A man asks Jesus to settle an inheritance, and Jesus warns the crowd to beware of every kind of covetousness, because life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The lesson names the love of money, and the greed that can consume a whole life, as a deep problem of fallen man. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and Scripture has a great deal to say about money and possessions because the real problem is the heart: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The thorny soil, the rich young ruler and the uncertainty of riches all show how wealth can choke the word. The rich man in the parable plans for many years while God requires his soul that night. Deuteronomy warns against forgetting the Lord when prosperity comes, since it is He who gives the power to get wealth. The lesson closes on judgment: fear God and keep His commandments, and be rich toward Him.