Sermon/Lesson Title

An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus

The Nature of Parables
Parables are one of the most memorable teaching methods used by Jesus. Nearly a third of His teaching came in the form of parables. They are often compared to riddles in that they require effort to understand. Like riddles, parables are not meant to be discarded when they are not immediately clear but to be studied carefully until their central truth is grasped.

Parables: Why Jesus Spoke This Way

Jesus’ parables—earthly stories with heavenly meaning—separate hearers who truly seek from those who will not. They reveal the kingdom’s nature, confirm doctrine, and invite reflection, repentance, and obedience. As we study, we’ll ask what central truth each story teaches—and how to live it today, with humble hearts.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants:
Christ’s Authority and Our Accountability
(Matthew 21:23–46)

After cleansing the temple, Jesus is challenged about His authority. He answers with the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, revealing Israel’s leaders’ unfaithfulness and exalting the rejected Cornerstone. God expects fruit from His vineyard. This lesson calls us to honor the Son, submit to His rule, and bear faithful fruit.

The Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 contains some of the most sobering teaching from Jesus. He speaks both of the judgment that came upon the Jewish nation and of the final judgment when He returns. In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus illustrates the necessity of constant preparation. His return will be sudden, unexpected, and final. Just as in the days of Noah, people will be living life as usual—eating, drinking, marrying—when the judgment falls (Matthew 24:36–44). When He comes, there will be a great separation: sheep from goats, faithful from unfaithful (Matthew 25:31–32). The lesson is clear—be ready.

Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:44–46

The kingdom of heaven is beyond measure in worth. Jesus illustrated its priceless value with two parables: a hidden treasure and a pearl of great price. Both show that discovering the kingdom is life’s greatest blessing, requiring total commitment and sacrifice. Nothing else compares with its eternal rewards.

Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed—so small it seems insignificant, yet when planted it grows into something great. From humble beginnings, the kingdom expanded beyond imagination. This parable teaches us to trust God’s power to grow His kingdom and to do our part faithfully.

The Parable of the Tares
Text: Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

Jesus, the master teacher, often used parables to reveal truths about the kingdom of heaven. On the shore of Galilee, He told the parable of the tares, describing how an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. The weeds looked almost identical to the wheat until harvest. In this simple but powerful story, Jesus warns us of Satan’s work, the presence of evil, and the coming judgment. He ends with the challenge: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Text: Luke 15:1–7

Luke 15 begins with three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each teaches us about God’s deep concern for those who are lost. God desires that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Though He knows many will refuse, it is still His will that none perish. These parables show how people become lost in different ways and reveal God’s love in seeking them out. The parable of the lost sheep emphasizes heaven’s joy when one sinner repents.

The Parable of the Great Supper
Luke 14:1–24

In Luke 14, Jesus teaches in the home of a Pharisee on the Sabbath. As usual, the Pharisees are watching Him, waiting to accuse Him of violating their traditions. He heals a man and exposes their hypocrisy: they would rescue an ox on the Sabbath, yet condemned Him for showing mercy to a man. From this moment, Jesus moves into teaching by parables—first about humility and now about priorities. The Parable of the Great Supper reminds us that God’s invitation to His kingdom is open to all, yet many reject it through excuses. Those who respond, whether poor or overlooked by the world, will share in the eternal feast. The lesson calls us to examine whether we are truly seeking God’s kingdom first or allowing the distractions of life to rob us of eternal joy.

Ask, Seek, Knock: The Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:1–13 — Model prayer; Friend at Midnight; Ask–Seek–Knock

Open your Bible to Luke 11. For several weeks we’ve been studying the Lord’s stories—teachings that picture the kingdom and shape the way we live. Today’s text functions as a parable. It begins when Jesus finishes praying. A disciple, moved by what he witnessed, says, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Jesus answers with a model prayer and then tells a story—often called the Friend at Midnight—that presses one big truth into our hearts: prayer is reverent, aligned with God’s will, and relentlessly persistent.

