said: Does not your teacher pay the
half-shekel[17:24]? (25)He says, Yes. And when he came into the house,
Jesus anticipated him, saying: What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do
the kings of the earth take customs, or tribute? Of their sons, or of
strangers? (26)He says to him: Of strangers. Jesus said to him: Then
are the sons free. (27)But that we may not offend them, go to the sea
and cast a hook, and take the fish that first comes up; and opening
its mouth thou wilt find a shekel; that take, and give to them for me
and thee.

XVIII.

AT that time came the disciples to Jesus, saying: Who then is greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?

(2)And Jesus, calling a little child to him, placed it in the midst of
them, (3)and said: Verily I say to you, if ye do not turn and become
as the little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(4)Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5)And whoever shall receive
one such little child, in my name, receives me. (6)But whoever shall
cause one of these little ones that believe on me to offend, it were
better for him that an upper millstone were hanged about his neck, and
he were plunged in the depth of the sea.

(7)Woe to the world, for causes of offense! For it must needs be that
causes of offense come; but woe to that man, through whom the cause of
offense comes! (8)But if thy hand or thy foot causes thee to offend,
cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into
life lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into
the everlasting fire. (9)And if thine eye causes thee to offend, pluck
it out and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to enter into life
with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire.

(10)Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say
to you, that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my
Father who is in heaven. (11)For the Son of man came to save that
which was lost.

(12)What think ye? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them is
gone astray, does he not leave the ninety and nine upon the mountains,
and go and seek that which is gone astray? (13)And if it be that he
find it, verily I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the
ninety and nine that went not astray. (14)So it is not the will of
your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones perish.

(15)But if thy brother