The Greatest in the Kingdom (Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)
1 CPDV In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, “Whom do you consider to be greater 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 CPDV And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst. BSB BSB: Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
3 CPDV And he said: “Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like 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 CPDV Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven. BSB BSB: Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 CPDV And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts 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 CPDV But whoever will have led astray one of these little ones, who trust in me, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be submerged in the depths 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 CPDV Woe to a world that leads people astray! Although it is necessary for temptations to arise, nevertheless: Woe to that man through whom temptation arises! 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 CPDV So if your hand or your foot leads you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life disabled or lame, than to be sent into eternal fire having two hands or two feet. 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 CPDV And if your eye leads you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be sent into the fires of Hell having two eyes. 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 CPDV See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who 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 CPDV For the Son of man has come to save what had been lost. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
12 CPDV How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has 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 CPDV And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go 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 CPDV Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost. 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 CPDV But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained 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 CPDV But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 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 CPDV And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector. 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 CPDV Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also 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 CPDV Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who 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 CPDV For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.” 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 CPDV Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even 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 CPDV Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 CPDV Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to 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 CPDV And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. BSB BSB: As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 CPDV But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it. 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 CPDV But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’ BSB BSB: Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 CPDV Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt. BSB BSB: His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 CPDV But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what 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 CPDV And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’ BSB BSB: So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 CPDV But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt. BSB BSB: But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 CPDV Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported 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 CPDV Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me. BSB BSB: Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 CPDV Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?’ BSB BSB: Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 CPDV And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt. BSB BSB: In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 CPDV So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.” BSB BSB: That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”