At that - time the disciples came - to Jesus (and) asked , “ Who then is (the) greatest in the kingdom of heaven ? ”
- (Jesus) invited a little child to stand ... vvv vvv among them.
“ Truly I tell you , ” - He said , “ unless ... you change and become like - little children , vvv vvv you will never enter ... the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore , whoever humbles himself like this - little child - is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever vvv welcomes a little child like this in My - name welcomes Me.
But if anyone causes one of these - little ones who believe in Me {to stumble} , it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his - neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Woe to the world for the causes of sin. - (These) stumbling blocks must come , but woe to the man through whom - (they) come !
- If your - hand or your - foot causes you to sin ... , cut it off ... and throw it away ... .... It is better for you to enter ... - life crippled or lame than to have two hands (and) two feet (and) be thrown into the - eternal fire.
And if your - eye causes you to sin ... , gouge it out ... and throw it away ... .... It is better for you to enter ... - life with one eye than to have two eyes (and) be thrown into the fire of hell.
See (that) vvv you do not look down on any of these - little ones. For I tell you that their - angels in heaven always ... see the face of My Father - in heaven.
What {do} you think ? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray , vvv will he not leave the ninety-nine ... on the hills and go out to search for the (one) that is lost ?
And if he finds it , truly I tell you , - he rejoices more over (that one sheep) than over the ninety-nine ... - vvv that did not go astray.
In the same way , - your - Father - in heaven is not willing that any of these - little ones should perish.
- If your - brother sins against you , go (and) confront him privately ... ... ... .... If he listens to you , you have won your - brother {over}.
But if - he will not listen , take one or two others along ... , so that ‘ every matter may be established by (the) testimony of two or three witnesses.’
- If he refuses to listen to them , tell (it) to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church , regard (him) as you (would) a pagan (or) - a tax collector.
Truly I tell you , whatever ... you bind on - earth will be bound in heaven , and whatever ... you loose on - earth will be loosed in heaven.
Again , I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything ... - vvv (you) ask for , it will be done for (you) by My - Father - in heaven.
For where two or three vvv gather together in My - name , there am I with them ... .... ”
Then Peter - came to (Jesus) - (and) asked , “ Lord , how many times - shall I forgive - my - brother who sins against me ? Up to seven times ? ”
- Jesus answered ... , “ I tell you , not just seven times , but - seventy-seven times ... !
Because of this , the kingdom of heaven is like - a king who wanted to settle accounts with his - servants.
As he began the settlements , a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
Since (the man) vvv was unable to pay , the master ordered that he be sold - to pay (his) debt , along with (his) wife and - children and everything - he owned.
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘ Have patience with me , ’ he begged , ‘ and I will pay back everything. ’
- (His) master - - - had compassion (on him) , - forgave his - debt , (and) released him.
But when - that servant went out , he found one of his - fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. - He grabbed him and began to choke (him) , saying , ‘ Pay back what you owe (me) !’
So his - fellow servant fell down (and) begged him - , ‘ Have patience with me , and I will pay you {back}. ’
But - vvv he refused. Instead , he went (and) had (the man) thrown ... into prison until ... he could pay (his) debt.
(When) his - fellow servants saw what had happened , vvv they were greatly distressed , and they went (and) recounted all - (of this) to their master.
Then - the master summoned him (and) declared - , ‘ (You) wicked servant ! I forgave - all (your) - debt because you begged me.
Shouldn’t ... you - have had mercy on your - fellow servant , just as I (had) on you ? ’
- In anger his - master turned him over ... to the jailers to be tortured , until - he should repay all that he owed -.
That is how - My - heavenly - Father will treat each of you unless ... you forgive (your) - brother from your - heart. ”