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18
True Greatness
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little child, and set him in their midst, 3 and said, “Assuredly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such little child in My name, receives Me.
Jesus Warns of Offenses
6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone be hanged on his neck, and he be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man through whom the offense comes!
8 “And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut them off and cast them 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 causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fiery hell.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.
12 “What do you think? If a certain man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one gone astray? 13 And if he happens to find it, assuredly I say to you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray. 14 Thus it is not the will before your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Reproving Another Who Sins
15 “And if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector.
18 “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, assuredly I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he began to settle up, one debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. 25 But since he had nothing with which to repay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and everything that he had, and to be repaid. 26 Therefore falling down before him, the servant said, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will repay everything to you.’ 27 And having compassion, the master of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And taking hold of him, he was choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and kept begging him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he was not willing, but going off, he cast him into prison till he should pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and they came and narrated to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then summoning him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, as I also had compassion on you?’ 34 And being angered, his master handed him over to the tormentors until he should pay all that was owed to him.
35 “Thus also My heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not forgive each one his brother their trespasses, from your hearts.”

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© 2014 Dr. Paul W. Esposito