Matthew 18:15-35

15“If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.

16But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

17If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector.

18I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth shall have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth shall have [already] been loosed in heaven.

19“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”

21Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?”

22Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.

23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

24When he began the accounting, one who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him.

25But because he could not repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.

26So the slave fell on his knees and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

27And his master’s heart was moved with compassion and he released him and forgave him [canceling] the debt.

28But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29So his fellow slave fell on his knees and begged him earnestly, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’

30But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.

31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and they went and reported to their master [with clarity and in detail] everything that had taken place.

32Then his master called him and said to him, ‘You wicked and contemptible slave, I forgave all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me.

33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave [who owed you little by comparison], as I had mercy on you?’

34And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all that he owed.

35My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”