February 1, 2026

Today's Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 11:4-17; 2 Timothy 4:1-18

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

There are situations and things in life that force us to confront issues of fairness. Group projects are a common, though often unwelcome, example of this. It seems like there is always one person who does not do his or her fair share of the work and somehow gets the same grades as all of those who do put in the work. In a fair, just world, this would not happen. Each of us would be justly, fairly given what we earned. The hard workers would get better grades than the lazy ones who do not contribute much. In everyday life, this certainly seems like a fair way to do things.

But this is exactly the opposite of what Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom of God. If we paid for our labor for God, what would we deserve? If we are being honest, we wouldn’t want what we deserve. After all, even our best works are still mixed in with our sinful condition. And while it is most certainly a great joy to do things that God wants us to do, we do not do them to get a greater reward from Him. Those who come into the Kingdom of God as little infants receive the same reward as those who come to faith in their last moments of life. And both receive the same wage: forgiveness of sins, salvation, and everlasting life through Jesus Christ the Savior.

This is unfair, but thanks be to God that it is! If we were given the just wage for our works, we would be given nothing except death and torment in Hell. But in Christ, we are not given what we deserve; we are given what He deserves. And, by faith, it is given to us. So we all, each of us, are given this great treasure of salvation, no matter how long or short our time as Christians is on this earth. And all of this, Jesus says, is not due to something in us or due to our efforts in the vineyard but is due solely because of our Father in heaven’s generosity. God wants you to have this great treasure and, because of Jesus, it is made available to all of us by His Word.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.