Sin and Forgiveness^(A)

17 Jesus said to his ·followers [disciples], “·Things that cause people to sin [Stumbling blocks; Causes of sin; Temptations] ·will happen [are inevitable; ^Lit is impossible for them not to come], but ·how terrible for [^Lwoe to] the person who causes them to happen! ² It would be better for ·you [^Lhim; that person] to be thrown into the sea with a ·large [^Lmill] stone around ·your [^Lhis] neck than to cause one of these little ones to ·sin [stumble]. ³ So ·be careful [watch yourselves]!

“If ·another follower [fellow believer; ^Lyour brother (or sister)] sins, ·warn [rebuke] him, and if he ·is sorry and stops sinning [repents], forgive him. ⁴ If he sins against you seven times ·in one day [or each day] and ·says that he is sorry each time [repents seven times], forgive him.”

⁶ If someone causes one of these little children who believes in me to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], it would be better for that person to have a ·large stone [large millstone; ^Lmillstone of a donkey] tied around the neck and be ·drowned [^Lthrown] in the [^Ldepths of the] sea. ⁷ ·How terrible for [^LWoe to] ·the people of the world [^Lthe world] because of ·the things that cause them to sin [temptations to sin; ^Lstumbling blocks]. ·Such things will happen [^LIt is necessary for stumbling blocks to come], but ·how terrible for [^Lwoe to] the one ·who causes them to happen [^Lthrough whom the stumbling block comes]!

When a Person Sins Against You^(A)

¹⁵ “If your ·fellow believer [^Lbrother (or sister)] sins against you,^[a] go and ·tell him what he did wrong [^Lreprove/convict/correct him] ·in private [^Lbetween you and him alone]. If he listens to you, you have ·helped that person to be your brother or sister again [^Lgained/won back your brother (or sister)].

⁴² “If someone causes one of these little children who believes in me to ·sin [lose faith; stumble], it would be better for that person to have a ·large stone [large millstone; ^Lmillstone of a donkey] tied around his neck and be ·drowned [^Lthrown] in the sea.