Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2He called a child and had him stand among them.

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

3"Truly I tell you," he said, "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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

4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child--this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.

5“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

6"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away--it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.

6but 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 around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses will inevitably come, but woe to that person by whom the offense comes.

7“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

8If your hand or your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.

8And 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 with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.

9And if your eye causes you to fall away, 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 hellfire.

9And if your eye causes you to sin, tear 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.

10"See to it that you don't despise one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of my Father in heaven.

10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

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12What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?

12What 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?

13And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

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

14In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

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

15"If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.

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.

16But if he won't listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.

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

17If he doesn't pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn't pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.

17If 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.

18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.

18Truly, 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.

19Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

19Again 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.

20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them."

20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

21Then Peter approached him and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?"

21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

22"I tell you, not as many as seven," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven.

22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

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

24When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him.

24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

25Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26"At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.'

26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’

27Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

28"That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, 'Pay what you owe!'

28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’

29"At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’

30But he wasn't willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.

30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

31When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.

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

32Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

33Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’

34And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.

34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

35So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart."

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

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.