0710518 Disciples argue about greatness– Matthew 18:1-35 Mark 9:33-50, Luke 9:46-50, A.D. 28 Capernaum
And there arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest. And they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?” But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” But when Jesus perceived the reasoning in their hearts, he sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
And he called and took a little child to himself and set him in the midst of them by his side. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Most certainly I say to you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, does not receive me, but receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
John answered and said to him, “Master, Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side and he who is not against us is for us. For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ’s, most certainly I say to you, he will in no way lose his reward. But whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, he was thrown into the sea, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.”
“Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed rather than having two hands to go into hell and be cast into the eternal unquenchable fire, ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame and crippled rather than having your two feet to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it out from you. It is better for you to enter into life and into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire, ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’
For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost.”
“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? And if he finds it, most certainly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
“And if your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take with you one or two more, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to listen to them, say it to the church. And if he refuses to hear the church also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. Most certainly I say to you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Again, I say to you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” And Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But because he could not pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ The lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’”
“So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ And he would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him in, and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Should not you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you do not each forgive your brother from your hearts.”
