The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Texts, the Third Readings: The Gospels

Preachers know how quickly Sundays come and go. The fast pace of church life collides with the resolve to ground sermons in careful biblical exegesis. The Lectionary Commentary will not slow the pace of the weekly calendar, but it will help assure that sermon preparation begins with a solid engagement with Scripture.

The three-volume Lectionary Commentary gathers exegetical essays on 495 biblical texts from the Revised Common Lectionary spanning the three-year liturgical cycle. Seventy-eight pastors, priests, and teachers from a variety of Christian traditions have contributed exegetical insights on the First, Second, and Gospel lections for the Sundays of the church year and for Christmas Day, Epiphany, and Ascension Day. Guided by the question What does the preacher need to know about this text in order to preach a faithful sermon from it?, each essay closely considers its specific biblical text and provides theological reflection, all the while remaining alert to today’s context.

Preachers who follow the Revised Common Lectionary will find these volumes useful. However, the commentary’s unique organization makes it useful to all preachers. While the three volumes are organized according to the First, Second, and Gospel lections for each Sunday, The Lectionary Commentary lists all texts in their canonical order. This arrangement affirms the lectionary by identifying each reading according to its traditional place in the three-year cycle, but it also lends itself to other preaching patterns.

However it is used—traditionally or thematically, volume to volume or as a set—The Lectionary Commentary will be an invaluable aid to the preachers and congregations it serves.