1 About|strong="G1722" that|strong="G1565" time|strong="G5610" the|strong="G3588" followers came|strong="G4334" to|strong="G3004" Jesus|strong="G2424" and|strong="G3772" asked|strong="G3004", “Who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" greatest|strong="G3173" in|strong="G1722" God’s kingdom|strong="G0932"?”
2 Jesus|strong="G0846" called|strong="G4341" a|strong="G2532" little child|strong="G3813" to|strong="G2532" come|strong="G2476" to|strong="G2532" him|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" stood|strong="G2476" the|strong="G2532" child|strong="G3813" in|strong="G1722" front of|strong="G1722" the|strong="G2532" followers.
3 Then|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “The|strong="G3588" truth is|strong="G3772", you|strong="G5210" must|strong="G1525" change your|strong="G1437" thinking and|strong="G2532" become|strong="G1096" like|strong="G5613" little children|strong="G3813". If|strong="G1437" you|strong="G5210" don’t|strong="G3756" do|strong="G1096" this|strong="G3588", you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G2532" never|strong="G3756" enter|strong="G1525" God’s kingdom|strong="G0932".
4 The|strong="G3588" greatest|strong="G3173" person|strong="G3778" in|strong="G1722" God’s kingdom|strong="G0932" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G1438" who|strong="G3588" makes himself|strong="G1438" humble|strong="G5013" like|strong="G5613" this|strong="G3778" child|strong="G3813".
5 “Whoever|strong="G3739" accepts a|strong="G5108" little child|strong="G3813" like|strong="G5108" this|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1909" my|strong="G3739" name|strong="G3686" is|strong="G3739" accepting me|strong="G1473".
6 “If|strong="G0302" one|strong="G1520" of|strong="G1520" these|strong="G3778" little|strong="G3398" children believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1722" me|strong="G1473", and|strong="G2532" someone|strong="G1520" causes|strong="G4624" that|strong="G3739" child to|strong="G1519" sin|strong="G4624", it|strong="G0846" will|strong="G3739" be|strong="G2532" very|strong="G0846" bad for|strong="G1519" that|strong="G3739" person|strong="G1520". It|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0302" be|strong="G2532" better for|strong="G1519" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2532" a|strong="G3739" millstone|strong="G3458" tied around|strong="G4012" their|strong="G0846" neck|strong="G5137" and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" drowned|strong="G2670" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" deep sea|strong="G2281".
7 I|strong="G3739" feel sorry for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0444" in|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3739" that|strong="G3739" make people|strong="G0444" sin. These|strong="G3739" things|strong="G3739" must|strong="G1510" happen|strong="G1510", but|strong="G4133" it|strong="G1223" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" very bad for|strong="G1063" anyone|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" causes them|strong="G3739" to|strong="G2064" happen|strong="G1510".
8 “If|strong="G1487" your|strong="G2192" hand|strong="G5495" or|strong="G2228" your|strong="G2192" foot|strong="G4228" makes|strong="G4624" you|strong="G4771" sin|strong="G4624", cut|strong="G1581" it|strong="G0846" off|strong="G1581" and|strong="G2532" throw|strong="G0906" it|strong="G0846" away|strong="G4624". It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" better|strong="G2570" for|strong="G1519" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519" lose part|strong="G0846" of|strong="G0575" your|strong="G2192" body|strong="G1519" and|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" eternal|strong="G0166" life|strong="G2222" than|strong="G2228" to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2192" two|strong="G1417" hands|strong="G5495" and|strong="G2532" two|strong="G1417" feet|strong="G4228" and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" thrown|strong="G0906" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" fire|strong="G4442" that|strong="G0846" burns forever|strong="G1519".
