The Greatest in the Kingdom (Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)
1 AKJV At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? BSB BSB: At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 AKJV And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the middle of them, BSB BSB: Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
3 AKJV And said, Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. BSB BSB: “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 AKJV Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. BSB BSB: Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 AKJV And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me. BSB BSB: And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
Temptations and Trespasses (Mark 9:42–48; Luke 17:1–4)
6 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 AKJV Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! BSB BSB: Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8 AKJV Why 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 halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. BSB BSB: 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 crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
9 AKJV And if your eye offend you, 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 hell fire. BSB BSB: And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1–7)
10 AKJV Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. BSB BSB: See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
11 AKJV For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
12 AKJV How think you? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine, and goes into the mountains, and seeks that which is gone astray? BSB BSB: What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
13 AKJV And if so be that he find it, truly I say to you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. BSB BSB: And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 AKJV Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. BSB BSB: In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
A Brother Who Sins (Deuteronomy 19:15–21)
15 AKJV Moreover 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. BSB BSB: If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
16 AKJV 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. BSB BSB: But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 AKJV And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be to you as an heathen man and a publican. BSB BSB: If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 AKJV Truly I say to you, Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Ask in My Name (John 16:23–33)
19 AKJV Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. BSB BSB: Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
20 AKJV For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the middle of them. BSB BSB: For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
The Unforgiving Servant (Romans 12:14–21)
21 AKJV Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? BSB BSB: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 AKJV Jesus says to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 AKJV Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants. BSB BSB: Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 AKJV And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought to him, which owed him ten thousand talents. BSB BSB: As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 AKJV But for as much as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. BSB BSB: Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
26 AKJV The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. BSB BSB: Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 AKJV Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. BSB BSB: His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 AKJV But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that you owe. BSB BSB: But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
29 AKJV And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and sought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. BSB BSB: So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 AKJV And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. BSB BSB: But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 AKJV So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. BSB BSB: When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
32 AKJV Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: BSB BSB: Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 AKJV Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? BSB BSB: Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 AKJV And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him. BSB BSB: In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 AKJV So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. BSB BSB: That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”