Lectionary 25, Year C
Proper 20 The Sunday between September 18 and September 24 Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, the year of Luke Green
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The Gospel: Luke 16:1–13
Jesus tells of a dishonest manager who reduces his master’s debtors’ bills before losing his job, and says no one can serve both God and money.
Luke 16:1-13
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
1 He also said to his disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a manager. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’ 5 Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 “His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light. 9 I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents. 10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
This parable, The Shrewd Manager, explained on Free Scripture
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Amos 8:4-7
Through Amos, the LORD condemns merchants who cheat with false scales and buy the poor for silver, swearing he will never forget their deeds.
Read it here
4 Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; 6 that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’ ” 7 The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob, “Surely I will never forget any of their works.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 113
A song of praise to the LORD, who is high above all yet stoops down to lift the poor and needy from the dust.
Read it here
1 Praise the LORD! Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the LORD’s name. 2 Blessed be the LORD’s name, from this time forward and forever more. 3 From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD’s name is to be praised. 4 The LORD is high above all nations, his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD, our God, who has his seat on high, 6 Who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth? 7 He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap, 8 that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD!
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Paul asks that prayers be offered for everyone, including rulers, because God wants all people to be saved and Christ gave himself for all.
Read it here
1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men: 2 for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times, 7 to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Some congregations follow the RCL’s other track this Sunday, which reads an Old Testament book straight through over several weeks: Jeremiah 8:18—9:1 and Psalm 79:1–9 in place of the first reading and psalm above.
A question to carry into the week
What is one thing Jesus says or does in this Gospel that you want to remember this week?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
Lectionary 25 (Proper 20) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year C · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.