Weekly Lectionary Scripture
Each week we explore a scripture passage based on the lectionary.
- Exploring the Scripture In today’s passage, an unlikely coalition of Pharisees and Herodians try to force Jesus to answer a yes-or-no question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” (v. 17). No matter which response he chooses, Jesus…
- Exploring the Scripture Today’s passage is in the middle of the second part of Exodus (chapters 20–40) that describes the covenant between God and the Israelites. Christian and Jewish traditions credit Moses with writing the story of the exodus. The…
- Exploring the Scripture The Ten Commandments represent the conditions of the covenant. Often referred to as the Decalogue, they represent unconditional duties to God and the community. Few texts have played as large a role in the church or public as…
- Exploring the Scripture Each of the Lenten scripture readings challenges hearers to inspect their lives to identify changes they can make. Today’s scripture passage is about grumbling and negativity, traits that plague every generation. Two months…
- Translated from Spanish Exploring the Scripture God brought the Israelites out of Egypt after 430 years of slavery. God led them by the roundabout way of the wilderness and went before them always guiding them. Throughout the whole experience the…
- Exploring the Scripture Today’s passage in Matthew explains another teaching of Jesus on community relationships. In earlier verses (vv. 15–20) a specific process is outlined for use when one member of the community sins against another. Starting at…
- Exploring the Scripture Paul’s teachings in Romans 13-14 urges believers to live the gospel’s principles in practical, everyday life. Today’s passage focuses on two ideas: 1) the foundational commandment to love one another, which sums up the entire…
- Exploring the Scripture These 15 verses of Exodus confirm a basic understanding of the interrelation between the Israelites and God. God has compassion for their suffering. God journeys with them and calls leaders to release them from bondage and…
- Exploring the Scripture The Israelites, while living in Egypt, thrived. But today’s scripture passage begins with an announcement that a new king is taking the throne in Egypt. Pharaoh is threatened by the large Hebrew population and takes brutal…
- Exploring the Scripture Today’s text is the climax of the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Remind the congregation of the background of today’s text. Hatred led Joseph’s brothers to kidnap him and sell him as a slave. He was…