Who Is the Greatest?
1 yAt that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the zgreatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like achildren, you will never benter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever chumbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 d“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 ebut whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,1 fit would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Temptations to Sin
7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!2 For it is necessary that temptations come, but gwoe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 hAnd 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 crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell3 of fire.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 i“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven jtheir angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.4 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and kgo in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 lSo it is not the will of my5 Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
If Your Brother Sins Against You
15 m“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, nbetween you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have ogained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established pby the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, qlet him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, rwhatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed6 in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, sif two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, tthere am I among them.”
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as useven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but vseventy-seven times.7
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to wsettle accounts with his servants.8 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand xtalents.9 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be ysold, with his wife and zchildren and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant10 fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and aforgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,11 and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 bAnd should not you have had cmercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the djailers,12 until he should pay all his debt. 35 eSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
The Sermon on the Mount
1 eSeeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
The Beatitudes
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the fpoor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be gcomforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for hthey shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who ihunger and thirst for jrighteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the kmerciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the lpure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the mpeacemakers, for they shall be ncalled sons1 of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are opersecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 pRejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 q“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the rlight of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 sNor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that2 they may tsee your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to uabolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to vfulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, wnot an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes xone of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called yleast in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never zenter the kingdom of heaven.
