Occurring Scripture for the Hour of Matins
Week of the 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayLesson i
A reading from the Fourth Book of Kings
4 Kings 9:29-34In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Achab, Ochozias reigned over Juda, and Jehu came into Jezrahel. But Jezabel hearing of his coming in, painted her face with stibic stone, and adorned her head, and looked out of a window at Jehu coming in at the gate, and said: "Can there be peace for Zambri, who killed his master?" And Jehu lifted up his face to the window, and said: "Who is this?" And two or three eunuchs bowed down to him. And he said to them: "Throw her down headlong": and they threw her down, and the wall was sprinkled with her blood, and the hoofs of the horses trod upon her. And when he had come in, to eat, and to drink, he said: "Go, and see after that cursed woman, and bury her: because she is a king's daughter."
Lesson ii
4 Kings 9:35-37; 10:1-3And when they went to bury her, they found nothing but the skull, and the feet, and the extremities of her hands. And coming back they told him. And Jehu said: "It is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elias the Thesbite, saying: 'In the field of Jezrahel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezabel, and the flesh of Jezabel shall be as dung upon the face of the earth in the field of Jezrahel, so that they who pass by shall say: «Is this that same Jezabel?»'" And Achab had seventy sons in Samaria: so Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the chief men of the city, and to the ancients, and to them that brought up Achab's children, saying: "As soon as you receive these letters, you that have your master's sons, and chariots, and horses, and fenced cities, and armor, choose the best, and him that shall please you most of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for the house of your master."
Lesson iii
4 Kings 10:4-7But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: "Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?" Therefore the overseers of the house, and the rulers of the city, and the ancients, and the tutors sent to Jehu, saying: "We are your servants, whatsoever you command we will do, neither will we make us a king: do all that pleases you." And he wrote letters the second time to them, saying: If you will be mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and come to me in Jezrahel by tomorrow this time." Now the king's sons, being seventy men, were brought up with the chief men of the city. And when the letters came to them, they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezrahel.
Lesson iv
From the Sermons of Saint John Chrysostom
Sermon XXV on the Epistle to the Romans.Let us not dream that we are ourselves to be held less guilty, when we find that we have not been alone in sin. On the contrary, such fellowship adds to our punishment. The serpent was more heavily punished than Eve, and Eve than Adam, and Jezebel suffered more than Ahab, who took the vineyard of Naboth. She had planned the whole matter, and opened the way for her husband's crime. You also, who have caused another's perdition, shall suffer more grievously than they shall, whom you have ruined. Since, for a man to commit sin himself is less wicked than to lead others into sin.
Lesson v
If, therefore, we should see others sinning, let us not only not help them, but let us do what we are able to draw them out of the bottomless pit of destruction, lest we should suffer as accomplices in their trespass. Let our memory never forget that right-awful judgment-seat, the river of fire, the chains that can never be unlocked, the darkness that cannot be pierced, the sound of teeth gnashing, the deadly worm. But you say "God is good." Are then all these things just idle words? Is there no punishment for the rich man who gave no heed to Lazarus (cf. Luke 16: 20-26)? Does the bridegroom open the door of the marriage-chamber to the foolish virgins (cf. Matthew 25:1- 12)? Are those who have denied to Christ the necessaries of life, not to depart from Him into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (cf. Matthew 25:41-46)? The man that comes in to the marriage-supper, not wearing a wedding garment, shall he, or shall he not, be bound hand and foot, and taken away, and cast into outer darkness (cf. Matthew 22:13)? The servant that had no compassion on his fellow-servant, which owed him a hundred pence, shall he, or shall he not, be delivered to the tormentors (cf. Matthew 18:21-35)? It is said, concerning those who commit adultery, that their worm dieth not and their fire is not quenched (cf. Isaias 66:24; Mark 9:43 ff.). Is that not true?
Lesson vi
But perhaps these are only threats on God's part, you might be expected to say. So I ask you: How do you dare say such a thing out loud, and deliver this judgment from your own imagining? In truth, I can prove to you, from the things which God has done, that you are wrong. If you won't believe the things to come, at least believe for things past. Of them, at least, it cannot be said that they are nothing but threats and mere words, for they have happened, and actually been realized in fact. Who was He that brought in a great flood, until the whole land was standing water, and our whole race perished, save eight persons (cf. Genesis 6-8)? Who was He that "rained upon Sodom [and Gomorrha} brimstone and fire out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24)? Who was He which overthrew all the host of Egypt in the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 14:27)? Who was He which sent out a fire and consumed them that were of the faction of Abiram (cf. Numbers 16: 35)? Who was He which sent a pestilence upon Israel, because David had sinned, and, from the morning even to the time appointed, "there died of the people [from Dan to Bersabee] seventy thousand men" (2 Kings 24:15)? Was it not God, and none other, Which brought upon them all these things, and more also?
