“The Tribute Money” is an oil-on-panel painting by Peter Paul Rubens, created circa 1610–1615.
Trinity XXIII — November 8, A.D. 2026
Introit Psalm 85:1, 7, 9, 11; antiphon: Jeremiah 29:11a, 12
I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans for wholeness and not for evil.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will hear you.
LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
plans for wholeness and not for evil.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will hear you.
Gradual Psalm 44:7–8
You have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever.
Old Testament Reading Proverbs 8:11–22
For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
“TheLord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.”
Epistle Philippians 3:17–21
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Holy Gospel Matthew 22:15–22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Psalmody (Introit and Gradual) from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.