誰是更大的

18 那時,門徒們前來問耶穌:「在天國裡究竟誰更大?」

耶穌叫來一個小孩子,讓他站在他們當中, 說:「我確實地告訴你們:你們如果不回轉[a],變得像小孩子一樣,絕不能進入天國。 所以,誰像這小孩子自我降卑,誰在天國裡就更大。 無論誰奉我的名接受這樣一個小孩子,就是接受我。

「但無論誰使信我的這些卑微人中的一個絆倒,對那人來說,倒不如脖子上被拴上大磨石[b],沉到深海裡。 這世界有禍了,因為有使人絆腳的事;要知道,那些使人絆腳的事必然出現,不過使它出現的人有禍了。 如果你的一隻手或一隻腳使你絆倒,就把它砍下來丟掉!對你來說,缺一隻手或缺一隻腳進入永生[c],要比手腳雙全被丟進永遠的火裡好多了。 如果你的一隻眼使你絆倒,就把它剜出來丟掉!對你來說,缺一隻眼進入永生[d],要比雙眼齊全被丟進烈火的地獄裡好多了。

迷羊的比喻

10 「你們要注意,不可輕視這些卑微人中的一個。我告訴你們:他們的天使在天上常常看見我天父的面。 11 要知道人子來,是為了拯救迷失的人。[e] 12 你們怎麼看以下的事?如果一個人有一百隻羊,其中一隻迷失了,難道他不把九十九隻留在山上,去尋找那一隻迷失的嗎? 13 如果找到了,我確實地告訴你們:他為這一隻羊歡喜,會比為那九十九隻沒有迷失的羊更歡喜。 14 照樣,你們[f]在天上的父也不願意失去這些卑微人中的一個。

挽回弟兄

15 「如果你的弟兄對你[g]犯了罪,你就要去,只在你和他之間責備他。如果他聽你的,你就贏得了你的弟兄; 16 如果他不聽,你就另外帶一個或兩個人一起去,為要使「任何事,憑兩個或三個見證人的口,才能成立。」[h] 17 如果他不聽他們的,就告訴教會;如果他連教會也不聽,就應當把他看做像外邦人或稅吏一樣。 18 我確實地告訴你們:你們在地上所捆綁的,在天上將是已經被捆綁了的;你們在地上所釋放的,在天上將是被釋放了的。 19 我再確實地告訴你們:如果你們當中有兩個人,在地上同心地為任何事祈求,我在天上的父就會為你們成全; 20 因為哪裡有兩三個人奉我的名聚集,我就在哪裡,在他們當中。」

惡僕的比喻

21 那時,彼得前來問耶穌:「主啊,如果弟兄對我犯罪,我該饒恕多少次呢?到七次可以嗎?」

22 耶穌對他說:「我告訴你:不是七次,而是七十個七次[i] 23 為此,天國就好比一個君王,要與他的奴僕們清算帳目。 24 他開始算的時候,一個欠了一千萬兩銀子[j]的奴僕被帶到他面前。 25 因為那奴僕沒有可償還的,主人就下令把他和他的妻子兒女,以及他所擁有的一切都賣掉來償還。

26 「那奴僕就俯伏拜他,說:『[k]請寬容我吧,將來我會把一切償還給你。』 27 那奴僕的主人動了憐憫之心,把他釋放了,並且免了他的債。

28 「但那奴僕出去以後,遇見一個與同做奴僕的;這人欠他一百個銀幣[l]。他就抓住這人,掐住這人的喉嚨,說:『把欠我的還給我。』

29 「這人就俯伏在地[m]央求他,說:『請寬容我吧,我會還給你的。』 30 可是他不肯,反而把這人投進監獄,直到這人能還清所欠的債。 31 那些與他同做奴僕的看見所發生的事,就極其憂傷,去把一切都告訴他們的主人。

32 「於是主人把那奴僕叫來,對他說:『你這惡奴!因為你求我,我就免了你所有的債。 33 難道你不也該憐憫與你同做奴僕的,像我憐憫了你一樣嗎?』 34 主人就發怒,把他交給掌刑官,直到他能還清所欠的一切債。 35 如果你們每個人不從心裡饒恕自己的弟兄[n],我的天父也會照樣對待你們。」

Footnotes

  1. 馬太福音 18:3 回轉——或譯作「悔改」。
  2. 馬太福音 18:6 大磨石——原文直譯「驢拉的磨石」。
  3. 馬太福音 18:8 永生——原文直譯「生命」。
  4. 馬太福音 18:9 永生——原文直譯「生命」。
  5. 馬太福音 18:11 有古抄本沒有此節。
  6. 馬太福音 18:14 你們——有古抄本作「我」。
  7. 馬太福音 18:15 有古抄本沒有「對你」。
  8. 馬太福音 18:16 《申命記》19:15。
  9. 馬太福音 18:22 七十個七次——或譯作「七十七次」。
  10. 馬太福音 18:24 一千萬兩銀子——原文為「10,000他連得」。1他連得=約6,000日工資。
  11. 馬太福音 18:26 有古抄本附「主啊!」
  12. 馬太福音 18:28 一百個銀幣——原文為「100得拿利」。1得拿利=約1日工資的羅馬銀幣。
  13. 馬太福音 18:29 俯伏在地——有古抄本作「俯伏在他的腳前」。
  14. 馬太福音 18:35 弟兄——有古抄本作「弟兄的過犯」。

