Matthew 18:1-22 ▼

1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, and said: Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child to him, and placed him in the midst of them,

3 and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoever receives one such little child on my account, receives me;

6 but whoever ensnares one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Alas for the world because of snares! for it is necessary that snares come: but alas for that man by whom the snare comes!

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

9 And if your eye ensnares you, pull it out, and throw it from you. It is better to enter into life with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell-fire.

10 Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, That their angels in heaven do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

11 For the Son of man has come to save that which is lost.

12 What think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them go astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains, and seek for that which has gone astray?

13 And if it so be that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

14 Even so, it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost.

15 And if your brother sin against you, go and tell him of his fault between you and him alone; if he hear you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that, by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established.

17 But if he refuse to hear them, tell it to the church; and if he also refuse to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican.

18 Verily, I say to you, my disciples , Whatever you bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

19 Again, I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about any thing for which they will ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

20 For where there are two or three that have come together for my sake, there I am in the midst of them.

21 Then Peter came to him, and said: Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?

22 Jesus said to him: I say to you, Not till seven times, but till seventy times seven.