the Fourth Week of Advent
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Murdock Translation
Matthew 18
1 In that hour the disciples approached Jesus, and said: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2 And Jesus called a child, and placed him in the midst of them,3 and said: Verily I say to you, that unless ye be converted, and become like children, ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven.4 He therefore that shall humble himself like this child, he will be great in the kingdom of heaven.5 And he that shall receive in my name [fn] like to this child, he receiveth me. 6 And whosoever shall stumble one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were suspended to his neck, and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks ! For it must be, that stumbling blocks come. But, woe to the person by whose means the stumbling blocks come.8 If then thy hand or thy foot make thee stumble, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is good for thee to enter into life lame or mutilated, and not that, with two hands or two feet, thou fall into eternal fire.9 And if thine eye make thee stumble, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, and not that, with two eyes, thou fall into the hell of fire.10 See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That their angels in heaven, at all times, are beholding the face of my Father who is in heaven.11 For the Son of man, hath come to give life to that which was lost.12 How doth it appear to you? If a man should have a hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray, will he not leave the ninety and nine in the mountains, and go and seek the one that strayed?13 And if he find it, verily I say to you, that he rejoiceth in it, more than in the ninety and nine that did not stray.14 Just so, it is not the pleasure of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover, if thy brother commit an offence against thee, go and admonish him between thee and him only. If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he will also not hear them, tell [fn] to the church. And if he will also not hear the church, let him be to thee as a publican and a heathen. 18 Verily I say to you, That whatever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye shall unbind on earth, shall be unbound in heaven.19 Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth concerning any thing that they shall ask, it shall be to them from my Father who is in heaven.20 20 For where two or three [fn] assembled in my name, there [fn] I in the midst of them.
21 Then Cephas approached him, and said to him: My Lord, how many times, if my brother commit offence against me, shall I forgive him? up to seven times?22 Jesus said to him: I do not say to thee, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like to some king, who wished to have a reckoning with his servants.24 And when he began to reckon, they brought to him one debtor of ten thousand talents.25 And as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, him and his wife and his children, and all that he possessed, and payment to be made.26 And that servant fell down and worshipped him, and said: My lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee the whole.27 And his lord had compassion on that servant, and set him free, and forgave him his debt.28 Then that servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants who owed him a hundred denarii. And he laid hold of him and choked him, and said to him: Pay me what thou owest me.29 And that fellow-servant fell at his feet and entreated him, and said: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee the whole.30 But he would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay him what he owed him.31 And when their fellow-servants saw what was done, it grieved them much; and they came and made known to their lord all that had occurred.32 Then his lord called him, and said to him: Thou vile servant ! Lo, I forgave thee that whole debt, because thou entreatedst of me:33 oughtest not thou also to have compassion on thy fellow-servant, as I had compassion on thee?34 And his lord was angry, and delivered him over to the torturers, until he should pay all he owed him.35 So will my Father who is in heaven do to you, unless ye from your heart forgive each his brother his offence.
