4
So the greatest in the Kingdom is who ever makes himself as humble as this child.
5
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me;
6
and whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the open sea!
7
Woe to the world because of snares! For there must be snares, but woe to the person who sets the snare!
8
"So if your hand or foot becomes a snare for you, cut it off and throw it away! Better that you should be maimed or crippled and obtain eternal life than keep both hands or both feet and be thrown into everlasting fire!
9
And if your eye is a snare for you, gouge it out and fling it away! Better that you should be oneeyed and obtain eternal life than keep both eyes and be thrown into the fire of Gei Hinnom.
10
See that you never despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually seeing the face of my Father in heaven.
11
Some manuscripts include verse 11: For the Son of Man came to save the lost.
12
"What's your opinion? What will somebody do who has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away? Won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go off to find the stray?
13
And if he happens to find it? Yes! I tell you he is happier over it than over the ninety-nine that never strayed!
14
Thus your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost.