谁是更大的

18 那时,门徒们前来问耶稣:“在天国里究竟谁更大?”

耶稣叫来一个小孩子,让他站在他们当中, 说:“我确实地告诉你们:你们如果不回转[a],变得像小孩子一样,绝不能进入天国。 所以,谁像这小孩子自我降卑,谁在天国里就更大。 无论谁奉我的名接受这样一个小孩子,就是接受我。

“但无论谁使信我的这些卑微人中的一个绊倒,对那人来说,倒不如脖子上被拴上大磨石[b],沉到深海里。 这世界有祸了,因为有使人绊脚的事;要知道,那些使人绊脚的事必然出现,不过使它出现的人有祸了。 如果你的一只手或一只脚使你绊倒,就把它砍下来丢掉!对你来说,缺一只手或缺一只脚进入永生[c],要比手脚双全被丢进永远的火里好多了。 如果你的一只眼使你绊倒,就把它剜出来丢掉!对你来说,缺一只眼进入永生[d],要比双眼齐全被丢进烈火的地狱里好多了。

迷羊的比喻

10 “你们要注意,不可轻视这些卑微人中的一个。我告诉你们:他们的天使在天上常常看见我天父的面。 11 要知道人子来,是为了拯救迷失的人。[e] 12 你们怎么看以下的事?如果一个人有一百只羊,其中一只迷失了,难道他不把九十九只留在山上,去寻找那一只迷失的吗? 13 如果找到了,我确实地告诉你们:他为这一只羊欢喜,会比为那九十九只没有迷失的羊更欢喜。 14 照样,你们[f]在天上的父也不愿意失去这些卑微人中的一个。

挽回弟兄

15 “如果你的弟兄对你[g]犯了罪,你就要去,只在你和他之间责备他。如果他听你的,你就赢得了你的弟兄; 16 如果他不听,你就另外带一个或两个人一起去,为要使“任何事,凭两个或三个见证人的口,才能成立。”[h] 17 如果他不听他们的,就告诉教会;如果他连教会也不听,就应当把他看做像外邦人或税吏一样。 18 我确实地告诉你们:你们在地上所捆绑的,在天上将是已经被捆绑了的;你们在地上所释放的,在天上将是被释放了的。 19 我再确实地告诉你们:如果你们当中有两个人,在地上同心地为任何事祈求,我在天上的父就会为你们成全; 20 因为哪里有两三个人奉我的名聚集,我就在哪里,在他们当中。”

恶仆的比喻

21 那时,彼得前来问耶稣:“主啊,如果弟兄对我犯罪,我该饶恕多少次呢?到七次可以吗?”

22 耶稣对他说:“我告诉你:不是七次,而是七十个七次[i] 23 为此,天国就好比一个君王,要与他的奴仆们清算账目。 24 他开始算的时候,一个欠了一千万两银子[j]的奴仆被带到他面前。 25 因为那奴仆没有可偿还的,主人就下令把他和他的妻子儿女,以及他所拥有的一切都卖掉来偿还。

26 “那奴仆就俯伏拜他,说:‘[k]请宽容我吧,将来我会把一切偿还给你。’ 27 那奴仆的主人动了怜悯之心,把他释放了,并且免了他的债。

28 “但那奴仆出去以后,遇见一个与同做奴仆的;这人欠他一百个银币[l]。他就抓住这人,掐住这人的喉咙,说:‘把欠我的还给我。’

29 “这人就俯伏在地[m]央求他,说:‘请宽容我吧,我会还给你的。’ 30 可是他不肯,反而把这人投进监狱,直到这人能还清所欠的债。 31 那些与他同做奴仆的看见所发生的事,就极其忧伤,去把一切都告诉他们的主人。

32 “于是主人把那奴仆叫来,对他说:‘你这恶奴!因为你求我,我就免了你所有的债。 33 难道你不也该怜悯与你同做奴仆的,像我怜悯了你一样吗?’ 34 主人就发怒,把他交给掌刑官,直到他能还清所欠的一切债。 35 如果你们每个人不从心里饶恕自己的弟兄[n],我的天父也会照样对待你们。”

