Chapter 18

At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? "

And Jesus called a little child to him, set him in their midst,

and said, "Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Avoiding Scandal

"And whoever receives one such little child for my sake, receives me.

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

"Woe to the world because of scandals! For it must needs be that scandals come, but woe to the man through whom scandal does come!

And if thy hand or thy foot is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee! It is better for thee to enter life maimed or lame, than, have two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.

And if thy eye is an occasion of sin to thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee! It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell-fire. The Lost Sheep

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father in heaven.

For the Son of Man came to save what was lost.

What do you think? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them stray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go in search of the one that has strayed?

And if he happens to find it, amen I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

Even so, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that a single one of these little ones should perish. Fraternal Correction

"But if thy brother sin against thee, go and show him his fault, between thee and him alone. If he listen to thee, thou hast won thy brother.

But if he do not listen to thee, take with thee one or two more so that on the word of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed.

And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church, but if he refuse to hear even the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican.

Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven. The Power of United Prayer

"I say to you further, that if two of you shall agree on earth about anything at all for which they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together for my sake, there am I in the midst of them."

Then Peter came up to him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? "

Jesus said to him, "I do not say to thee seven times, but seventy times seven. The Unmerciful Servant

"This is why the kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who desired to settle accounts with his servants.

And when he had begun the settlement, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

And as he had no means of paying, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

But the servant fell down and besought him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay thee all! '

And moved with compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.

"But as that servant went out, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid hold of him and throttled him, saying, 'Pay what thou owest. '

His fellow-servant therefore fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. '

But he would not; but went away and cast him into prison until he should pay what was due.

"His fellow-servants therefore, seeing what had happened, were very much saddened, and they went and informed their master of what had taken place.

Then his master called him, and said to him, 'Wicked servant! I forgave thee all the debt, because thou didst entreat me.

Shouldst not thou also have had pity on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? "

And his master, being angry, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your heart."