9-10-17 - Friends Don't Let Friends Continue to Sign

Rev. Steve Ahlersmeyer


Matthew 18:1-20

 

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst
of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles
himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever
receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one
of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have
a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of
the sea. 7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that
temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!

8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two
feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin,
tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than
with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. 10 “See that you do not despise
one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the
face of my Father who is in heaven.

12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray,
does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that
went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over
the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 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, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained
your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every
charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to
listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be
to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done
for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I among them.”