So tonight, we're going to be looking into what is often referred to as the parable of the pounds.

And this is captured in the book of Luke.

But don't turn there now because we have to make a quick detour before we get there.

And it's going to be very, very critical for our understanding.

So I want to make sure that we have the deepest learning

that we can in the scriptures. So the part that we go to first is going to be germane to understanding

the whole meaning of this parable. First of all, a parable itself, most of you know, not all,

is defined as an illustration that teaches.

That's the simple definition. You can find other ones that are pages long, but there's no need to go there.

The simple one is an illustration that teaches.

Throughout the teachings by Jesus, he would often use parables as a way of making a point, making a critical point.

In fact, parables will make up some 35% of all the recorded writings of Jesus.

35%. So that's one third. My math is right. So that's a lot in parables that the Lord spoke. So it's important for us to understand what parables are, what they're for, to have that deeper meaning because Jesus used them for a reason and for our learning. And unlike the ways of the world, even then, as the Greeks came out with all their philosophy

and all the technical jargon, parables were a simple method used by God that confounded the wise.

And it hasn't stopped.

Even today, we have all this technology. But yet the simple message of the Bible

just goes over many people's heads because of what we call smart tartness, if you will.

We have to be careful that we don't fall into that because the Bible is the only truth and we know it.

It's necessary in every respect. All the stories and those parables, most of them non-technical,

continue to go through time and beyond time. So in the parable of the pound, many people merged this with the parable of the

talents. But that's not the case. And the parable of the talents is captured in the book of

Matthew chapter 25 verses 11 through 30. And it has several different meanings. For example, when you compare them, they were told in two different locations, and they represent two or more distinctive issues when you're talking about the amount that was given.

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