Matthew 18

Who Is the Greatest in God’s Kingdom,

1 “The disciples came up to Jesus and said, ‘Listen, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,’”

2 “Jesus called over a little kid and had him stand in the middle of them.”

3 “He said, ‘I am telling you the truth, unless you all change and become like this little kid, you are not even getting into heaven.’”

4 “‘Whoever humbles themselves like this kid is the greatest in heaven.’”

5 “‘And whoever welcomes a kid like this in My name is welcoming Me.’”

Warnings About Causing Others to Sin

6 “‘If you cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better if someone tied a millstone around your neck and threw you in the ocean.’”

7 “‘The world’s full of traps and temptations, but woe to the person who sets them up.’”

8 “‘If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to roll into eternal life disabled than to be thrown into hell with all your body parts.’”

9 “‘If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and toss it. It is better to enter life with one eye than be thrown into hellfire with both.’”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “‘Do not look down on these little ones. Their angels in heaven are always in front of My Father.’”

11 “‘The Son of Man came to save the lost.’”

12 “‘If a shepherd has 100 sheep and one gets lost, will he not leave the 99 to go look for the one that is missing,’”

13 “‘And when he finds it, he is happier about the one sheep than the 99 that did not get lost.’”

14 “‘That is how My Father feels. He does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.’”

Dealing with Sin in the Church

15 “‘If your brother or sister sins against you, go tell them one-on-one. If they listen, you have won them back.’”

16 “‘If they do not listen, take one or two others with you so everything can be confirmed by witnesses.’”

17 “‘If they still will not listen, tell the church. If they will not even listen to the church, treat them like an outsider or a tax collector.’”

18 “‘Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’”

19 “‘If two of you agree on anything you ask for, My Father in heaven will make it happen.’”

20 “‘Where two or three gather in My name, I am right there with them.’”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 “Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times do I have to forgive my brother when he sins against me, Like seven times,’”

22 “Jesus said, ‘Nah, not seven times, seventy times seven!’”

23 “‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.’”

24 “‘One servant owed him a million bucks but could not pay.’”

25 “‘The king ordered that the man, his wife, kids, and everything he owned be sold to pay the debt.’”

26 “‘The servant begged, “Please, give me more time, and I will pay everything!”’”

27 “‘The king felt bad, canceled the debt, and let him go.’”

28 “‘But that same servant found another guy who owed him 20 bucks. He grabbed him by the neck and said, “Pay up!”’”

29 “‘The man begged him, “Please, give me more time, and I will pay you back!”’”

30 “‘But he refused and had the man thrown in jail until the debt was paid.’”

31 “‘When the other servants saw what happened, they were mad and told the king.’”

32 “‘The king called the first servant and said, “You wicked man! I forgave you that huge debt, and you could not forgive this guy,’”

33 “‘Should you not have shown mercy like I showed you mercy?’”

34 “‘The king was furious and handed him over to the jailers until he paid back everything he owed.’”

35 “‘That is how My Father in heaven will treat you if you do not forgive your brothers and sisters from the heart.’”