Parable of the Household
(Matthew 13:51–52)

In Matthew 13 Jesus strings together parables about the kingdom—the sower, weeds, mustard seed, leaven, treasure, pearl, and dragnet. Then He turns to the disciples and asks, “Have you understood all these things?” (Matthew 13:51). They answer, “Yes, Lord.” On the heels of that confession, He adds a charge: “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old” (Matthew 13:52). Understanding brings responsibility. When we grasp the teaching of Christ, we are to handle it, live it, and share it faithfully—bringing out the riches of God’s word for ourselves and for others.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44

In Matthew 13:44, Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, recognized its worth, and joyfully sold all he had to secure it. This parable reminds us that the kingdom is priceless. Nothing in this life compares to its value. Many things we cling to must be released if we are to inherit the greater treasure of eternal life.

Jesus’ teaching centered on the kingdom of God. Many today misunderstand it as a future earthly reign, yet Scripture reveals it as a present spiritual reality. From prophecy to fulfillment, the Bible shows God’s eternal rule through Christ. This lesson clarifies misconceptions and affirms the kingdom’s true nature.

The Kingdom of Heaven Pt 2 (A study of the Parables of Jesus)
Understanding the Kingdom of God

Jesus’ teaching centered on the kingdom of God. Many discussions in our time drift toward speculation about thrones, timelines, and headlines. Scripture provides firmer ground. The Bible reveals a present reign of Christ and a promised inheritance for the faithful. This sermon follows that thread through the passages we studied together.

The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:3–23, Mark 4:1–20,  Luke 8:4–15)

Jesus taught in parables to reveal truths about the kingdom of heaven to those who truly desired to know them. Each parable highlights some aspect of the kingdom—its nature, its citizens, its growth, or its end. The first parable recorded in Matthew 13 is the Parable of the Sower. It lays the foundation for understanding all the other parables, because Jesus Himself interprets it. This lesson teaches us how people respond to the word of God and why some bear fruit while others do not.

The Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:23–32 — Authority challenged; Parable of the Two Sons
Mark 11:27–33 — Parallel authority exchange

In the final week of His ministry, Jesus’ authority was challenged in the temple. The chief priests, scribes, and elders questioned His right to teach and act (Mark 11:27–33; Matthew 21:23–27). Jesus exposed their evasion by asking about the source of John’s baptism. Their refusal to answer revealed hearts that prized position over truth. On the heels of that exchange, Jesus told the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28–32). The story draws a clear line between saying and doing, between outward show and obedient repentance, and it explains why humble sinners entered the kingdom ahead of religious leaders.

The Sower, the Seed, and the Soils
Matthew 13:3–9, 18–23 — Parable of the Sower

This time of year many of us leaf through seed catalogs and sketch rows in our minds. A harvest always rests on three essentials: someone who will do the work, a seed worth planting, and soil that can receive it. Remove any one of the three and nothing grows. Jesus used this everyday picture to reveal how the word of God brings life. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the lesson, and Matthew 13 gives the parable and the Lord’s own explanation so we can understand it clearly.

The Rich Man That Forgot God
Luke 12:13–21 — Core narrative of the rich man who forgot God

Most people say they want a good life. Scripture defines goodness very differently than the world. Luke 12 records a story that exposes a life that looked strong on the surface and empty at its center—the rich man who forgot God. By watching his choices, we learn what a good life truly is and how to live it.

The Parable of the Talents
(Matthew 25:14–30); Luke records the parallel lesson with minas (Luke 19:11–27)

As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, He made plain His mission: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Yet crowds still expected an immediate, earthly kingdom. To correct that misconception and to prepare disciples for His departure and return, Jesus taught a stewardship parable. Matthew records it as the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30); Luke records the parallel lesson with minas (Luke 19:11–27). Together they emphasize the same truths—Christ’s kingdom is spiritual, there will be a season of faithful work in the King’s absence, and there will be an unavoidable day of accounting when He returns.

