Matthew 18 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Who Is the Greatest?(A)

18 At (B)that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little (C)child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 (E)Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 (F)Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses(G)

6 (H)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of [a]offenses! For (I)offenses must come, but (J)woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 (K)“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [b]hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(L)

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven (M)their angels always (N)see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 (O)For[c] the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 (P)“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the (Q)will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

15 “Moreover (R)if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, (S)you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that (T)‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a (U)heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, (V)whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 (W)“Again[d] I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, (X)it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered (Y)together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? (Z)Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, (AA)up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded (AB)that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [e]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [f]all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you (AC)all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 (AD)“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [g]his trespasses.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 18:7 enticements to sin
  2. Matthew 18:9 Gr. Gehenna
  3. Matthew 18:11 NU omits v. 11.
  4. Matthew 18:19 NU, M Again, assuredly, I say
  5. Matthew 18:29 NU omits at his feet
  6. Matthew 18:29 NU, M omit all
  7. Matthew 18:35 NU omits his trespasses

Cross references

  1. Matthew 18:1 : Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48
  2. Matthew 18:1 : Mark 9:33–37; Luke 9:46–48; 22:24–27
  3. Matthew 18:2 : Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:14–17
  4. Matthew 18:3 : Ps. 131:2; Matt. 19:14; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:16; [1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2]
  5. Matthew 18:4 : [Matt. 20:27; 23:11]
  6. Matthew 18:5 : [Matt. 10:42]; Luke 9:48
  7. Matthew 18:6 : Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1, 2
  8. Matthew 18:6 : Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2; [1 Cor. 8:12]
  9. Matthew 18:7 : Luke 17:1; [1 Cor. 11:19]; 1 Tim. 4:1
  10. Matthew 18:7 : Matt. 26:24; 27:4, 5
  11. Matthew 18:8 : Matt. 5:29, 30; Mark 9:43, 45
  12. Matthew 18:10 : Luke 15:1–7
  13. Matthew 18:10 : [Ps. 34:7]; Zech. 13:7; [Heb. 1:14]
  14. Matthew 18:10 : Esth. 1:14; Luke 1:19; Acts 12:15; [Rev. 8:2]
  15. Matthew 18:11 : Luke 9:56; John 3:17
  16. Matthew 18:12 : Matt. 18:12–14; Luke 15:4–7
  17. Matthew 18:14 : [1 Tim. 2:4]
  18. Matthew 18:15 : Lev. 19:17; [Luke 17:3, 4; Gal. 6:1]; 2 Thess. 3:15; [James 5:19]
  19. Matthew 18:15 : [James 5:20]; 1 Pet. 3:1
  20. Matthew 18:16 : Deut. 17:6; 19:15; John 8:17; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28
  21. Matthew 18:17 : Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5:9; [2 Thess. 3:6, 14; 2 John 10]
  22. Matthew 18:18 : Matt. 16:19; [John 20:22, 23; 1 Cor. 5:4]
  23. Matthew 18:19 : [1 Cor. 1:10]
  24. Matthew 18:19 : [1 John 3:22; 5:14]
  25. Matthew 18:20 : Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:26
  26. Matthew 18:21 : Luke 17:4
  27. Matthew 18:22 : [Matt. 6:14; Mark 11:25]; Col. 3:13
  28. Matthew 18:25 : Ex. 21:2; Lev. 25:39; 2 Kin. 4:1; Neh. 5:5, 8
  29. Matthew 18:32 : Luke 7:41–43
  30. Matthew 18:35 : Prov. 21:13; Matt. 6:12; Mark 11:26; James 2:13

You Might Also Like:

Matthew 18 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

18 At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, `Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?' 2 And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reig...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

18 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, and said [saying], Who, guessest thou, is [the] greater in the kingdom of heavens? 2 And Jesus called a little child, and put him in the middle of them; [And Jesus, calling a little child, set him in the midst of them;] 3 and said, I say truth to you [a...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

18 The disciples came to Jesus at that time. They said, `Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' 2 Jesus called a child to him. He had the child stand in front of them. 3 He said, `I tell you the truth. If your hearts do not change and become like hearts of children, you will never go into th...
Read More

Matthew 18 - World English Bible (WEB)

18 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the ...
Read More

Matthew 18 - The Voice (VOICE)

18 Around that same time, the disciples came to Jesus and questioned Him about the kingdom of heaven.A Disciple: In the kingdom of heaven, who is the greatest? The disciples struggle with the concept of the kingdom of heaven. They do not yet understand that who is most important or most powerful is ...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Childlike Humility18 At that hour the disciples came to Yeshua, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Amen, I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you shall never enter the kingdom of he...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

True Greatness18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest 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 children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

True Greatness18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest 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 children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ...
Read More

Matthew 18 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

18 At the same time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 And Jesus called a little child to Him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the ...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Humility and Danger18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus.‘So, then,’ they said, ‘who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ 2 Jesus called a child and stood her in the middle of them. 3 ‘I’m telling you the truth,’ he said. ‘Unless you turn inside out and become like children, you will nev...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

True Greatness18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever become...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

True Greatness18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a child, whom he put among them, 3 and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(A)4 Whoever becomes...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He teaches his disciples to be humble and harmless, to avoid occasions of inducement to sin, and to forgive one another their offences. 18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 Jesus called a child to him, and set him in the midst of them,...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Greatest in the Kingdom18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, y...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New Life Version (NLV)

Jesus Teaches about the Faith of a Child (A)18 At that time the followers came to Jesus. They said, “Who is the greatest in the holy nation of heaven?” 2 Jesus took a little child and put him among them. 3 He said, “For sure, I tell you, unless you have a change of heart and become like a little c...
Read More

Matthew 18 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Who Is the Greatest?(A)18 At (B)that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little (C)child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless you are converted and become as little children...
Read More