Mateus 18
Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
Quem é o mais importante de todos?
(Mc 9.33-37; Lc 9.46-48)
18 Naquele momento os discípulos de Jesus chegaram perto dele e lhe perguntaram:
—Quem é o mais importante no reino de Deus?
2 Jesus, então, chamou uma criança e, colocando-a diante deles, 3 lhes disse:
—Digo a verdade a vocês: Vocês devem mudar de atitude e se tornar como crianças. Se não fizerem isso, jamais entrarão no reino de Deus! 4 Portanto, o mais importante no reino de Deus é aquele que se humilha como esta criança. 5 Todo aquele que, em meu nome, recebe uma criança como esta, é como se estivesse recebendo a mim.
Jesus alerta sobre o perigo do pecado
(Mc 9.42-48; Lc 17.1-2)
6 —Se alguém fizer com que um destes pequeninos que tem fé em mim peque, será melhor para essa pessoa que ela seja jogada no mar com uma enorme pedra amarrada no pescoço. 7 Ai do mundo por causa daquelas coisas que fazem com que as pessoas pequem! Essas coisas têm que acontecer, mas ai dos que são responsáveis por elas! 8 Se a sua mão ou o seu pé faz com que você peque, corte-o e jogue-o fora. Pois é melhor entrar para a vida eterna manco ou aleijado do que ser jogado no fogo eterno do inferno com as duas mãos ou os dois pés. 9 Se o seu olho faz com que você peque, arranque-o e jogue-o fora! Pois é melhor entrar para a vida eterna só com um olho do que ser jogado no fogo eterno do inferno com ambos os olhos.
A parábola da ovelha perdida
(Lc 15.3-7)
10 —Tomem cuidado, portanto, para não desprezar nenhum destes pequeninos, pois os anjos deles estão sempre na presença de meu Pai que está no céu. 11 [a] 12 Digam-me o que vocês acham. Se um homem tiver cem ovelhas e uma delas se perder, será que ele não vai deixar as outras noventa e nove nos montes para procurar aquela que se perdeu? 13 É claro que vai! E eu lhes digo que quando ele a encontrar, vai ficar mais feliz por causa desta ovelha do que por causa das outras noventa e nove que nunca se perderam. 14 Da mesma forma, o Pai de vocês também não quer que nenhum destes pequeninos se perca.
Como devemos tratar o irmão que peca
(Lc 17.3)
15 —Se o seu irmão pecar contra você[b], vá e repreenda-o. Mas faça isso em particular, somente entre vocês dois. Se ele lhe der atenção, você terá ganho um irmão de volta. 16 Se ele, porém, não lhe der atenção, pegue e leve uma ou duas pessoas com você. Assim, pelo depoimento de duas ou três testemunhas, toda acusação será confirmada.[c] 17 Mas se ele não der atenção nem mesmo a elas, informe a igreja. E se ele se recusar a ouvir também a igreja, trate-o como um pagão ou como um coletor de impostos.
O poder de permitir e de proibir
18 —Digo a verdade a vocês: Tudo o que proibirem na terra será proibido no céu; e tudo o que permitirem na terra será permitido no céu.[d] 19 E eu também lhes digo que se dois de vocês aqui na terra concordarem e pedirem a mesma coisa em oração, o pedido de vocês será realizado pelo meu Pai que está no céu. 20 Digo isso pois onde quer que duas ou três pessoas estejam reunidas em meu nome, eu estarei entre elas.
Quantas vezes se deve perdoar a um irmão
21 Pedro, então, se aproximou de Jesus e lhe perguntou:
—Senhor, se meu irmão continuar pecando contra mim, até quantas vezes eu devo perdoar-lhe? Até sete vezes?
22 Jesus, porém, lhe respondeu:
—Eu não lhe digo que até sete vezes, mas até setenta vezes sete.
A parábola do mau empregado
23 —Por isso o reino de Deus pode ser comparado a um rei que decidiu acertar as contas com os seus servos. 24 Assim que ele começou, um homem que lhe devia milhões de moedas de prata[e] foi levado até ele. 25 O homem, entretanto, não tinha como pagar a dívida. O rei, então, mandou que ele fosse vendido, juntamente com sua mulher, seus filhos e tudo o que possuía. Dessa forma a sua dívida seria paga. 26 O devedor, porém, se ajoelhou aos pés do rei e lhe implorou: “Tenha paciência comigo e eu lhe pagarei tudo que lhe devo”.
