Matthew 18:10-22

Worldwide English (New Testament)

¹⁰ `Do not think badly of these little children. I tell you this. They have angels in heaven. And all the time their angels can see the face of my father who is in heaven.

¹¹ `The Son of Man came to save anyone who is lost.

¹² What do you think about this? A man has a hundred sheep. One of them is lost. Will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hills and go to look for the one that is lost? Yes, he will.

¹³ I tell you the truth. When he finds it, he is more happy to see that one than the ninety-nine that were not lost.

¹⁴ In the same way, my Father in heaven does not want one of these little children to be lost.'

¹⁵ `If your brother does something wrong to you, go to him. Talk alone to him and tell him what he has done. If he listens to you, you have kept your brother as a friend.

¹⁶ But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others with you to talk to him. Then two or three people will hear every word and can prove what was said.

¹⁷ If he does not listen to them, tell the church. If he does not listen to the church, treat him as one who does not believe in God and as bad as a tax collector.'

¹⁸ `I tell you the truth. What you tie on earth will be tied in heaven. What you set free on earth will be set free in heaven.

¹⁹ I tell you another thing. If two of you on earth agree together to ask for something, my Father in heaven will do it for them.

²⁰ Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them.'

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked him, `Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he does wrong things to me? Should I forgive him seven times?'

²² Jesus answered him, `I say not seven times only, but seventy times seven.