Footnotes

  1. 马太福音 18:3 回转——或译作“悔改”。
  2. 马太福音 18:6 大磨石——原文直译“驴拉的磨石”。
  3. 马太福音 18:8 永生——原文直译“生命”。
  4. 马太福音 18:9 永生——原文直译“生命”。
  5. 马太福音 18:11 有古抄本没有此节。
  6. 马太福音 18:14 你们——有古抄本作“我”。
  7. 马太福音 18:15 有古抄本没有“对你”。
  8. 马太福音 18:16 《申命记》19:15。
  9. 马太福音 18:22 七十个七次——或译作“七十七次”。
  10. 马太福音 18:24 一千万两银子——原文为“10,000他连得”。1他连得=约6,000日工资。
  11. 马太福音 18:26 有古抄本附“主啊!”
  12. 马太福音 18:28 一百个银币——原文为“100得拿利”。1得拿利=约1日工资的罗马银币。
  13. 马太福音 18:29 俯伏在地——有古抄本作“俯伏在他的脚前”。
  14. 马太福音 18:35 弟兄——有古抄本作“弟兄的过犯”。

Questions About the Greatest

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

“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[e] it would be better for him to have a huge millstone[f] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.[g] Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It[h] is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. If[i] your hand or your foot causes you to sin,[j] cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have[k] two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And 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[l] two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.[m]

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.[n] 12 What do you think? If someone[o] owns a hundred[p] 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?[q] 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth,[r] he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.

Restoring Christian Relationships

15 “If[s] your brother[t] sins,[u] go and show him his fault[v] when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 16 But 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.[w] 17 If[x] he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If[y] he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like[z] a Gentile[aa] or a tax collector.[ab]

