Sunday, September 5

15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.'

16He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'

17He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'

18Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.'

19This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'

20Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays You?'

21Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, 'But Lord, what about this man?'

22Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.'

23Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?'

24This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

25And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

2If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3My defense to those who examine me is this:

4Do we have no right to eat and drink?

5Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

7Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

9For it is written in the law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.' Is it oxen God is concerned about?

10Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?

12If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

23Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

24And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

25But 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.

26The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

27Then 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!'

29So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

30And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

31So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

32Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.

33Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'

34And 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.'