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Matthew 18
New International Version
Matthew 18
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?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,(B) you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(C) 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.(D) 5 And 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) 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!(G) 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,(H) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(I) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.(J)
The Parable of the Wandering Sheep(K)
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels(L) in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. [11] [a]
12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault,(M) just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d](N) 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church;(O) and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.(P)
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven.(Q)
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them(R) by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”(S)
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?(T) Up to seven times?”(U)
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[g](V)
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like(W) a king who wanted to settle accounts(X) with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay,(Y) the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold(Z) to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him.(AA) ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[i] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”(AB)
Footnotes
- Matthew 18:11 Some manuscripts include here the words of Luke 19:10.
- Matthew 18:15 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verses 21 and 35.
- Matthew 18:15 Some manuscripts sins against you
- Matthew 18:16 Deut. 19:15
- Matthew 18:18 Or will have been
- Matthew 18:18 Or will have been
- Matthew 18:22 Or seventy times seven
- Matthew 18:24 Greek ten thousand talents; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wages.
- Matthew 18:28 Greek a hundred denarii; a denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see 20:2).
Matthew 18
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
Matthew 18
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
18 At en that ekeinos · ho time hōra the ho disciples mathētēs came proserchomai to ho Jesus Iēsous, saying legō, “ Who tis then ara is eimi the greatest megas in en the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos?” 2 · kai Jesus invited proskaleō a child paidion to come to him, and placing histēmi him autos in en their autos midst mesos, 3 · kai said legō, “ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, unless ean mē you change strephō and kai become ginomai like hōs · ho children paidion, you will never ou mē enter eiserchomai the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos! 4 For oun whoever hostis humbles tapeinoō himself heautou as hōs · ho this houtos child paidion is eimi · ho greatest megas in en the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos. 5 And kai whoever hos ean welcomes dechomai a heis child paidion like toioutos this in epi · ho my egō name onoma welcomes dechomai me egō. 6 But de whoever hos causes skandalizō one heis of ho these houtos little mikros ones who ho believe pisteuō in eis me egō to sin, it would be better sympherō for him autos to hina have a large onikos millstone mylos hung kremannymi around peri · ho his autos neck trachēlos and kai be drowned katapontizō far out pelagos at en · ho · ho sea thalassa. 7 Woe ouai to the ho world kosmos because apo of the ho things that cause people to sin skandalon! It is inevitable anankē that such ho things skandalon come erchomai, but plēn woe ouai to the ho one anthrōpos through dia whom hos they ho skandalon come erchomai!
8 “ If ei · de · ho your sy hand cheir or ē · ho your sy foot pous causes skandalizō you sy to sin, cut ekkoptō it autos off and kai throw ballō it away apo sy; it is eimi better kalos for you sy to enter eiserchomai · ho life zōē crippled kyllos or ē lame chōlos than ē with echō two dyo hands cheir or ē two dyo feet pous to be thrown ballō into eis · ho eternal aiōnios fire pyr. · ho 9 And kai if ei · ho your sy eye ophthalmos causes skandalizō you sy to sin, gouge exaireō it autos out and kai throw ballō it away apo sy; it is eimi better kalos for you sy to enter eiserchomai life zōē with one monophthalmos eye · ho than ē with echō two dyo eyes ophthalmos to be thrown ballō into eis the ho hell geenna of ho fire pyr.
10 “ See horaō that you do not mē despise kataphroneō one heis of ho these houtos little mikros ones . For gar I tell legō you hymeis that hoti · ho their autos angels angelos in en heaven ouranos always dia pas see blepō the ho face prosōpon of ho my egō Father patēr who ho is in en heaven ouranos. 12 What tis do you hymeis think dokeō? If ean a tis man anthrōpos has ginomai a hundred hekaton sheep probaton and kai one heis of ek them autos goes planaō astray , will he not ouchi leave aphiēmi the ho ninety-nine enenēkonta ennea on epi the ho slopes oros and kai go poreuō in search zēteō of the ho one planaō that has wandered off ? 13 And kai if ean he finds ginomai it autos, I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, he will rejoice chairō over epi it autos more mallon than ē over epi the ho ninety-nine enenēkonta ennea that ho did not mē go planaō astray . 14 In the same houtōs way , it is eimi not ou the will thelēma of ho your hymeis Father patēr · ho in en heaven ouranos that hina even one heis of ho these houtos little ones mikros should perish apollymi.
15 “ If ean · de your sy brother adelphos sins hamartanō, · ho go hypagō and point elenchō out his autos fault between metaxy you sy and kai him autos alone monos. If ean he listens to akouō you sy, you have won kerdainō back · ho your sy brother adelphos. 16 But de if ean he does not mē listen akouō, take paralambanō one heis or ē two dyo others eti with meta you sy so hina that every pas matter rhēma may be confirmed histēmi on epi the evidence stoma of two dyo or ē three treis witnesses martys. 17 If ean · de he refuses parakouō to listen to them autos, tell legō it to the ho church ekklēsia; and de if ean he refuses to listen parakouō even kai to parakouō the ho church ekklēsia, you sy are to treat eimi him as hōsper a ho pagan ethnikos and kai a ho tax telōnēs collector .
