THE
*GOSPEL
¶ACCORDING TO
^ MATTHEW
Matthew 18 ©
1 Christ teaches by the example of a little child, who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. 6 Of what punishment they are worthy who give offense. 8 How narrowly men must beware that they give none offense to the little ones, of whom the angels themselves do take care. 11 And Christ is come to save them; as He declares by the parable of the lost sheep. 15 How we must deal with a brother who has sinned against us, and what the office and power of the church is therein. 19 How powerful the common prayer is of the faithful. 21 That we must be always ready to forgive; which is declared by the parable of a king taking account of his servants.
AT thea same 1time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who 2is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verilyb I say unto you, Except ye be 3converted, and become as 4little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoeverc therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Andd whoso shall receive one such 5little child in my name receiveth me.
Bute whoso shall 6offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a 7millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
¶Woe unto the world because of offences! forf it must 8needs be that offences come; butg woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Whereforeh if thy 9hand or thy foot offendi thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life haltj or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offendk 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.
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, Thatl in heaven 10their angels do always 11behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Form the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
Hown think ye? 12if 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?
And 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.
Even so it is not the will 13of your Father which is in heaven, that one of 14these little ones should perish.
¶Moreovero if thy brother shall trespassp15against thee, go and 16tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, thatq in the mouth of two or three witnesses 17every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tellrit unto the 18church: but if he neglect to hear the church, lets him be unto thee 19as an heathen man and a publican.
Verilyt I say unto you, 20Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing 21that they shall ask, it shall be 22done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Foru where two or three are gathered together in my name, 23there am I in the midst of them.
¶Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? tillv seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Untilw24seventy times seven.
¶Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take 25account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, 26one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand 27talents.
Butx forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be 28sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred 29pence: and he laid hands on him, and 30took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then 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:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth,y and 31delivered him to the tormentors,z32till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Soaa likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye 33from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.