He said to the
disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of
stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea,
rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Be careful. If your
brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven
times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, 'I repent,' you shall
forgive him." The apostles said to
the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would
tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it
would obey you. But who
is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will
say, when he comes in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down at
the table,' and will not
rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve
me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant
because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so you also, when you have
done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy
servants. We have done our duty.'"
