Matthew 18:1–11

Who Is the Greatest?

18At that time ^bcthe disciples ^dcame to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ^e

²Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. ³“^•I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted ^fand become like children, ^gyou will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ^h4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoever welcomes ⁱone child like this in My name welcomes Me.

⁶“But whoever ^•causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone ^jwere hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea! ^k7Woe to the world because of ^•offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes. ^l8If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, 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 be thrown into the eternal fire. ^m9And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into ^•hellfire! ^no

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹⁰“See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones, ^pbecause I tell you that in heaven their angels ^qcontinually view the face of My Father in heaven. ^r [¹¹For the ^•Son of Man ^shas come to save the lost.] ^t