Jesus speaks of demonic spirits possessing people and warns that when a person has an unclean spirit cast out, since the indwelling Holy Spirit had not yet been actuated, there is the danger of other and worse spirits coming back in.

Then Jesus warns of not building one’s life on a strong and sturdy foundation. The floods will come, and the house not build on a rock, but on sand, will be swept away. Faith in Jesus is the rock of our salvation.

Christians should use whatever of material wealth that falls into their hands for the glory of God. And by so doing may hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.”

A rich man dies and is found in hell. A poor beggar, at the steps of the rich man’s house, dies and is found in heaven. The rich man requests that Lazarus help him, But a gulf or chasm is fixed and no one passes from heaven to hell and vice versa.

A man came to Jesus and asked Him to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. Jesus tells the parable about a farmer whose large harvest needed more storage room. He built it and said to himself, “Eat, drink, and be merry,” thinking his life was now one of leisure and good times. But that night he died, with the question being who will own all that the fortunate farmer had. Jesus warns that this is a picture of those who lay up treasure for themselves but are not rich toward God.

A lawyer asks Jesus how to attain eternal life. Jesus advises to keep the two great commandments—love God and one’s neighbor. But the lawyer asks, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells the story of a man who is robbed, beaten, and left to die. First a priest, then a Levite, finally a Samaritan, come upon the man, but only the reviled and hated Samaritan helps the man and at considerable expense. Jesus asks, “Who showed mercy?” The lawyer gives the correct response. Jesus tells him to do likewise.

A master entrusted huge amounts of money (talents) to his servants and went away. One had 5, another 2, and another 1. The first two doubled the money, but the third buried the talent out of fear of the master. To the ones who doubled the money, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” To the third, who only returned the 1 talent, he said, “Away with him into outer darkness.” The point is, while the master is away, the servants are to work patiently and faithfully.

The parable is about the Return of Jesus and being ready for that event. The setting is a first century A.D. Jewish wedding in Israel. The bridegroom comes at an unknown hour to gather up his bride. (In Scripture, Jesus is the groom and the Church is His Bride.) Five of the girls are ready, five are not. When the bridegroom comes for the bride, the five not ready are not admitted into the marriage celebration and are told, “I do not know you.”

First: A man asked two sons to work in his vineyard. The first said no but later went to work. The second said yes but did not go to work. Which one did the will of God? Second: A king gave a wedding feast for his son and sent out his servants to invite everyone to come. Many refused, so the king sent others out to invite anyone they could find. He found a guest without a wedding garment and ordered the usurper to be bound and cast into “outer darkness.”

The master of a vineyard sends a series of workers into his vineyard to collect the harvest. He hires workers all day long, even some who work only one hour. But he gives all, beginning with those who worked only one hour, the same amount, one denarius. Those who worked all day long were paid last, and they grumbled about the supposed inequity. The point: God will do what He will and we should not begrudge His generosity.

First: A servant is forgiven a large sum by his master, then chokes and imprisons a fellow servant who owed him a modest sum. The master then throws this unforgiving servant into prison. The point: We are to forgive others their wrongs against us, without limit.

Second: a widow who has been wronged repeatedly seeks justice, but the judge ignores her. Finally, the unjust judge gives the widow her request. The point: We are to pray continually (a sign of faith) and God will give us justice.

A shepherd loses one sheep of 100, finds it and holds a big celebration. A woman loses one silver coin of ten, searches diligently for it, finds it and celebrates. A young man squanders his inheritance through “reckless” living. When the young man realizes he is “lost” and returns home, rushes to him and welcomes him home. His older brother begrudges the ensuing celebration. The point of all three parables: this is how the Father is; He searches for the lost and celebrates when they are found.