---
title: "Matthew 18 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/matthew/18/
description: "Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of… Matthew 18 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Matthew 18

Matthew 18 is chapter 18 of 28 in the Gospel of Matthew. Here are all 35 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding and loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Matthew 18 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, “Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?”
2. And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst.
3. And he said: “Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
5. And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me.
6. But whoever will have led astray one of these little ones, who trust in me, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be submerged in the depths of the sea.
7. Woe to a world that leads people astray! Although it is necessary for temptations to arise, nevertheless: Woe to that man through whom temptation arises!
8. So if your hand or your foot leads you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life disabled or lame, than to be sent into eternal fire having two hands or two feet.
9. And if your eye leads you to sin, root it out and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, than to be sent into the fires of Hell having two eyes.
10. See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven.
11. For the Son of man has come to save what had been lost.
12. How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray?
13. And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.
14. Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost.
15. But if your brother has sinned against you, go and correct him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have regained your brother.
16. But if he will not listen you, invite with you one or two more, so that every word may stand by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
17. And if he will not listen to them, tell the Church. But if he will not listen to the Church, let him be to you like the pagan and the tax collector.
18. Amen I say to you, whatever you will have bound on earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and whatever you will have released on earth, shall be released also in heaven.
19. Again I say to you, that if two of those among you have agreed on earth, about anything whatsoever that they have requested, it shall be done for them by my Father, who is in heaven.
20. For wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in their midst.”
21. Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?”
22. Jesus said to him: “I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times.
23. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants.
24. And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
25. But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it.
26. But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’
27. Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt.
28. But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.’
29. And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.’
30. But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt.
31. Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done.
32. Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me.
33. Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?’
34. And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt.
35. So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.”

