The Greatest in the Kingdom
(Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)
1At that time the disciples came near to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
2And, having called a little child to Him, He placed it in the midst of them,
3and said, "Verily I say to you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, he is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5And whosoever receives one such little child in My name, receives Me.
Temptations and Trespasses
(Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1–4)
6But whosoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a large millstone be hanged about his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea.
7"Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity that the stumbling-blocks come; but woe to the man through whom the stumbling-block comes!
8"And, if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you; it is good for you to enter into life maimed or lame, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
9"And, if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you; it is good for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Hell of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
(Luke 15:1–7)
10"See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that their angels in Heaven do always behold the face of My Father Who is in Heaven.
11["For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost."]
12"What think ye? If a hundred sheep belong to a certain man, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety and nine on the mountains, and, going, seek the straying one?
13And, if it happen that he find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that have not gone astray.
14In like manner it is not the will of your Father Who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
A Brother Who Sins
15"And, if your brother sin against you, go show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hear you, you gained your brother;
16but, if he hear you not, take with you yet one or two, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three, every word may be established.
17And, if he disregard them, tell it to the assembly; and, if he disregard the assembly also, let him be to you as the gentile and the tax-collector.
18Verily, I say to you, whatsoever ye bind upon the earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatsoever ye loose on the earth shall have been loosed in Heaven.
Ask in My Name
(John 16:23–33)
19"Again, I say to you, that, if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any matter which ye ask, it shall be done for them by My Father Who is in Heaven;
20for where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them."
The Unforgiving Servant
(Romans 12:14–21)
21Then Peter, coming near, said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"
22Jesus saith to him, "I say not to you, 'till seven times,' but till seventy times seven.
23Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a king who wished to make a reckoning with his servants.
24And, when he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor of ten thousand talents;
25but, as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26The servant, falling down, therefore, was bowing to him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27And, moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.
28But, going forth, that servant found one of his fellow-servants, who was owing him a hundred denaries; and, having laid hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay, if you are owing anything!'
29His fellow-servant, falling down, therefore, was entreating him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you!
30And he would not; but, going away, he cast him into prison, till he should pay what was due.
31Therefore, his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were exceedingly grieved; and, going, they made known to their lord all that was done.
32"Then, calling him to him, his lord says to him, 'Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you besought me.
33Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had mercy on you?'
34And, being angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all the debt.
35So also will My Heavenly Father do to you, if ye forgive not, each one his brother, from your hearts."