Genesis 21:1-21 Psalm 36:1-6 Proverbs 22:16 Matthew 18:1-22 Holy Scripture Bible Reading

Genesis 21:1-21:
In this passage, Sarah gives birth to Isaac, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. Isaac grows and is weaned, and Abraham holds a great feast on the day of his weaning. Sarah becomes jealous of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, and insists that Abraham send them away. Reluctantly, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness with some provisions. When their water runs out, Hagar despairs, but God hears the cry of Ishmael and provides water for them. Ishmael grows up in the wilderness and becomes an archer.

Psalm 36:1-6:
In this portion of Psalm 36, the psalmist reflects on the wickedness of the ungodly and contrasts it with the goodness and faithfulness of God. They describe the wicked as having no fear of God and being full of deceit and arrogance. The psalmist acknowledges God's steadfast love and faithfulness, which extend to the heavens and His righteousness, which is like the mighty mountains. They affirm God's justice and love, declaring Him to be the source of life and light.

Proverbs 22:16:
This proverb highlights the dangers of oppressing the poor and exploiting the vulnerable. It suggests that those who take advantage of the poor to enrich themselves will ultimately suffer loss and face God's judgment. The proverb warns against exploiting others for personal gain and emphasizes the importance of treating all people with fairness and compassion.

Matthew 18:1-22:
In this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples about humility and forgiveness. When His disciples ask who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus calls a child to Himself and teaches them that whoever humbles themselves like a child will be the greatest. Jesus warns against causing others to stumble and speaks of the seriousness of sin, instructing His disciples to deal decisively with sin in the community. He then teaches about the importance of forgiveness, using a parable about a king who forgives a servant's debt but punishes him for refusing to forgive others. Jesus emphasizes the necessity of forgiving others from the heart.