The strong man of this parable is evidently Satan, who guards the palace of man’s nature, to which he has no right. It is the palace of the King, which has been captured by his direst foe. The demonpossession of the body is a parable and illustration of the

terrible results of the possession of the soul by the demons of jealousy, passion, etc. Satan i+ strongstronger than Adam in his innocence or David in his palace. He is armed with the lie; is always on the watch to lull us into false security; but the peace which he gives ‘is of death.

Thank God, Christ is stronger! In the wilderness and on the Cross he proved himself so. He took away his foe’s armor and bruised his head. When Christ takes up his residence in the heart Satan may rage outside and fling in horrid suggestions, but the door is kept closed against his return. They are to be pitied who make a reform in their own strength—Satan will return. Only Christ can work permanent deliverance.

Luke 11:27-32. What a tribute this woman paid our Lord! He was full of grace as well as truth; and those who, with unbiased and unprejudiced minds, saw him moving among men, were constrained to confess his inimitable beauty. Notice that the simplest soul that hears and obeys God’s Word is equally beatified with his mother, v. 28.

Men will be judged by the opportunities they have had. Every age and every race and every individual on which the sun has ever shone has had a chance. Not our chance, but a chance suited to the spiritual vision of each, John 1:9; Rom..1: 20; 2:5, etc. So God will be able to judge all men. But in how many cases will they who have not had our advantages be found in a higher class in the great University of Heaven than some of us who have lived amid the light of Christ!