Who Is the Greatest?(A)

18 At (B)that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little (C)child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (E)Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (F)Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses(G)

(H)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of [a]offenses! For (I)offenses must come, but (J)woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

(K)“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [b]hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(L)

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven (M)their angels always (N)see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 (O)For[c] the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 (P)“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the (Q)will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

15 “Moreover (R)if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, (S)you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that (T)‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a (U)heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, (V)whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 (W)“Again[d] I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, (X)it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered (Y)together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? (Z)Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, (AA)up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded (AB)that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [e]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [f]all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you (AC)all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 (AD)“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [g]his trespasses.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:7 enticements to sin
  2. Matthew 18:9 Gr. Gehenna
  3. Matthew 18:11 NU omits v. 11.
  4. Matthew 18:19 NU, M Again, assuredly, I say
  5. Matthew 18:29 NU omits at his feet
  6. Matthew 18:29 NU, M omit all
  7. Matthew 18:35 NU omits his trespasses

天国里谁最大(A)

18 那时,门徒前来问耶稣:“天国里谁是最大的呢?” 耶稣叫了一个小孩子站在他们当中,说: “我实在告诉你们,如果你们不回转,变成像小孩子一样,一定不能进天国。 所以,凡谦卑像这小孩子的,他在天国里是最大的。 凡因我的名接待一个这样的小孩子的,就是接待我; 但无论谁使一个信我的小弟兄犯罪,倒不如拿一块大磨石拴在他的颈项上,把他沉在深海里。

坚拒使人犯罪(B)

“这世界有祸了,因为充满使人犯罪的事。这些事是免不了的,但那使人犯罪的有祸了! 如果你的一只手或一只脚使你犯罪,就把它砍下来丢掉;你一只手或一只脚进永生,总比有两只手或两只脚被投进永火里好。 如果你的一只眼睛使你犯罪,就把它挖出来丢掉;你一只眼睛进永生,总比有两只眼睛被投进地狱的火里好。

迷羊的比喻(C)

10 “你们要小心,不要轻视这些小弟兄中的一个。我告诉你们,他们的使者在天上,常常见到我天父的面。(有些抄本有第11节:“人子来,是要拯救失丧的人。”) 12 你们认为怎样?有一个人,他有一百只羊,如果失了一只,他会不把九十九只留在山上,去寻找那迷失的吗? 13 我实在告诉你们,他若找到了,就为这一只羊欢喜,胜过为那九十九只没有迷失的。 14 照样,你们在天上的父是不愿意这些小弟兄中有一个失丧的。

怎样对待犯了罪的弟兄

15 “如果你的弟兄犯了罪(“犯了罪”有些抄本作“得罪你”),你趁着和他单独在一起的时候,要去指出他的过失来。如果他肯听,你就得着你的弟兄。 16 如果他不肯听,就另外带一两个人同去,好使一切话,凭两三个证人的口,可以确定。 17 如果他再不听,就告诉教会;如果连教会他也不听,就把他看作教外人和税吏吧。

18 “我实在告诉你们,你们在地上捆绑的,在天上也被捆绑;你们在地上释放的,在天上也被释放。 19 我又告诉你们,你们当中若有两个人,在地上同心为甚么事祈求,我在天上的父必为他们成全。 20 因为无论在哪里,有两三个人奉我的名聚会,我就在他们中间。”

不饶恕人的也得不着饶恕

21 那时,彼得前来问耶稣:“主啊,如果我的弟兄得罪我,我要饶恕他多少次?七次吗?” 22 耶稣对他说:“我告诉你,不是七次,而是七十个七次(“七十个七次”或译:“七十七次”)。 23 因此,天国好象一个王,要和他的仆人算帐, 24 刚算的时候,有人带了一个欠下六千万银币的人来。 25 他没有钱偿还,主人就下令叫人把他和他的妻子儿女,以及一切所有的都卖掉,用来偿还。 26 那仆人就跪下拜他,说:‘请宽容我,我会把一切还给你的。’ 27 主人动了慈心,把那仆人放了,并且免了他的债。 28 那仆人出来,遇见一个欠了他一百个银币的仆人,就抓住他,扼着他的喉咙,说:‘把你欠我的钱还给我。’ 29 那和他一同作仆人的就跪下求他,说:‘请宽容我,我会还给你的。’ 30 他却不肯,反而把他带走,关在监里,等他把所欠的还清。 31 其他的仆人看见这事,非常难过,就去向主人报告这一切事情。 32 于是主人叫他来,对他说:‘你这个恶仆,你求我,我就免了你欠我的一切。 33 难道你不应该怜悯你的同伴,好象我怜悯你一样吗?’ 34 于是主人大怒,把他送去服刑,等他把所欠的一切还清。 35 如果你们各人不从心里饶恕你的弟兄,我的天父也必这样待你们。”