Genesis 21:1-8

New International Version

The Birth of Isaac

21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah^(A) as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.^(B) ²Sarah became pregnant and bore a son^(C) to Abraham in his old age,^(D) at the very time God had promised him.^(E) ³Abraham gave the name Isaac^[a]^(F) to the son Sarah bore him. ⁴When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him,^(G) as God commanded him. ⁵Abraham was a hundred years old^(H) when his son Isaac was born to him.

⁶Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter,^(I) and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” ⁷And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”^(J)

Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away

⁸The child grew and was weaned,^(K) and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast.

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Footnotes

Genesis 21:3 Isaac means he laughs.

Matthew 18:1-6

New International Version

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven^(A)

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

²He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,^(B) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.^(C) ⁴Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.^(D) ⁵And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.^(E)

Causing to Stumble

⁶“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.^(F)

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