10-11 Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you their angels are always with my Father in heaven.
12 Let me ask you this. What would you do if you had 100 sheep and one of them wandered off? Wouldn't you leave the 99 on the hillside and go look for the one that had wandered away?
13 I am sure that finding it would make you happier than having the 99 that never wandered off.
14 That's how it is with your Father in heaven. He doesn't want any of these little ones to be lost.
15 If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower.
16 But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses.
17 If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.