Title: Story-Time With the King, Part 3 (Matthew 13:31–35, 44–52)

As one reads the gospel according to Matthew, a pattern can be identified in how the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, presents his account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, alternating between  stories about Jesus and teachings of Jesus. The book opens with the story about Jesus’s birth and ministry preparation (chs. 1–4) followed by a robust teaching on kingdom principles (chs. 5–7). Matthew then records stories about Jesus performing claim-authenticating miracles (chs. 8–9) before recounting a teaching that prepared his disciples to extend his ministry to Israel (ch. 10). Story again comes next with the climactic confrontation between the Lord and  the Pharisees (chs. 11–12) leading into an exclusively parabolic teaching session before both the crowds and the twelve (ch. 13). It’s this third discourse we conclude today, being reminding of Jesus’s new teaching method, identifying the mysteries he’s presenting, and taking seriously the mission he puts before us. Key Passage: Matthew 13:31–35, 44–52 Series: Matthew: Of King and Kingdom Speaker: Josiah Boyd