The Pharisees: Pictures of Carelessness & Presumption

The Parable of the Unethical Manager: Who will speak for you in the judgment?
a. “Being removed from management” is a symbol for death and Divine judgment
b. To be “received into houses” means heavenly reward
c.Jesus isn't advocating stealing to make provision for the future, but rather being aware enough to see that changes are coming and one should not be so careless as to not make preparation.

The Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus: Presumption is no friend in the judgment.
a. The rich man is a symbol for the Pharisees who have ignored the needs of sinners
b. Lazarus is a symbol for the sinners who have come to Jesus in Perea. They are wrecked by their lives of sin, yet seeing their need more clearly than the Pharisees they rely on God's grace as an abiding gift.