And Jesus…being in the house…asked the disciples, "What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way?" But they held their peace: for…they had disputed…who should be the greatest. And Jesus sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the middle of them, and said, "Truly I say unto you, except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. But whoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

"Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! Therefore if your hand or your foot offend you, cut them off, and cast them from you: it is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into everlasting fire.

"And if your eye offend you, pluck it out, and throw it from you: it is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be thrown into hell fire.

"Take care that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

"How think you? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray? And if so be that he finds it, truly I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety-nine, which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

And John answered Jesus, saying, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name, and he followed not us: and we forbid him, because he followed not us."

But Jesus said, "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.

"For whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."

"Furthermore if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto you as a heathen man and a tax collector.

"Truly I say unto you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as concerning any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Then came Peter to Jesus, and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?"

Jesus said unto him, "I say not unto you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven."

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. …But since he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped the king, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe.’

"And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And the man would not: but went and threw him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

"So when the man’s fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

"Then his lord, after that he had called the man, said unto him, ‘O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you pleaded with me: Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?’ And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses."

Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. Jesus’ brothers therefore said unto him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see the works that you do. For there is no man that does anything in secret, but he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." For neither did Jesus’ brothers believe in him.

Then Jesus said unto them, "My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works of it are evil. Go…up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come." When he had said these words unto them, he remained still in Galilee.

REFERENCES

Mark 9:33-35; Matthew 18:2-14; Mark 9:38-41; Matthew 18:15-35; John 7:2-9.

CHAPTER 75