Book of Common Prayer

¹⁴ God’s blessing on those who wash their clothes, so that they may have the right to eat from the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. ¹⁵ But the dogs, the sorcerers, the fornicators, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves to invent lies—they will all be outside.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am David’s root and offspring; I am the bright morning star.”

¹⁷ The spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let anyone who hears say, “Come!” Let the thirsty come; let anyone who wants the water of life take it freely.

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues that are written in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life, and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

²⁰ The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

The challenge of forgiveness

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus.

“Master,” he said, “how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?”

²² “I wouldn’t say seven times,” replied Jesus. “Why not—seventy times seven?

²³ “So, you see,” he went on, “the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle up accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he was beginning to sort it all out, one man was brought before him who owed ten thousand talents. ²⁵ He had no means of paying it back, so the master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and everything he possessed, and payment to be made.

²⁶ “So the servant fell down and prostrated himself before the master.

“ ‘Be patient with me,’ he said, ‘and I’ll pay you everything!’

²⁷ “The master was very sorry for the servant, and let him off. He forgave him the loan.

²⁸ “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred dinars. He seized him and began to throttle him. ‘Pay me back what you owe me!’ he said.

²⁹ “The colleague fell down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you!’

³⁰ “But he refused, and went and threw him into prison until he could pay the debt.

³¹ “So when his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were very upset. They went and informed their master about the whole affair. ³² Then his master summoned him.

“ ‘You’re a scoundrel of a servant!’ he said to him. ‘I let you off the whole debt, because you begged me to. ³³ Shouldn’t you have taken pity on your colleague, like I took pity on you?’

³⁴ “His master was angry, and handed him over to the torturers, until he had paid the whole debt. ³⁵ And that’s what my heavenly father will do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother or sister from your heart.”