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

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

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.[ah] 24 As[ai] he began settling his accounts, a man who owed 10,000 talents[aj] was brought to him. 25 Because[ak] he was not able to repay it,[al] the lord ordered him to be sold, along with[am] his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26 Then the slave threw himself to the ground[an] before him, saying,[ao] ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27 The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 After[ap] he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 silver coins.[aq] So[ar] he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him,[as] saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’[at] 29 Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him,[au] ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30 But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 31 When[av] his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 32 Then his lord called the first slave[aw] and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 33 Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 34 And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him[ax] until he repaid all he owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your[ay] brother[az] from your heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:3 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
  2. Matthew 18:3 sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.
  3. Matthew 18:3 tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mē) is very strong here.
  4. Matthew 18:5 tn This verb, δέχομαι (dechomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).
  5. Matthew 18:6 tn The Greek term σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō), translated here “causes to sin” can also be translated “offends” or “causes to stumble.”
  6. Matthew 18:6 tn Grk “the millstone of a donkey.” This refers to a large flat stone turned by a donkey in the process of grinding grain (BDAG 661 s.v. μύλος 2; L&N 7.68-69). The same term is used in the parallel account in Mark 9:42.sn The punishment of drowning with a heavy weight attached is extremely gruesome and reflects Jesus’ views concerning those who cause others who believe in him to sin.
  7. Matthew 18:6 tn The term translated “open” here (πελάγει, pelagei) refers to the open sea as opposed to a stretch of water near a coastline (BDAG 794 s.v. πέλαγος). A similar English expression would be “the high seas.”
  8. Matthew 18:7 tn Grk “For it.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
  9. Matthew 18:8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  10. Matthew 18:8 sn In Greek there is a wordplay that is difficult to reproduce in English here. The verb translated “causes…to sin” (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizō) comes from the same root as the word translated “stumbling blocks” (σκάνδαλον, skandalon) in the previous verse.
  11. Matthew 18:8 tn Grk “than having.”
  12. Matthew 18:9 tn Grk “than having.”
  13. Matthew 18:9 tn Grk “the Gehenna of fire.”sn See the note on the word hell in 5:22.
  14. Matthew 18:10 tc The most significant mss, along with others (א B L* Θ* ƒ1, 13 33 892* e ff1 sys sa), do not include 18:11 “For the Son of Man came to save the lost.” The verse is included in D Lmg N W Γ Δ Θc 078vid 565 579 700 892c 1241 1424 M lat syc,p,h, but is almost certainly not original, being borrowed from the parallel in Luke 19:10. The present translation follows NA28 in omitting the verse number as well, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.
  15. Matthew 18:12 tn Grk “a certain man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is used here in a somewhat generic sense.
  16. Matthew 18:12 sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.
  17. Matthew 18:12 sn Look for the one that went astray. The parable pictures God’s pursuit of the sinner. On the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, see John 10:1-18.
  18. Matthew 18:13 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
  19. Matthew 18:15 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. All the “if” clauses in this paragraph are third class conditions in Greek.
  20. Matthew 18:15 tn The Greek term “brother” can mean “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a) whether male or female. It can also refer to siblings, though here it is used in a broader sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God. Therefore, because of the familial connotations, “brother” has been retained in the translation here in preference to the more generic “fellow believer” (“fellow Christian” would be anachronistic in this context).
  21. Matthew 18:15 tc ‡ The earliest and best witnesses lack “against you” after “if your brother sins.” It is quite possible that the shorter reading in these witnesses (א B, as well as 0281 ƒ1 579 sa) occurred when scribes either intentionally changed the text (to make it more universal in application) or unintentionally changed the text (owing to the similar sound of the end of the verb ἁμαρτήσῃ [hamartēsē] and the prepositional phrase εἰς σέ [eis se]). However, if the mss were normally copied by sight rather than by sound, especially in the early centuries of Christianity, such an unintentional change is not as likely for these mss. And since scribes normally added material rather than deleted it for intentional changes, on balance, the shorter reading appears to be autographic. NA28 includes the words in brackets, indicating doubts as to their authenticity.
  22. Matthew 18:15 tn Grk “go reprove him.”
  23. Matthew 18:16 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15.
  24. Matthew 18:17 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  25. Matthew 18:17 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  26. Matthew 18:17 tn Grk “let him be to you as.”
  27. Matthew 18:17 tn Or “a pagan.”
  28. Matthew 18:17 sn To treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector means not to associate with such a person. See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.
  29. Matthew 18:18 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
  30. Matthew 18:19 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
  31. Matthew 18:19 tn Grk “if two of you…agree about whatever they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the pronouns, which change from second person plural to third person plural in the Greek text, have been consistently translated as second person plural.
  32. Matthew 18:21 tn Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a), whether male or female. Concerning the familial connotations, see also the note on the first occurrence of this term in v. 15.
  33. Matthew 18:22 tn Or “seventy times seven,” i.e., an unlimited number of times. See L&N 60.74 and 60.77 for the two possible translations of the phrase.
  34. Matthew 18:23 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
  35. Matthew 18:24 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  36. Matthew 18:24 sn A talent was a huge sum of money, equal to 6,000 denarii. One denarius was the usual day’s wage for a worker. L&N 6.82 states, “a Greek monetary unit (also a unit of weight) with a value which fluctuated, depending upon the particular monetary system which prevailed at a particular period of time (a silver talent was worth approximately 6,000 denarii with gold talents worth at least thirty times that much).”
  37. Matthew 18:25 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  38. Matthew 18:25 tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
  39. Matthew 18:25 tn Grk “and his wife.”
  40. Matthew 18:26 tn Grk “falling therefore the slave bowed down to the ground.” The redundancy of this expression signals the desperation of the slave in begging for mercy.
  41. Matthew 18:26 tc The majority of mss (א L W Γ Δ 058 0281 ƒ1, 13 33 565 579 1241 1424 M it syp,h co) begin the slave’s plea with “Lord” (κύριε, kurie), though a few key witnesses lack this vocative (B D Θ 700 lat sys,c Or Chr). Understanding the parable to refer to the Lord, scribes would be naturally prone to add the vocative here, especially as the slave’s plea is a plea for mercy. Thus, the shorter reading is more likely to be authentic.
  42. Matthew 18:28 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  43. Matthew 18:28 tn Grk “one hundred denarii.” The denarius was a silver coin worth about a day’s wage for a laborer; this would be about three month’s pay.
  44. Matthew 18:28 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so.” A new sentence was started at this point in the translation in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.
  45. Matthew 18:28 tn Grk “and he grabbed him and started choking him.”
  46. Matthew 18:28 tn The word “me” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  47. Matthew 18:29 tn Grk “begged him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  48. Matthew 18:31 tn Grk “Therefore when.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.
  49. Matthew 18:32 tn Grk “him”; the referent (the first slave mentioned in v. 24) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  50. Matthew 18:34 tn Grk “handed him over to the torturers,” referring specifically to guards whose job was to torture prisoners who were being questioned. According to L&N 37.126, it is difficult to know for certain in this instance whether the term actually envisions torture as a part of the punishment or is simply a hyperbole. However, in light of the following verse and Jesus’ other warning statements in Matthew about “fiery hell,” “the outer darkness,” etc., it is best not to dismiss this as mere imagery.
  51. Matthew 18:35 tn Grk “his.” The pronoun has been translated to follow English idiom (the last pronoun of the verse [“from your heart”] is second person plural in the original).
  52. Matthew 18:35 tn Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a), whether male or female. Concerning the familial connotations, see also the note on the first occurrence of this term in v. 15.

