Pr. DFD

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Thursday prior to Epiphany 5

1 Corinthians2:1-12—The Christian life results from a gospel of power. Paul decided to know nothing except Christ. Is that smart? Paul knew more than most. He knew how to make a living by making tents; the Bible thoroughly, for he was a student of the great Gamaliel; the philosophies of the day, for he was a university student. When it came to making a living, we need to know much. When it comes to making a life, knowledge and wisdom are useless. It is enough to know Christ, for He is the truth about God and life.

Weakness can be strength. This was the case with Paul He felt that his ability to speak an oratorical in great wisdom, as was the custom of his day, was inferior.

With fear and trembling, he perhaps stuttered and stammered the words of the gospel. In spite of his halting speech, people came to accept Christ as Savior. What did this prove? The Word of the cross is the power to win people to Christ.

Paul shows how the foolishness of the cross is at once the content and method of his approach to the Corinthians. One commentator remarks, “Paul himself, the apostle of the crucified and risen Christ becomes the proclamation of the cross, for his congregation, in that in his life of suffering there congregations encounter him as the primary living commentary on his theology of the cross. “

Paul came to Corinth clothed in weakness (see 2 Corinthians 10:10; 12:7-10) yet, it was in that weakness that the power of God was made manifest so that faith might rest secure in the power of God rather than in the “wisdom of men.” (2:15)

Collects for Epiphany 5: O Lord, keep Your Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may be ever defended by Your mighty power.[2]

Collect for Thursday of the week of Epiphany 4: Thou hast called us into thy presence, O God. Be Thou therefore light for our darkness; and strength for every high purpose wherein we are weak. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen [3]

[1] Luther’s Seal, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Wednesday prior to Epiphany 5

[1]

Isaiah 58:3-9a— A More Excellent Way of Life – The godly life expresses itself in service

A proper fast will bring God’s presence and blessing.

The godly life is expressed in service. Among most Christians today, fasting is scarcely practiced. If Isaiah were living today, he probably would not have used it. Though fasting is not generally practiced, the principle still applies. Religiosity in terms of cultic practices, without practical helpfulness to the neighbor, does not bring God’s blessings. When we put our religious devotions into sharing with the less fortunate, we open ourselves to God’s presence and blessings.

Fasting today seems secondary and scarcely practiced. If Isaiah were living today, he probably would not have used it? Or would he? The principles still applies though fasting is not generally practiced. Religiosity in terms of cultic practices, without practical helpfulness to the neighbor, does not bring God’s blessings. When we put our religious devotion into sharing with the less fortunate, we open ourselves to God’s presence and blessing.

In verse 9a, God promises to be at the beck and call of those mired in the troubles of sin. Surely, there is no greater comfort for a person convicted of his sins by the Law than the promise of God to send at the ready with His outstretched hand, His mighty arm and the offer of His righteousness in Christ.

These verses offer comfort once more to a post-Christian world that has largely returned to its old sinful self by this stage in the Epiphany season. Once more, it is clearly manifest that man cannot save himself not ever by feigned righteousness.

A Collect for the Epiphany Season: Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory.[2]

Collect for Wednesday of the week of Epiphany 4: O God, Thou that will not flatter us who love flattery, and dost offer us toil who love ease, open our eyes that we may see what Thou wouldst have us see in all the world about us, and our ears that we may hear what word Thou wouldst speak in him who is that Word, even Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen [3]

[1] Luther’s Seal, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Monday, February 2, 2026

Tuesday prior to Epiphany 5

[1]

Psalm 15 — This psalm gives instruction to those who wish to have access to God at His temple. Thomas Jefferson called this psalm the picture of “a true gentleman.” This is a testimonial of the man of God. What does God require of the individual who seeks his company? He expects right conduct, right speaking (verses 2-3a), right relationships with others (verses 3b-4), and a right use of wealth (verse 5) See Psalm 24. Who swears… (Verse 4) i.e. who keeps his word whatever the cost; Verse 5, one of the Jewish laws, see Leviticus 25:36-37. It was not a total ban on lending at interest, but applied to fellow Israelites.