## Matthew 18 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. In illa hora accesserunt discipuli ad Jesum, dicentes: Quis, putas, major est in regno cælorum?
2. Et advocans Jesus parvulum, statuit eum in medio eorum,
3. et dixit: Amen dico vobis, nisi conversi fueritis, et efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum cælorum.
4. Quicumque ergo humiliaverit se sicut parvulus iste, hic est major in regno cælorum.
5. Et qui susceperit unum parvulum talem in nomine meo, me suscipit:
6. qui autem scandalizaverit unum de pusillis istis, qui in me credunt, expedit ei ut suspendatur mola asinaria in collo ejus, et demergatur in profundum maris.
7. Væ mundo a scandalis! Necesse est enim ut veniant scandala: verumtamen væ homini illi, per quem scandalum venit.
8. Si autem manus tua, vel pes tuus scandalizat te, abscide eum, et projice abs te: bonum tibi est ad vitam ingredi debilem, vel claudum, quam duas manus vel duos pedes habentem mitti in ignem æternum.
9. Et si oculus tuus scandalizat te, erue eum, et projice abs te: bonum tibi est cum uno oculo in vitam intrare, quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis.
10. Videte ne contemnatis unum ex his pusillis: dico enim vobis, quia angeli eorum in cælis semper vident faciem Patris mei, qui in cælis est.
11. Venit enim Filius hominis salvare quod perierat.
12. Quid vobis videtur? si fuerint alicui centum oves, et erravit una ex eis: nonne relinquit nonaginta novem in montibus, et vadit quærere eam quæ erravit?
13. Et si contigerit ut inveniat eam: amen dico vobis, quia gaudet super eam magis quam super nonaginta novem, quæ non erraverunt.
14. Sic non est voluntas ante Patrem vestrum, qui in cælis est, ut pereat unus de pusillis istis.
15. Si autem peccaverit in te frater tuus, vade, et corripe eum inter te, et ipsum solum: si te audierit, lucratus eris fratrem tuum.
16. Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhuc unum, vel duos, ut in ore duorum, vel trium testium stet omne verbum.
17. Quod si non audierit eos: dic ecclesiæ. Si autem ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus.
18. Amen dico vobis, quæcumque alligaveritis super terram, erunt ligata et in cælo: et quæcumque solveritis super terram, erunt soluta et in cælo.
19. Iterum dico vobis, quia si duo ex vobis consenserint super terram, de omni re quamcumque petierint, fiet illis a Patre meo, qui in cælis est.
20. Ubi enim sunt duo vel tres congregati in nomine meo, ibi sum in medio eorum.
21. Tunc accedens Petrus ad eum, dixit: Domine, quoties peccabit in me frater meus, et dimittam ei? usque septies?
22. Dicit illi Jesus: Non dico tibi usque septies: sed usque septuagies septies.
23. Ideo assimilatum est regnum cælorum homini regi, qui voluit rationem ponere cum servis suis.
24. Et cum cœpisset rationem ponere, oblatus est ei unus, qui debebat ei decem millia talenta.
25. Cum autem non haberet unde redderet, jussit eum dominus ejus venundari, et uxorem ejus, et filios, et omnia quæ habebat, et reddi.
26. Procidens autem servus ille, orabat eum, dicens: Patientiam habe in me, et omnia reddam tibi.
27. Misertus autem dominus servi illius, dimisit eum, et debitum dimisit ei.
28. Egressus autem servus ille invenit unum de conservis suis, qui debebat ei centum denarios: et tenens suffocavit eum, dicens: Redde quod debes.
29. Et procidens conservus ejus, rogabat eum, dicens: Patientiam habe in me, et omnia reddam tibi.
30. Ille autem noluit: sed abiit, et misit eum in carcerem donec redderet debitum.
31. Videntes autem conservi ejus quæ fiebant, contristati sunt valde: et venerunt, et narraverunt domino suo omnia quæ facta fuerant.
32. Tunc vocavit illum dominus suus: et ait illi: Serve nequam, omne debitum dimisi tibi quoniam rogasti me:
33. nonne ergo oportuit et te misereri conservi tui, sicut et ego tui misertus sum?
34. Et iratus dominus ejus tradidit eum tortoribus, quoadusque redderet universum debitum.
35. Sic et Pater meus cælestis faciet vobis, si non remiseritis unusquisque fratri suo de cordibus vestris.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 2785: Abba - "Father!" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 526: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2285: Respect for the Dignity of Persons ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 329: Heaven and Earth ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 336: Heaven and Earth ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 605: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2822: "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It is in Heaven" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2472: To Bear Witness to the Truth ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 553: The Mysteries of Christ's Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 1444: The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1088: Christ's Work in the Liturgy ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1373: The Sacramental Sacrifice Thanksgiving, Memorial, Presence ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 982: The Power of the Keys ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2227: The Duties of Family Members ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2845: "And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass AGAINST US" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2843: "And Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass AGAINST US" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## The saints

- “Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Letter to Céline, 1889, 1889 (On this theme: verse 3)
- “Wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” — St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 8, c. 107 (On this theme: verse 20)

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 6: That is, shall put a stumblingblock in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.
- Verse 7: Viz., considering the wickedness and corruption of the world.
- Verse 8: That is, cause thee to offend.
- Verse 20: This is understood of such assemblies only as are gathered in the name and authority of Christ; and in unity of the church of Christ. St. Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae.
- Verse 24: “Talents” … A talent was seven hundred and fifty ounces of silver, which at the rate of five shillings to the ounce is a hundred and eighty-seven pounds ten shillings sterling.
- Verse 28: The Roman penny was the eighth part of an ounce, that is, about sevenpence half-penny English.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Tue, Mar 2, 2027: Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent — Gospel, Matthew 18:21-35
- Wed, Aug 11, 2027 (computed): St. Clare, Virgin — Gospel, Matthew 18:15-20
- Thu, Aug 12, 2027 (computed): Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time — Gospel, Matthew 18:21—19:1
- Sat, Oct 2, 2027 (computed): Holy Guardian Angels — Gospel, Matthew 18:1-5, 10

5 more dates through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).