Proper 20 (25) — Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Exodus 16:2-15

Verse 2. And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Verse 3. “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” Verse 4. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. Verse 5. Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” Verse 6. So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, Verse 7. and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Verse 8. And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” Verse 9. Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’” Verse 10. And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared. Verse 11. Then the LORD said to Moses, Verse 12. “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” Verse 13. That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. Verse 14. When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. Verse 15. When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

PSALM

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.

Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

O offspring of His servant Abraham, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.

He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and none among His tribes stumbled.

Egypt was glad when they departed, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.

They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.

He brought forth His people with rejoicing, His chosen with shouts of joy.

He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,

that they might keep His statutes and obey His laws. Hallelujah!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jonah 3:10-4:11

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

PSALM

Psalm 145:1-8

A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts—

the glorious splendor of Your majesty. And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.

They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds, and I will declare Your greatness.

They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

SECOND READING

Philippians 1:21-30

Verse 21. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Verse 22. But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. Verse 23. I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. Verse 24. But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Verse 25. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, Verse 26. so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me. Verse 27. Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel, Verse 28. without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. Verse 29. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, Verse 30. since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

GOSPEL

Matthew 20:1-16

Verse 1. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Verse 2. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. Verse 3. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. Verse 4. ‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ Verse 5. So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. Verse 6. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked. Verse 7. ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’ Verse 8. When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’ Verse 9. The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. Verse 10. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. Verse 11. On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. Verse 12. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ Verse 13. But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Verse 14. Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Verse 15. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Verse 16. So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”