Psalm 15:

This psalm is simply titled A Psalm of David. In it, David meditates over the character of the man received into the presence of God. We have no precise occasion for this psalm, but it may well have been on the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). This was a time when David was very much concerned with the questions asked and answered in this psalm.[2]

Collect for Psalm 15: Lord Jesus, you first chose to live among us, and in returning to your Father, you made an eternal home for us. Help us walk blamelessly in your ways and bring us at last to your holy mountain, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen [3]

Collect for Tuesday of the week of Epiphany 4: Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and earth. Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [4]

[1] Luther’s Seal, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-15

[4] Ibid, Collect For Tuesday of the week of Epiphany 4

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Monday prior to Epiphany 5

[1]

Psalm 119:1-6; antiphon, Psalm 112:12—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me Your statutes! This Psalm is an acrostic based on the Hebrew letter Aleph.

We meditate on the Word of our Lord and we walk blameless as we are directed by Him who speaks to us in and through that same word.

The Antiphon begins; Blessed are You, O LORD. The psalmist seems to interrupt his thoughts on the connection between God’s word and a pure life with this expression of praise. The greatness of these ideas and the reality of them in his life have made this praise necessary.

Teach me Your statutes. This demonstrates the humility of the psalmist. Though filled with God’s word and a desire for purity, he sensed his constant need for instruction by God. He didn’t simply need to read God’s statutes; he pleaded with God to teach him.

This saying is written in the front of some Bibles: “This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book.” The psalmist understood this principle, and longed for God to be his teacher, and to keep him in God’s great book.

We need to be disciples or learners. [2]

An Excellent Way of Life

The life of a Christian is the primary subject of this Sunday. It is a way of life that is better than living by the letter of the Law. According to Isaiah, true fasting results in meeting the social needs of people. In the Epistle gives the source of Christian living – a gospel of power and not the wisdom of man. Christ is the Word of life. We ask that we may see and hear Him as the Life.

Light is the dominant theme of Epiphany. A candle is a symbol of the season. Christ is the light of God whose glory is manifested throughout the season. Epiphany 5 continues the theme of life but with a different twist. Now Christians are the light of the world because they are in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus tells His followers, “You are the light of the world,” Isaiah in the Old Testament says the light shines out of those who properly fast. In the Epistle lesson, the source of the light is in the crucified Christ proclaimed by Paul.

Collect for Psalm 112: Lord Jesus You are the light shining in darkness for the upright. Teach us to love one another as Yu love us, that we might bring peace and joy to the world and find the happiness of Your home where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Collect for Psalm 119: Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our LORD.[3]

Collect for Monday of the week of Epiphany 4: Father in heaven, from the days of Abraham and Moses until this gathering of your church in prayer, you have formed a people in the image of your Son. Bless this people with the gift of your kingdom. May we serve you with our every desire and show love for one another even as you have loved us. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen [4]

[1] Luther’s Seal, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-119

[4] Ibid, Collect for Monday of the week of Epiphany 4,

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Epiphany 5 -Series A study notes

Isaiah 58:3–9a

1 Corinthians 2:1–12 (13–16)

Matthew 5:13–20

The Righteousness of Christ

O God, our Loving Father, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You plant the gift of Your love into the hearts of Your faithful people. Grant to Your servants soundness of mind and body, so that they may love You with their whole strength and with the whole heart do these things that are pleasing in Your sight. Amen.

Jesus warns that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20), but He also calls His imperfect people “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13, 14). That’s because the Lord Jesus came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets “but to fulfill them” (Matthew 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” (Matthew 5:19). God manifests His “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2–4) and through the preaching of the Gospel gives His “secret and hidden wisdom” (1 Corinthians 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” (Isaiah 58:6) and “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house” (Isaiah 58:7)

Matthew 5:13-20

Salt and light -

Matthew 5:13

Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς· ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ, ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται; εἰς οὐδὲν ἰσχύει ἔτι εἰ μὴ βληθὲν ἔξω καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.

You (are these the disciples or all Christians?) are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness (tasteless, a moron) be restored? (be again salted) It is no longer good (has the strength) for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

Salt cannot loose itself. Christianity is the preservative of the world. When it is lost it is good for nothing. Salt and light must be seen Christologically. Christ was trampled underfoot. They killed the shepherd. Are these words prescriptive or descriptive?

Matthew 5:14

Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη·

You are the light of the world. (Cosmos) A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

This light can NOT be hidden. What does light do?

A candle in total darkness can be seen for thirty miles...

He is the light coming into the world. The city cannot be hidden. It is set on the mountain. This is a promise rather than a demand. It is impossible for the Church to bear witness of Christ.

Matthew 5:15

οὐδὲ καίουσιν λύχνον καὶ τιθέασιν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, (grain measuring) but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

What is the house? It is the Church. Christ gives light to those in the church.