The Parable of the Leaven
The Parable of the Leaven in Matthew 13:33

In Matthew 13, Jesus gave many parables to help the people understand the kingdom of heaven. He wanted them to know what His kingdom would be like when it came on Pentecost so they would be ready to enter it. In this lesson, we will look at one very short parable, only one verse long, but filled with meaning—the Parable of the Leaven in Matthew 13:33.

Parable of the Pearls and the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44–46

Hearing the Master’s Voice
On my grandparents’ table sat an old RCA radio with the little dog listening to the gramophone—“His Master’s Voice.” It’s a fitting picture for disciples today. Jesus has ascended; we do not hear Him audibly. So we sit before His word and listen. Scripture is the Lord’s recorded voice from Genesis to Revelation. If we miss Him, it won’t be for lack of access—it will be for lack of listening. In Matthew 13 Jesus speaks to us about value—about what His kingdom is worth—and He uses two brief parables to drive it home: the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price.

Luke 15’s second parable shows a woman who lights a lamp, sweeps, and searches until her lost coin is found. Jesus uses her urgency to picture God’s heart for people who don’t even know they’re lost—and our responsibility to seek them—because heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents today, too.

Open to Matthew 13. Jesus’ parables train our eyes to see the kingdom’s reality while we still live in a mixed field. News cycles, advertising, and public morals often blur the line between what is wholesome and what is corrupt. Jesus does not leave us guessing. He hands us a field picture—seed, soil, an enemy, and a harvest—so we can live wisely and patiently until the final sorting.

Lazarus and the Rich Man
(Luke 16:19–31)

Open Luke 16:19–31. Jesus paints a scene that reads like a mirror held to the soul. A man in purple and fine linen enjoys daily luxury; a beggar named Lazarus lies at his gate, covered with sores, longing for crumbs. Death arrives for both. Angels carry Lazarus to Abraham’s side; the rich man wakes in torment. The Lord teaches how heaven measures a life, how memory follows us past the grave, and how Scripture gives all needed light for salvation today.

Jesus answers questions about fasting with a simple picture: a new, unshrunk patch stitched onto a worn cloak will shrink and rip the seam wider (Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36). The image teaches that the gospel comes as whole cloth. Christ brings the new covenant and makes a new people; the Gospel reshapes hearts, habits, and hopes. Patchwork religion—adding a little devotion to an unchanged life or treating Jesus as a repair—only enlarges the tear. The Lord calls for surrender, new birth, and daily renewal so we can “put on Christ” and wear the garment He provides.

New Wine in Old Wineskins
(Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37–38)

Open the Gospels and you will find Jesus in the middle of a conversation about fasting at a banquet in Levi’s house. The Lord has just called a tax collector to follow Him, and the table is full of people whom the religious elite would never invite. Into that scene Jesus tells a picture-story about wine and wineskins. With a few sentences He shows why His kingdom cannot be contained inside old, rigid containers. He is ushering in the promised new covenant, and it requires new, Spirit-softened hearts.

Wise and Foolish Builders
(Matthew 7:24–27; Luke 6:47–49)

Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with two builders, two houses, one storm. Both hear; only one obeys. The rock is doing His words, without additions or subtractions (Matt 7:24–27; Luke 6:47–49). This lesson urges careful building—measuring by Scripture, resisting traditions, and securing a life that stands in obedience to God. 

Lamp on a Stand
(Matthew 5:14–16; Mark 4:21–25; Luke 8:16–18; 11:33–36)

Introduction: Light Meant to Be Seen
Jesus shows His disciples a household picture everyone understands. A lamp belongs on a stand. When it sits in the open, light reaches every corner of the room. He names His people “the light of the world,” a city on a hill and a lamp that gives light to all who are in the house (Matthew 5:14–16). He then adds lessons about hearing, measuring, and inner sight (Mark 4:21–25; Luke 8:16–18; 11:33–36). These passages shape a simple charge: live openly as Christ’s people, listen carefully to His word, and keep the inner eye clear so the whole life shines.

