Chapter 18
1 Now in that hour the disciples came
to Jesus, saying, "Who, consequently, is greatest in the kingdom of the
heavens?"
2 And, calling a little child to Him, He stands it in
their midst,
3 and said, "Verily, I am saying to you, If you
should not be turning and becoming as little children, you may by no means be entering
into the kingdom of the heavens.
4 Who, then, will be humbling himself as this little
child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens.
5 And whosoever should be receiving one such little child
in My name is receiving Me.
6 Yet whoever should be snaring one of these little ones
who is believing in Me, it is expedient for him that a millstone requiring an ass to turn
it may be hanged about his neck, and he should be sunk in the open ocean.
7 "Woe to the world because of snares! For it is a
necessity for snares to be coming. Moreover, woe to that man through whom the snare is
coming!
8 Now, if your hand or your foot is snaring you, strike
it off and cast it from you. Is it ideal for you to be entering into life maimed or lame,
or, having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the fire eonian?
9 "And if your eye is snaring you, wrench it out and
cast it from you. Is it ideal for you to be entering into life one-eyed, or, having two
eyes, to be cast into the Gehenna of fire?
10 "See that you should not be despising one of
these little ones, for I am saying to you that their messengers in the heavens are
continually observing the face of My Father Who is in the heavens.
11 (no verse 11)
12 "What are you supposing? If it should be
occurring to any man, with a hundred sheep, that even one of them should be led astray,
will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the mountains, and go and seek the one which is
straying?
13 And if he should come to find it, verily, I am saying
to you that he is rejoicing over it, rather than over the ninety-nine that have not
strayed.
14 Thus it is not the will in front of your Father Who is
in the heavens that one of these little ones should be perishing.
15 "Now, if ever your brother should be sinning, go
and expose him between you and him alone. If ever he should be hearing you, you gain your
brother.
16 Yet if ever he should not be hearing, take still one
or two others along with you, that at the mouth of two witnesses, or of three, every
declaration may be made to stand.
17 Now, if ever he should be disobeying them, tell it to
the ecclesia. Now, if ever he should be disobeying the ecclesia also, let him be to you
even as the man of the nations, and the tribute collector.
18 "Verily, I am saying to you, Whatsoever you
should be binding on the earth shall be those things having been bound in the heavens, and
whatsoever you should be loosing on the earth shall be those loose in heaven.
19 "Again, verily, I am saying to you that, if ever
two of you should be agreeing on the earth concerning any matter, whatsoever it is they
should be requesting shall be coming to them from My Father Who is in the heavens.
20 For where two or three are, gathered in My name, there
am I in the midst of them."
21 Then, approaching, Peter said to Him, "Lord, how
many times shall my brother be sinning against me and I shall be pardoning him? Till seven
times?"
22 Jesus is saying to him, "I am not saying to you
'Till seven times,' but 'Till seventy times and seven,'
23 "Therefore likened was the kingdom of the heavens
to a man, a king, who wants to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 Now, at his beginning to settle, one debtor was
brought to him who owed ten thousand talents.
25 Now, at his not having wherewith to pay, the lord
orders him to be disposed of, and his wife and children and all, whatever he has, and
payment to be made.
26 Falling down, then, that slave worshiped him, saying,
Lord, be patient with me, and I will pay you all!'
27 Now, having compassion, the lord of that slave
dismisses him, and remits his loan.
28 "Yet, coming out, that slave found one of his
fellow slaves, who owed him a hundred denarii, and, holding him, he choked him, saying,
'Pay, if you are owing anything!"
29 Falling down, then, his fellow slave entreated him,
saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you all!'
30 Yet he would not, but, coming away, he casts him into
jail, till he may pay what he is owing.
31 "Then his fellow slaves, perceiving what is
occurring, were tremendously sorry, and coming, they elucidate to their lord all that is
occurring.
32 "Then his lord, calling him to him, is saying to
him, 'Wicked slave! That entire debt I remit to you, since you entreat me.
33 Was it not binding on you also to be merciful to your
fellow slave, as I also am merciful to you?'
34 And, being indignant, his lord gives him up to the
tormentors till he may pay all he is owing him.
35 "Thus shall My heavenly Father also be doing to
you, if each one should not be pardoning his brother, from your hearts." |