Matthew 18 Now within that hour the disciples approached Jesus, as a group saying, "Who, consequently, exists being greater (= most important) within the heavens' reign (or: the kingdom of the atmospheres)?"

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now within that hour the disciples approached Jesus, [as a group] saying, "Who, consequently, exists being greater (= most important) within the heavens' reign (or: the kingdom of the atmospheres)?" ² Then, after calling a little child to Himself, He placed (set; stood) it [Greek is neuter: = a boy or a girl] within their midst, ³ and said, "Truly (or: Depend on it; Amen) I am now saying to you men, If you folks are not turned around [from going in this direction, or reverse your present trend of thinking] and may birth yourselves (or: become) like little children, you can (or: may; would) by no means enter into the heavens' reign (or: the kingdom of the atmospheres; or: heaven’s sovereignty). ⁴ "Therefore, whoever will be progressively bringing himself low in attitude, situation and condition, so as to be humble, insignificant and unimportant in his own eyes, like this young child – this person is the greatest (= most important) with the heaven's reign (or: the kingdom emanating from the atmospheres). ⁵ "And whoever would take in his arms and welcomingly receive one such little child – on [the basis and premises involved in] My Name (signifies: character, authority; identity) – proceeds to take Me in his arms and continues welcomingly receiving Me. ⁶ "Yet, whoever may be the bait on the stick which springs the trap and ensnares one of these little folks that are habitually trusting Me and placing their faith into Me, it continues bringing [situations; things] together to (or: for; in) him, to the end that a millstone – such as an ass may be used to turn – could (or: may; should) be hung around his neck, and then he could (or: may; should) be sunk down within the midst of the open sea! ⁷ "What tragedy [exists] in the System (controlling world of culture, religion, economics and government) [which comes] from bait-laden traps and snares. You see, it continues being a compulsory necessity for the traps with their bait and snares to come, nevertheless, [it is] a tragedy for (or: to; in) the person through whom the traps and snares continue coming [i.e., the person constantly setting the traps]. ⁸ "So if your hand or your foot keeps on snaring you through hitting the trap-stick or going for the bait, cut it off at once, and throw [it] away from you! Is it [more] ideal for you to enter into the Life [being] maimed or lame, or, continuing having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the fire that lasts for an indefinite period of time (or: the eonian fire; or: the fire that comes with the Age [of the Messiah])? ⁹ "Likewise if your eye keeps on snaring you through hitting the trap-stick or going for the bait, tear it out at once, and throw [it] away from you! Is it [more] ideal for you to enter into the Life [being] one-eyed, or, continuing having two eyes, to be thrown into the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna – the city dump where refuse is incinerated), which is characterized by and is a source of that fire? ¹⁰ "You men be constantly seeing [to it] (= be perceptive so as to take care) [that] you should not even once think down on (have a condescending attitude toward; think of low importance; despise; disdain; or: bring attitudes or ways of thinking down on) one of these little folks, for you see, I am now saying to you people that their agents within [the] heavens (or: messengers in [the] atmospheres) are throughout every situation continually observing the face (= expressed feeling and attitude) of the Father – the One within [the] heavens (or: in the midst of [the] atmospheres). ¹¹ [this verse omitted by the earlier MSS, Origen and Eusebius, but is found in D, L's margin, W, qc and TR: "You see, the Son of the Man comes to rescue and make whole (to save and deliver) the person having been destroyed and lost."] ¹² "What do you men normally think or suppose (or: How does [it] usually seem to you)? If it should come to be with any person [having] one hundred sheep, [that] even one of them should be led astray and caused to wander (thus: be deceived), will he not leave the ninety-nine sheep on the hill country (or: mountain) and, going from place to place, continue trying to find the one continuing in being led astray? ¹³ "And if he should happen to find it, certainly (amen; it is so; depend on it) – I am now telling you – he continues expressing joy upon it, rather than upon those ninety-nine that have not been being led astray and have not been caused to wander. ¹⁴ "In the same way it continues not being the will (the effect of the desire, intent or purpose) of My Father – the One within [the] heavens and within the midst of the atmospheres – that one of these little folks would destroy himself or should become lost. ¹⁵ "Now if your brother should make a mistake (or: = your fellow believer may fail to hit the target for which he is aiming; or: your group member should be erring or sinning) [later MSS add: unto you; (= do you wrong)], humbly go [to him and] test it (or: bring convincing proof about it, laying the matter bare) between you and him alone. If he can listen and should be hearing you, you made gain and profit for your brother. ¹⁶ "Yet should he not listen [to you], take still one or two [others] along with you, so that 'upon [the] mouth of two or three witnesses (folks providing evidence) every thing that is said (every