Matthew 18:1-35
The Fourth Discourse
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus 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 becomes
humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever
welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
6 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it
would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your
neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world
because of things that cause sin! Such things are bound to come, but
woe to the one through whom they come!
8 “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 maimed or lame than to have two hands or
two feet and 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 to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.
10 “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you,
in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.
12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of
them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the
mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds
it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that
never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one
of these little ones should be lost.