Faith Daily Lectio Thursday, October 29, 2026 Gospel
Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Thursday in the week of the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25)
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Lord Jesus, You alone are good, and You give eternal life as a gift. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read Matthew 19, that I may hear Your Word, let go of what holds me, and follow You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 19:16-30
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
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:
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
What other lines speak to you?
A young man comes to Jesus and asks what good thing he must do to have eternal life. Jesus points him to the commandments, and the young man says he has kept them all. Then Jesus tells him to sell what he has, give to the poor, and follow Him. The young man goes away sorrowful, for he has great possessions. Jesus tells His disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom, and they ask who then can be saved. Peter asks what they will have, since they have left all. Jesus promises them a hundredfold and everlasting life.
The Law The young man asks, "what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" (v. 16). He thinks he is close: "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" (v. 20). Jesus shows him the one thing he loves more than God, and "he went away sorrowful" (v. 22). We are not so different. Each of us has something we hold tighter than God, and no amount of doing can earn heaven.
The Gospel The disciples ask the honest question, "Who then can be saved?" (v. 25). Jesus answers, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (v. 26). What we cannot do, God has done in Christ. Jesus, the only One who is truly good, gave up everything, even His life on the cross, so that you would have treasure in heaven. In Him you "shall inherit everlasting life" (v. 29), not as wages but as His gift.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I confess that I have loved my things and my own goodness more than You. Forgive me. Loosen my grip on what I hold, and keep me trusting You, for with You all things are possible. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
It can be painful when Christ asks us to let go of something we love, or when following Him costs us friends, comfort or money. Under trial it may help to hear His promise to those who have left much for His sake: they "shall receive an hundredfold" (v. 29). Nothing given up for Him is lost.
Prayer Lord Jesus, when following You costs me something, give me a willing heart. Remind me that I lose nothing in You. 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.
