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Matthew 18, RSV

18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

18:2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them,

18:3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

18:5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me;

18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

18:7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes!

18:8 And 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 maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?

18:13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

18:14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

18:18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18:19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

18:21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

18:23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

18:24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;

18:25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

18:26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

18:27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

18:28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.'

18:29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

18:30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.

18:31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.

18:32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me;

18:33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

18:34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.

18:35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

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