Matthew 18

Jesus teaches about humility, warning His disciples that they must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. He tells the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the unforgiving servant, and instructs on how to handle sin within the church.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?	At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2	And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,	He called a little child over and set Him in the middle of them.
3	And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.	He said, "Truly I tell You, unless You change and become like little children, You will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4	Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.	Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5	And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.	And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
6	But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.	But whoever 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 be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7	Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!	Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!
8	Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.	If Your hand or Your foot causes You to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to enter life lame or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.
9	And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.	If Your eye causes You to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell fire.
10	Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.	See that You do not look down on one of these little ones. I tell You that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
11	For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.	The Son of Man came to save what was lost.
12	How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?	What do You think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one wanders away, will He not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?
13	And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.	If He finds it, truly I tell You, He is happier over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not wander off.
14	Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.	In the same way, it is not the will of Your Father in heaven that any of these little ones should perish.
15	Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.	If Your brother sins against You, go and show Him His fault — just between the two of You. If He listens to You, You have won Your brother back.
16	But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.	But if He will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
17	And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.	If He refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If He refuses to listen even to the church, treat Him as You would a pagan or a tax collector.
18	Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.	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.
19	Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.	Again, truly I tell You, if two of You on earth agree about anything You ask for, it will be done for You by My Father in heaven.
20	For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.	For where two or three gather in My name, I am there with them."
21	Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?	Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when He sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22	Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.	Jesus answered, "I tell You, not seven times, but seventy times seven.
23	Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.	The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with His servants.
24	And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.	As He began the accounting, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to Him.
25	But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.	Since He could not pay, the master ordered that He, his wife, His children, and all that He had be sold to repay the debt.
26	The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.	The servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything."
27	Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.	The servant's master felt compassion for him, released Him, and forgave the debt.
28	But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.	But when that same servant went out, He found one of His fellow servants who owed Him a hundred denarii. He grabbed Him and choked Him. "Pay back what You owe me!" he demanded.
29	And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.	His fellow servant fell on His knees and begged Him, "Be patient with me, and I will pay You back."
30	And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.	But he refused. He went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31	So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.	When the other servants saw what had happened, they were deeply distressed and told their master everything.
32	Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:	Then the master called the servant in. "You wicked servant," he said, "I forgave all that debt of yours because you begged me.
33	Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?	Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?"
34	And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.	In his anger, the master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he paid back all he owed.
35	So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.	This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."