El mayor en el reino de los cielos

18 (A)En aquel momento[a] se acercaron los discípulos a Jesús, diciendo: ¿Quién es, entonces, el mayor en el reino de los cielos? Y Él, llamando a un niño, lo puso en medio de ellos, y dijo: En verdad os digo que si no os convertís[b] y os hacéis como niños(B), no entraréis en el reino de los cielos. Así pues, cualquiera que se humille como este niño, ese es el mayor en el reino de los cielos. Y el que reciba a un niño como este[c] en mi nombre, a mí me recibe. Pero al que(C) haga tropezar[d] a uno de estos pequeñitos que creen en mí(D), mejor le sería que le colgaran al cuello una piedra de molino de las que mueve un asno, y que se ahogara en lo profundo del mar.

¡Ay de los que son piedras de tropiezo!

¡Ay del mundo por sus piedras de tropiezo! Porque es inevitable que vengan piedras de tropiezo(E); pero ¡ay de aquel hombre por quien viene el tropiezo! Y si tu mano o tu pie te es ocasión de pecar[e], córtatelo y échalo de ti; te es mejor entrar en la vida manco o cojo, que teniendo dos manos y dos pies, ser echado en el fuego eterno(F). Y si tu ojo te es ocasión de pecar[f], arráncatelo y échalo de ti. Te es mejor entrar en la vida con un solo ojo, que teniendo dos ojos, ser echado en el infierno[g] de fuego(G).

10 Mirad que no despreciéis a uno de estos pequeñitos, porque os digo que sus ángeles en los cielos contemplan siempre el rostro de mi Padre(H) que está en los cielos. 11 [h]Porque el Hijo del Hombre ha venido a salvar lo que se había perdido(I).

Parábola de la oveja perdida

12 ¿Qué os parece? (J)Si un hombre tiene cien ovejas y una de ellas se ha descarriado, ¿no deja las noventa y nueve en los montes, y va en busca de la descarriada? 13 Y si sucede que la halla, en verdad os digo que se regocija más por esta que por las noventa y nueve que no se han descarriado. 14 Así, no es la voluntad de[i] vuestro Padre que está en los cielos que se pierda uno de estos pequeñitos.

