The parables of Jesus

The parables of Jesus, with every Gospel reference

• The Wise and Foolish Builders

  Whoever hears his sayings and does them is like a man who built his house upon a rock; the house on sand fell. Also Luke 6:47-49.

  Matthew 7:24-27

• New Cloth and New Wine

  No one sews new cloth on an old garment or puts new wine into old bottles. Also Mark 2:21-22 and Luke 5:36-39.

  Matthew 9:16-17

• The Sower

  Jesus explains it himself; in Luke's words, "The seed is the word of God," and the soils are the ways people hear it. Also Mark 4:3-20 and Luke 8:5-15.

  Matthew 13:3-23

• The Wheat and the Tares

  Jesus explains it: "The field is the world"; the tares are the children of the wicked one, and "the harvest is the end of the world." Matthew only (13:36-43).

  Matthew 13:24-30

• The Mustard Seed

  The kingdom starts as "the least of all seeds" and becomes a tree where birds lodge. Also Mark 4:30-32 and Luke 13:18-19.

  Matthew 13:31-32

• The Leaven

  Leaven hid in three measures of meal works "till the whole was leavened." Also Luke 13:20-21.

  Matthew 13:33

• The Hidden Treasure

  A man finds treasure in a field and "for joy thereof" sells all he has to buy the field. Matthew only.

  Matthew 13:44

• The Pearl of Great Price

  A merchant finds "one pearl of great price" and sells all that he had to buy it. Matthew only.

  Matthew 13:45-46

• The Net

  A net gathers of every kind; at the end of the world the angels "sever the wicked from among the just." Matthew only.

  Matthew 13:47-50

• The Lost Sheep

  A shepherd leaves the ninety and nine to seek one that went astray; it is not the Father's will "that one of these little ones should perish." Luke 15:3-7 adds "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

  Matthew 18:12-14

• The Unmerciful Servant

  A servant forgiven a huge debt will not forgive a small one. The point: forgive your brother "from your hearts." Matthew only.

  Matthew 18:23-35

• The Labourers in the Vineyard

  Workers hired at the eleventh hour are paid the same as those hired early: "So the last shall be first, and the first last." Matthew only.

  Matthew 20:1-16

• The Two Sons

  One son refused and then went; the other said I go and did not. The publicans and harlots believed John; the leaders did not. Matthew only.

  Matthew 21:28-32

• The Wicked Husbandmen

  Tenants beat the owner's servants and kill his son. The chief priests and Pharisees "perceived that he spake of them." Also Mark 12:1-11 and Luke 20:9-18.

  Matthew 21:33-44

• The Marriage of the King's Son

  Invited guests refuse to come, and one guest has no wedding garment: "For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew only.

  Matthew 22:1-14

• The Budding Fig Tree

  When its branch puts forth leaves, summer is nigh; so his hearers should know the signs. Also Mark 13:28-31 and Luke 21:29-33.

  Matthew 24:32-35

• The Faithful and Wise Servant

  A servant set over the household should be found doing his work when his lord returns. Also Luke 12:42-48.

  Matthew 24:45-51

• The Ten Virgins

  Five wise virgins took oil and five foolish ones did not. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour." Matthew only.

  Matthew 25:1-13

• The Talents

  Servants given five, two and one talents; the faithful hear "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Matthew only.

  Matthew 25:14-30

• The Sheep and the Goats

  The King separates the nations: what was done "unto one of the least of these my brethren" was done unto him. Matthew only; some lists count it as a prophecy rather than a parable.

  Matthew 25:31-46

• The Candle Under a Bushel

  A candle is set on a candlestick, "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested." Also Luke 8:16 (and compare Matthew 5:15).

  Mark 4:21-22

• The Growing Seed

  Seed grows while the sower sleeps, "he knoweth not how": first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn. Mark only.

  Mark 4:26-29

• The Two Debtors

  Told to Simon the Pharisee: the one forgiven more loves more. Luke only.

  Luke 7:41-43

• The Good Samaritan

  The answer to "And who is my neighbour?" ends with "Go, and do thou likewise." Luke only.

  Luke 10:30-37

• The Friend at Midnight

  A friend asks for three loaves at midnight and receives them "because of his importunity." Luke only.

  Luke 11:5-8

• The Rich Fool

  Told after the warning "beware of covetousness"; it ends, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke only.

  Luke 12:16-21

• The Watchful Servants

  Servants waiting for their lord with lights burning: "Be ye therefore ready also." Luke only.

  Luke 12:35-40

• The Barren Fig Tree

  No fruit for three years; the dresser asks for one more year before it is cut down. Luke only.

  Luke 13:6-9

• The Great Supper

  The invited make excuses, so the poor, maimed, halt and blind are brought in. Luke only.

  Luke 14:16-24

• The Lost Piece of Silver

  A woman sweeps the house for one lost piece; "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke only.

  Luke 15:8-10

• The Prodigal Son

  A son wastes his inheritance and comes home to his father: "this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found." Luke only.

  Luke 15:11-32

• The Unjust Steward

  A steward about to lose his place acts shrewdly; the lord "commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely." Luke only.

  Luke 16:1-9

• The Rich Man and Lazarus

  After death their places are reversed; "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke only; readers differ on whether it is a parable.

  Luke 16:19-31

• The Unprofitable Servants

  Having done what is commanded, say "We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." Luke only.

  Luke 17:7-10

• The Unjust Judge

  Luke states the point first: "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." A widow's persistence wins her case. Luke only.

  Luke 18:1-8

• The Pharisee and the Publican

  The publican prayed "God be merciful to me a sinner" and went home justified: "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke only.

  Luke 18:9-14

• The Pounds

  A nobleman gives ten servants a pound each and says "Occupy till I come." Told because they thought the kingdom would appear immediately. Luke only.

  Luke 19:11-27

Parables Jesus explained himself

Jesus gave the meaning of the Sower (Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15), the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:36-43) and the Net (Matthew 13:49-50). For others the Gospel writer states the purpose, as with the Unjust Judge and the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18, or Jesus closes with a one-line lesson.

Where the parables are found

Luke has the most parables found nowhere else, including the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Matthew has a long chapter of kingdom parables (Matthew 13) and several near the end of his Gospel. Of the three, Mark has the fewest. John uses the word once, for the sheepfold teaching ("This parable spake Jesus unto them," John 10:6), but his Gospel has no story parables like the others.

How many parables are there?

Counts range from about 30 to over 40. Some short sayings, like the new wine in old bottles, are counted as parables on some lists and not others, and the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Sheep and the Goats are debated.

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Matthew 13:34 · KJV