Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

18 The disciples came to Jesus at that time. They said, `Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?'

² Jesus called a child to him. He had the child stand in front of them.

³ He said, `I tell you the truth. If your hearts do not change and become like hearts of children, you will never go into the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ So anyone who feels himself small like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵ `If anyone takes in a child like this for my sake, he takes in me.'

⁶ `These little children believe in me. If anyone makes one of them do wrong, he will be punished. He will have worse trouble than if a big stone were tied to his neck and he were thrown into the deep sea.

⁷ `There will be trouble in the world because people make other people do wrong! People will do wrong. But the person who makes another person do wrong will have trouble.

⁸ If your hand or your foot makes you do wrong, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to enter into life without hands or feet than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the fire that burns for ever.

⁹ If your eye makes you do wrong, pull it out and throw it away! It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell fire.'

¹⁰ `Do not think badly of these little children. I tell you this. They have angels in heaven. And all the time their angels can see the face of my father who is in heaven.

¹¹ `The Son of Man came to save anyone who is lost.

¹² What do you think about this? A man has a hundred sheep. One of them is lost. Will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills and go to look for the one that is lost? Yes, he will.

¹³ I tell you the truth. When he finds it, he is more happy to see that one than the ninety-nine that were not lost.

¹⁴ In the same way, my Father in heaven does not want one of these little children to be lost.'