Day 16: Matthew 12:22-50 | 2026 Lenten Reading Plan

Thank you for joining us for the fifteenth reading in our Lenten Reading Plan. Find all the resources you need below: Read Matthew 12:22-50 on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012%3A22-50&version=ESV Listen to Matthew 12:22-50: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d4551d0f 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 When Jesus casts out a demon, the Pharisees claim He does it by Beelzebul's power. Jesus responds that a house divided cannot stand; Satan doesn’t work against himself. More importantly, He's revealing that the religious leaders are rejecting their own God, and that cannot stand. Jesus addresses the unforgivable sin: unbelief. The only unforgivable sin is rejecting the forgiveness found in Christ. He died for all sins, but refusing forgiveness means it remains unforgiven. Claiming Christianity while rejecting the Son's work won't stand. When asked for signs, Jesus offers only the sign of Jonah: death and resurrection. Three days in death's belly, then victory. We want a God of spectacular miracles and blessings, but the sign of Jonah endures and conquers death itself. This surpasses any earthly miracle. Jesus warns that when an unclean spirit leaves and finds the house swept clean but empty, it returns with seven worse spirits. If Christianity is merely a second chance to try harder, sin, death, and the devil will attack even more fiercely, leaving us worse than before. But our hope isn't built on second chances; it's built on Christ who binds the strongman and plunders the house. You are the treasure He came to save. Jesus conquers Satan because you are worth saving, worth dying for. He loves you. This is the God we have: one who defeats death itself for you. 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