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October 18, 2026
See TodayProper 24
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 45:1–7 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
- Psalm
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Psalm 96:1–9 (10–13) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
- Epistle
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1 Thess. 1:1–10 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
- Gospel
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Matt. 22:15–22 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And 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. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
Proper 24
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
We Are Recreated in the Image of God by the Cross of Christ
Plotting against Jesus, the Pharisees attempted “to entangle him in his words” by asking about the payment of taxes to Caesar (Matt. 22:15). The Lord pointed to coins required for the tax, and He answered that we should “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). But if coins bearing the image of Caesar should be rendered to him, then man — who is made in the image of God — must be rendered to the Lord. That tax is paid for us by the Lord Jesus, the image of God in the flesh, by His self-offering on the cross. And from His cross, as the Lord’s anointed, He reigns as the true Caesar over all nations “from the rising of the sun and from the west” (Is. 45:6). The Lord once called and anointed Cyrus “to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings” (Is. 45:1). Now by the preaching of the Gospel, “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:5), foreigners from all over the world are “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9–10).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
- Gradual (seasonal)
- Psalm 91:11, 103:1 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for October 22, 2023 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
God of our salvation, You deliver Your Son’s work through Your Word in power and in the Holy Spirit. Strengthen the Church’s pastors to proclaim Your truth. Increase the faith of all who hear, that they may respond in love, steadfast in their hope. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all truth, from the rising of the sun to its setting, You make known Your salvation in Christ. Bless fathers and mothers as they teach their children Your Word and Your ways. Let them know that there is no God besides You and so rejoice in Your faithfulness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God our Father, You appointed Cyrus as Your instrument to return Your people to Jerusalem. Uphold the authorities of our nation in wisdom and integrity, that we might live in peace with a good conscience. Grant that they would make salutary use of the taxes we render, and lead us to recognize them as Your instruments, honoring them as You command. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our help comes from You, who made heaven and earth. You preserve our life. Have mercy on [_____________ and] all who are afflicted. Keep them from all evil and shade them from all harm. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, guard those who travel. Keep their going out and their coming in. Protect them from every trouble, prosper their journey according to Your will and make their homecomings joyful. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
True and living God, You have turned us from idols to serve You and live. As we await Your Son’s return in glory, grant that we would faithfully receive Him at this altar with repentance and joy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2022–2023 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for October 22, 2023 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For pastors, that by their proclamation, salvation may be delivered in power and in the Holy Spirit, and that faith and love would be increased in all who hear and hope would remain steadfast, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For fathers, mothers and their children, that the Lord who makes known His salvation from the rising of the sun to its setting may bless them in their stations and lead them to worship Him alone, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in authority, that as God’s instruments they may be upheld in wisdom and integrity, make salutary use of the taxes rendered to them, and be honored by all Christians for the sake of Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For [_____________ and] all who are afflicted, that the maker of heaven and earth would preserve their lives, keep them from all evil and shade them from all harm, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel, that God would keep their going out and their coming in, protecting them from every trouble, prospering their journey and making their homecomings joyful, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who gather at this altar, that the true and living God would give them penitent hearts to receive Christ’s body and blood as they await His return in glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, heavenly Father, for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2022–2023 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 940 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Proper 24 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 169 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 732 All Depends on Our Possesing
- Distribution LSB 851 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us
- Distribution LSB 782 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings
- Closing LSB 781 We Give Thee But Thine Own
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.