How to be ‘big’ in the Kingdom
1At that time the disciples approached Jesus saying, “Who then is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?”
2So Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3and said: “Assuredly I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of the heavens.
4Therefore whoever will humble himself like this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.
About offenses
5“Whoever receives one little child like this in my name, receives me;
6but whoever should cause one of these little ones who believe into me 266to fall, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung on his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea! 267
7Woe to the world because of offenses! Now it is necessary that offenses come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes!
8“If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall, cut them off and throw them away! It is better for you to enter into the life lame or maimed than to be thrown into the everlasting fire, having two hands or two feet.
9And if your eye is causing you to fall, tear it out and throw it away! It is better for you to enter into the life one eyed than to be thrown into the fiery Hell, having two eyes. 268
God loves children
10“See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father, who is in the heavens. 269
11For the Son of the Man came to save the lost. 270
12What do you think? If some man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains 271to go and search for the stray?
13And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14Likewise it is not a desire, in the view of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should be wasted. 272
Handling a recalcitrant brother
15“Now if your brother sins against you, go, confront him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother.
16But should he not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that every word may be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
17And should he refuse to hear them, tell it to the congregation. But should he refuse to hear even the congregation, let him be to you just like the heathen and the tax collector. 273
Agreeing in prayer
18“Assuredly I say to you, whatever (pl.) you (pl.) may bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 274
19Assuredly again, I say to you that if two of you should agree on earth about any subject whatever that they may ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 275
20Because where there are two or three gathered together into my name, there I am in their midst!” 276
About forgiveness
21Then Peter approached Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him; up to seven times?”
22Jesus says to him: “Not, I tell you, up to seven, but up to seventy-seven times! 277
23“Therefore the kingdom of the heavens is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24And as he began to settle up, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25But since he had nothing with which to repay, his lord commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything he had, so as to be repaid.
26So then the servant fell down and did obeisance to him saying, ‘Lord, be patient with me and I will repay you all.’
27So the lord of that servant, having compassion, released him and forgave him the loan.
28“But when that servant went out he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and grabbing him he started choking him saying, ‘Pay me back what you owe!’
29So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him saying, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you back.’ 278
30But he would not; instead he went and threw him into prison until he should pay back what was owed.
31But when his fellow servants saw what had happened they were really grieved, and they went and reported to their lord everything that had happened.
32Then summoning him the lord says to him: ‘Malignant servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33Were you also not obligated 279to have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
34So in anger the lord handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed to him.
35“My heavenly Father will handle you just like that, if each of you does not forgive his brother his trespasses, from the heart.” 280
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