Matthew 18:1-14

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Who Is the Greatest?

18 At that time^[a](A) the disciples^(B) came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”^(C)

² Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. ³ “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted^[b] and become like children,^(D) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^{(E) 4} Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes^[c] one child like this in My name welcomes Me.

⁶ “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^[d] were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!^{(F) 7} Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.^{(G) 8} If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, 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 be thrown into the eternal fire.^{(H) 9} And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!^[e](I)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰ “See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones,^(J) because I tell you that in heaven their angels^(K) continually view the face of My Father in heaven.^(L) [¹¹ For the Son of Man^(M) has come to save the lost.]^{[f] 12} What do you think?^(N) If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray?^{(O) 13} And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep^[g] more than over the 99 that did not go astray. ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.