Jesus' Parables

JESUS'

PARABLES

     Another method of Jesus' teaching was the use of parables. In the biblical books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are 39 parables that are spread throughout the King James Version of the Bible. Many of the parables are repeated throughout these four books, with the majority of them in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Parables were used by Jesus Christ to teach others how to live life his way. A parable is defined as a metaphor or simile, within a story format, used to illustrate a spiritual value. Jesus' parables were filled with imagery related to life on Earth and always had an hidden message. Many of his parables were spoken to his disciples and followers during his lifetime. However, the parables Jesus told were not understood by everyone who heard them.

The Gospels of Matthew Parables:

1. Candle Under a Bushel (Matthew 5:14-16)
2. Wise Man Builds on Rock and a Foolish Man
      Builds on Sand (7:24-27).
3. New Cloth on an Old Garment (9:16)
4. NewWine in Old Wineskins (9:17).
5. The Sower (13:3-23)
6. The Tares (13:24-30)
7. The Mustard Seed (13:31,32)
8. The Leaven (13:33),
9. The Hidden Treasure (13:44),
10. The Pearl of Great Price (13:45,46)
11. The Net (13:47-50).
12. The Lost Sheep (18:12-14)
13. The Unforgiving Servant (18:23-35).
14. The Laborers in the Vineyard (20:1-16),
15. The Two Sons (21:28-32)
16. The Wicked Husbandmen (21:33-45)
17. The Wedding Feast (22:2-14),
18. The Fig Tree (24:32-44)
19. The Wise and Foolish Virgins (25:1-13)
20. The Talents (25:14-30)

The Gospels of Mark Parables

1. New Cloth on an Old Garment (2:21)
2. New Wine in Old Wineskins (2:22)
3. Candle Under a Bushel (4:21,22).
4. The Sower (4:2-20),
5. The Mustard Seed (4:30-32),
6. The Wicked Husbandmen (12:1-12)
7. The Fig Tree (13:28-32).
8. The Growing Seed (4:26-29)
9. The Absent Householder (13:33-37).
The Gospels of Luke Parables

1. New Cloth on an Old Garment (5:36)
2. New Wine in Old Wineskins (5:37,38)
3. Wise Man Builds on Rock and a Foolish
     Man Builds on Sand (6:47-49).
4. The Creditor and Two Debtors (7:41-43).
5. The Sower (8:4-15)
6. The Good Samaritan parable (10:30-37)
7. A Friend in Need (11:5-13)
8. The Candle Under a Bushel parable
      (11:33-36)
9.   The Rich Fool (12:16-21)
10. The Faithful Servant
11. The Evil Servant (12:35-40)
12. The Faithful and Wise Steward (12:42-48).
13. The Mustard Seed (13:18,19)
14. The Leaven (13:20,21)
15. The Barren Fig Tree (13:6-9)
16. The Great Supper (14:16-24)
17. Building a Tower & A King Making War
        (14:25-35)
18. The Lost Sheep (15:3-7)
19. The Lost Coin (15:8-10)
20. The Prodigal Son (15:11-32)
21. The Unjust Steward (16:1-13)
22. The Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19-31
23. Unprofitable Servants (17:7-10)
24. The Importunate Widow (18:1-8)
25. The Pharisee and the Publican (18:9-14).
26. The Minas, or Pounds (19:11-27)
27. The Wicked Husbandmen (20:9-19)
28. The Fig Tree (21:29-33).

   The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) is a wonderful example of a story that provides spiritual guidance. Jesus compares the response of a Levite, a priest, and the Samaritan to a beaten man lying on the side of a road. Jesus ends the narrative by instructing his listeners to follow the actions of the good Samaritan: "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37).

The Gospels of John Parables

    Although there is no mention of parables in this book, there are two that retell parables from the previous books. In the 10th chapter, The Good Shepard (10:11-18) is told. In the 15th chapter, The Vine (15:1-5) parable is rehashed.