The Wartburg Project

Daily Lectionary

March 18, 2026

March 17, 2026 March 19, 2026

These daily readings from the EHV follow the one-year daily lectionary provided in Christian Worship: Hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book, and the Treasury of Daily Prayer. In this lectionary, two readings of 15-25 verses each are provided for each day. Under this plan, nearly all of the New Testament and approximately one-third of the Old Testament are read each year. These readings fit well within the daily offices of Matins, Vespers, or Compline as daily family devotions.

Genesis 44:1-18, 32-34

441Joseph commanded the manager of his house, “Fill the men's bags with food, as much as they can carry. Put each man's money into the mouth of his bag. 2Put my cup, the silver cup, into the mouth of the bag of the youngest, along with his money for the grain.” The manager did exactly what Joseph told him to do.
3As soon as it became light in the morning, the men were sent on their way, with their donkeys. 4When they had left the city and still were not very far away, Joseph said to his manager, “Get up. Pursue those men. When you overtake them, ask them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5Isn't this the cup that my lord drinks from and that he uses for divination? By doing this you have done evil.’” 6The steward caught up to them and spoke those words to them.
7They replied to him, “Why does my lord say such things? Your servants would never do such a thing! 8That money, which we found in the mouths of our bags—we brought it back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold out of your lord's house? 9If your cup is found with any of your servants, let him die, and we also will be my lord's slaves.”
10He said, “Fine, it will be just as you have said. If it is found with anyone, he will be my slave, and the rest of you will be blameless.”
11Then each man quickly lowered his bag to the ground, and each man opened his bag. 12The manager searched, beginning with the oldest and finishing with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's bag. 13Then they tore their clothing, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
14When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him. 15Joseph said to them, “What did you think you were doing? Didn't you know that a man like me can discover things by divination?”
16Judah said, “What can we tell my lord? What can we say? How can we clear ourselves? God has exposed the guilt of your servants. Here we are. We are my lord's slaves, both we and the one in whose hand the cup was found.”
17Joseph said, “I would never do that. The man in whose hand the cup was found will be my slave, but as for the rest of you, go up in peace to your father.”
18Then Judah approached him and said, “O my lord, please let your servant speak to my lord directly. Do not let your anger burn against your servant, because you are just like Pharaoh.
32For your servant became a guarantee for the boy to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him to you, then I will bear the blame before my father forever.’ 33So please let your servant stay as a slave to my lord instead of the boy, and let the boy go up with his brothers. 34For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? How could I stand to see the evil that will come on my father?”

Mark 12:28-44

Love God and Your Neighbor
(Matthew 22:34-40)
28One of the experts in the law approached after he heard their discussion. When he saw that Jesus had answered them well, he asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”
29Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one. 30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[] 31The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[] There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32The expert in the law said to him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken correctly on the basis of the truth that he is one, and there is no other besides him.[] 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”[]
34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
David's Son and David's Lord
(Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44)
35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he responded by saying, “How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36David himself said by the Holy Spirit:
The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies a footstool under your feet.’[]
37“David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Do Not Do What They Do
(Matthew 23:1-12; Luke 20:45-47)
38He also said to them in his teaching, “Beware of the experts in the law who like to walk around in long robes and receive greetings in the marketplaces. 39They love the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows' houses and offer long prayers to look good. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
The Poor Widow's Offering
(Luke 21:1-4)
41Jesus sat down opposite the offering box and was watching how the crowd put money into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42One poor widow came and put in two small bronze coins,[] worth less than a penny.[] 43He called his disciples together and said to them, “Amen I tell you: This poor widow put more into the offering box than all the others. 44For they all gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all that she had to live on.”