pay you everything
34 BYZ and TR all that was owed to him
35 BYZ and TR include his trespasses.