The Gospel of St. Matthew

Aquarian Gospel

Chapter 18

Chapter 131

(continued)

1: At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

8) Now Jesus heard the twelve dispute among themselves. The spirit of the carnal self was moving in their hearts, and they were questioning among themselves who was the greatest in the sight of God and man.

2: And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the midst of them,

9) And Jesus said,
You men, for shame! The greatest is the servant of the rest.
And then he called to him a little child; he took it in his arms and said.

3: And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

10) The greatest is the little child, and if you would be great at all you must become as is this child in innocence, in truth, in purity in life.

4: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

11) Great men scorn not the little things of earth; he who regards and honors such a child, regards and honors me, and he who scorns a child, scorns me.
12) If you would enter through the kingdom gate you must be humble as this little child.

5: And who shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.

13) Hear me, you men, This child, as every other child, has one to plead its cause before the throne of God.
14) You scorn it at your peril, men, for lo, I say, its counterpart beholds the face of God at every moment, every day.

6: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

15) And hear me once again, He who shall cause a little one to stumble and to fall is marked, accursed; and it were better far if he had drowned himself.

7: Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must  be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence come!

16) Behold, offences everywhere! Men find for occasions to sin and fall, and they grow strong by rising when they fall;
17) But woe to him who causes other men to stumble and to fall.

18) Be on your guard, you men of God, lest you constrain another man to fall; beware lest you fall into sinful ways yourselves. 

8: Wherefore if your  hand or foot offends you, cut them off, and cast them from you: it is better for you to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

19) Now, if your hands cause you to sin, you better cut them off; for it is better far to have no hands and not be guilty in the sight of God and men, than to be perfect in your form and lose your soul.
20) And if your feet should cause offence, you better cut them off; for it is better far to enter into life without your feet than fall beneath the curse.

9: And if your eye offends you, 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 hell fire.

21) And if your eyes, or ears, cause you to sin, you better lose them all than lose your soul.
22) Your thoughts and words and deeds will all be tried by fire.
23) Remember that you are the salt of earth; but if you lose the virtues of the salt, you are but refuse in the sight of God.
24) Retain the virtues of the salt of life and be at peace among yourselves.
 

10: Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

11: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

25) The world is full of men who have not in themselves the salt of life, and they are lost. I come to seek and save the lost. 

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 and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that one which is gone astray?

26) How think you? if a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, will he not leave the ninety and the nine,
27) And go out in the desert ways and mountain tops to seek the one that went astray?

13: And if he happens to find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices more with that sheep, than with the ninety and nine which did not go astray.

28) Yes, this you know; and if he finds the one that went astray, lo, he is glad, and he rejoices over it far more than over all the ninety and the nine that did not go astray.

14: Likewise, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

29) And so there is rejoicing in the courts of heaven when one of human birth who has gone forth into the ways of sin is found and brought back to the fold;

30) Yes, there is joy, more joy than over all the righteous men who never went astray.

15: Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he  listens to you, you have gained a brother.

16: But if he will not hear thee, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17: And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21: Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22: Jesus said to him, I say not to you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

23: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24: And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25: But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26: The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27: Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28: But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.

29: And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30: And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31: So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that was done.

32: Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, Oh you wicked servant, I forgave all that debt, because you desired me:

33: Shouldn't you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?

34: And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.

35: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also to you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother's trespasses