9 If|strong="G1487" your|strong="G2192" eye|strong="G3788" makes|strong="G4624" you|strong="G4771" sin|strong="G4624", take|strong="G4624" it|strong="G0846" out|strong="G0575" and|strong="G2532" throw|strong="G0906" it|strong="G0846" away|strong="G4624". It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" better|strong="G2570" for|strong="G1519" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2192" only|strong="G1487" one|strong="G3588" eye|strong="G3788" and|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" eternal life|strong="G2222" than|strong="G2228" to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2192" two|strong="G1417" eyes|strong="G3788" and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" thrown|strong="G0906" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" fire|strong="G4442" of|strong="G0575" hell|strong="G1067".
10 “Be|strong="G3956" careful|strong="G0991". Don’t|strong="G3361" think|strong="G2706" these|strong="G3778" little|strong="G3398" children are|strong="G3956" not|strong="G3361" important. I|strong="G1473" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" that|strong="G3754" these|strong="G3778" children have|strong="G3748" angels|strong="G0032" in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772". And|strong="G3962" those|strong="G3588" angels|strong="G0032" are|strong="G3956" always|strong="G1223" with|strong="G1722" my|strong="G3708" Father|strong="G3962" in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772".
12 “If|strong="G1437" a|strong="G1096" man|strong="G0444" has|strong="G5101" 100 sheep|strong="G4263", but|strong="G2532" one|strong="G1520" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" sheep|strong="G4263" is|strong="G5101" lost, what|strong="G5101" will|strong="G5101" he|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1096"? He|strong="G2532" will|strong="G5101" leave|strong="G0863" the|strong="G3588" other|strong="G0846" 99 sheep|strong="G4263" on|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" hill|strong="G3735" and|strong="G2532" go|strong="G4198" look|strong="G1096" for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" lost sheep|strong="G4263". Right?
13 And|strong="G2532" if|strong="G1437" he|strong="G2532" finds|strong="G2147" the|strong="G3588" lost sheep, he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" happier about|strong="G1909" that|strong="G3754" one|strong="G3588" sheep than|strong="G2228" about|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" 99 sheep that|strong="G3754" were|strong="G1096" never|strong="G3361" lost. I|strong="G0281" can|strong="G3004" assure you|strong="G5210",
14 in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3779" way|strong="G3779" your|strong="G1722" Father|strong="G3962" in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772" does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" want|strong="G2307" any|strong="G3756" of|strong="G2307" these|strong="G3778" little|strong="G3398" children to|strong="G2443" be|strong="G1510" lost|strong="G0622".
15 “If|strong="G1437" your|strong="G1437" brother|strong="G0080" or|strong="G2532" sister in|strong="G1519" God’s|strong="G0846" family does|strong="G0191" something|strong="G0191" wrong|strong="G1651", go|strong="G5217" and|strong="G2532" tell them|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" did|strong="G0191" wrong|strong="G1651". Do|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" when|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G3588" alone|strong="G3441" with|strong="G2532" them|strong="G0846". If|strong="G1437" they|strong="G0846" listen|strong="G0191" to|strong="G1519" you|strong="G4771", then|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2532" helped them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" your|strong="G1437" brother|strong="G0080" or|strong="G2532" sister again|strong="G2532".
16 But|strong="G1161" if|strong="G1437" they|strong="G1161" refuse to|strong="G2443" listen|strong="G0191", go to|strong="G2443" them|strong="G0191" again|strong="G2089" and|strong="G1161" take|strong="G3880" one|strong="G1520" or|strong="G2228" two|strong="G1417" people|strong="G3956" with|strong="G3326" you|strong="G4771". Then|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1161" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2089" two|strong="G1417" or|strong="G2228" three|strong="G5140" people|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3956" will|strong="G3956" be|strong="G2089" able to|strong="G2443" tell all|strong="G3956" that|strong="G2443" happened.
17 If|strong="G1437" they|strong="G0846" refuse to|strong="G3004" listen|strong="G3878" to|strong="G3004" them|strong="G0846", tell|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" church|strong="G1577". And|strong="G2532" if|strong="G1437" they|strong="G0846" refuse to|strong="G3004" listen|strong="G3878" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" church|strong="G1577", treat them|strong="G0846" as|strong="G5618" you|strong="G4771" would|strong="G0846" treat someone who|strong="G3588" does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" know God|strong="G0846" or|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" tax|strong="G5057" collector|strong="G5057".
