Lectionary Bible Study - Texts for Epiphany 3

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Photo - DWE, Suttons Bay Dawing,

Tuesday, 20 January 2026, 3:00 pm

Epiphany’s focus is light and the bringer of light on the path!


Study Notes


Text Isaiah 9:1-4 | 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 | Matthew 4:12-23


The Collect
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament
Isaiah 9:1-4

Vs. 9:1 - The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali = Z and N refer to the Assyrian annexation of Israelite tribal territories following defeat in 732 BCE. Z and N are a part of the Galilee area

Vs. 9:2-4 - Part of royal song of thanksgiving in hope of a new Davidic rule. 

  • Moving from darkness to light

  • Liberation from oppression (yoke, bar, rod) to light

  • Day of Midian = Gideon’s defeat of Midian in Judges 7:15-25

    • Gloom until the day of God

Isaiah 9 is “... not a past promise but an abiding promise as a word of encouragement as we wait for God to bring about its full completion.”

The Epistle
1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Paul is correcting the people of God in Corinth -

  • Be United in Christ!

  • Not following Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ

    • Paul - preacher and church planter

    • Apollos - roving preacher of John from Alexandria until corrected in Acts 18:24-28 then Jesus/Holy Spirit

    • Cephas - Peter

    • Christ - God as savior of the world and coming again

  • Paul is called to proclaim the gospel not baptize people v. 1:17

  • Message of the cross is foolishness to unbelievers but salvation to believers

The Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23

Jesus hears of John’s arrest and escapes to Galilee = Gentiles.

  • Matthew points to Isaiah 9 to say Jesus is this light

  • Message = Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(God) has come near!

  • Calls Simon (Peter), Andrew (Pete’s brother), James (Zeb’s son), and John (James’ brother) - Immediately!

Jesus Ministry (for now) in Galilee

  • Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom

  • Curing every sickness among the people

What happens when God shows up?

Sources

The New Oxford Annotated Bible, 5th Edition, p. 992-993

The Collects are from the Book of Common Prayer

Lectionary Page

Colin Cornell, Commentary on Isaiah 9:1-4, Working Preacher

Also posted on Internet Archive, Dave Eitland 2026 search

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