Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions
of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible sinners, and to look upon
such as refuse to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his
disciples the power of binding and loosing: and that he will be in the
midst of their assemblies. No forgiveness for them that will not
forgive.
18:1. At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who, thinkest
thou, is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?
18:2. And Jesus, calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst
of them.
18:3. And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become
as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
18:4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he
is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
18:5. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name,
receiveth me.
18:6. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe
in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about
his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Shall scandalize... That is, shall put a stumblingblock in their way,
and cause them to fall into sin.
18:7. Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that
scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal
cometh.
It must needs be, etc... Viz., considering the wickedness and corruption
of the world.
18:8. And if thy hand, or thy foot, scandalize thee, cut it off, and
cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame,
than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.
Scandalize thee... That is, cause thee to offend.
18:9. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
18:10. See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to
you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is
in heaven.
18:11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
18:12. What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them
should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains,
and goeth to seek that which is gone astray?
18:13. And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth
more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray.
18:14. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that
one of these little ones should perish.
18:15. But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him
between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy
brother.
18:16. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more:
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
18:17. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not
hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
18:18. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be
bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall
be loosed also in heaven.
18:19. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth,
concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them
by my Father who is in heaven.
18:20. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.
There am I in the midst of them... This is understood of such assemblies
only as are gathered in the name and authority of Christ; and in unity
of the church of Christ. St. Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae.
18:21. Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my
brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
18:22. Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till
seventy times seven times.
18:23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would
take an account of his servants.
18:24. And when he had begun to take the account, one as brought to him,
that owed him ten thousand talents.
Talents... A talent was seven hundred and fifty ounces of silver, which
at the rate of five shillings to the ounce is a hundred and eighty-seven
pounds ten shillings sterling.
18:25. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he
should be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and
payment to be made.
18:26. But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
18:27. And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go
and forgave him the debt.
18:28. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow-
servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, he
throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.
Pence... The Roman penny was the eighth part of an ounce, that is, about
sevenpence half-penny English.
18:29. And his fellow-servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have
patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
18:30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid
the debt.
18:31. Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much
grieved, and they came, and told their lord all that was done.
18:32. Then his lord called him: and said to him: Thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me:
18:33. Shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow
servant, even as I had compassion on thee?
18:34. And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he
paid all the debt.
18:35. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not
every one his brother from your hearts.