Day 3: Matthew 2 | 2026 Lenten Reading Plan

Thank you for joining us for the second reading in our Lenten Reading Plan. Find all the resources you need below: Read Matthew 2 on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202&version=ESV Listen to Matthew 2: https://share.transistor.fm/s/e865d8fa 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 The Magi visit Jesus (who may have been two). They don't find Jesus in Jerusalem where kings typically live, but in Bethlehem, the "house of bread.” The gifts the Magi bring confess who Jesus truly is: Gold and frankincense echo the Holy of Holies where God resided Myrrh, a burial spice, points to his death. They bring a baby-sized casket because Jesus is God who will die for them. Warned in a dream, the Magi depart secretly because Herod seeks to destroy Jesus. Herod orders soldiers to murder every male under two years old. The truth is most of us would choose a king like Herod over Jesus. We want a king who fights back, not one who bleeds. But Jesus reveals a different kind of God. Taken to Egypt, he shows that God permits the church to be afflicted. Christians share in Christ's sufferings because God's glory is revealed through suffering. Jesus's most glorious moment was dying on the cross. To the world, Christianity looks like failure. Christians hurt; sinners and hypocrites fill the church. And Jesus dies for them. Christ permits the church to be afflicted, but He Christ joins the church in affliction. He who fled to Egypt waits to fulfill all righteousness. He later dies a worse death for those children, for you, and for the world. He conquers death and rises again, and he brings all believers to life everlasting 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