18 “I|strong="G0281" can|strong="G3004" assure you|strong="G5210" that|strong="G3004" when|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" speak|strong="G3004" judgment here|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093", it|strong="G1437" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" God’s judgment. And|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" promise forgiveness here|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093", it|strong="G1437" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" God’s forgiveness.
19 To|strong="G3004" say|strong="G3004" it|strong="G0846" another|strong="G3825" way|strong="G1722", if|strong="G1437" two|strong="G1417" of|strong="G1537" you|strong="G5210" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093" agree|strong="G4856" on|strong="G1909" anything|strong="G3956" you|strong="G5210" pray for|strong="G3754", my|strong="G3956" Father|strong="G3962" in|strong="G1722" heaven|strong="G3772" will|strong="G3739" do|strong="G1096" what|strong="G3739" you|strong="G5210" ask|strong="G0154".
20 Yes|strong="G1063", if two|strong="G1417" or|strong="G2228" three|strong="G5140" people|strong="G0846" are|strong="G1510" together|strong="G4863" believing in|strong="G1722" me, I|strong="G1722" am|strong="G1510" there|strong="G1563" with|strong="G1722" them|strong="G0846".”
21 Then|strong="G2532" Peter|strong="G4074" came|strong="G4334" to|strong="G1519" Jesus|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" asked|strong="G3004", “Lord|strong="G2962", when|strong="G2532" someone won’t stop doing wrong to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004", how|strong="G2193" many times|strong="G2034" must|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1473" forgive|strong="G0863" them|strong="G0846"? Seven|strong="G2034" times|strong="G2034"?”
22 Jesus|strong="G2424" answered|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G2193" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G4771", you|strong="G4771" must|strong="G0235" forgive them|strong="G0846" more|strong="G3756" than|strong="G3756" seven|strong="G2033" times|strong="G2034". You|strong="G4771" must|strong="G0235" continue to|strong="G3004" forgive them|strong="G0846" even|strong="G2193" if they|strong="G0846" do|strong="G3004" wrong to|strong="G3004" you|strong="G4771" seventy-seven times|strong="G2034".
23 “So|strong="G1223" God’s|strong="G0846" kingdom|strong="G0932" is|strong="G3778" like|strong="G3666" a|strong="G3739" king|strong="G0935" who|strong="G3739" decided to|strong="G2309" collect the|strong="G3588" money|strong="G0846" his|strong="G0846" servants|strong="G1401" owed him|strong="G0846".
24 The|strong="G1161" king began|strong="G0757" to|strong="G0757" collect his|strong="G0846" money|strong="G0846". One|strong="G1520" servant owed|strong="G3781" him|strong="G0846" several thousand|strong="G3463" pounds of|strong="G1520" silver.
25 He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" able|strong="G2192" to|strong="G2532" pay|strong="G0591" the|strong="G3956" money|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" master|strong="G2962", the|strong="G3956" king. So|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" master|strong="G2962" ordered|strong="G2753" that|strong="G3956" he|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" everything|strong="G3956" he|strong="G2532" owned|strong="G2192" be|strong="G2532" sold|strong="G4097", even|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" wife|strong="G1135" and|strong="G2532" children|strong="G5043". The|strong="G3956" money|strong="G0846" would|strong="G2962" be|strong="G2532" used to|strong="G2532" pay|strong="G0591" the|strong="G3956" king what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" servant owed.
26 “But|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" servant|strong="G1401" fell|strong="G4098" on|strong="G1909" his|strong="G0846" knees and|strong="G2532" begged, ‘Be|strong="G2532" patient|strong="G3114" with|strong="G1909" me|strong="G3004". I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3956" pay|strong="G0591" you|strong="G4771" everything|strong="G3956" I|strong="G1473" owe.’
