Matthew 17:22–18:14
Instruction About Jesus’ Death
22 rNow while they were 7staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly ssorrowful.
24 tWhen they had come to 8Capernaum, those who received the 9temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from ustrangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a 1piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
18 At athat time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then Jesus called a little bchild to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, cunless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 dTherefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 eWhoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
6 f“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of 1offenses! For goffenses must come, but hwoe to that man by whom the offense comes!
8 i“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into 2hell fire.
10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven jtheir angels always ksee the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 lFor 3the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 m“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the nwill of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.