The parable of the disappointing fruit tree portrays God the Father and God the Son considering the saving of unbelieving people. Here is the human situation from God's point of view, and the heart of God in providing a way of salvation and life.

A short parable of Christ about a failing fig tree, illustrating the Saviour's lovingkindness and mercy in redeeming and transforming worthless and dying souls. Here is the privileged uniqueness of humankind, tragically alienated from God, and the way from meaninglessness to union with the Lord.

Healing the bent-over woman in the synagogue, the Lord declares her 'loosed' rather than healed, showing the miracle to be a picture of our release (at conversion) from all the moral and spiritual limitations that bind us away from God. Here is true conversion.

The healing of a severely bent-over woman by Christ was certainly an act of compassion, but it was also a picture of release from spiritual bondage. Here are the limitations that bind us through life, that can only be removed by the Saviour of the world.

The great emphasis of the Bible is that conversion to God is a free and gracious gift that cannot be earned or deserved.  And yet we have hindrances that deter us from approaching Him.  Here they are, and how they may be resolved.

Christ says that His salvation is easy, yet He also mentions difficulties. Here are the things that make it difficult, that we are reluctant to accept. But here also are the things that make it easy for us to open the gate of new and eternal life.

In the parable of the great supper an invited guest declines to attend, implying he has better things to do. Here the Lord reasons with His hearers about their supreme need of God, and the consequences of being confined to a life of materialism. 

In two miniature parables, Christ shows the necessity of taking stock of life to avoid the loss of spiritual life and blessing. Here is the building of a tower that could not be completed, and the fighting of a war that could not be won.