27 The|strong="G3588" master|strong="G2962" felt|strong="G4697" sorry for|strong="G2532" him|strong="G0846". So|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" told the|strong="G3588" servant|strong="G1401" he|strong="G2532" did|strong="G0863" not|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" pay. He|strong="G2532" let|strong="G0863" him|strong="G0846" go|strong="G0630" free|strong="G0630".
28 “Later, that|strong="G3739" same|strong="G0846" servant|strong="G1401" found|strong="G2147" another|strong="G1520" servant|strong="G1401" who|strong="G3739" owed|strong="G3784" him|strong="G0846" a|strong="G2147" hundred|strong="G1540" silver coins. He|strong="G2532" grabbed him|strong="G0846" around the|strong="G3588" neck and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", ‘Pay|strong="G0591" me|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" money|strong="G0846" you|strong="G3739" owe|strong="G3784" me|strong="G3004"!’
29 “The|strong="G3588" other|strong="G0846" servant|strong="G4889" fell|strong="G4098" on|strong="G1909" his|strong="G0846" knees and|strong="G2532" begged|strong="G3870" him|strong="G0846", ‘Be|strong="G2532" patient|strong="G3114" with|strong="G1909" me|strong="G3004". I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2532" pay|strong="G0591" you|strong="G4771" everything I|strong="G1473" owe.’
30 “But|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" first servant refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G3784" patient. He|strong="G0846" told the|strong="G3588" judge that|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" other|strong="G1161" servant owed|strong="G3784" him|strong="G0846" money|strong="G0846", and|strong="G1161" that|strong="G0846" servant was|strong="G3588" put|strong="G0906" in|strong="G1519" jail until|strong="G2193" he|strong="G0846" could pay|strong="G0591" everything he|strong="G0846" owed|strong="G3784".
31 All|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" other|strong="G1438" servants|strong="G4889" saw|strong="G3708" what|strong="G3588" happened|strong="G1096". They|strong="G0846" felt very|strong="G0846" sorry for|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" man. So|strong="G3767" they|strong="G0846" went|strong="G2064" and|strong="G2532" told their|strong="G0846" master|strong="G2962" everything|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3708" happened|strong="G1096".
32 “Then|strong="G5119" the|strong="G3956" master|strong="G2962" called|strong="G3004" his|strong="G0846" servant|strong="G1401" in|strong="G3956" and|strong="G2962" said|strong="G3004", ‘You|strong="G4771" evil|strong="G4190" servant|strong="G1401". You|strong="G4771" begged|strong="G3870" me|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" forgive|strong="G0863" your|strong="G2962" debt|strong="G3782", and|strong="G2962" I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004" you|strong="G4771" did|strong="G0863" not|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" to|strong="G3004" pay anything|strong="G3956"!
33 So|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" should|strong="G1163" have|strong="G1653" given that|strong="G5613" other man who|strong="G3588" serves with|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G2532" mercy|strong="G1653" I|strong="G2532" gave you|strong="G4771".’
34 The|strong="G3956" master|strong="G2962" was|strong="G3739" very|strong="G0846" angry|strong="G3710", so|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" put|strong="G3860" the|strong="G3956" servant in|strong="G2532" jail to|strong="G2193" be|strong="G2532" punished. And|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3739" to|strong="G2193" stay in|strong="G2532" jail until|strong="G2193" he|strong="G2532" could pay|strong="G0591" everything|strong="G3956" he|strong="G2532" owed|strong="G3784".
35 “This|strong="G3779" king did|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" as|strong="G2532" my|strong="G4160" heavenly|strong="G3770" Father|strong="G3962" will|strong="G2532" do|strong="G4160" to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210". You|strong="G5210" must|strong="G1538" forgive|strong="G0863" your|strong="G1437" brother|strong="G0080" or|strong="G2532" sister with|strong="G0575" all|strong="G3588" your|strong="G1437" heart|strong="G2588", or|strong="G2532" my|strong="G4160" heavenly|strong="G3770" Father|strong="G3962" will|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3361" forgive|strong="G0863" you|strong="G5210".”