17. “And if he refuses to hear them, say it to the assembly. And if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you like a gentile and a tax collector.
18. “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be having been bound in heaven, and whatever you loosen on earth shall be having been loosened in heaven.
19. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning any matter that they ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in the heavens.
20. “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there I am in their midst.”
21. Then Kĕpha came to Him and said, “Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22. יהושע said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23. “Because of this the reign of the heavens is like a certain man, a sovereign who wished to settle accounts with his servants.
24. “And when he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents,
25. but as he was unable to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26. “Then the servant fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.’
27. “And the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28. “And that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pieces of money. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
29. “Then his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I shall pay you all.’
30. “But he would not, and went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31. “And when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were deeply grieved, and came and reported to their master all that had taken place.