Matthew 18:3-13

3 and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
6 "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!
8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.
10 "Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.
12 What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Gk [Gehenna]
  • [b]. Other ancient authorities add verse 11, [For the Son of Man came to save the lost]
  • [c]. Other ancient authorities add [For the Son of Man came to save the lost]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.