Faith Daily Lectio Friday, October 30, 2026 Gospel
Friday, October 30, 2026 · Friday in the week of the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25)
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Lord Jesus, You call laborers into Your vineyard and pay them by grace. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read Matthew 20, that I may hear Your Word and rejoice in Your goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 20:1-16
1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
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:
“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15)
What other lines speak to you?
Jesus tells a parable of a householder who goes out early to hire labourers for his vineyard. He agrees with the first for a penny a day. He goes out again at the third, sixth and ninth hour, and even at the eleventh hour, and sends more into the vineyard. At evening he pays everyone, beginning with the last, and each one receives a penny. Those hired first grumble that the last have been made equal to them. The householder answers that he has done them no wrong, and that he may be generous with what is his own.
The Law The first labourers keep score: "they supposed that they should have received more" (v. 10), and "they murmured against the goodman of the house" (v. 11). We can do the same, measuring our years of faithfulness against others and resenting God's kindness to them. The householder asks a searching question: "Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" (v. 15). A grudging heart cannot rejoice in grace.
The Gospel The householder goes out again and again, even "about the eleventh hour" (v. 6), to find those no one else would take: "Because no man hath hired us" (v. 7). That is how Christ seeks us. Eternal life is not wages for hours worked. It is His gift, bought by His own labor on the cross. To the latecomers He says, "whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive" (v. 7), and what He gives is grace upon grace. "So the last shall be first" (v. 16), and you are welcome in His vineyard.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I confess that I have compared myself with others and grumbled at Your goodness. Forgive me. Give me a glad heart that rejoices whenever You show mercy, to others and to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
It can be hard to watch others receive what we worked long to gain, or to feel we have come too late to matter. Under trial it may help to remember the householder's word to the idle ones: "Go ye also into the vineyard" (v. 7). In Christ, no one is called too late, and no labor in Him is wasted.
Prayer Lord, when I feel passed over or come late, call me into Your vineyard. Keep my eye on Your goodness, not on my wages. 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.
