Parables of Jesus
Jesus taught the crowds "many things by parables" — short stories drawn from fields, feasts, and family life that carry the weight of the kingdom of God. This library gathers forty of them, with every gospel account, the setting in which each was told, and what it means. John records no parables of this kind; the forty here come from Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Go deeper with the free lessons The Parables of Jesus and Interpreting the Parables.
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In Matthew (18)
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24-27hearing and obeyingwisdom and follyjudgment
The Sower
Matthew 13:1-23kingdom of Godhearing and obeyinggrowth
The Wheat and the Tares
Matthew 13:24-30kingdom of Godjudgmentpatience
The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32kingdom of Godgrowthfaith
The Leaven
Matthew 13:33kingdom of Godgrowth
The Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44kingdom of Goddiscipleship
The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45-46kingdom of Goddiscipleship
The Dragnet
Matthew 13:47-50kingdom of Godjudgment
The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21-35forgivenessmercyjudgment
The Laborers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1-16gracegenerositykingdom of God
The Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32repentancehearing and obeyinghypocrisy
The Wicked Tenants
Matthew 21:33-46judgmentstewardshipkingdom of God
The Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:1-14kingdom of Godgracejudgment
The Budding Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32-35readinessthe return of Christ
The Faithful and Wise Servant
Matthew 24:45-51readinessfaithfulnessstewardshipthe return of Christ
The Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13readinessthe return of Christwisdom and folly
The Talents
Matthew 25:14-30stewardshipfaithfulnessjudgment
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:31-46judgmentmercylove of neighboreternal life
In Mark (5)
New Cloth and New Wineskins
Mark 2:21-22kingdom of Goddiscipleship
The Strong Man
Mark 3:27kingdom of Goddeliverance
The Lamp under a Bushel
Mark 4:21-25discipleshiphearing and obeying
The Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29kingdom of Godgrowthpatience
The Watchful Servants
Mark 13:32-37readinessthe return of Christfaithfulness
In Luke (17)
The Two Debtors
Luke 7:36-50forgivenessgracehumility
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37love of neighbormercyeternal life
The Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5-13prayerpersistence
The Rich Fool
Luke 12:13-21money and possessionsjudgmentwisdom and folly
The Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6-9repentancepatiencejudgment
Places of Honor at the Feast
Luke 14:7-14humilitygenerosity
The Great Banquet
Luke 14:15-24kingdom of Godgrace
Counting the Cost
Luke 14:25-33discipleshipwisdom and folly
The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:1-7God's joy over the lostgracerepentance
The Lost Coin
Luke 15:8-10God's joy over the lostgracerepentance
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32God's joy over the lostgraceforgivenessrepentance
The Shrewd Manager
Luke 16:1-13stewardshipmoney and possessionswisdom and folly
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31money and possessionsjudgmentmercyeternal life
The Unprofitable Servants
Luke 17:7-10humilitygracefaithfulness
The Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1-8prayerpersistencefaiththe return of Christ
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14humilityrepentanceprayerhypocrisy
The Minas (Pounds)
Luke 19:11-27stewardshipfaithfulnessthe return of Christjudgment