Readings for 2026-07-24 • Fast & Pray

St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians 5:9-6:10

Context

Paul has been addressing serious moral issues in the Corinthian church, particularly a case of sexual immorality where a man is living with his father's wife. He has instructed the church to remove this unrepentant individual from their fellowship, expressing shock at their tolerance of such behavior. Paul emphasizes that the church must maintain moral purity and exercise discipline, comparing sin to leaven that spreads through dough. He explains that delivering such a person to Satan serves the purpose of destroying the flesh so the spirit may be saved. The apostle contrasts the church's responsibility to judge those within the community while leaving judgment of outsiders to God, urging them to purge the evil from among themselves.

[9] I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. [10] Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. [12] For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? [13] But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” [1] Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? [2] Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? [3] Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? [4] If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? [5] I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? [6] But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! [7] Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? [8] No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! [9] Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 18:23-35

Open source text

Context

A disciple asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times as a generous limit. Jesus responds that forgiveness should extend far beyond that measure, saying seventy-seven times, indicating limitless forgiveness. To illustrate this principle, Jesus introduces a parable about the kingdom of heaven. The parable will contrast a servant who receives extraordinary mercy from his master with that same servant's subsequent harsh treatment of a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller debt. Jesus is addressing his disciples.

[23] Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. [24] And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ [27] Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. [28] “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ [30] And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. [32] Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. [33] Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ [34] And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. [35] “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”