1 At that hour the disciples came and asked Jesus, "Who is greatest in the Realm of heaven?"
2 So he called a child, set it among them, 3 and said, "I tell you truly, unless you turn and become like children, you will never get into the Realm of heaven at all. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Realm of heaven; 5 and whoever receives a little child like this for my sake, receives me.
6 But whoever is a hindrance to one of these little ones who believe in me, better for him to have a great mill-stone hung round his neck and be sunk in the deep sea. 7 Woe to the world for hindrances! Hindrances have to come, but ??woe to the man by whom the hindrance does come! 8 If your hand or your foot is a hindrance to you, cut it off and throw it away; better be maimed or crippled and get into Life, than keep both feet or hands and be thrown into the everlasting fire. 9 If your eye is a hindrance to you, tear it out and throw it away; better get into Life with one eye than keep your two eyes and be thrown into the fire of Gehenna.
10 See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always look on the face of my Father in heaven. 11 ??- 12 Tell me, if a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills and go in search of the one that has strayed? 13 And if he happens to find it, I tell you he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that a single one of these little ones should be lost.
15 If your brother sins [against you], go and reprove him, as between you and him alone. If he listens to you, then you have won your brother over; 16 but if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every case may be decided on the evidence of two or of three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church; and if he refuses to listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or a taxgatherer. 18 I tell you truly, Whatever you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 I tell you another thing: if two of you agree on earth about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered in my name, I am there among them."
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often is my brother to sin against me and be forgiven? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "Seven times? I say, seventy times seven! 23 That is why the Realm of heaven may be compared to a king who resolved to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the settlement, a debtor was brought in who owed him three million pounds; 25 as he was unable to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all he had, in payment of the sum.
26 So the servant fell down and prayed him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you it all.' 27 And out of pity for that servant his master released him and discharged his debt.
28 But as that servant went away, he met one of his fellow-servants who owed him twenty pounds, and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay your debt!'
29 So his fellow-servant fell down and implored him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 But he refused; he went and had him thrown into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 Now when his fellow-servants saw what had happened they were greatly distressed, and they went and explained to their master all that had happened.
32 Then his master summoned him and said, 'You scoundrel of a servant! I discharged all that debt for you, because you implored me. 33 Ought you not to have had mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had on you?' 34 And in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, till he should pay him all the debt. 35 My heavenly Father will do the same to you unless you each forgive your brother from the heart."