Children in the Marketplace
(Matthew 11:16–19; Luke 7:31–35)

Introduction: What the Parable Means
Jesus pictures a group of children in a town square trying to boss the game. They pipe a happy tune and complain when no one dances; they sing a funeral song and complain when no one mourns. He then points to the generation before Him. John came with a strict, wilderness call to repentance and they said, “He has a demon.” Jesus came eating with sinners and they said, “glutton and drunkard.” The point is simple: hearts that refuse God will always find a reason to object. God’s wisdom still proves true by the lives it produces.

Two Debtors (Moneylender)
Text: Luke 7:41–43 (context: Luke 7:36–50)

Introduction: What Jesus’ Story Teaches
Jesus tells of a lender with two debtors—one owes five hundred denarii, the other fifty. Neither can pay. The lender cancels both debts. Jesus then asks, “Which will love him more?” Simon answers, “The one forgiven more.” The lesson is clear: when people grasp the weight of their debt and the mercy extended, love springs up and becomes visible.

Seed Growing Secretly
Text: Mark 4:26–29

A Quiet Field, A Certain Harvest
Jesus describes a farmer who scatters seed and then goes about ordinary days and nights. Beneath the surface, unseen by the farmer, the seed sprouts and grows. The earth “by itself” produces—first the blade, then the head, then the full grain. When the grain ripens, the farmer swings the sickle because harvest has arrived. This picture teaches how the kingdom advances: the seed carries power, growth unfolds in stages, laborers work faithfully, and harvest surely comes.

The Dragnet
Text: Matthew 13:47–50

One Net, One Shore, One Final Sorting
Jesus closes His cluster of kingdom parables with a sea-story everyone on Galilee knew well. Fishermen cast a large dragnet, pull in fish of every kind, beach the catch, sit down, and sort. The good are gathered into vessels. The bad are thrown away. Jesus says this is how it will be “at the end of the age.” The picture is simple and sobering: the kingdom grows in a mixed world, and a real separation awaits every soul.

Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:23–35

A Mountain Forgiven, A Pebble Owed
Peter asked, “How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” Jesus answered with a number that refuses to keep count and then told a kingdom story. A king settled accounts. One servant owed a sum beyond a lifetime’s power to repay—ten thousand talents. The king listened to a plea for patience and released the debt. That same servant then found a fellow servant who owed about a hundred denarii and throttled him for payment. News reached the king; justice fell. Jesus closed with a sentence that lands on the conscience: “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” The king’s mercy sets the pattern. The forgiven become forgivers.

Laborers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16

When the Vineyard Owner Keeps His Word
Jesus tells of a householder who goes to the marketplace at daybreak, again at the third, sixth, ninth, and even the eleventh hour, hiring workers for his vineyard. At evening he pays a denarius to each, beginning with the last and ending with the first. Those who bore “the burden and heat of the day” expected more and murmured when the latecomers received the same wage. The owner replied, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?… Is your eye evil because I am good?” This kingdom picture places the King’s goodness, His right to keep His promise, and our call to humble service side by side.

Wedding Banquet (Royal Marriage)
Matthew 22:1–14

The King’s Invitation and the Only Safe Response
Jesus pictures a king who prepares a marriage feast for his son, sends invitations, and waits for guests to come. Those first invited shrug off the summons—one to a farm, another to business—while others seize the king’s servants and kill them. Judgment follows, the hall is filled with new guests from the highways, and one man is discovered without a wedding garment. He is speechless, bound, and cast into outer darkness. Jesus closes with a sober line: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” The kingdom stands open by royal invitation, yet entry rests on coming when called and coming as the King requires.

Budding Fig Tree (Fig Tree Lesson)
Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31; Luke 21:29–33

Learn the Season from the Tree
Jesus points to a simple, yearly scene: a fig tree sends out tender shoots, leaves appear, and everyone knows summer stands near. He calls this a lesson. When certain signs appear, discerning hearts should recognize what stands at the door. The picture is plain, the charge is serious: learn, read the season, and respond with obedience.

