Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Joseph’s Kindness
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused him.”(A)
16 So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: 17 ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept(B) when their message came to him. 18 His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?(C) 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.(D) 21 Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.”(E) And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.[a]
Psalm 103
The Forgiving God
Of David.
1 My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.(A)
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.(B)
The Law of Liberty
14 Welcome(A) anyone who is weak in faith,(B) but don’t argue about disputed matters. 2 One person believes he may eat anything,(C) while one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 One who eats must not look down on one who does not eat,(D) and one who does not eat must not judge one who does,(E) because God has accepted him.(F) 4 Who are you to judge(G) another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able[a] to make him stand.
5 One person judges one day to be more important than another day.(H) Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.(I) 6 Whoever observes the day, observes it for the honor of the Lord.[b] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to God;(J) and whoever does not eat, it is for the Lord that he does not eat it, and he gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself.(K) 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.(L) 9 Christ died and returned to life(M) for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.(N) 10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.[c](O) 11 For it is written,
As I live, says the Lord,
every knee will bow to me,(P)
and every tongue will give praise to God.[d](Q)
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.(R)
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” (A)
22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.[a]
23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents[b] was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.(B)
26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[c](C) He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’
29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down[d] and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’(D) 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister[e] from your heart.”(E)
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