Gospel According to Matthew - Modern Literal Version

Gospel According to Matthew (MLV)

Matthew 18)

^18:1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greater in the kingdom of heaven?

^18:2 And Jesus having called to him a little child and stood him in the middle of them,^18:3 and said, Truly I say to you*, Unless you* turn and become as little children, you* will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.^18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.^18:5 And whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me:^18:6 But whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it is advantageous for him that a _<28>great millstone should be hanged on his neck and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.

^18:7 Woe to the world from where the offenses come ! For* it is necessary that the offenses come; but woe to that man through whom the offense comes!^18:8 And if your hand or your foot offends you, cut them off and cast it from you*: it is good for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.^18:9 And if your eye offends you, 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.^18:10 See that you* do not despise one of these little ones; for* I say to you*, that in heaven their angels are always beholding the face of my Father who is in heaven.^18:11 For* the Son of Man came to save what was lost.^18:12 What do you* think? If there is to any man a hundred sheep and one out of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety nine and go to the mountains and seek what has gone astray?^18:13 And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you*, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety nine which have not gone astray.^18:14 Even so it is not _<29>the will of your* Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

^18:15 And if your brother sin against you, go and reprove him, the sin is between you and him only: if he hear you, you have gained your brother.^18:16 But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.^18:17 And if he refuse to hear them, tell it to the congregation and if he refuse to hear the congregation also, let him be as the Gentile and the tax collector are to you*.^18:18 Truly I say to you*, whatever you* bind on earth will have already been bound in heaven; and whatever you* loose on earth will have already been loosed in heaven.^18:19 Again I say to you*, that if two of you* agree on earth concerning any matter whatever they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.^18:20 For* where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the middle of them.

^18:21 Then Peter having come to him, said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?

^18:22 Jesus says to him, I do not say to you, Until seven times; but, until seventy times seven.^18:23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is similar to a certain king, who wished to settle the account with his bondservants.^18:24 And when he had begun to settle the account, one was brought to him, a debtor of ten thousand talents.^18:25 But he did not have anything to repay him with, then his lord commanded him to be sold and his wife and children and all that he had and the money to be rendered to his lord.

^18:26 Then the bondservant falling down, worshiped him, saying, Lord, be patient with me and I will repay all of it to you*.^18:27 And the lord of that bondservant, being moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the loan.

^18:28 But that bondservant went out and found one of his fellow-bondservants, who owed him a hundred denarii and he laid hold on him and was strangling him, saying, Repay what you owe me.

^18:29 Then his fellow-bondservant falling down on his feet, besought him, saying, Be patient with me and I will repay you*.^18:30 And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should repay what was due.^18:31 And his fellow-bondservants having seen what things had happened, were extremely sorry. And having come to their lord, they told all the things which had happened.

^18:32 Then his lord called him and says to him, You evil bondservant, I forgave you all that debt, since you besought me:^18:33 Must you not also have had mercy on your fellow-bondservant, even as I had mercy on you?^18:34 And his lord being angry, delivered him to the tormentors, until he should repay all that was owed him.^18:35 So my heavenly Father will also do to you*, unless each one of you* forgives his brother from your* hearts their trespasses.

<28> 18:6- Greek: a millstone turned by a donkey

<29> 18:14- Greek: the will before your Father