Faithful & Wicked Servant
Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:42–48

A Steward’s Test in the Master’s Absence
Jesus pictures a household where the master appoints a steward “to give them food in due season.” The steward’s work continues while the master is away. One servant stays at the task and receives promotion when the master returns. Another turns to cruelty and indulgence and receives judgment. The lesson reaches every disciple: keep the charge the Lord assigned, care for fellow servants, and live ready for His return.

Watchful Doorkeeper
Mark 13:34–37

The House, the Tasks, the Door
Jesus pictures a household. The master departs, assigns work to each servant, and charges the doorkeeper to stay alert. He may return in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster’s crow, or at dawn. The charge lands with weight: “What I say to you, I say to all: Watch.” Readiness is not guesswork. Readiness is steady duty and clear-eyed vigilance at the door.

Minas (Pounds)
Luke 19:11–27

A Nobleman, a Journey, and a Ledger
Jesus describes a nobleman who travels to receive a kingdom. Before departing, he calls servants, entrusts each with a mina, and gives a plain charge: “Do business till I come.” He later returns, opens the books, and settles accounts. Every servant answers for what he did with the king’s trust. Faithfulness is measured, rewards are assigned, and negligence is exposed.

Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25–37

A Question That Tests the Heart
A lawyer stood to test Jesus: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus directed him to the Law. He answered rightly: love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Jesus replied, “Do this and you will live.” The lawyer then asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a story that moves the discussion from definitions to deeds.

Watchful Servants (Lamps Burning)
Luke 12:35–40

Lamps Up, Belts On
Jesus pictures servants with belts fastened and lamps burning while they wait for their master to return from a wedding feast. He may arrive in the second watch or the third. The blessed servants stay ready, open the door at once, and receive their master with joy. The Lord then adds a second picture: if a householder had known the hour a thief would come, he would have stayed awake. The message is plain—live awake, live prepared, and live in steady obedience, because “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:40).

Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6–9

A Tree Under Review
Jesus tells of a fig tree planted in a vineyard. For three years the owner comes seeking fruit and finds none. “Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?” The vinedresser pleads, “Let it alone this year also; I will dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, well. If not, then after that you can cut it down.” The picture is simple and searching: God expects fruit, provides care that enables fruit, and announces a real deadline.

Places of Honor / Humility
Luke 14:7–11

Seating Charts and the Heart
Jesus watched guests choose the best seats at a meal in a ruler of the Pharisees’ house. He told a story everyone at the table understood: when invited to a wedding feast, choose the lowest place. If the host calls you up, you receive honored seating before all. If you seize a high place and are told to move down, the walk of shame follows. He then gave the principle that governs the kingdom: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The story exposes motives and trains disciples to pursue the low place on purpose.

Parable of the Tower Builder
Luke 14:28–30

Blueprints Before Bricks
Jesus paints a simple scene: a man plans a tower. He sits down, calculates the cost, and decides whether he can finish. If he lays a foundation and stops, neighbors point at the stump of a project and shake their heads. The Lord ties this picture to discipleship. Following Him calls for a thoughtful beginning and a faithful finish. He urges hearers to count every cost before they lift the first stone, because His way involves cross-bearing and a lifetime of steady building (Luke 14:25–27, 33).

Parable or the Warring King
Luke 14:31–32

Two Kings, One Decision, One Deadline
Jesus sets a battlefield before our eyes. A ruler surveys the horizon and sees a stronger army approaching. He sits down, considers his strength, and decides his next move. If he cannot win, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace while the enemy is still far away (Luke 14:31–32). The Lord presses this image into every heart that hears Him. Discipleship calls for sober calculation and timely surrender. Life presents real conflict, real consequence, and a closing window to make the right request.

Prodigal Son (Lost Son)
Luke 15:11–32

A Road Home and a Door Ajar
Luke 15 opens with tax collectors and sinners drawing near while scribes and Pharisees grumble. Jesus answers with three stories about what is lost and what is found. The third scene slows down so we can feel every step: a younger son leaves, wastes everything, comes to himself, and begins the long walk home; a father watches, runs, and restores; an older brother hears music, refuses the celebration, and stands outside. The Lord holds up a mirror to every heart: some wander far, some stay close and grow hard, all need the Father’s house.

