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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 18 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Matthew 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/17.htm" title="Matthew 17">◄</a> Matthew 18 <a href="../matthew/19.htm" title="Matthew 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Who Is the Greatest?</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 9:33-37">Mark 9.33-37</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 9:46-48">Luke 9.46-48</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_18_1"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.1" class="v40_18_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> About this time the disciples came to Jesus and asked him who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. </span><span class="v40_18_2"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.2" class="v40_18_2">2</span>Jesus called for a child to come over and stand near him. </span><span class="v40_18_3"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.3" class="v40_18_3">3</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.3!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then he said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_3">I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. </span><span class="v40_18_4"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.4" class="v40_18_4">4</span>But if you are as humble as this child, you are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. </span><span class="v40_18_5"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.5" class="v40_18_5">5</span>And when you welcome one of these children because of me, you welcome me.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Temptations To Sin</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 9:42-48">Mark 9.42-48</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 17:1">Luke 17.1</ref>,<ref loc="LUK 17:2">2</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_6"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.6" class="v40_18_6">6</span>It will be terrible for people who cause even one of my little followers to sin. Those people would be better off thrown into the deepest part of the ocean with a heavy stone tied around their necks! </span><span class="v40_18_7"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.7" class="v40_18_7">7</span>The world is in for trouble because of the way it causes people to sin. There will always be something to cause people to sin, but anyone who does this will be in for trouble.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_8"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.8" class="v40_18_8">8</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.8!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If your hand or foot causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! You would be better off to go into life paralyzed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the fire that never goes out. </span><span class="v40_18_9"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.9" class="v40_18_9">9</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.9!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If your eye causes you to sin, poke it out and get rid of it. You would be better off to go into life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Lost Sheep</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 15:3-7">Luke 15.3-7</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_10"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.10-Matt.18.11" class="v40_18_10">10-11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.10-Matt.18.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you their angels are always with my Father in heaven.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.10-Matt.18.11!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v40_18_12"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.12" class="v40_18_12">12</span>Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had 100 sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn't you leave the 99 on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away? </span><span class="v40_18_13"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.13" class="v40_18_13">13</span>I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the 99 that never wandered off. </span><span class="v40_18_14"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.14" class="v40_18_14">14</span>That's how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost.</span></p><h3 class="s1">When Someone Sins</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 17:3">Luke 17.3</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_15"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.15" class="v40_18_15">15</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.15!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If one of my followers<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.15!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. </span><span class="v40_18_16"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.16" class="v40_18_16">16</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.16!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses. </span><span class="v40_18_17"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.17" class="v40_18_17">17</span>If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><h3 class="s1">Allowing and Not Allowing</h3><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_18"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.18" class="v40_18_18">18</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.18!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> I promise you God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth, but God will not allow anything you don't allow. </span><span class="v40_18_19"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.19" class="v40_18_19">19</span>I promise that when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you. </span><span class="v40_18_20"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.20" class="v40_18_20">20</span>Whenever two or three of you come together in my name,<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.20!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> I am there with you.</span></p><h3 class="s1">An Official Who Refused To Forgive</h3><p class="par"><span class="v40_18_21"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.21" class="v40_18_21">21</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.21!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.21!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_18_22"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.22" class="v40_18_22">22</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.22!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Jesus answered:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_22">Not just 7 times, but 77 times!<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.18.22!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v40_18_23"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.23" class="v40_18_23">23</span>This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_23">One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him. </span><span class="v40_18_24"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.24" class="v40_18_24">24</span>As he was doing this, one official was brought in who owed him 50,000,000 silver coins. </span><span class="v40_18_25"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.25" class="v40_18_25">25</span>But he didn't have any money to pay what he owed. The king ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all he owned, in order to pay the debt.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_26"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.26" class="v40_18_26">26</span>The official got down on his knees and began begging, “Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I owe!” </span><span class="v40_18_27"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.27" class="v40_18_27">27</span>The king felt sorry for him and let him go free. He even told the official that he did not have to pay back the money.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_28"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.28" class="v40_18_28">28</span>But as this official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, “Pay me what you owe!”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_29"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.29" class="v40_18_29">29</span>The man got down on his knees and began begging, “Have pity on me, and I will pay you back.” </span><span class="v40_18_30"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.30" class="v40_18_30">30</span>But the first official refused to have pity. Instead, he went and had the other official put in jail until he could pay what he owed.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_18_31"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.31" class="v40_18_31">31</span>When some other officials found out what had happened, they felt sorry for the man who had been put in jail. Then they told the king what had happened. </span><span class="v40_18_32"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.32" class="v40_18_32">32</span>The king called the first official back in and said, “You're an evil man! When you begged for mercy, I said you did not have to pay back a cent. </span><span class="v40_18_33"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.33" class="v40_18_33">33</span>Don't you think you should show pity to someone else, as I did to you?” </span><span class="v40_18_34"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.34" class="v40_18_34">34</span>The king was so angry that he ordered the official to be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed. </span><span class="v40_18_35"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.18.35" class="v40_18_35">35</span>That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don't forgive each of my followers with all your heart.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.10,11 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">in heaven: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Some manuscripts add, “The Son of Man came to save people who are lost.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.15 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">followers: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Greek text has “brother,” which is used here and elsewhere in this chapter to refer to a follower of Christ.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">tax collector: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 5.46.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">in my name: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “as my followers.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">someone: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “a follower.” See the note at 18.15.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">18.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">77 times: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “70 times 7.” The large number means that one follower should never stop forgiving another.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. 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