Matthew 18 – NIRV & CRO

New International Reader’s Version

Matthew 18:1-35

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.”

Knijga O Kristu

Matej 18:1-35

Tko je najveći u kraljevstvu

(Mk 9:33-37; Lk 9:46-48)

1U taj čas dođu k Isusu učenici te ga zapitaju: “Tko je najveći u nebeskom kraljevstvu?” 2Isus pozove malo dijete pa ga postavi u sredinu između njih 3i reče: “Zaista vam kažem, ako se ne obratite i ne postanete poput male djece, nećete ući u nebesko kraljevstvo! 4U nebeskome je kraljevstvu, dakle, najveći onaj tko se ponizi kao ovo malo dijete. 5Tko zaradi mene18:5 U grčkome: u moje ime. prihvati ovakvo dijete, mene prihvaća. 6Ali tko jednoga od ovih malenih koji vjeruju u mene navede da posrne u vjeri, bilo bi mu bolje da mu o vrat objese mlinski kamen i da potone u morsku dubinu.

Isus upozorova na dolazak iskušenja

(Mk 9:42-47; Lk 17:1-2)

7Teško svijetu jer navodi ljude na grijeh! Napast na zlo je neizbježna, ali teško čovjeku kroz kojega dolazi napast. 8Navodi li te na grijeh vlastita ruka ili noga, odsijeci ju i baci. Bolje da u život uđeš kljast ili hrom nego da s objema rukama i s objema nogama budeš bačen u vječni oganj. 9Navodi li te na grijeh vlastito oko, iskopaj ga i baci! Bolje da jednook uđeš u život nego da s oba oka budeš bačen u ognjeni pakao.

10Pazite da ne prezrete nijednoga od ovih malenih. Jer kažem vam da njihovi anđeli na nebu neprestano gledaju lice mojega Oca, koji je na nebesima. (11A ja, Sin Čovječji, došao sam spasiti izgubljene.)”18:11 Neki rukopisi ne sadrže taj stih.

Prispodoba o izgubljenoj ovci

12“Što mislite, da netko ima sto ovaca i da jedna od njih zaluta, neće li ostaviti onih devedeset devet u gorama i poći potražiti zalutalu? 13Zaista vam kažem, ako ju uspije naći, više će se radovati što je pronašao tu jednu ovcu nego što ih devedeset devet nije zalutalo. 14Tako ni vaš nebeski Otac ne želi da se izgubi i propadne ijedan od ovih malenih.”

Opomena drugim vjernicima

(Lk 17:3)

15“Ako ti brat zgriješi, ukori ga nasamo. Posluša li te, zadobio si brata. 16Ako te ne posluša, povedi sa sobom još jednoga ili dvojicu braće da se kazna za svaki prekršaj mora temeljiti na iskazu dvojice ili trojice svjedoka.18:16 Vidjeti: Ponovljeni zakon 19:15. 17Ne posluša li ni njih, reci Crkvi. Ako ne posluša ni Crkvu, smatraj ga poganinom i ubiračem poreza.18:17 Oni su u to doba bili omraženi jer su surađivali s okupatorskim rimskim vlastima i iznuđivali novac od stanovništva.

18Zaista vam kažem, što god svežete na zemlji, bit će svezano na nebu i što god odriješite na zemlji, bit će odriješeno na nebu.

19Također vam kažem: ako dvojica od vas na zemlji jednodušno zamole bilo što, moj će im nebeski Otac to dati. 20Jer gdje se dvojica ili trojica sastanu zaradi mene18:20 U grčkome: u moje ime., tu sam i ja s njima.”

Priča o okrutnom dužniku

(Lk 17:4)

21Tada mu priđe Petar i upita: “Gospodine, koliko puta da oprostim bratu koji je zgriješio protiv mene? Do sedam puta?”

22“Ne sedam puta,” odgovori mu Isus, “već sedamdeset puta sedam!18:22 Ili: sedamdeset sedam puta.

23Nebesko je kraljevstvo kao kad kralj odluči izravnati račune sa slugama. 24Kad su počeli obračunavati, dovedu mu jednoga koji mu je dugovao tristo tona zlata18:24 U grčkome: deset tisuća talenata. Talenat iznosi otprilike 34 kilograma.. 25Kako nije mogao vratiti, kralj zapovjedi da se prodaju on, žena, djeca i sve što imaju te da se tako podmiri dug.

26Sluga nato padne ničice pred njim i zamoli: ‘Imaj strpljenja sa mnom i sve ću ti vratiti!’ 27Kralj se sažali nad njim, oslobodi ga i oprosti mu dug.

28Ali kad taj sluga iziđe, susretne prijatelja koji je njemu dugovao malo novca.18:28 U grčkome: sto denara. Ščepa ga za vrat i počne ga daviti govoreći: ‘Vrati što si dužan!’ 29Prijatelj klekne pred njega i zamoli: ‘Imaj sa mnom strpljenja i vratit ću ti!’ 30Ali njegov vjerovnik nije htio pričekati, nego ode i baci ga u tamnicu dok ne vrati dug.

31Kad su njegovi prijatelji vidjeli što se dogodilo, silno se ražaloste te odu sve ispričati kralju. 32Nato ga kralj pozove i reče mu: ‘Zli slugo! Ja sam tebi oprostio sav dug jer si me zamolio! 33Nisi li se i ti trebao smilovati svojemu prijatelju kao što sam se ja tebi smilovao?’ 34I gnjevni ga kralj preda mučiteljima dok ne vrati sav dug.

35Tako će i moj nebeski Otac postupiti s vama ne oprostite li svojemu bratu od sveg srca.”