Readings for 2026-06-05 • Fast & Pray

St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 4:1-12

Context

Abraham's faith and justification have become central to Paul's argument about righteousness apart from the law. After establishing that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin and that God justifies people through faith in Jesus Christ, Paul has declared that this faith-based righteousness upholds rather than nullifies the law. Now he turns to Abraham, the patriarch revered by all Jews, to demonstrate that justification by faith is not a new concept but was exemplified in Israel's founding father. Paul examines the Genesis account where God credited righteousness to Abraham because of his faith, showing this occurred before Abraham received circumcision. This chronological detail becomes crucial for Paul's argument that righteousness comes through faith alone, not through works or the ceremonial law, and that Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe, whether circumcised or uncircumcised.

[1] What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? [2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [3] For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [4] Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. [5] But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, [6] just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: [7] “Blessedare those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” [9] Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. [10] How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. [11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, [12] and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

Matthew 9:27-34

Open source text

Context

As Jesus departs from the home where He raised Jairus's daughter from the dead, He continues His ministry of healing and teaching in the region of Galilee. The crowds have witnessed numerous miracles, including the healing of a woman with chronic bleeding and the restoration of life to the synagogue ruler's daughter. Jesus has been demonstrating His divine authority through both physical healings and spiritual deliverance, while the religious leaders grow increasingly skeptical of His works. The people are amazed at His power, but the Pharisees begin to attribute His miraculous abilities to demonic forces rather than acknowledging His divine nature. Two blind men follow Jesus, seeking His mercy and healing.

[27] When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” [28] And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” [29] Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” [30] And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” [31] But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. [32] As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. [33] And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” [34] But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”