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Explore the readings, prayers, hymns and seasons that form Christian life week by week.
October 23, 2026
See TodayProper 24
· Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 45:1–7 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 96:1–9 (10–13) (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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1 Thess. 1:1–10 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 22:15–22 (read in NIV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial taxa to Caesar or not?”18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”21“Caesar’s,” they replied.Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.Select KJV to load this Scripture text.
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 NIV 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.