Part 7

When they arrived at Capernaum, those who collected tribute money came to Peter and asked, Does your master pay tribute? Peter said, Yes.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus stopped him and said, What do you think, Simon? Should the kings of the earth take custom or tribute from their own children or from strangers? Peter replied, From strangers. Jesus said, So then, the children are free.

Then Jesus added, Nonetheless, so we do not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. In his mouth you will find a coin. Take that and give it to those who collect the tribute money for me and thee.

18 Later, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, I tell you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever receives a little child in my name receives me. But whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck and he drown in the deep of the sea.

Woe unto the world because of offences! It must needs be that offences come; but woe to the one by whom the offence comes! Therefore, if thy hand or foot offends thee, cut it off and cast it away. It is better to enter eternal life halt or maimed, than have two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offends thee, pluck it out and cast it away. It is better to enter into life with one eye, than have two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Be careful not to despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, in heaven, their angels always look upon the face of my Father.

The Son of man is here to save what was lost. Consider this. If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go into the mountains in search of the one gone astray? And, if he finds it, he rejoices more over that sheep than of the ninety-nine that did not stray. So, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

If your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take another with you, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he ignores them, tell it to the church. But if he ignores the church, let him be treated as a heathen and a publican.

Whatever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven. Whatever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. If two of you agree regarding a thing that you will ask, it shall be done by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Then Peter asked Him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times? Jesus replied, I say unto thee, not until seven times but until seventy times seven.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who took an account of his servants. When he began to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But since he was unable to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant fell down and worshipped him saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay it all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

This same servant left and met one of his fellowservants who owed him a small sum. He laid hands on him and took him by the throat saying, Pay me what thou owe. The fellowservant fell down at his feet and besought him saying, have patience with me and I will pay it all. But he would not. He cast him into prison until the debt was paid. When the rest of the servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and went to their lord and told him everything.

Then the servant's lord called him and said, O, thou wicked servant! I forgave thee all that debt because thou desired it of me. Should not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant as I had pity on thee? His lord was angry and delivered him to the tormentors until he paid all that was due. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you if ye do not forgive other's trespasses.

19 After this, Jesus left Galilee and went to the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan. Great multitudes followed Him and He healed many there. The Pharisees came to test Him. They asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?

Jesus answered, Have ye not read: He who made them at the beginning, male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife. The two shall be one? Therefore, they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.

They said, Why, then, did Moses allow a writing of divorcement? Jesus said, Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives. But, from the beginning, it was not so. I say to you, Whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. Whoever marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

His disciples said, If this is the case with man and wife, it is not good to marry. Jesus said, All men cannot accept this, only those to whom God gives it. There are some who were born eunuchs. There are some who were made that way by men. And there are some who do not marry for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray. When the disciples rebuked them Jesus said, Allow these little children and do not forbid them to come to me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus laid His hands on them, and then departed.

Behold, a young man came to Him and asked, Good Master, what must I do to gain eternal life? Jesus answered, If you will enter into life, keep the commandments. The young man asked, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The young man said, I have kept all these from my youth up. What do I yet lack? Jesus answered, If thou will be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor. Thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. But when the young man heard that answer, he went away filled with sorrow, because he had many possessions.

Then said Jesus to His disciples, Hardly a rich man shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. When His disciples heard this they were greatly amazed. They asked, Who, then, can be saved? Jesus beheld them and said, With men, it is impossible; but with God, all things are possible!

Peter asked, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee. What shall we have? Jesus said, Verily, at the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye who have followed me shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Everyone who has forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

20 The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. When he had agreed with the laborers for a coin a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Then, about the third hour he went out and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He said to them, Go ye also into my vineyard and whatever is right I will give you.

He went out again about the sixth and the ninth hour and did the same. About the eleventh hour he went out, found others standing idle, and said, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They answered, Because no man has hired us. He then replied, Go ye also into the vineyard and whatever is right you shall receive.

When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning from the last unto the first. When those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, every man received a coin. But when the first came, supposing they should receive more, they each also received a coin. When they received it, they murmured against the good man of the house and said, These last have worked only an hour and you have made them equal to those of us who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

He answered one of them and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong. Did thou not agree with me for a coin? Take what is thine and go thy way. I will give to the last the same as I give to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own coins? Must you see evil in my goodness? So, the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few are chosen.

Then Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and said, We are now going to Jerusalem where the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death. They will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, scourge, and crucify Him. And on the third day He will rise again.