The Disciples Ask, Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? |
Matthew 18:1-35 The Gospel According to Matthew [in Smaller Chunks] |
At the same time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child to Him, & [put] him in the [middle] of them. And said, [Truly,] I say to you, [Unless] you [are] converted, & become [like] little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. |
Therefore [whoever,] shall humble himself [like] this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And [whoever] shall receive one little child [like this] in My Name, receives Me. |
But [whoever] shall offend one of these little ones, [a.k.a. causes one to sin,] who believe in Me, it [would] [be] better for him, that a millstone were [hung around] his neck & that he were [to] drown in the [depths] of the sea. Woe to the world because of [such] offenses! |
For it [is] [inevitable] that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes! [For this reason,] if your hand or your foot [offends] you, cut them off, & cast them from you. It is better for you to enter into life [lame] or [disfigured,] rather than have 2 hands or feet, & to be cast into the everlasting fire. |
And if your eye [offends] you, [a.k.a. causes you to sin, pull] it out, & cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with 1 eye, rather than having 2 eyes to be cast into hell fire. |
[Pay attention,] that you [don't] despise 1 of these little ones. For I say to you, That in heaven their Angels always [see] the face of My Father, [Who] is in heaven. For the Son of Man [has] come to save [those, who were] lost. |
[What] [do] you think? If a man [has] 100 sheep, & one of them [has] gone astray, doesn't he leave the 99, & goes into the mountains, & seeks [what has] gone astray? And if he [should] find it, [truly,] I say to you, he rejoices more [over] that sheep, than the 99, which [didn't go] astray. |
Even so, it's not the will of your Father, [Who] is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. [1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good & acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who [desires to] have all men be saved, & to come to the knowledge of the Truth.] |
[Also,] if your brother shall trespass against you, go & tell him his fault, [privately,] between you & him. If he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. [James 5:20 Let him know, that he, [who converts] the sinner from [going astray,] shall save a soul from death, & shall hide a multitude of sins.] |
But if he won't hear you, then take with you 1 or 2 more, [so] that [through] the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you, [like a] heathen man & a publican, [a.k.a. tax collector.] |
[Truly,] I say to you, [Whatever] you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. And [whatever] you shall [loosen] on earth, shall be [loosened] in heaven. [John 20:23 [Whoever's] sins you [forgive,] they are [forgiven] to them. And [whoever's] sins you retain, they are retained.] |
Again I say to you, That if 2 of you shall agree on earth, [about] anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them [by] My Father, [Who] is in heaven. For where 2 or 3 are gathered together in My Name, I Am there in the midst of them. |
Then, Peter came to [Jesus,] & said, Lord, how [often] shall my brother sin against me, & I forgive him? [Until] 7 times? Jesus [said] to him, I [don't] say to you, until 7 times: but, Until 70 times 7, [a.k.a. 490.] |
Therefore, the Kingdom of heaven [is similar] to a certain king, [who] would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to [calculate, someone] was brought to him, [who] owed him 10,000 talents. |
But [in that] he [didn't have anything] [for repayment,] his lord commanded [that he,] his wife, children & all that he had, be sold, & [repayment] be made. Therefore, the servant fell down, & worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, & I will pay you all. |
Then, the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, & [released] him, & forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, & found one of his fellow servants, [who] owed him 100 pence. And he [seized] him, & took him by the throat, saying, Pay me [what] you [owe.] |
And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, & [begged] him, saying, Have patience with me, & I will pay you all. And he would not, & went & cast him into prison, [until] he should pay the debt. So, when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, & came & told their lord all that [happened.] |
Then, after he had called him, his lord said to him, O you wicked servant. I forgave you all that debt, because you [desired it of] me. Shouldn't you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even [like] I had pity on you? |
And his lord was [angry,] & delivered him to the tormentors, [until] he should pay all that was [owed] to him. So, My heavenly Father, shall also do likewise, to you, if everyone from your hearts, [doesn't] forgive his brother their trespasses. |