“Study Deeply: Ask Questions” Matthew 18:1-4 January 12, 2020

Matthew 18 begins with a question.

Only those who are willing to ask, wrestle, discuss and think more will be changed.

“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’" -Matthew 13:10

“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” -Matthew 13:11

“Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” -Matthew 13:12

“This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” -Matthew 13:13

Jesus speaks in parables.

The disciples ask “Why?”

Jesus says it is so “they” won’t get it, but “you” will.

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'” -Matthew 13:14-15

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” -Matthew 13:16

The disciples see and hear.

What have the disciples seen and heard?

Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is Messiah.

Because the believe, they ask questions.

One characteristic that seems to set the disciples apart was their willingness to ask questions.

“You don’t need to know everything today.”

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 18:3-4

A disciple is someone who is humble enough to ask questions.

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’" -Matthew 9:2-3

“But the Pharisees said, ‘It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.’" -Matthew 9:34

“But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” -Matthew 12:14

Questions don’t demonstrate a lack of faith, they might demonstrate a strong faith.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” -Matthew 7:7-8

We cannot know everything today.

Studying deeply doesn’t mean finding all the answers, it sometimes means finding lots of questions.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” -John 14:25-26

Being a follower of Jesus means having enough faith to ask questions.