XVIII. Teaching on Forgiveness
69. The Sermon on Forgiveness
12“If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13And if he finds it, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14Even so, it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”15“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,a between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16But if he will not hear you, take one or two others along with you that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the congregation, and if he refuses to listen even to the congregation, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector. 18Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.b 19Where two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father in heaven.c 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
(Mt. 18:12–20) (continued)
a “tell him his fault”—Jesus' way is to speak with tact, tolerance, and patience.
b “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”—Whatever is decided upon and decreed by the brotherhood of believers on earth will be recognized in heaven.
c “Where two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it shall be done for them by my Father in heaven.”—(if it is not inconsistent with the Father's will).
Mt. 18:12 "If / "What do you think? If (RSV)
Mt. 18:13 it, he / it, truly, I say to you, he (RSV)
Mt. 18:14 Even so, (KJV) / So, (RSV)
Mt. 18:15 have won your (Wms) / have gained your (RSV)
Mt. 18:16 he will not hear you, take (KJV) / he does not listen, take (RSV)
Mt. 18:17 the congregation, and (Gspd) / the church; and (RSV)
Mt. 18:18 Whatever / Truly, I say to you, whatever (RSV)
Mt. 18:19 Where two / Again I say to you, if two (RSV) • it shall be (KJV) / it will be (RSV)
Mt. 18:20 there am I in (KJV) / there I am in (RSV) (159:1/1762–3)