Sobre la exhortación y la oración

15 Y si tu hermano peca[j](K), ve y repréndelo a solas[k]; si te escucha, has ganado a tu hermano. 16 Pero si no te escucha, lleva contigo a uno o a dos más, para que toda palabra sea confirmada por boca de dos o tres testigos(L). 17 Y si rehúsa escucharlos, dilo a la iglesia(M); y si también rehúsa escuchar a la iglesia, sea para ti como el gentil(N) y el recaudador de impuestos[l]. 18 En verdad os digo: todo lo que atéis[m] en la tierra, será[n] atado en el cielo; y todo lo que desatéis[o] en la tierra, será[p] desatado en el cielo(O). 19 Además os digo, que si dos de vosotros se ponen de acuerdo sobre cualquier cosa que pidan aquí en la tierra, les será hecho por[q] mi Padre(P) que está en los cielos. 20 Porque donde están dos o tres reunidos en mi nombre, allí estoy yo en medio de ellos(Q).

Importancia del perdón

21 Entonces se le acercó Pedro, y le dijo: Señor, ¿cuántas veces pecará mi hermano contra mí(R) que yo haya de perdonarlo? ¿Hasta siete veces(S)? 22 Jesús le dijo*: No te digo hasta siete veces, sino hasta setenta veces siete(T).

Parábola de los dos deudores

23 Por eso, el reino de los cielos(U) puede compararse[r] a cierto[s] rey que quiso ajustar cuentas con sus siervos(V). 24 Y al comenzar a ajustarlas, le fue presentado uno que le debía diez mil talentos[t]. 25 Pero no teniendo él con qué pagar(W), su señor ordenó que lo vendieran(X), junto con su mujer e hijos y todo cuanto poseía, y así pagara la deuda. 26 Entonces el siervo cayó postrado ante él(Y), diciendo: «Ten paciencia conmigo y todo te lo pagaré». 27 Y el señor de aquel siervo tuvo compasión, y lo soltó y le perdonó la deuda(Z). 28 Pero al salir aquel siervo, encontró a uno de sus consiervos que le debía cien denarios[u], y echándole mano, lo ahogaba, diciendo: «Paga lo que debes». 29 Entonces su consiervo, cayendo a sus pies, le suplicaba, diciendo: «Ten paciencia conmigo y te pagaré». 30 Sin embargo, él no quiso, sino que fue y lo echó en la cárcel hasta que pagara lo que debía. 31 Así que cuando vieron sus consiervos lo que había pasado, se entristecieron mucho, y fueron y contaron a su señor todo lo que había sucedido. 32 Entonces, llamándolo su señor, le dijo*: «Siervo malvado, te perdoné toda aquella deuda porque me suplicaste. 33 ¿No deberías tú también haberte compadecido de tu consiervo, así como yo me compadecí de ti(AA)?». 34 Y enfurecido su señor, lo entregó a los verdugos hasta que pagara todo lo que le debía. 35 Así también mi Padre celestial hará con vosotros(AB), si no perdonáis de corazón[v] cada uno a su hermano.

Footnotes

  1. Mateo 18:1 Lit., aquella hora
  2. Mateo 18:3 Lit., os volvéis
  3. Mateo 18:5 Lit., a un tal niño
  4. Mateo 18:6 O, escandalice
  5. Mateo 18:8 Lit., tropezar
  6. Mateo 18:9 Lit., tropezar
  7. Mateo 18:9 Gr., guéenna
  8. Mateo 18:11 La mayoría de los mss. antiguos no incluyen este vers.
  9. Mateo 18:14 Lit., delante de
  10. Mateo 18:15 Muchos mss. agregan: contra ti
  11. Mateo 18:15 Lit., entre tú y él solos
  12. Mateo 18:17 O, publicano; i.e., uno que explotaba la recaudación de los impuestos romanos
  13. Mateo 18:18 O, prohibáis
  14. Mateo 18:18 O, habrá sido
  15. Mateo 18:18 O, permitáis
  16. Mateo 18:18 O, habrá sido
  17. Mateo 18:19 Lit., de
  18. Mateo 18:23 Lit., fue comparado
  19. Mateo 18:23 Lit., un hombre
  20. Mateo 18:24 Un talento equivale aprox. a 21.6 kg. de plata
  21. Mateo 18:28 Un denario valía aprox. 4 gramos de plata, o el equivalente al salario de un día
  22. Mateo 18:35 Lit., de vuestros corazones