Three-Year Lectionary
Study the appointed readings, prayers and resources for Series A, Series B and Series C through the Church Year.
February 8, 2026
See TodayEpiphany 5
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 58:3–9a (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
- Psalm
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Psalm 112:1–9 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
KJV Scripture text
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1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
- Epistle
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1 Cor. 2:1–12 (13–16) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
- Gospel
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Matt. 5:13–20 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Epiphany 5
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
The Righteousness of Christ
Jesus warns that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20), but He also calls His imperfect people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:13, 14). That’s because the Lord Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the prophets, “but to fulfill them” (Matt. 5:17) in perfect faith and love. Since He does and teaches all of God’s commandments, He is “called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). God manifests His “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2–4), and through the preaching of the Gospel He gives His “secret and hidden wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7). Christ gives this perfect righteousness to His people, and it leads them to true fasting, which is “to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free” (Is. 58:6) and “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house” (Is. 58:7).
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
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 February 8, 2026 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Give counsel and aid, O Lord, for Your people cry to You in weakness and in need. Bless and prosper Your Church according to Your purpose, that she may be salt and light, giving bold witness to the redemption You have provided in Jesus Christ and giving shape to Your love by showing compassion to all in need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless our Synod, her congregations and schools, her pastors, teachers, deaconesses, musicians and all her faithful servants. Bless all preparations for the coming convention this summer, especially those gathering nominations for elected office. Send laborers into Your harvest and sustain those whom You have sent, that they may be faithful and steadfast in their work. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O God, give Your blessing to our homes, to husbands and wives, to the children in their care, and to extended family. Guide us to serve each other in love. Make our homes places of blessing and peace where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness is shown and love is demonstrated in word and deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, according to Your wisdom You establish rulers of this age for a time. Remember Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all those You have placed in authority, that they might fulfill their duties with wisdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, give healing to the sick, relief to the suffering, comfort to the grieving and peace to the dying [especially _____________]. According to Your will, deliver them from their afflictions, sustain them in their struggles and give them patience in their adversities. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, in Christ Your righteousness goes before us and Your glory is our rearguard. Answer our pleas for mercy this day in the gift of Christ’s body and blood, and prepare all those who commune to receive Him worthily and joyfully. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, endow us with the mind of Christ by the work of Your Spirit, that we do not dismiss Your gifts as folly, but judge and discern all things according to Your wisdom. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things we pray, O Lord, in confidence of Your mercy. Supply us with all things needed and beneficial to us and to our faith, and keep from us all things harmful, that we may rest our fears in You and be granted a clear conscience and peace; through Jesus Christ, 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 2025–2026 (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 February 8, 2026 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For counsel and aid for those who cry to the Lord in weakness and in need, that the Lord would bless and prosper His Church so that she may be salt and light, giving bold witness to the redemption provided in Jesus Christ and giving shape to God’s love by showing compassion to all in need, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our Synod, her congregations and schools, her pastors, teachers, deaconesses, musicians and all her faithful servants, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Synod convention this summer and those who are making preparations, especially those gathering nominations for elected office, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our homes, husbands and wives, the children in their care and extended family, that the Lord would guide us to serve each other in love; and that our homes would become places of blessing and peace where God’s Word is spoken, forgiveness is shown and love is demonstrated in word and deed, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the rulers of this age whom God has placed in authority, that they may fulfill their duties in wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick, the suffering, the grieving and the dying, [especially _____________,] that they would receive healing, relief, comfort and peace according to the Lord’s will; and that they would be delivered from their afflictions, sustained in their struggles and be granted patience in their adversities, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who commune this day, that Christ, whose righteousness goes before us and whose glory is our rearguard, would visit His people at the altar with grace and salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the mind of Christ, that we would not dismiss His gifts as folly, but judge and discern all things according to His wisdom, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
All these things we pray, O Lord, in confidence of Your mercy. Supply us with all things needed and beneficial to us and to our faith, and keep from us all things harmful, that we may rest our fears in You and be granted a clear conscience and peace; through Jesus Christ, 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 2025–2026 (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 578 Thy Strong Word Did Cleave the Darkness
The LCMS Hymn of the Day list appoints this hymn as the Hymn of the Day for Epiphany 5 (Series A).
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day — Arranged by Church Year, p. 167 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 825 Rise, Shine, You People
- Distribution LSB 583 God Has Spoken by His Prophets
- Distribution LSB 873 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
- Closing LSB 832 Jesus Shall Reign
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.