The Saints Gospel 82

The Lost Sheep and the Forgiven Debt

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“What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go seeking the one that strays? If he succeeds in finding it, truly I tell you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not strayed. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in the heavens that one of these little ones perish. If your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, so that every matter may be established upon the mouth of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to hear them, tell the Church. And if he refuses to hear even the Church, let him be to you like the Gentile and the tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind upon earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose upon earth will have been loosed in heaven.

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you agree upon earth concerning any matter they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in the heavens. For where two or three are gathered into My name, there I am in their midst.”

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of the heavens was likened to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began settling accounts, one debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he could not repay, the master ordered him to be sold, together with his wife, children, and everything he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell down and bowed before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ Moved with compassion, that slave’s master released him and forgave him the loan. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Repay whatever you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he repaid what was owed.

“When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were exceedingly grieved. They came and explained to their master everything that had happened. Then his master summoned him and said, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ His master became angry and handed him over to the torturers until he repaid everything owed. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts.”

← 81 The Least and the Greatest · The Saints Gospel: all scenes · 83 His Face Was Set Toward Jerusalem →

Saints Translation · The Saints Gospel · a harmony of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts 1 · words of Christ in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.