Parable of the Unjust Steward (Shrewd Manager)
Luke 16:1–13

A Manager Called to Account
Jesus tells of a rich man who learns his manager has been wasting possessions. The manager faces dismissal and a final audit. With time short, he calls in the master’s debtors and reduces their bills. The lord commends the manager’s foresight. Jesus then turns to His disciples and draws out lessons for every steward of God’s gifts—use what is passing to secure what endures, prove trustworthy in small things, and choose your master with a single heart.

Unworthy Servants: The Joy of Doing Our Duty
Text: Luke 17:7–10

The Sentence That Straightens the Soul
Jesus offers a picture that dismantles pride and builds perseverance. A servant comes in from the field and then prepares his master’s supper. When the work is done, no speech of self-congratulation follows. The servant says, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). That single sentence steadies motives, quiets comparison, and frees us to keep going when applause is absent. It trains the heart to honor God for who He is and to treat obedience as our reasonable service.

Persistent Widow (Unjust Judge)
Text: Luke 18:1–8

Why This Story Matters
Luke tells us why Jesus gave this story: so people “always pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Life brings delays, wrongs to be righted, and burdens that do not move at first touch. Jesus answers that weak place in us with a scene we can remember when the night stretches long: a widow keeps coming, day after day, and the judge finally acts. The Lord wants His disciples to keep asking, keep approaching, and keep expecting God to do what is right.

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
Text: Luke 18:9–14

Two Men, Two Prayers, One Verdict
Luke tells us exactly why Jesus told this story: He addressed “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” (Luke 18:9). Two men went up to the temple to pray. One stood tall, rehearsing a record of fasting and tithing and measuring himself against other people. The other stood at a distance, eyes lowered, striking his chest and pleading, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus gave the Lord’s verdict in a single sentence: the tax collector went down to his house justified; the Pharisee did not. The Lord measures hearts by humility and truth. Real repentance seeks mercy. Real humility receives it.

Blind Leading the Blind
Text: Luke 6:39; cf. Matthew 15:14

When the Guide Cannot See
Jesus set a short sentence in front of His disciples: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39). A guide without sight cannot keep his own footing, much less protect those who follow. This warning belongs in every generation because teachers shape souls, and followers share outcomes. The Lord calls for leaders whose sight comes from Scripture and for hearers who test every voice by the same light.

The Parable of the Speck and Log
Text: Matthew 7:3–5; Luke 6:41–42

The Carpenter’s Picture
Jesus closes in on our habits with a vivid image. A man peers hard at a brother’s speck while a beam juts from his own eye. Everyone in the shop can see the problem except the man holding the timber on his face. The Lord’s point is plain: self-examination must precede correction. When we start with ourselves, we gain clear sight to help a brother. When we skip that step, we slip into hypocrisy and harm the very person we hoped to help.

A House, a Guard, and a Greater Power
Jesus sketches a scene everyone can picture. A well-armed strong man guards his house and keeps his goods secure. Then a stronger man arrives, overpowers the guard, ties him up, and carries off what he once held. With a few strokes, the Lord tells us what His ministry means. Satan claimed people as property. Jesus entered the house, subdued the guard, and began a rescue.

The Parable of the Returning Unclean Spirit
Text: Matthew 12:43–45; Luke 11:24–26

An Empty House That Didn’t Stay Empty
Jesus describes a person as a house. An unclean spirit departs. Time passes. The spirit returns and finds the house “empty, swept, and put in order.” Seeing vacancy, it brings seven more wicked than itself, and the final condition becomes worse than the first. The picture is vivid: moral clean-up without full surrender leaves a vacancy that invites ruin. The lesson presses on the conscience—clearing out evil must be joined to taking the Lord at His word and arranging life around His commands.