Faith Daily Lectio Friday, October 16, 2026 Gospel
Friday, October 16, 2026 · Friday in the week of the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23)
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Heavenly Father, Your Son tells of good seed and tares, a grain of mustard seed, and leaven. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read these words, so that I hear Him with faith and trust the quiet work of His kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 13:24-43
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
34All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30)
What other lines speak to you?
The kingdom starts small: a grain of mustard seed, a little leaven hid in three measures of meal (vv. 31-33). God works through humble means: His Word, water, bread and wine. It does not look like much. In time it fills the whole.
The Law The enemy sows tares "while men slept" (v. 25). At the end the angels gather "all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" (v. 41). The tares are not only out there in the world. Sin grows in my own heart too.
The Gospel "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man" (v. 37). Jesus plants you in His field by Baptism and His Word. He guards the wheat (v. 29). Clothed in His righteousness, you are among those of whom He says, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (v. 43).
Prayer Lord God, I confess that tares of sin grow in me, and that I am quick to judge others in Your field. Forgive me for Jesus' sake. Thank You for the Son of man, who sowed me as good seed and will gather me into Your barn. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
The servants are troubled: "Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?" (v. 27) We ask the same when we see evil in the world, and even in the church. Jesus answers, "An enemy hath done this" (v. 28). The harvest is His. Under trial we wait and trust, and we learn that His Word is true: the wheat will be gathered into His barn (v. 30).
Prayer Lord of the harvest, when evil seems to grow unchecked and I cannot understand Your patience, keep me from despair and from rash judgment. Hold me in true faith, and gather me with all Your saints into Your barn. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
