Good afternoon. It's October the 4th, 2024. It's Friday afternoon. Mark's been reading through the book of Matthew. He's ready for the 18th chapter of Matthew. And this is where they had an argument over who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were kind of vying for their position. Jesus called the little child and said, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall humble himself, the same is the greatest. And whosoever receiveth one such a little child, receiveth me. Now he also says, whosoever offendeth one of these little ones, it be better that a millstone was hanged about his neck, which was down in the sea, That's kind of what I felt like they were asking me to do when they were asking me to put foster children with homosexuals. Anyway, I'm glad I didn't do it, even though I lost my job. And then he says if your hand, if you cut it off, if your foot, if you cut it off, if your eye, if you pluck it out, it would be better to go in with one eye and then to have two eyes to be cast in hell fire. I just went through eye surgery a couple days ago that has a whole new meaning to me. He says the son of man has come to seek and save that which is lost and then he gives the example of the ninety and nine and going out to get the one lost sheep. And he also gives the example of the person who was asked to pay his debt and the Lord forgave him and then he went out to get his debt paid and was unforgiving. So he was judged accordingly. So I'll turn this over to Mark and have him read this to you. Matthew chapter 18 at the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Jesus called a little child unto him and said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as a little child, the same as great as the king of heaven, whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, will see with me. Whoso shall offend one of the little ones, must believe in me that it were better for him with a millstone, or hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come. Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh. Or four, if thy hand, thy foot, offend thee, cut them off, cast them from thee, it is better for thee to enter into life, halt, or maim. Or having two hands, or two feet, to cast an everlasting fire. Thine eye, offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to cast in a fire. Take heed that ye spies not one of these little ones, for I say unto you that in heaven there are angels through all of you holding the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which is lost, How think ye that if a man have an hundred sheep and one of them be gone astray? If he not leave the ninety and nine and go up in the mountains and seek of that which is gone astray? So be that he find it very last thing that he rejoice more of that sheep that the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fall between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If ye should neglect to hear them telling it to the church, but if ye neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall buy on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything, they shall ask what shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how shall my brother sin against me? I forgive him until seven times. Jesus saith unto them, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Therefore, as the king of heaven liked unto a certain king, which would take account of his services, and when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents. Forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold his wife and children, all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have pace with me, I will pay thee all. The Lord of that circle's numerous compassion alluded to and forgave him the debt. The same circle went out and found one of his fellow servants owed him a hundred pence. He laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me, thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down on his feet and besought him, saying, Have peace with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, forgive me all that debt, because thou desirest me, shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I have pity on thee. The Lord was wroth, delivering him to his tormentors. till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you. Ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brethren or trespasses.