The Snare of Unbelief

The Snare of Unbelief
The Gospel of Matthew 12.38-42

            Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
            I took the one less traveled by,
            And that has made all the difference.

           

A. A REQUEST FOR A SIGN [38]

            1.  A spectacular sign

            2.  A sign without content

            3.  A sign that makes faith unnecessary

B. JESUS REFUSES THE REQUEST [39-40]

            1.  No sign but the sign of Jonah

            2.  No sign but Jesus

C. TWO ILLUSTRATIONS

            1.  The nature of the illustrations

                            a.  Gentiles

                            b.  A woman

                            c.  Word and wisdom

                            d.  The past and the future

            2.  Illustrations from the past that point to the future

                            a.  The men of Nineveh  [41]

                                            Jonah 1.7;  2.10;  3.1-5

                                           
                            b.  The Queen of the South  [42] 

                                            1 Kings 10.1-9

John Olson