I Believe in Order to Understand

I Believe in Order to Understand
The Gospel of Matthew 13.1-17

A. PARABLES

            1.  A story to illustrate

            2.  A story to interest

            3.  A story to make us think

            4.  A story to make truth concrete

B. WHY PARABLES HERE?

            1.  To explain the rejection of Jesus

            2.  To impress upon us the need for life choices

            3.  To help us understand faith

C. WHY DOES JESUS USE PARABLES?

            1.  To reveal kingdom mysteries to His friends  [11]

            2.  To call us to believe what we already know  [12-13]

            3.  To explain the root problem of unbelief  [14-15]

            4.  To pronounce His friends “blessed”  [16-17]

John Olson