Matthew 18

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom from ^{a18:1 Lit. of} heaven?”ISV — Matthew 18:1

2 Calling a little child forward, he had him stand among them.ISV — Matthew 18:2

3 Then he said, “I tell all of you ^{b18:3 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty, unless you change ^{c18:3 Lit. turn} and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom from ^{d18:3 Lit. of} heaven.ISV — Matthew 18:3

4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom from ^{e18:4 Lit. of} heaven,ISV — Matthew 18:4

5 and whoever receives a little child like this in my name receives me.” ( ; )ISV — Matthew 18:5

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea.ISV — Matthew 18:6

7 How terrible it will be for the world due to its temptations to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!ISV — Matthew 18:7

8 “So if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life injured or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.ISV — Matthew 18:8

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear 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 hell ^{f18:9 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom} fire.ISV — Matthew 18:9

10 “See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, because I tell you, their angels in heaven always have access to my Father in heaven.ISV — Matthew 18:10

11 For the Son of Man came to save the lost.” ^{g18:11 Other mss. lack this verse.} ( )ISV — Matthew 18:11

12 “What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays, he leaves the 99 in the hills and goes to look for the one that has strayed, doesn’t he?ISV — Matthew 18:12

13 If he finds it, I tell all of you ^{h18:13 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty that he rejoices over it more than over the 99 that haven’t strayed.ISV — Matthew 18:13

14 In the same way, it is not the will of your ^{i18:14 Other mss. read our; still other mss. read my} Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” ( )ISV — Matthew 18:14

15 “If your brother sins against you, ^{j18:15 Other mss. lack against you} go and confront him while the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.ISV — Matthew 18:15

16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two others with you so that ‘every word may be confirmed by the testimony ^{k18:16 Lit. mouth} of two or three witnesses.’ ^{l18:16 Cf. Deut 19:15}ISV — Matthew 18:16

17 If, however, he ignores them, tell it to the congregation. ^{m18:17 Or church} If he also ignores the congregation, ^{n18:17 Or church} regard him as an unbeliever ^{o18:17 Lit. gentile ; i.e. an unbelieving non-Jew} and a tax collector.ISV — Matthew 18:17

18 “I tell all of you ^{p18:18 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty, whatever you prohibit on earth will have been prohibited ^{q18:18 Or will be prohibited} in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will have been permitted ^{r18:18 Or will be permitted} in heaven.ISV — Matthew 18:18

19 Furthermore, I tell all of you ^{s18:19 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.} with certainty that if two of you agree on earth about anything you request, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven,ISV — Matthew 18:19

20 because where two or three have come together in my name, I am there among them.”ISV — Matthew 18:20

21 Then Peter came up and asked him, “Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I have to forgive him? Seven times?”ISV — Matthew 18:21

22 Jesus told him, “I tell you, not just seven times, but 77 times! ^{t18:22 Or seventy times seven}ISV — Matthew 18:22

23 “That is why the kingdom from ^{u18:23 Lit. of} heaven may be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.ISV — Matthew 18:23

24 When he had begun to settle the accounts, a person who owed him 10,000 talents ^{v18:24 10,000 talents is the price paid in silver by Haman to King Ahasuerus as a bribe to annihilate the Jews; Cf. Esther 3:9; a talent was worth a lifetime of wages for an average laborer} was brought to him.ISV — Matthew 18:24

25 Because he couldn’t pay, his master ordered him, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned to be sold so that payment could be made.ISV — Matthew 18:25

26 Then the servant fell down and bowed low before him, saying, ‘Be patient ^{w18:26 Other mss. read Master, be patient} with me, and I will repay you everything!’ISV — Matthew 18:26

27 The master of that servant had compassion and released him, canceling his debt.ISV — Matthew 18:27

28 “But when that servant went away, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. ^{x18:28 The denarius was the usual day’s wage for a laborer.} He grabbed him, seized him by the throat, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ISV — Matthew 18:28

29 Then his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you!’ISV — Matthew 18:29

30 But he refused and had him thrown into prison until he could repay the debt.ISV — Matthew 18:30

31 “When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very disturbed and went and reported to their master everything that had occurred.ISV — Matthew 18:31

32 Then his master sent for him and told him, ‘You evil servant! I canceled that entire debt for you because you begged me.ISV — Matthew 18:32

33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ISV — Matthew 18:33

34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he could repay the entire debt.ISV — Matthew 18:34

35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each one of you unless you forgive your brother from your hearts.”ISV — Matthew 18:35