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Pentecost Season · Proper 23 · Year A

Philippians 4:1-9

Exhortations

October 11, 2026

Old Woman Praying, Rembrandt van Rijn
Old Woman Praying, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1629-1630Residenzgalerie Salzburg
An old woman at prayer, eyes closed and hands joined, on a copper panel the size of a postcard. Rembrandt was about twenty-three and still in Leiden, and he gave the whole picture to a face and two hands.Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.Rembrandt van RijnThe young Rembrandt painted the old people around him before he painted anyone famous. The model here is thought to be his mother.Residenzgalerie SalzburgThe Residenzgalerie in Salzburg, the picture gallery in the archbishops' palace at the heart of the old city.Residenzgalerie Salzburg
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 22:1-14Mt 22:1-14
EpistlePhil. 4:1-9Phil 4:1-9
Old TestamentExod. 32:1-14Ex 32:1-14Alt. OTIsa. 25:1-9Is 25:1-9
PsalterPs. 106:1-6, 19-23Ps 106:1-6, 19-23Alt. PsalmPs. 23Ps 23

Overview & Insights

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Fresh Plea for Unity Two members of the church are begged by name to reach a common mind as fellow Christians, and another of Paul’s co-workers is urged to help them in this regard.

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Take it further: Philippians 4:1-9

Commentary

Commentary on Philippians 4:1-9Commentary on Phil 4:1-9 Working Preacher

The Lutheran home commentary on this Year A reading by a named seminary scholar.

Philippians 4 - Joy and Peace in the LordPhil 4 - Joy and Peace in the Lord Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical study of rejoicing, the peace of God, and right thinking.

Philippians 4:1 CommentariesPhil 4:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the appeal to unity and joy.

Philippians 4:1 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryPhil 4:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.

Background & Word Study

Philippians 4 (Matthew Henry Complete)Phil 4 (Mt Henry Complete) Bible Study Tools

Matthew Henry's full exposition of the chapter for a classic devotional reading of joy and peace.

Philippians 4:1 InterlinearPhil 4:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including the word for peace.

Book of Philippians OverviewBook of Phil Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Philippians that frames Paul's call to rejoice from prison.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 4 (Catena)Phil 4 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on rejoicing, prayer, and the peace that guards the heart.

Questions preachers ask

What is the peace that guards the heart?

Paul tells the Philippians to pray rather than worry, and “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6–7). He ends with a call to fill the mind with what is true and lovely.

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