World English Bible · Under Rome
Matthew 18
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In that hour came to , saying, "Who then is greatest in of ?" called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into of . Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in of . Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea. "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes! If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the . If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the of . See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in their always see the of who is in . 11For came to that which was lost. "What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your who is in that one of these little ones should . "If your brother against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the of two or three every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to . If he refuses to hear also, let him be to you as a or a . Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in , and whatever things you on earth will have been released in . Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by who is in . For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them." Then came and said to him, ", how often shall my brother against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?" said to him, "I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven. Therefore of is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand . But because he couldn't pay, his commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ', have with me, and I will you all!' of that servant, being , released him and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred , and he grabbed him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have with me, and I will you!' He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told their all that was done. Then his called him in and said to him, 'You servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His was angry, and him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him. So my will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your for his misdeeds."
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.