A servant doing his master’s will
Sees himself as unworthy
Recognizing all he has really done
Is what was only his duty
Don’t be the unmerciful servant
For much he had been forgiven
But could not forgive his fellow servant
For the little he had taken.
Who really is my neighbour?
The expert in the law did ask
Only to discover all to whom we can do good
Is the extent of our task
A friend in need is a friend in deed
Even at the midnight hour
One who boldly asks should be given
What it is he truly wants to borrow
When invited to a wedding feast
Don’t sit in the place of honour
That’s for the distinguished guest
The host will demand you sit lower
Real estate, a new wife and oxen
Were reasons why they refused
Invitees to a great banquet
Made excuse after excuse after excuse
Any man who sets out to build a house
Should carefully count the cost
And salt is surely good for nothing
If its saltiness it has lost
There is joy up in heaven
Over one lost sheep the shepherd finds
Far more than the rejoicing
Over the other ninety and nine
Or consider that woman
Who from her rare collection loses a coin,
Think of the great celebration
When to the ten that coin is rejoined
“Give me what is mine,” demanded the heir
And to a far country went
Only to return to “Father’s house”
After he saw the need to repent
Accused of mismanagement
The unjust steward was called to give account
But was commended for his shrewdness
After reducing the loan amounts
The rich man living sumptuously
Ignored the beggar at his gate
But in hell requested Abraham
To send Lazarus to relieve his state
Some workers agreed to their pay
As they came on at different stages
But the first ones became angry
When the last received the same wages
Some consider it as nagging
But it got the attention of the judge
The widow received her just demands
When at first he wouldn’t budge
Two went up to the temple to pray
A Publican and a Pharisee
The Pharisee did pray how good he was
The Publican begged for mercy
A king who retuned from afar
Put the faithful stewards over his cities
But the servant who kept the investment
Was punished most severely
Two sons were commissioned
The first said no but later changed his mind
The second said yes but never did
What it was that he was assigned
These tenants seized the owner’s servants
Finally they killed his son
But they were brought to a wretched end
When all was said and done
A guest who attended the banquet
But refused a wedding garment
Was bound both hand and foot
And into outer darkness was sent
The fig tree is a valuable lesson
Reminding that summer is near
So the signs that point to the Lord’s coming
Tell that he will soon appear
Far better to be a faithful servant
Awake, alert and watching
Than to be a wicked servant
Who when the Lord comes finds him napping
Or consider the ten virgins
Five were wise and five were foolish
Five went in with the Bridegroom
The other five were left with just a wish
It’s like a man leaving his servants
And going to a country far away
Then returning when they least expect it
On that unexpected day
Five talents gained five more
two talents became four
But the slothful wicked servant’s talent
Did not even gain one more
Goats on his left and sheep on his right
When the Son of Man shall come
The goats to everlasting punishment
The sheep will inherit God’s kingdom.
So end these forty-six parables
Instructive for you and me
Once we keep them in our mind
And take them seriously
They all speak of God’s coming kingdom
That Jesus came to announce,
That day is fast approaching
When all must give an account
Christ the great Judge will preside
The books will be opened wide
All and sundry will be present
Not one of us will be able to hide
We will answer for the things we’ve done
Be they righteous or be they bad
And all who have rejected the Saviour
For them that day will be very sad
Stewart Russell © 2016
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