18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus asking, “So who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called over a small child and placed him before them. 3 He said, “I am telling you the truth: unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 But whoever humbles themselves and becomes like this little child, is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 Whoever accepts a little child like this in my name[157] accepts me.
    6 “But anyone who causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a huge millstone hung around their necks and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Shame on the world because it causes people to stumble! Stumbling blocks will surely come, but shame on the person through whom the temptation comes! 8 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[158] crippled or lame rather than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the fire[159] of the Age to Come. 9 If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter Life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of Gehenna.
    10 “Make sure you do not look down on one of these little ones. I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
   11 [For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.][160] 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go looking for the one that is lost? 13 And if he finds it, I tell you he rejoices over that sheep more than the ninety-nine which did not get lost. 14 In the same way it is not the will of your Father in heaven that any of these little ones perish.
    15 “If your brother sins against you, go to him privately and point out his fault. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he does not listen, then take one or two more people with you, so that with two or three witnesses the truth can be established.  17 And if he refuses to listen to them, then tell the church. If he refuses to listen to the church as well, then consider him as a Gentile and a tax collector.
    18 “I am telling you the truth: whatever you ban on earth will have been banned in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth will have been allowed in heaven. 19 I also tell you that if two of you agree on earth about something you are asking for, it will be done for you by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather together in my name, I am there with them.”
    21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “lord, how many times should I forgive my brother for sinning against me? Seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I am not telling you seven times, but seventy times seven!
    23 “That is why the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with those servants who owed him money. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one servant was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But since he did not have the money to pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, so that the debt could be paid. 26 The servant fell to his knees and begged, ‘Please be patient with me and I will pay everything back.’
   27 The servant’s lord felt compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him just a hundred denarii. He seized him by the neck and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay me back what you owe me!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me and I will pay you back.’ 30 But the man refused, and went and threw his fellow servant into prison until he paid off what he owed.
   31 When the other servants saw what he had done they were very upset and went and told the lord what had happened. 32 Then the lord called the man back and said to him, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you all your debt because you pleaded with me.
   33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ 34 His lord became angry and handed him over to the prison guards until he repaid all the debt. 35 My heavenly Father will do the same to you unless you forgive your brothers from the heart.”