Who Is the Most Important Person in the Kingdom?
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus. They asked him, “Then who is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven?”
2Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand among them. 3Jesus said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You need to change and become like little children. If you don’t, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Anyone who takes the humble position of this child is the most important in the kingdom of heaven. 5Anyone who welcomes a little child like this one in my name welcomes me.
Do Not Cause People to Sin
6“What if someone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin? If they do, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned at the bottom of the sea. 7How terrible it will be for the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Things like that must come. But how terrible for the person who causes them! 8If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with only one hand than go into hell with two hands. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with only one foot than go into hell with two feet. In hell the fire burns forever. 9If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It would be better to enter the kingdom of heaven with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
The Story of the Wandering Sheep
10-11“See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones. Here is what I tell you. Their angels in heaven are always with my Father who is in heaven.
12“What do you think? Suppose a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away. Won’t he leave the 99 sheep on the hills? Won’t he go and look for the one that wandered off? 13What I’m about to tell you is true. If he finds that sheep, he is happier about the one than about the 99 that didn’t wander off. 14It is the same with your Father in heaven. He does not want any of these little ones to die.
When Someone Sins Against You
15“If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them. Tell them what they did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them back. 16But what if they won’t listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’ (Deuteronomy 19:15) 17But what if they also refuse to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if they refuse to listen even to the church? Then don’t treat them as a brother or sister. Treat them as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.
18“What I’m about to tell you is true. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.
19“Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you. 20Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.”
The Servant Who Had No Mercy
21Peter came to Jesus. He asked, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times.
23“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to collect all the money his servants owed him. 24As the king began to do it, a man who owed him 10,000 bags of gold was brought to him. 25The man was not able to pay. So his master gave an order. The man, his wife, his children, and all he owned had to be sold to pay back what he owed.
26“Then the servant fell on his knees in front of him. ‘Give me time,’ he begged. ‘I’ll pay everything back.’ 27His master felt sorry for him. He forgave him what he owed and let him go.
28“But then that servant went out and found one of the other servants who owed him 100 silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said.
29“The other servant fell on his knees. ‘Give me time,’ he begged him. ‘I’ll pay it back.’
30“But the first servant refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison. The man would be held there until he could pay back what he owed. 31The other servants saw what had happened and were very angry. They went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“Then the master called the first servant in. ‘You evil servant,’ he said. ‘I forgave all that you owed me because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on the other servant just as I had mercy on you?’ 34In anger his master handed him over to the jailers. He would be punished until he paid back everything he owed.
35“This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
天国里谁最伟大
1这时，门徒上前来，问耶稣：“在天国谁最伟大？”
2耶稣叫了一个小孩子来站在他们当中，然后说： 3“我实在告诉你们，你们若不变得像小孩子那样，绝不能进天国。 4所以，凡像这小孩子一样谦卑的人，在天国才是最伟大的。
5“任何人为了我的名而接待这样一个小孩子，就是接待了我。 6但不论谁使这样一个小信徒失足犯罪，他的下场比把大磨石拴在他脖子上沉到深海里还要惨。 7这世界有祸了！因为里面充满了引人犯罪的事。这样的事是免不了的，但那些引人犯罪的人有祸了！
8“如果你的手或脚使你犯罪，就砍掉它！因为肢体残缺着进入永生，总比四肢健全却被丢进永远不灭的火中好。 9如果你的一只眼睛使你犯罪，就剜出来丢掉它吧！独眼进入永生，总比双目健全却被丢进地狱的火中好。 10你们切不可轻视任何一位卑微的人。我告诉你们，他们的天使在天上常见我天父的面。
迷失的羊
11“人子到世界来，为要拯救迷失的人。 12如果一个人有一百只羊，其中有一只走迷了路，他会怎么办呢？难道不会把那九十九只撇在山上，去找那只迷失的羊吗？ 13我实在告诉你们，如果找到了，他会非常欢喜，甚至比有那九十九只没有迷失的羊还欢喜。 14同样，你们的天父也不愿任何一个卑微的人失丧。
纠正信徒的过错
15“如果你的弟兄得罪了你，你要找个机会跟他单独在一起，指出他的错处。如果他肯接受劝告，你就得了一位弟兄。 16如果他不听劝告，你就带一两位弟兄去见他，让两三个人为谈话作证。 17如果他仍然不听，就应当告诉教会。如果他连教会也不听，就把他看作异教徒或税吏18:17 “税吏”即犹太人眼中的“汉奸”，帮助统治犹太人的罗马政府收税，常从中牟取暴利。。 18我实在告诉你们，你们在地上捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；你们在地上释放的，在天上也要释放。
19“我又告诉你们，如果你们当中有两个人在地上同心合意地祈求，不论求什么，我天上的父必为你们成就。 20因为哪里有两三个人奉我的名聚会，我就在哪里与他们同在。”
七十个七次
21彼得上前问耶稣：“主啊，如果我的弟兄得罪了我，我该饶恕他多少次呢？七次够了吧？”
22耶稣回答说：“我告诉你，不是七次，是七十个七次。
23“因此，天国就像一个王，他要跟奴仆清算债务。 24正开始清算的时候，有人带着一个欠了六千万银币18:24 “六千万银币”希腊文是“一万他连得”，一他连得相当于当时一个普通工人20年的工钱。的人进来。 25因为这个人无法清还债款，王就下令把他及其妻儿和所有财产全部卖掉还债。 26那奴仆跪在王面前乞求说，‘请宽容我，我会把债务全部还清的。’ 27王可怜他，不但释放了他，而且免了他全部的债。
28“可是，那奴仆出去后，遇见一位欠他一百个银币18:28 一个银币相当于当时普通工人一天的工钱。的同伴，就揪住同伴，掐着他的喉咙说，‘还我钱！’ 29同伴跪下哀求道，‘请宽容我，我会还你的。’
30“那奴仆却不肯，竟把同伴送进监狱，直到他还清债务为止。 31其他的奴仆目睹这一切，都愤愤不平，把这件事告诉了王。
32“于是，王把那奴仆召来，说，‘你这可恶的奴才！你哀求我，我就免了你所有的债。 33难道你不应该怜悯你的同伴，就像我怜悯你一样吗？’ 34王大怒，下令把他交给狱卒受刑，直到他还清全部的债务。 35如果你们不从心里饶恕自己的弟兄，我的天父也要这样对待你们。”
