1In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus , saying , Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven ? 2And he called to him a little child , and set him in the midst of them , 3and said , Verily I say unto you , Except ye turn , and become as little children , ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven . 4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child , the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven . 5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me :
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
6but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble , it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck , and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea . 7Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling ! for it must needs be that the occasions come ; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh ! 8And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble , cut it off , and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt , rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire . 9And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble , pluck it out , and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye , rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire . 10See that ye despise not one of these little ones : for I say unto you , that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven . 1112How think ye ? if any man have a hundred sheep , and one of them be gone astray , doth he not leave the ninety and nine , and go unto the mountains , and seek that which goeth astray ? 13And if so be that he find it , verily I say unto you , he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray . 14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven , that one of these little ones should perish.
Dealing with Sin in the Church
15And if thy brother sin against thee, go , show him his fault between thee and him alone : if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16But if he hear thee not , take with thee one or two more , that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established . 17And if he refuse to hear them , tell it unto the church : and if he refuse to hear the church also , let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican . 18Verily I say unto you , What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . 19Again I say unto you , that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask , it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven . 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name , there am I in the midst of them .
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21Then came Peter and said to him , Lord , how oft shall my brother sin against me , and I forgive him ? until seven times ? 22Jesus saith unto him , I say not unto thee, Until seven times ; but , Until seventy times seven . 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king , who would make a reckoning with his servants . 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him , that owed him ten thousand talents . 25But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold , and his wife , and children , and all that he had , and payment to be made . 26The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him , saying , Lord , have patience with me , and I will pay thee all . 27And the lord of that servant , being moved with compassion , released him , and forgave him the debt . 28But that servant went out , and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him , and took him by the throat, saying , Pay what thou owest . 29So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him , saying , Have patience with me , and I will pay thee. 30And he would not : but went and cast him into prison , till he should pay that which was due . 31So when his fellow-servants saw what was done , they were exceeding sorry , and came and told unto their lord all that was done . 32Then his lord called him unto him , and saith to him , Thou wicked servant , I forgave thee all that debt , because thou besoughtest me : 33shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? 34And his lord was wroth , and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due . 35So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you , if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts .