1Kort efter kom disciplene med et spørgsmål til Jesus: „Hvem er den største i Guds rige?”2Jesus kaldte da på et lille barn og stillede det midt i kredsen.3Så sagde han: „Det siger jeg jer: Hvis ikke I ændrer jeres måde at tænke på og bliver som små børn, kommer I slet ikke ind i Guds rige.4Den, der ydmyger sig og bliver som barnet her, er den største i Guds rige.5Og den, der accepterer et sådant lille barn, fordi det hører mig til, accepterer i virkeligheden mig.
Fristelser, som fører til fortabelse
6Men hvis nogen ødelægger troen hos en af de små, der har tillid til mig, var det bedre for det menneske, om det blev kastet i havet med en møllesten om halsen.7Ak, hvilken elendig verden, som får mennesker til at miste troen! Fristelser er ganske vist uundgåelige, men ve det menneske, der forårsager, at et andet menneske falder fra troen.8Hvis din hånd eller fod er skyld i, at du falder fra troen, så hug den af og kast den fra dig. Det er bedre for dig at gå ind til det evige liv uden din hånd eller fod end at kastes i den evige ild med arme og ben i behold.9Hvis dit øje er skyld i, at du falder fra troen, så riv det ud og kast det fra dig. Det er bedre at gå enøjet ind til det evige liv end at ende i Helvedes ild med begge øjne i behold.
Gud ønsker ikke, at nogen går fortabt
10Pas på, at I ikke ringeagter en af disse små, for det siger jeg jer: De har deres engle i Himlen, og de er altid i min Fars nærhed.*12Hvis en mand har 100 får, og et af dem kommer på afveje, lader han så ikke de 99 andre blive tilbage på græsgangen for at gå ud og lede efter det, der er forsvundet?13Og hvis han så finder det, vil han så ikke glæde sig mere over det ene får end over de 99 derhjemme, som ikke fór vild?14Sådan er det også med jeres himmelske Far. Han vil ikke, at en eneste af disse små skal gå fortabt.
Om irettesættelse, udelukkelse af menigheden og enhed i bøn
15Hvis din ven* forsynder sig imod dig,* så konfronter ham med det under fire øjne. Hvis han hører på dig og beder om tilgivelse, så har du fået din ven tilbage.16Hvis ikke, skal du tage en eller to andre med dig, for enhver sag skal afgøres på to eller tre vidners udsagn.17Hvis han stadig ikke vil høre på dig, skal du indbringe sagen for menighedens ledelse. Hvis han heller ikke vil høre på dem, bør du se på ham som en, der står uden for menigheden.18Det siger jeg jer: Det, I sætter en stopper for på jorden, er der sat en stopper for i Himlen, og det, I åbner op for på jorden, er der åbnet op for i Himlen.*19Jeg siger jer også, at hvad som helst to af jer her på jorden bliver enige om at bede om, det vil min Far i Himlen gøre for jer.20For hvor to eller tre har fundet sammen om min vilje, der er jeg midt iblandt dem.”
Om tilgivelsens nødvendighed
21„Herre, hvor mange gange skal jeg tilgive en, der forsynder sig imod mig?” spurgte Peter. „Er syv gange nok?”22„Nej,” svarede Jesus, „lad det være 77 gange!*23Med Guds rige er det nemlig som med en konge, der bad sine embedsmænd om at aflægge regnskab.24Den første skyldte ham et millionbeløb.*25Da han ikke kunne betale sin gæld, gav kongen ordre til, at alt hvad han ejede, skulle beslaglægges, og at han selv, hans kone og hans børn skulle sælges som slaver.26Manden faldt på knæ for kongen og bad: ‚Vær tålmodig med mig, så skal jeg nok betale det hele tilbage!’27Så fik kongen ondt af ham, eftergav ham al hans gæld og lod ham gå.28Udenfor stødte embedsmanden på en kollega, der skyldte ham et par tusinde.* ‚Betal, hvad du skylder mig!’ hvæsede han og greb ham i struben.29Kollegaen faldt på knæ for ham. ‚Vær tålmodig med mig,’ bønfaldt han, ‚så skal jeg nok betale!’30Men det ville han ikke høre tale om. Tværtimod fik han kollegaen arresteret og kastet i fængsel, hvor han skulle blive indtil hele gælden var betalt.31De andre kollegaer blev meget bedrøvede, da de så, hvad der foregik. De gik straks til kongen og aflagde rapport.32Kongen kaldte så embedsmanden ind igen. ‚Din ondskabsfulde slyngel,’ sagde kongen. ‚Her eftergav jeg dig hele din gæld—og det bare fordi du bad mig om det.33Burde du så ikke vise andre lidt medfølelse?’34Derefter gav den vrede konge ordre til sine fængselsbetjente om at sætte ham i fængsel, indtil gælden var betalt.35Sådan vil min himmelske Far også gøre med jer, hvis I ikke tilgiver hinanden af hele jeres hjerte,” sluttede Jesus.
King James Version
1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!8Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.9And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
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