Matthew 18

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

1At that time, Jesus' followers came to him with a question. They asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, where God is king?"

2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

2Jesus called a little child over to him. He had the child stand right in the middle of them.

3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3Jesus said, "This is true. You must change and become like little children. If you do not, you will never enter God's kingdom."

4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

4"So the one who makes himself small, like this child, is the greatest in God's kingdom."

5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

5"And whoever welcomes a child like this one because of me is welcoming me."

6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

6"Some people lead these little ones who trust me into sin. It would be better for such a person to have a heavy grinding stone tied to his neck. It would be better for him to be dropped into the deep sea."

NoteIn the KJV, "offend" does not mean hurting someone's feelings. It means causing someone to trip up and fall into sin.

7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

7"How sad for the world, because things that pull people into sin are everywhere. Such things are sure to come. But how sad for the person who brings them."

8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

8"If your hand or your foot makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to enter life without a hand or a foot. That is better than keeping both and being thrown into the fire that never ends."

9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

9"If your eye makes you sin, pull it out and throw it away. It is better to enter life with one eye. That is better than keeping both eyes and being thrown into the fire of hell."

10Take heed 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 which is in heaven.

10"Be careful not to look down on even one of these little ones. I tell you, their angels in heaven always stand before my Father's face."

11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

11"The Son of Man, the name Jesus used for himself, came to save people who were lost."

ManuscriptsMost modern translations leave this verse out. It is in the Greek text the King James translators worked from, but not in the older manuscripts found since, so scholars generally take it as a copyist’s addition rather than part of the original.

12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

12"What do you think? A man has a hundred sheep, and one wanders away. Will he not leave the ninety-nine and go into the hills to look for it?"

13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

13"And if he finds it, this is true. He is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that never wandered."

14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

14"In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost."

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

15"If another believer does you wrong, go and talk with him alone. Tell him what he did. If he listens to you, you have won him back."

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

16"But if he will not listen, take one or two people with you. Then two or three witnesses can back up everything that is said."

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

17"If he will not listen to them, tell the church, the group of believers. If he will not listen to the church either, treat him like an outsider or a tax collector."

NoteA "publican" was a tax collector who worked for the Romans. Many people at that time kept away from tax collectors and from outsiders who did not know God.

18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18"This is true. Whatever you hold shut on earth will be held shut in heaven. Whatever you set free on earth will be set free in heaven."

19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

19"I tell you again. If two of you here on earth agree about something you ask for, my Father in heaven will do it for you."

20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

20"For wherever two or three people meet together because of me, I am right there with them."

21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

21Then Peter came to Jesus with a question. He asked, "Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who keeps doing me wrong? Seven times?"

22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times. I tell you, forgive seventy times seven times."

23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

23"So God's kingdom is like a king. He decided to settle up with his servants about the money they owed him."

24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

24"As he began, a servant was brought to him. That man owed the king ten thousand talents, a huge pile of money."

NoteA talent was a very large amount of silver, worth many years of pay. Ten thousand talents was a debt a servant could never pay back.

25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

25"The man could not pay. So his master ordered that the man be sold to pay the debt. His wife, his children, and everything he owned would be sold too."

26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

26"The servant fell on his knees in front of the king. He begged, "Please be patient with me. I will pay you everything."

27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

27"The master felt sorry for him. He let the servant go and forgave the whole debt."

28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

28"But that servant went out and found another servant. This man owed him only a hundred pence, a small amount. He grabbed him by the throat and said, "Pay me what you owe!"

NoteThe KJV word "pence" stands for Roman coins called denarii. One was about a day's pay, so this debt was tiny next to the first one.

29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

29"The other servant fell down and begged him. He said, "Please be patient with me. I will pay you back."

30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

30"But he would not wait. He had the man locked up in prison until he paid the debt."

31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

31"The other servants saw what happened and felt very sad. They went and told their master everything."

32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

32"Then the master called the servant back in. He said, "You wicked servant! I forgave your whole debt because you begged me."

33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

33""You should have been kind to the other servant, just as I was kind to you.""

34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

34"The master was angry. He handed the servant over to the jailers, to be hurt and held until he paid all he owed."

35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

35Jesus said, "My Father in heaven will do the same to you. This happens if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."