• Jesus’ teaching in parables in Matthew’s gospel is meant to help us understand the kingdom of God.

• That is the primary purpose of Matthew’s gospel: to provide an apologetic, or credible argument, that Jesus of Nazareth was truly God’s promised Messiah.
• The Messiah is a ruler, a king, and therefore has a kingdom.

• In this series, we are learning what life is like for those in His kingdom.
• Living in God’s Kingdom is not a walk in the park.

• Satan is out to disintegrate and, through subversive activity, seeks ruin for the kingdom of God.

1 Pet. 5:8 describes Satan as a roaring lion, and 2 Cor. 2:11 states we should not be ignorant of his devices.

• Satan is fiercely opposed to the expansion of God’s kingdom or rule on earth.
• One of Satan’s primary tactics is to plant counterfeits of God’s genuine work to confuse.
• He will bring people forward who are so much like true Christians, yet not true Christians.