gush-effect; each result of the flow [of conversation or outbreak]) can be established and made to stand.' [Deut. 19:15] ¹⁷ "Now if he should put his hearing aside from (= disregard and refuse to hear) them, speak to the called-out community. Yet, if he should also put his hearing aside from (or: disregard) the called-out community, let him continue being with you (or: among you folks), just as (in the same manner as) the person of the ethnic multitudes (or: nations; pagans) and the tax collector [continue with you]. [comment: consider the behavior of Jesus with "sinners" and tax collectors; recall that these get into the kingdom before the religious; consider the place of the ethnic multitudes in relation to the good news] ¹⁸ "It is true (or: Truly; or: Make it so; or: Now listen), I now say to you folks, Whatsoever things you can at some point bind or should tie upon the earth will continue being things having already been tied or bound within heaven (or: in [your] atmosphere). Also, as many things [as] you would loose or untie upon the earth will continue being things having already been loosed and untied within heaven (or: in [your] atmosphere). ¹⁹ "Again, truly, I continue saying to you men that, if ever two from your group can utter sounds together that are harmonious and in symphony (or: should voice together in agreement) upon the earth concerning every effect of what is practiced (or: every transaction of business; every result of the execution of operations or other matters) – regarding which they may be requesting – it will progressively come to be (be birthed into existence; happen) for them (in them; to them) at the side (or: from the side [= presence]) of My Father – the One within [the] heavens and in [the] atmospheres. ²⁰ "You see, where there are two or three people that have been led and gathered together into My Name, I am there (in that place) within the midst of and among them." ²¹ Then, approaching, Peter said to Him, "Master (or: Lord), how many times shall my brother be habitually wronging me (or: failing to do or perform unto me as he rightfully should; committing a sin [which penetrates] into me [like being hit with an arrow]), and I shall continue to let it pass away for him (or: forgive him)? Until seven times?" ²² Jesus is then saying to him, "I don't normally say 'Till seven times,' but rather, 'Until seventy times seven!' ²³ "Because of this [situation and reason], the heavens' reign (or: the kingdom of the heavens and the sovereignty emanating from the atmospheres) is likened to a man – a king – who willed and intended to settle [the] account [s] with his slaves. ²⁴ "Now at his beginning to proceed settling, one person was led toward him: a debtor [owing] ten thousand talents (probably = millions of dollars; [ten thousand was the highest number used in calculating; a talent was the largest denomination of currency, = sixty million denarii; therefore this was a staggering amount of debt – Jesus is obviously using hyperbole, as no slave could owe that much]). ²⁵ "So, at his not having [the means] to pay [it] back, the owner gave orders for him to be immediately sold, as well as the wife, the children and everything – as many things as he is presently having – and then for payment to be made. ²⁶ "Therefore, upon falling down, the slave was repeatedly doing obeisance to him, repeatedly saying, 'Be long-enduring in you strong emotions so as to be patient with me, and I will progressively pay back everything to you!' ²⁷ "So, being moved with compassion in the pit of his stomach, the owner of that slave released him and canceled the debt for him. ²⁸ "Yet, upon going out, that slave found one of his fellow slaves who was owing (or: who continued being indebted to) him one hundred denarii, and, grabbing him, he began to choke [him], saying, 'Pay back the debt, since you continue owing me something!' ²⁹ "Therefore, upon falling down, his fellow slave kept on calling upon him for help, even entreating and continuing to beg him, repeatedly saying, 'Be long-enduring in you strong emotions so as to be patient with me, and I will progressively pay [it] back to you!' ³⁰ "However, he continued being unwilling, and furthermore, upon going off, he had him thrown into prison (or: jail), until he could (or: should; would) pay back what was continuing to be owed. ³¹ "Then, upon seeing the things that were happening, his fellow slaves experienced tremendous pain and were filled with extreme grief, and so after coming, they made it thoroughly clear and gave a distinct picture to their owner about all the things that were happening. ³² "At that point, after calling him [i.e., the first slave] to himself, the owner proceeds saying to him, 'O worthless and wicked slave! I cancelled that entire debt for you, since you begged and entreated me. ³³ "'Was it not of necessity binding [on; for] you, also, to dispense mercy to your fellow slave, just as I myself also dispensed mercy to you?' ³⁴ "So, internally swelling with indignation and anger, his owner handed him over to 'the men who to test folks' (those who apply the touchstone to determine the grade and to show the quality of fine metals) until where [the occasion or situation develops that] he could (or: would) pay back all that continued being owed. ³⁵ "My heavenly Father (or: My Father, Who inhabits, and can be compared to, the atmosphere) will be progressively dealing with you folks in this same way (or: will continue doing to you men in like manner), too, if each person does not release and forgive his brother (and let things flow away for him), from your hearts."