2 Kings 9:1–13

9:1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild and told him, “Tuck your robes into your belt, take this container of olive oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room. 3Take the container of olive oil, pour it over his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord has said, “I have designated you as king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and run away quickly!”

4So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. 5When he arrived, the officers of the army were sitting there. So he said, “I have a message for you, O officer.” Jehu asked, “For which one of us?” He replied, “For you, O officer.” 6So Jehu got up and went inside. Then the prophet poured the olive oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord God of Israel has said, ‘I have designated you as king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7You will destroy the family of your master Ahab. I will get revenge against Jezebel for the shed blood of my servants the prophets and for the shed blood of all the Lord’s servants. 8Ahab’s entire family will die. I will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. 9I will make Ahab’s dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel; she will not be buried.’” Then he opened the door and ran away.

11When Jehu rejoined his master’s servants, they asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman visit you?” He replied, “Ah, it’s not important. You know what kind of man he is and the kinds of things he says.” 12But they said, “You’re lying! Tell us what he said.” So he told them what he had said. He also related how he had said, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘I have designated you as king over Israel.’” 13Each of them quickly took off his cloak, and they spread them out at Jehu’s feet on the steps. The trumpet was blown and they shouted, “Jehu is king!” (NET Bible)

Ps. 37:1–22

37:1 By David.

Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed.

Do not envy evildoers.

2For they will quickly dry up like grass,

and wither away like plants.

3Trust in the Lord and do what is right.

Settle in the land and maintain your integrity.

4Then you will take delight in the Lord,

and he will answer your prayers.

5Commit your future to the Lord.

Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

6He will vindicate you in broad daylight,

and publicly defend your just cause.

7Wait patiently for the Lord!

Wait confidently for him!

Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner,

a man who carries out wicked schemes.

8Do not be angry and frustrated.

Do not fret. That only leads to trouble.

9Wicked men will be wiped out,

but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.

10Evil men will soon disappear;

you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.

11But the oppressed will possess the land

and enjoy great prosperity.

12Evil men plot against the godly

and viciously attack them.

13The Lord laughs in disgust at them,

for he knows that their day is coming.

14Evil men draw their swords

and prepare their bows,

to bring down the oppressed and needy,

and to slaughter those who are godly.

15Their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

16The little bit that a godly man owns is better than

the wealth of many evil men,

17for evil men will lose their power,

but the Lord sustains the godly.

18The Lord watches over the innocent day by day,

and they possess a permanent inheritance.

19They will not be ashamed when hard times come;

when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

20But evil men will die;

the Lord’s enemies will be incinerated—

they will go up in smoke.

21Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt,

but the godly show compassion and are generous.

22Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land,

but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

Matt. 18:21–35

18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

23“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves. 24As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed 10,000 talents was brought to him. 25Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. 26Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ 27The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt. 28After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 29Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ 30But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. 32Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! 33Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’ 34And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”