Lesson vii
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 18:9-14At that time: Jesus spoke this parable unto certain men who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: "Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: 'O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalts himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbles himself, shall be exalted.
An Homily of Saint Augustine, Bishop
Sermon XXXVI on the Word of the LordThe Pharisee might at least have said, "I am not as many men are." But what means "other men"? All other men except himself. "I," he said, "am righteous; others are sinners." "I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers," and then he took occasion, from the nearness of the publican, to plume himself "or even," said he, "as this publican." "I am alone," he thought, "that publican" is one of the others. My righteousness makes the gulf between me and the wicked, such as he is.
Lesson viii
" I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess." If we look in his prayer to find what he went to the Temple to pray to God for, we shall find nothing. He went up to pray, but his prayer was not a request of anything from God, but a glorification of himself. It was little enough not to pray to God, but he also glorified himself and despised his neighbor. But the publican stood afar off and yet drew nigh to God. Self-knowledge bade him keep at a distance, but his earnestness made him close. The publican stood afar off, but the Lord was at hand to hear him.
Lesson ix
"Though the Lord be high, yet He has respect unto the lowly" but the proud, such as was this Pharisee, "He knows afar off" (Psalm 137:6). He knows the proud, all the same, but they are far off from Him. Consider now the lowliness of the publican. It was not only that he stood afar off, but "he would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven." He looked carefully, lest he should look up, he dared not to lift up his eyes unto heaven. Self-knowledge kept him down, though hope raised him up. Consider again, how that he "struck his breast." He afflicted himself, and therefore the Lord had compassion upon his acknowledgment of guilt." He struck his breast, saying 'Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.'" Hearken here to a prayer and wonder that when the sinner remembers, God forgets.
Let us pray:
O God, who dost manifest Thy power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: increase Thy mercy towards us, that we, seeking the way of Thy promises, may be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasures. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lesson i
A reading from the fourth book of Kings
4 Kings 11:1-3And Athalia the mother of Ochozias seeing that her son was dead, arose, and slew all the royal seed. But Josaba the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ochozias, took Joas the son of Ochozias, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, out of the bedchamber with his nurse: and hid him from the face of Athalia, so that he was not slain. And he was with her six years hid in the house of the Lord. And Athalia reigned over the land.
Lesson ii
4 Kings 11:4-7And in the seventh year Joiada sent, and taking the centurions and the soldiers, brought them in to him into the temple of the Lord, and made a covenant with them: and taking an oath of them in the house of the Lord, showed them the king's son: And he commanded them, saying: "This is the thing that you must do: Let a third part of you go in on the Sabbath, and keep the watch of the king's house. And let a third part be at the gate of Sur: and let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the shield bearers: and you shall keep the watch of the house of Messa. But let two parts of you, all that go forth on the Sabbath, keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king."
Lesson iii
4 Kings 11:9-12And the centurions did according to all things that Joiada the priest had commanded them: and taking every one their men, that went in on the Sabbath, with them that went out on the Sabbath, came to Joiada the priest. And he gave them the spears, and the arms of king David, which were in the house of the Lord. And they stood having every one their weapons in their hands, from the right side of the temple, unto the left side of the altar, and of the temple, about the king. And he brought forth the king's son, and put the diadem upon him, and the testimony: and they made him king, and anointed him: and clapping their hands. they said, "God save the king."
Lesson i
A reading from the Fourth Book of Kings
4 Kings 12:1-3In the seventh year of Jehu Joas began to reign: and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. The name of his mother was Sebia of Bersabee. And Joas did that which was right before the Lord, all the days that Joiada the priest taught him. But yet he took not away the high places: for the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Lesson ii
4 Kings 12:4-5And Joas said to the priests: O All the money of the sanctified things, which is brought into the temple of the Lord by those that pass, which is offered for the price of a soul, and which of their own accord, and of their own free heart they bring into the temple of the Lord: Let the priests take it according to their order, and repair the house, wherever they shall see any thing that needs repairing.
Lesson iii
4 Kings 12:6-8Now till the three and twentieth year of king Joas, the priests did not make the repairs of the temple. And king Joas called Joiada the high priest and the priests, saying to them: "Why do you not repair the temple? Take you therefore money no more according to your order, but restore it for the repairing of the temple." And the priests were forbidden to take any more money of the people, and to make the repairs of the house
Lesson i
A reading from the fourth book of Kings
4 Kings 13:14-17Now Eliseus was sick of the illness whereof he died: and Joas king of Israel went down to him, and wept before him, and said: "O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the guide thereof." And Eliseus said to him: "Bring a bow and arrows." And when he had brought him a bow, and arrows, He said to the king of Israel: "Put thy hand upon the bow." And when he had put his hand, Eliseus put his hands over the king's hands, And said: Open the window to the east. And when he had opened it, Eliseus said: "Shoot an arrow." And he shot. And Eliseus said: "The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of the deliverance from Syria: and you shall strike the Syrians in Aphec, till you consume them."
