CHAPTER XVI.
CHRIST'S DOCTRINE OF GREATNESS.—OFFENSES AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
1 18:1AT that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 18:2And calling a little child, he set it in the midst of them, 18:3and said, I tell you truly, that if you do not turn and become like little children, you can by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven. 18:4Whoever humbles himself like this little child, shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven; 18:5and whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me; 18:6but whoever offends one of these little ones that believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone should be hung to his neck, and that he should be plunged into the depths of the sea.
2 18:7Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must necessarily come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 18:8If your hand or foot offends you, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame, or crippled, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire. 18:9And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life having one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
3 18:10See that you despise not one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels always behold the face of my Father in heaven. 18:12What think you? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is lost, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain, and go and seek for the lost one? 18:13And if he finds it, I tell you truly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which were not lost. 18:14So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
4 18:15But if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 18:16But if he does not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established; 18:17and if he will not hear them, tell the assembly; and if he will not hear the assembly, let him be to you as a gentile and a publican. 18:18I tell you truly, that whatever you bind on the earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you unbind on the earth shall be unbound in heaven. 18:19Again, I tell you, that if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any thing for which they shall ask, they shall have it from my Father in heaven; 18:20for where two or three are assembled together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
5 18:21Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times? 18:22Jesus said to him, I say not to you till seven times, but till seventy times seven. 18:23On this account, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle with his servants. 18:24And beginning to settle, a debtor of ten thousand talents [$10,000,000] was brought to him. 18:25And he having nothing to pay, the lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 18:26Then the servant fell down and worshipped him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay all. 18:27And the lord of that servant having compassion on him released him, and forgave him the debt.
6 18:28But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him one hundred denarii [$14], and seizing him, he choked him, saying, Pay what you owe me. 18:29Then his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you. 18:30But he would not; but went and cast him into prison till he should pay the debt. 18:31Then his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were greatly displeased, and went and related to their lord all things that were done. 18:32Then his lord called him, and said to him, Evil servant; I forgave you all that debt because you besought me [to do it]. 18:33Ought you not also to pity your fellow-servant, as I pitied you? 18:34And his lord was displeased, and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all the debt. 18:35So also will my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not each one his brother from your hearts.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHRIST'S DOCTRINE OF MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, ETC.
1 19:1AND when Jesus had finished these words he departed from Galilee, and came into the bounds of Judea beyond the Jordan; 19:2and great multitudes followed him, and he cured them there. 19:3And the Pharisees came to him to try him, and said, Is it lawful [for a man] to put away his wife for every cause? 19:4And he answered and said, Have you not read that the Creator at the beginning made them male and female? 19:5and he said, On this account shall a man leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. 19:6So that they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has yoked together, let not man separate.
2 19:7They said to him, Why then did Moses command us to give a bill of divorcement, and put her away? 19:8He said to them, Moses, on account of your hardness of heart, allowed you to put away your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. 19:9And I tell you, that whoever puts away his wife, except for adultery, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her that is put away, commits adultery.
3 19:10The disciples said to him, If the case of a man is thus with his wife, it is not expedient to marry. 19:11And he said to them, All do not receive this word, but those to whom it is given. 19:12For there are eunuchs from birth, who were born so from their mother; and there are eunuchs who are made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to receive [this doctrine] let him receive it.
4 19:13Then little children were brought to him that he should put his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 19:14But Jesus said, Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 19:15And he put his hands on them and departed thence.
5 19:16And behold one came and said to him, Teacher, what good [work] shall I do that I may have eternal life? 19:17And he said to him, Why do you ask me of the good? one is the good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments. 19:18He said to him, What? And Jesus said, this; You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not testify falsely; 19:19Honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 19:20The young man said to him, All these have I kept; what do I lack yet? 19:21Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have a treasure in heaven; and come and follow me. 19:22And when the young man heard [this] he went away sad, for he had great possessions.
6 19:23And Jesus said to his disciples, I tell you truly, that a rich man will enter into the kingdom of heaven with difficulty. 19:24And again I tell you, it