Faith Daily Lectio Tuesday, November 3, 2026 Gospel
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · Tuesday in the week of the Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 26)
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Lord Jesus, You are the King's Son, and the wedding feast is ready. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read Matthew 22, that I may hear Your invitation and come, clothed in Your righteousness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 22:1-22
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14For many are called, but few are chosen.
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
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:
“Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.” (Matthew 22:9)
What other lines speak to you?
Jesus tells a parable of a king who makes a marriage feast for his son. The invited guests make light of the invitation, and some even kill the king's servants. So the king sends his servants into the highways to gather everyone they find, both bad and good. One guest comes in without a wedding garment and is cast out. Then the Pharisees and the Herodians try to trap Jesus with a question about paying tribute to Caesar. He asks whose image is on the coin, and He tells them to render to Caesar and to God what belongs to each.
The Law The first guests "made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise" (v. 5). We can do the same when work and errands crowd out God's Word and His Supper. The man without the garment came on his own terms, and when the king questioned him, "he was speechless" (v. 12). Before the King, no excuse of ours will stand.
The Gospel Yet the King keeps on inviting. "Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready" (v. 4). The feast is ready because the Son has done everything. The servants gather "both bad and good" (v. 10), so there is room for sinners like us. The wedding garment is not something we sew for ourselves. It is Christ's own righteousness, put on you in Baptism. That garment is for you.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I confess that I have made light of Your invitation and gone my own way. Forgive me for Your sake. Clothe me in Your righteousness, and bring me to Your feast. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Some will try to entangle us in our talk, as the Pharisees tried with Jesus. Under trial it may help to remember how calmly He answered. Even His opponents had to admit that He "teachest the way of God in truth" (v. 16). You might bring your hard questions to Him and let His Word give the answer.
Prayer Lord, when I am tested or confused, give me Your wisdom and a quiet heart. Teach me to give others what I owe them, and to give myself wholly to 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.
