2
And calling a child [to himself], he had him stand in their midst
3
and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven!
4
Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven,
5
and whoever welcomes one child such as this in my name welcomes me.
6
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him that {a large millstone} be hung on his neck and he be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7
Woe to the world because of causes for stumbling, for [it is] a necessity [that] causes for stumbling come; nevertheless, woe to the person through whom the cause for stumbling comes.
8
And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw [it] from you! It is better for you to enter into life crippled or lame than, having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the eternal fire!
9
And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw [it] from you! It is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than, having two eyes, to be thrown into fiery hell!
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
10 "See to it that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven constantly see the face of my Father [who is] in heaven.
12
What do you think? If {a certain man has} a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go [and] look for the one that wandered away?