In the earlier parables, Jesus left people wondering what he meant. In the latter parables, Jesus was often very direct. For example, in Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus spoke a parable directly against the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem. They had no problem understanding the parable, but they trapped themselves by their reaction to it. We too need to be careful not to fall into the same trap.
In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul reminds us that life is full of transitions from one state to another, for example, from unmarried to married...
In this thank you letter to the Philippians, Paul teaches us about giving for missionary work.
This first parable from Matthew provides the key to understanding all the parables and to entering the kingdom of God.