Day 9: Matthew 7 | 2026 Lenten Reading Plan

Thank you for joining us for the eighth reading in our Lenten Reading Plan. Find all the resources you need below: Read Matthew 7 on Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207&version=ESV Listen to Matthew 7: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9907331b 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 Matthew 7 questions who is actually saved, since Christians and unbelievers don't look different. (It’s not like we glow in the dark.) "Judge not, lest ye be judged" (v.1) doesn't mean right and wrong disappear. There's a difference between knowing something is sin and judging for it. To judge is to say "you deserve punishment," yet we give lighter sentences to people we like or who sin like us. Jesus says if your neighbor has a speck in his eye, first notice the log in your own. (v.3) This isn't saying "nobody's perfect." It means address your sin, take it to Jesus, then point your neighbor to Jesus for their sin, too. "Ask and it will be given, knock and it will be opened." (v.7) We struggle because we've prayed for things God hasn't given. But Jesus says: what father gives his child a serpent when asked for fish? Your heavenly Father loves you and takes good care of you, even if He doesn't always give what you want. The golden rule connects to the narrow gate. Do you want to be judged by your works or by faith and baptism? Don't make others' gates narrower; God works mercy and forgiveness. Build your house on the rock, which is Christ and His cross. When storms come, it will endure. How do we know we’re saved? It’s not based on good deeds, but because we trust in Christ who died and rose for us. 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