The Greatest in the Kingdom (Mark 9:33–41; Luke 9:46–50)
1 WBS 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 WBS And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them, BSB BSB: Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
3 WBS And said, Verily I say to you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye 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 WBS 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 WBS And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth 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 WBS But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me, to sin, 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 WBS Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! 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 WBS Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to sin, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee 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 WBS And if thy eye causeth thee to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee 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 WBS Take heed that ye 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 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 WBS For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
12 WBS How think ye? if a man hath a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go to the mountains, and seek 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 WBS And if he findeth it, verily I say to you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep , than over 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 WBS Even so it is not the will of your Father who 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 WBS Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy 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 WBS But if he will not hear thee , then take with thee 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 WBS And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he shall neglect to hear the church, let him be to thee as a heathen 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 WBS Verily I say to you, Whatever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatever ye 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 WBS Again I say to you, That if two of you shall agree on earth, concerning any thing that they shall ask, 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 WBS For where two or three are assembled in my name, there am I in the midst 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 WBS Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often 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 WBS Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 WBS Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king who 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 WBS And when he had begun to reckon, 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 WBS But as he had not ability 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 WBS The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee 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 WBS 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 WBS But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest. 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 WBS And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. BSB BSB: So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 WBS 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 WBS 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 WBS Then his lord, having called him, said to him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: BSB BSB: Then the master summoned him and said, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 WBS Shouldst thou not also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? BSB BSB: Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 WBS 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 WBS So likewise shall my heavenly Father do to you, if ye 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.”