FORGIVENESS.

“And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone:  if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.  And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church:  and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.  Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I, in the midst of them.”

Then came Peter and said to him, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?”

Jesus saith unto him, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not wherewith to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, ’Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings:  and he laid hold on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay what thou owest.’  So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.’  And he would not:  but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.  So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, ’Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:  shouldst not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?’ And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.  So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.”

THE SHEKEL FOR THE TEMPLE.

And they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said “Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?”

He saith, “Yea.”

And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, “What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?”