Matthew 18:1-14
At that
time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and
said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, [a] it
would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and
to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! [b] For
it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the
temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off
and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than
with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your
eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to
enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell [c] of
fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones.
For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who
is in heaven. [d] 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred
sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on
the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds
it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine
that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my [e] Father
who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
Footnotes:
Matthew 18:6 Greek causes… to stumble;
also verses 8, 9
Matthew 18:7 Greek stumbling blocks
Matthew 18:9 Greek Gehenna
Matthew 18:10 Some manuscripts add verse
11: For the Son of Man came to save the lost
Matthew 18:14 Some manuscripts your
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publisher
Lift High the Cross copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things permission granted for personal and congregational use
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