The Story of the Lost Sheep
10 "See that you don't look down on one of these little ones. Here is what I tell you. Their angels in heaven can go at any time to see my Father who is in heaven.
12
"What do you think? Suppose a man owns 100 sheep and one of them wanders away. Won't he leave the 99 sheep on the hills? Won't he go and look for the one that wandered off?
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What I'm about to tell you is true. If he finds that sheep, he is happier about the one than about the 99 that didn't wander off.
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It is the same with your Father in heaven. He does not want any of these little ones to be lost.
When Someone Sins Against You
15 "If your brother sins against you, go to him. Tell him what he did wrong. Keep it between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won him back.
16
"But what if he won't listen to you? Then take one or two others with you. Scripture says, 'Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.'(Deuteronomy 19:15)
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But what if he also refuses to listen to the witnesses? Then tell it to the church. And what if he refuses to listen even to the church? Then don't treat him as your brother. Treat him as you would treat an ungodly person or a tax collector.
18
"What I'm about to tell you is true. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.
19
"Again, here is what I tell you. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you.
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Where two or three people meet together in my name, I am there with them."