Parables of Jesus
30 parables explained with historical context, key lessons, modern-day application, and discussion questions for study groups and personal reflection.
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Each parable includes context, lessons, modern application, and discussion questions.
Kingdom
The Sower
A farmer went out to scatter seed across his land. Some seed fell on the path where birds quickly ate it. Some fell on r...
The Mustard Seed
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. Though it is one of the smallest seeds, ...
The Pearl of Great Price
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a merchant who spent his life searching for fine pearls. When he found one pearl...
The Workers in the Vineyard
A landowner hired workers for his vineyard at different hours throughout the day — some at dawn, others at mid-morning, ...
The Leaven
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour — about sixty pounds' wort...
The Hidden Treasure
Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man discovered it, he was so overjoyed that ...
The Growing Seed
Jesus said the kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up...
The Wheat and the Tares
Jesus told of a farmer who sowed good wheat seed in his field. While everyone slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds (tare...
Forgiveness & Grace
The Good Samaritan
A traveler was attacked by robbers on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, left beaten and half-dead. A priest and a Levi...
The Prodigal Son
A younger son demanded his share of the family inheritance early — an act that essentially wished his father dead. He tr...
The Lost Sheep
Jesus described a shepherd who had a hundred sheep and lost one. Rather than staying comfortable with the ninety-nine, t...
The Good Shepherd
Jesus described himself as the good shepherd who enters the sheepfold through the gate, unlike thieves who climb over th...
The Unforgiving Servant
Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him — suggesting seven times as generous. Je...
The Lost Coin
A woman who had ten silver coins lost one. She lit a lamp, swept the house, and searched carefully until she found it. W...
The Two Debtors
Jesus was dining at the home of Simon the Pharisee when a sinful woman came in weeping, washed Jesus's feet with her tea...
The Unmerciful Servant
A king decided to settle accounts with his servants. One servant owed ten thousand talents — an impossibly large debt eq...
Stewardship & Service
The Talents
Before going on a journey, a master entrusted his property to three servants according to their abilities. The first rec...
The Rich Fool
Someone in the crowd asked Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute with his brother. Jesus refused the role of arbitrator...
The Shrewd Manager
A rich man's manager was accused of wasting his master's possessions and was told he would be fired. Knowing he was abou...
The Ten Minas
A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before leaving, he called ten servants and ga...
Prayer & Faith
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Jesus concluded his famous Sermon on the Mount with this vivid comparison. A wise man built his house on solid rock — wh...
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Two men went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood prominently and prayed about himself, thanking God that he was no...
The Persistent Widow
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up. A widow in a certain town kept ...
Judgment & Readiness
The Ten Virgins
Ten young women took their lamps to meet a bridegroom for a wedding celebration. Five were wise and brought extra oil; f...
The Wedding Feast
A king prepared a magnificent wedding banquet for his son and sent servants to call those who had been invited. But the ...
The Net
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a large net cast into the sea that caught fish of every kind. When the net was f...
The Rich Man and Lazarus
A wealthy man lived in luxury daily while a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered in sores, longing for scraps f...
The Barren Fig Tree
A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and came looking for fruit on it but found none. For three years he had bee...
The Great Banquet
A man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. When everything was ready, he sent his servant to tell the invit...
The Sheep and the Goats
Jesus described the Son of Man coming in glory with all the angels, sitting on his glorious throne with all nations gath...