Legacy Standard Bible

Matthew 18:15-36

If Your Brother Sins

15aNow if your brother sins1, go and 2show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that aby the mouth of two or three witnesses every 1fact may be confirmed. 17And if he refuses to listen to them, atell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, blet him be to you as the Gentile and the tax collector. 18Truly I say to you, awhatever you 1bind on earth 2shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you 3loose on earth 4shall have been loosed in heaven.
19Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, ait shall be done for them 1by My Father who is in heaven. 20For where two or three have gathered together in My name, aI am there in their midst.”

Forgiveness

21Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, ahow often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to bseven times?” 22Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to aseventy times seven.
23“For this reason athe kingdom of heaven 1may be compared to a king who wished to bsettle accounts with his slaves. 24When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand 1talents was brought to him. 25But since he 1,adid not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him bto be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. 26Therefore, the slave fell to the ground and awas prostrating himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27And feeling compassion, the lord of that slave released him and aforgave him the 1debt. 28But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred 1denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ 29So, his fellow slave fell to the ground and was pleading with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30But he was unwilling 1and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. 31So, when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. 32Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33aShould you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35aMy heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your hearts.”