27 —O rei sentiu pena daquele servo e lhe perdoou a dívida, deixando-o ir embora. 28 Quando o servo saiu, encontrou um outro servo que lhe devia cem moedas de prata[f]. Ele agarrou este outro servo pelo pescoço e, sufocando-o, lhe dizia: “Pague-me o que você me deve”. 29 Este outro servo, ajoelhando-se aos pés dele, lhe implorou: “Tenha paciência comigo e eu pagarei tudo o que lhe devo”.
30 —Ele, entretanto, não concordou. Ao contrário, jogou o servo na prisão até que ele pagasse o que lhe devia. 31 Quando os outros servos viram o que tinha acontecido, ficaram muito tristes e foram à procura do seu senhor para lhe contar o que tinha acontecido. 32 Então o senhor chamou o primeiro servo e lhe disse: “Você é um mau servo! Você me implorou e eu perdoei toda a sua dívida para comigo. 33 Por que você não teve pena do outro servo assim como eu tive pena de você?” 34 O senhor ficou com muita raiva e mandou que aquele servo fosse castigado até que lhe pagasse toda a dívida. 35 É assim que meu Pai que está no céu fará com vocês, se cada um não perdoar de coração ao seu irmão.
Footnotes
- 18.11 Alguns manuscritos gregos acrescentam o versículo 11: “O Filho do Homem veio salvar os perdidos”.
- 18.15 contra você Os melhores e mais antigos manuscritos não têm estas palavras.
- 18.16 Ver Dt 19.15.
- 18.18 Tudo (…) no céu Literalmente, “O que amarrarem na terra também será amarrado no céu. O que desamarrarem na terra também será desamarrado no céu”. Ver 16.19.
- 18.24 milhões de moedas de prata Literalmente, “10.000 talentos”. Essa quantidade equivalia aproximadamente a 70.000 denários. Como o salário médio de um trabalhador era um denário por dia (ver Mt 20.2), um trabalhador teria que trabalhar miles de anos para pagar essa dívida, o que mostra que a dívida era, praticamente, impossível de ser paga.
- 18.28 cem moedas de prata Literalmente, “cem denários”. Esta quantidade equivalia, aproximadamente, ao salário de três meses de um trabalhador.
Matthew 18
Amplified Bible
Rank in the Kingdom
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”(A) 2 He called a little child and set him before them, 3 and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever [a]humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives and welcomes one [b]child like this in My name receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.(B)
Stumbling Blocks
7 “Woe (judgment is coming) to the world because of stumbling blocks and temptations to sin! It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person on whose account or through whom the stumbling block comes!(C)
8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. 9 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.
10 “See that you do not despise or think less of one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven [are in the presence of and] continually look upon the face of My Father who is in heaven.(D) 11 [c][For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]
Ninety-nine Plus One
12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?(E) 13 And if it turns out that he finds it, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost. 14 So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.
Discipline and Prayer
15 “If your brother sins[d], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the [e]church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector.(F) 18 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth [f]shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth [g]shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.(G)
19 “Again I say to you, that if two [h]believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.(H) 20 For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”(I)
Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the accounting, one who owed him 10,000 [i]talents was brought to him. 25 But because he could not repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And his master’s heart was moved with compassion and he released him and forgave him [canceling] the debt. 28 But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him [j]a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow slave fell on his knees and begged him earnestly, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and they went and reported to their master [with clarity and in detail] everything that had taken place. 32 Then his master called him and said to him, ‘You wicked and contemptible slave, I forgave all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave [who owed you little by comparison], as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all that he owed. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 18:4 I.e. turns his back on self-righteous pride and adopts a realistic self-view.
- Matthew 18:5 I.e. new, childlike believer.
- Matthew 18:11 Early mss do not contain this verse.
- Matthew 18:15 Late mss add against you.
- Matthew 18:17 Gr ecclasia, the word means a gathering and may be translated congregation, assembly, or church.
- Matthew 18:18 Gr estai lelumenon, future perfect passive.
- Matthew 18:18 Gr estai lelumenon, future perfect passive.
- Matthew 18:19 Lit of you.
- Matthew 18:24 A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more. 10,000 talents would be an inconceivable amount of debt for a slave in the king’s service to repay.
- Matthew 18:28 About 100 days’ wages for a laborer.
Matthew 18
King James Version
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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