Matthew 5:16

οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are not left to ourselves to do anything. This is gospel not law. We have the power to hinder the light but not produce it. Vocation - the place where Christ places you - to present Christ. What is the context into which you have been placed?

Christ came to fulfill the law

Matthew 5:17

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι·

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Law = the entire OT not as the Pharisees interpret the Law, but as Christ presents it.

Matthew 5:18

ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου, ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Until all comes down)

The Law still stands. When all comes down will the Law come to an end? Not a marker of time.

"Until whenever..."

The Law is - Indicative "you shall in this life" and imperative "you are in the world to come."

Matthew 5:19

ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ’ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least (last) in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

But you're still in the kingdom is the comfort.

You're not great in the kingdom because you're great but because your covered in Jesus.

See Psalm 119:171ff

Matthew 5:20

λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ [b]ὑμῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds (is greater than) that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter (you can't work your way in) the kingdom of heaven.

Pharisees used the law not to serve the neighbor but to live above the neighbor.

You are salt you are light and when you are not salt or light Jesus is salt and light.

Sources:

Friday, January 30, 2026

Saturday prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

1John 3:16-19; Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 25:40—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us (LSB #851). This wonderful hymn tells the story of salvation and places Christ at the center of everything the Christian does. We are still in a new year. In everything that is begun, continued and ended may Christ be the focus of all that we do.

Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us

Author: Eliza S. Alderson (1818-89)

Typical Tune: Hyfrydol, Rowland H. Prichard (1811-87)

Alderson was the sister of Rev. J.B. Dykes. Her husband was the chaplain of West Riding House of Correction in Wakefield, England (1833-1876). She was a poet and prolific hymn writer, but only 12 have been published. This hymn is the only one she has published in an LCMS hymnal.

This hymn is another prayer about Jesus’ holy and blessed sacrifice on the cross. In this prayer, we focus our thoughts and minds on the required payment for our salvation. Jesus had to shed His holy, precious, innocent blood to save you and me from our sins. He willingly came from His heavenly throne, without grudge, to save mankind whom He had created.

We also look at our proper response to Christ’s sacrifice. We should be willing to sacrifice ourselves and our desires for another’s needs. We needed salvation. Christ sacrificed Himself to give it to us. We are to be willing to sacrifice everything to help our neighbor in their need.[2]

Collect for Saturday of the week of Epiphany 3: Grant us, O God, to be mindful now of Thy presence, that what we think and say, and all we do, may learn to arrange itself as before Thy face. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen [3]

[2] http://www.trinityslayton.net/pastors_notes/?p=1796

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Friday prior to Epiphany 4

[1]

Matthew 5:1-12—The People God Blesses; blessed are those with spiritual qualities

Blessed are those with spiritual qualities. The Beatitudes. They describe the condition of a person in a right relationship with God through faith in Christ. “Blessed” is often translated as “happy.” It is more than what the world considers happiness — possessions, satisfaction, and peace. The blessed one is in favor with God and man. However, the Beatitudes are applicable to the present, their promises look to the future for fulfillment. The Beatitudes are God-oriented: kingdom of heaven, see God, on my account. The blessed estate does not depend upon secular well-being for its fulfillment.

It is conceivable a Christian can be perfectly miserable on earth and yet blessed. Poor in spirit. Luke omits “in spirit.” Certainly Matthew is not neglecting the physically poor. There is no blessing in poverty. Poor people are not necessarily blessed. The economically poor can be godly or godless. “Poor in spirit,” moreover, does not mean a lack of spirit. Rather, the phrase describes a state of being which we might call humility, unworthiness, a dependence on God for the fulfillment of needs. The New English Bible helpfully translates 5:3: “How blest are those who know their need of God.”

The Beatitudes in verses 3-11 are numbered. Commentators ask us to consider the first seven Beatitudes (Vv.3-9) as a unit and the last three verses as a threefold conclusion describing the response of the world to the Christian brand of citizenship. The first seven Beatitudes can be divided into two groups. The first four describe the internal qualities that characterize the citizens of God’s kingdom and the last three the manner in which the inner dispositions express themselves in the Christian’s relation to his neighbor.

Father, You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to Your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.[2]

Collect for Friday of the week of Epiphany 3: Almighty God, who art away, but not far; and silent except for the sound of footsteps on the path beyond, and this ceaseless knocking at the door of our hearts; do Thou reveal Thyself to us, to each in the way Thou seest fit; that for all our darkness it may be light again, out of our troubles granting us that peace which makes all things peaceful. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen [3]