18 “ I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, whatever hosos ean you bind deō on epi · ho earth gē will eimi have been bound deō in en heaven ouranos, and kai whatever hosos ean you loose lyō on epi · ho earth gē will eimi have been loosed lyō in en heaven ouranos. 19 “ Again palin, I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, if ean two dyo of ek you hymeis on epi earth gē are in agreement symphōneō · ho about peri anything pas pragma whatever hos ean you may ask aiteō, it will be done ginomai for you autos by para · ho my egō Father patēr who ho is in en heaven ouranos. 20 For gar where hou two dyo or ē three treis are eimi gathered synagō in eis · ho my emos name onoma, I am eimi there ekei in en their autos midst mesos.”
21 Then tote Peter Petros came proserchomai to · ho Jesus autos and said legō, “ Lord kyrios, how posakis often must I forgive aphiēmi my egō brother adelphos when he sins hamartanō against eis me egō? · ho · kai Up heōs to seven heptakis times ?” 22 Jesus Iēsous said legō to him autos, · ho “ I do not ou say legō to you sy, up heōs to seven heptakis times , but alla up heōs to seventy hebdomēkontakis times seven hepta. 23 Therefore dia houtos the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos is like homoioō a king basileus who hos decided thelō to settle synairō accounts logos with meta · ho his autos servants. 24 And de when he autos had begun archō to settle synairō them, a man heis who owed opheiletēs ten thousand myrios talents talanton was brought prospherō to him autos. 25 And de since he autos did not mē have echō the means to repay apodidōmi the debt, his ho master kyrios commanded keleuō that he autos be sold pipraskō along kai with his ho wife gynē and kai · ho children teknon and kai everything pas hosos he had echō, and kai that payment apodidōmi be made . 26 So oun the ho servant fell piptō to the ground prostate proskyneō before him autos, saying legō, ‘ Have makrothumeō patience with epi me egō, and kai I will repay apodidōmi you sy everything pas.’ 27 Moved splanchnizomai with compassion , · de the ho master kyrios of ho that ekeinos servant released apolyō him autos and kai forgave aphiēmi him autos the ho debt daneion. 28 But de that ho same ekeinos servant then went out exerchomai and found heuriskō one heis of ho his autos fellow syndoulos servants who hos owed opheilō him autos a hundred hekaton denarii dēnarion; and kai seizing krateō him autos by the throat began to choke pnigō him, saying legō, ‘ Pay apodidōmi back what ei tis you owe opheilō.’ 29 Therefore oun his autos fellow servant syndoulos fell piptō to the ground · ho and pleaded parakaleō with him autos, saying legō ‘ Have makrothumeō patience with epi me egō, and kai I will repay apodidōmi you sy.’ 30 But de he ho refused ou thelō. Instead alla, he went aperchomai and threw ballō him autos in eis prison phylakē until heōs he should pay apodidōmi back the ho debt opheilō. 31 So oun when his autos fellow servants syndoulos saw · ho what ho had happened ginomai, they became indignant lypeō and kai went erchomai and told diasapheō · ho their heautou master kyrios all pas that ho had taken place ginomai. 32 Then tote his autos master kyrios called proskaleō him autos in · ho and said legō to him autos, ‘You wicked ponēros servant! I forgave aphiēmi you sy all pas · ho that ekeinos debt opheilē because epei you pleaded parakaleō with me egō. 33 And should dei not ou you sy also kai have had mercy eleeō on · ho your sy fellow syndoulos servant , even as hōs I kagō had mercy on eleeō you sy?’ 34 And kai in anger orgizō · ho his autos master kyrios handed paradidōmi him autos over to the ho prison basanistēs guards to torture him until heōs hos he should pay apodidōmi back all pas · ho he owed opheilō. 35 So houtōs also kai will · ho my egō heavenly ouranios Father patēr · ho do poieō to you hymeis, unless ean mē you each hekastos forgive aphiēmi · ho your autos brother adelphos from apo · ho your hymeis heart kardia.”
Matthew 18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
True Greatness
18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(A) 4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.(B)
Temptations to Sin
6 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.(C) 7 Woe to the world because of things that cause sin![b] Such things are bound to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!(D)
8 “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin,[c] cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire.(E) 9 And if your eye causes you to sin,[d] tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell[e] of fire.(F)
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.[f](G) 12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of your[g] Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.
Reproving Another Who Sins
15 “If your brother or sister sins against you,[h] go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.(H) 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.(I) 17 If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.(J) 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.(K) 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.(L) 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven[i] times.
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, 25 and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 18
New Living Translation
Matthew 18
New Living Translation
The Greatest in the Kingdom
18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.[b]
10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.[c]
Parable of the Lost Sheep
12 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! 14 In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
Correcting Another Believer
15 “If another believer[d] sins against you,[e] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.
19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[h] I am there among them.”
Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone[i] who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven![j]
23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. 24 In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.[k] 25 He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
26 “But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ 27 Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.
28 “But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars.[l] He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.
29 “His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. 30 But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.
31 “When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. 32 Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.
35 “That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters[m] from your heart.”
Footnotes
- 18:5 Greek in my name.
- 18:9 Greek the Gehenna of fire.
- 18:10 Some manuscripts add verse 11, And the Son of Man came to save those who are lost. Compare Luke 19:10.
- 18:15a Greek If your brother.
- 18:15b Some manuscripts do not include against you.
- 18:18a Or bind, or lock.
- 18:18b Or loose, or open.
- 18:20 Greek gather together in my name.
- 18:21 Greek my brother.
- 18:22 Or seventy-seven times.
- 18:24 Greek 10,000 talents [375 tons or 340 metric tons of silver].
- 18:28 Greek 100 denarii. A denarius was equivalent to a laborer’s full day’s wage.
- 18:35 Greek your brother.
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New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
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New Living Translation (NLT)
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