Matthew 18:1-14

GOD’S WORD Translation

Greatness in the Kingdom^(A)

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

² He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³ Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

Causing Others to Lose Faith^(B)

⁶ “These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck. ⁷ How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!

⁸ “If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. ⁹ If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.

¹⁰ “Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.^[a]

The Lost Sheep^(C)

¹² “What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed? ¹³ I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed. ¹⁴ In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost.