Matthew 18:2-12

2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before * them,
3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless * you are converted and 1become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "And whoever * receives one such child in My name receives Me;
6 but 2whoever * 3causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Stumbling Blocks

7 "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For 4it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
8 "5If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
9 "6If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the 7fiery hell.
10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that 8their angels in heaven continually * see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
11 [ "9For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

Ninety-nine Plus One

12 "What do you think? 10If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine * on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?

Cross References 10

  • 1. Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Peter 2:2
  • 2. Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2; 1 Corinthians 8:12
  • 3. Matthew 17:27
  • 4. Luke 17:1; 1 Corinthians 11:19; 1 Timothy 4:1
  • 5. Matthew 5:30; Mark 9:43
  • 6. Matthew 5:29; Mark 9:47
  • 7. Matthew 5:22
  • 8. Luke 1:19; Acts 12:15; Revelation 8:2
  • 9. Luke 19:10
  • 10. Matthew 18:12-14: {Luke 15:4-7}

Footnotes 8

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