River Valley Church SOAP - Part 3Sample

The chapter opens with Jesus just days prior to the crucifixion. He makes the journey from the hills of Bethany to Jerusalem; it is here where multiple Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled. This is critical because the audience Mathew is writing to is of Jewish decent and interpreting these events through a Jewish lens. The authority of Jesus is questioned by experts of Levitical Law. Rather than simply rebutting the questioning Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus uses parables to teach and explain. Parables are culturally relevant stories that are used to illustrate and explain deep truths of the Kingdom and Messiah.