Lesson ii
4 Kings 13:18-20And he said: "Take the arrows." And when he had taken them, he said to him: "Strike with an arrow upon the ground." And he struck three times and stood still. And the man of God was angry with him, and said: "If you had smitten five or six or seven times, you would have smitten Syria even to utter destruction: but now three times shall you smite it." And Eliseus died, and they buried him. And the rovers from Moab came into the land the same year.
Lesson iii
4 Kings 13:21; 13:24-25And some that were burying a man, saw the rovers, and cast the body into the sepulcher of Eliseus. And when it had touched the bones of Eliseus, the man came to life, and stood upon his feet. And Hazael king of Syria died, and Benadad his son reigned in his stead. Now Joas the son of Joachaz, took the cities out of the hand of Benadad, the son of Hazael, which he had taken out of the hand of Joachaz his father by war, three times did Joas beat him, and he restored the cities to Israel.
Lesson i
A reading from the Fourth Book of Kings
4 Kings 17: 6-9And in the ninth year of Osee, the king of the Assyrians took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria: and he placed them in Hala and Habor by the river of Gozan, in the cities of the Medes. For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and they worshipped strange gods. And they walked according to the way of the nations which the Lord had destroyed in the sight of the children of Israel and of the kings of Israel: because they had done in like manner. And the children of Israel offended the Lord their God with things that were not right: and built them high places in all their cities from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Lesson ii
4 Kings 17: 13-15The Lord testified to them in Israel and in Juda by the hand of all the prophets and seers, saying: "Return from your wicked ways, and keep my precepts, and ceremonies, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers: and as I have sent to you in the hand of my servants the prophets." And they hearkened not, but hardened their necks like to the neck of their fathers, who would not obey the Lord their God. And they rejected his ordinances and the covenant that he made with their fathers, and the testimonies which he testified against them: and they followed vanities, and acted vainly: and they followed the nations that were round about them, concerning which the Lord had commanded them that they should not do as they did.
Lesson iii
4 Kings 17: 18-21The Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from his sight, and there remained only the tribe of Juda. But neither did Juda itself keep the commandments of the Lord their God: but they walked in the errors of Israel, which they had wrought. And the Lord cast off all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, till he cast them away from his face: Even from that time, when Israel was rent from the house of David, and made Jeroboam son of Nabat their king: for Jeroboam separated Israel from the Lord, and made them commit a great sin.
Lesson i
A reading from the fourth book of Kings
4 Kings 17:21-23Jeroboam separated Israel from the Lord, and made them commit a great sin. And the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam, which he had done: and they departed not from them, till the Lord removed Israel from his face, as he had spoken in the hand of all his servants the prophets: and Israel was carried away out of their land to Assyria, unto this day.
Lesson ii
4 Kings 17:24-25And the king of the Assyrians brought people from Babylon, and from Cutha, and from Avah, and from Emath, and from Sepharvaim: and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. And when they began to dwell there, they feared not the Lord: and the Lord sent lions among them, which killed them.
Lesson iii
4 Kings 17:26-27And it was told the king of the Assyrians, and it was said: "The nations which thou hast removed, and made to dwell in the cities of Samaria, know not the ordinances of the God of the land: and the Lord hath sent lions among them: and behold they kill them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land." And the king of the Assyrians commanded, saying: "Carry thither one of the priests whom you brought from thence captive, and let him go, and dwell with them: and let him teach them the ordinances of the God of the land."
Lesson i
A reading from the Fourth Book of Kings
4 Kings 18:1-5 1In the third year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, reigned Ezechias the son of Achaz king of Juda. He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Abi the daughter of Zacharias. And he did that which was good before the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name "Nohestan," "a brazen thing," He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel:
Lesson ii
2 Kings 18:5-8So that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Juda, nor any of them that were before him: And he stuck to the Lord, and departed not from his steps, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. Wherefore the Lord also was with him, and in all things, to which he went forth, he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians, and served him not. He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza, and all their borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Lesson iii
2 Kings 18:9-12In the fourth year of king Ezechias, which was the seventh year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, Salmanasar king of the Assyrians came up to Samaria, and besieged it, And took it. For after three years, in the sixth year of Ezechias, that is, in the ninth year of Osee king of Israel, Samaria was taken: And the king of the Assyrians carried away Israel into Assyria, and placed them in Hale, and in Habor by the rivers of Gozan in the cities of the Medes: 12 Because they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant: all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, they would not hear nor do.
