Day 18: Matthew 13:36-58 | 2026 Lenten Reading Plan

Thank you for joining us for the seventeenth reading in our Lenten Reading Plan. Find all the resources you need below: Read Matthew 13:36-58 on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013%3A36-58&version=ESV Listen to Matthew 13:36-58: https://share.transistor.fm/s/fa5661fc Download your own Lenten Reading Plan Bookmark: https://higherthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HT_Lenten-Reading-Plan-Bookmark-2601-PRINT-at-home.pdf Download the 2026 Lenten Reading Plan Study Guide: https://higherthings.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HT_Lenten-Reading-Plan-Study-Guide-2511.pdf More parables today! Remember, parables aren't about you; they're about Jesus. The parable of the hidden treasure isn't asking if you'd give up everything for Jesus. It reveals that He gave up everything for you. When a man finds treasure in a field and sells everything to buy it, you're the field, you're the treasure. God purchases you. Christianity isn't you buying Jesus with works or proving worthiness; it's Him giving everything, even His life, to save you. The pearl of great value teaches the same truth. You were purchased not with gold or silver, but with Christ's holy, precious blood and innocent suffering. The parable of the net shows fishermen gathering all kinds of fish, sorting them only at the end. Angels will separate evil from righteous at the age's end. But here's the key: it's not your job to know who's who; it's your job to know who you belong to. Peter, made a fisher of men, was to gather fish without judging who looks good or bad. The gospel is messy — forgiveness for those who don't deserve it. Christians don't look like they deserve salvation. (That's the point.) You are baptized. Jesus died for you. You're washed clean, in the net, in the church. God wants everyone saved so much that He died for them, cast the net, draws in good and bad alike. This offensive gospel calls sinners saints, declares you forgiven. That's worth holding onto. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #lent If you have questions or topics that you'd like discussed on Higher Things, email them to content@higherthings.org Subscribe to our channel to get notifications when we go live: http://youtube.com/@HTgospel4all To support the work of Higher Things®, visit https://higherthings.org/morehi/giving/ For more information about Higher Things, go to http://higherthings.org ------ Join the conversation on Social Media: http://facebook.com/higherthings http://instagram.com/higherthings https://www.tiktok.com/@higherthings