Matthew 18:19-19:29

English Standard Version

¹⁹ Again I say to you, if two of you ^(A)agree on earth about anything they ask, ^(B)it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are ^(C)gathered in my name, ^(D)there am I among them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often ^(E)will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? ^(F)As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished ^(G)to settle accounts with his servants.^{[a] 24} When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ^(H)ten thousand ^(I)talents.^{[b] 25 (J)}And since he could not pay, his master ordered him ^(K)to be sold, with his wife and ^(L)children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant^{[c] (M)}fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and ^(N)forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred ^(O)denarii,^[d] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ^33 (P)And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ^34 (Q)And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,^{[e] (R)}until he should pay all his debt. ^35 (S)So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother ^(T)from your heart.”

Teaching About Divorce

19 Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from ^(U)Galilee and ^(V)entered ^(W)the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. ² And ^(X)large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ And Pharisees came up to him and ^(Y)tested him by asking, ^(Z)“Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” ⁴ He answered, ^(AA)“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ^(AB)‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and ^(AC)the two shall become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two but one flesh. ^(AD)What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” ⁷ They said to him, ^(AE)“Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” ⁸ He said to them, “Because of your ^(AF)hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ^9 (AG)And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”^[f]

¹⁰ The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” ¹¹ But he said to them, ^(AH)“Not everyone can receive this saying, but only ^(AI)those to ^(AJ)whom it is given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs ^(AK)for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

Let the Children Come to Me

^13 (AL)Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples ^(AM)rebuked the people, ¹⁴ but Jesus said, ^(AN)“Let the little children ^(AO)come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵ And he laid his hands on them and went away.

The Rich Young Man

^16 (AP)And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to ^(AQ)have ^(AR)eternal life?” ¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. ^(AS)If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, ^(AT)“You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and, ^(AU)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, ^(AV)“All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be ^(AW)perfect, go, ^(AX)sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have ^(AY)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ^22 (AZ)When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³ And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, ^(BA)only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ^24 (BB)Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter ^(BC)the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus ^(BD)looked at them and said, ^(BE)“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷ Then Peter said in reply, “See, ^(BF)we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,^{[g] (BG)}when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me ^(BH)will also sit on twelve thrones, ^(BI)judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ^29 (BJ)And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold^[h] and will ^(BK)inherit eternal life.