Questions About the Greatest

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a child, had him stand among them, 3and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! 4Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

6“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. 7Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. 8If 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 to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10“See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 11[[EMPTY]] 12What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.

Restoring Christian Relationships

15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.

18“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”

21Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

23“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 29Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 32Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 33Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 34And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”