His parables, using earthly objects and human situations, mirrored spiritual realities in the heavenly dimension. In the New Testament Jesus spoke 43 parables. Of these, 13 were about the kingdom of heaven and were divided in the following way: 5 agricultural examples. The precise number of parables in the Bible varies based on different definitions of what a parable is. By some counts, Jesus gave us more than 30 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Others suggest the total number of parables by Jesus totals more than 50.
The parables of the New Testament are found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The word ‘parable’ comes from the Greek word ‘parabole’, which translates to “a placing beside”, and it is used to describe a brief story using familiar examples. Parables told by Jesus Christ were meant to be simple stories that illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Many times, these parables are based on everyday events and objects that could be related to by the average person at that time (and hopefully still today).
The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13:1-23
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares – Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43
The Parable of the Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
The Parable of the Leaven – Matthew 13:33
The Parable of the Treasure Hidden in a Field – Matthew 13:44
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value – Matthew 13:45-46
The Parable of the Dragnet – Matthew 13:47-50.
List of Parables in the Bible
1. The Parable of the Sower
This parable, found in Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15, speaks about different responses to the word of God.
2. The Parable of the Mustard Seed
This parable, found in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19, talks about the growth of the kingdom of God from small beginnings.
3. The Parable of the Prodigal Son
This well-known parable, found in Luke 15:11-32, tells the story of a son who squanders his inheritance but is welcomed back by his father.
4. The Parable of the Good Samaritan
This parable, found in Luke 10:25-37, emphasizes the importance of showing compassion and mercy to others.
5. The Parable of the Lost Sheep
This parable, found in Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7, illustrates God’s pursuit of those who are lost.
6. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
This parable, found in Luke 18:9-14, contrasts the attitudes of pride and humility in prayer.
7. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
This parable, found in Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:46-49, teaches about the importance of building a strong foundation on God’s word.
8. The Parable of the Ten Virgins
This parable, found in Matthew 25:1-13, warns about being prepared for the return of Christ.
9. The Parable of the Talents
This parable, found in Matthew 25:14-30, teaches about using our gifts and resources wisely for the kingdom of God.
10. The Parable of the Wedding Feast
This parable, found in Matthew 22:1-14, illustrates God’s invitation to all people to come to the kingdom.
| Parable | Scriptural References |
|---|---|
| The Sower | Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15 |
| Mustard Seed | Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19 |
| Prodigal Son | Luke 15:11-32 |
| Good Samaritan | Luke 10:25-37 |
| Lost Sheep | Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:3-7 |
| Pharisee and Tax Collector | Luke 18:9-14 |
| Wise and Foolish Builders | Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46-49 |
| Ten Virgins | Matthew 25:1-13 |
| Talents | Matthew 25:14-30 |
| Wedding Feast | Matthew 22:1-14 |
38 Parables of Jesus and Their Meanings
1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23)
The story of a farmer who scattered seeds on different types of soil, illustrating how people receive and respond to the Word of God.
2. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
A man is robbed and beaten, but a Samaritan helps him while others pass by, teaching about the importance of compassion and caring for others.
3. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
A son demands his inheritance, squanders it, and returns home to his forgiving father, symbolizing God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
4. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14)
A shepherd leaves his flock to find one lost sheep, emphasizing God’s relentless pursuit of those who stray from Him.
5. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
A tiny seed grows into a large tree, representing the growth and expansion of the Kingdom of God from humble beginnings.
6. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
Two men pray in the temple, with the humble tax collector being justified before God instead of the proud Pharisee, teaching about the importance of humility and repentance.
7. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)
Two men build houses, one on sand and the other on rock, demonstrating the importance of a firm foundation in following Jesus.
8. The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)
A king invites guests to a wedding feast, but they refuse, so he invites others in their place, symbolizing God’s invitation to all people to enter the Kingdom.
9. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
A master entrusts his servants with talents, and they are rewarded based on how they invest them, teaching about using our abilities for God’s purposes.
10. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)
A rich man builds bigger barns to store his wealth but dies before he can enjoy it, illustrating the folly of pursuing material possessions over spiritual riches.
11. The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Ten virgins wait for the bridegroom, with five being prepared with enough oil for their lamps and five being unprepared, emphasizing the importance of being ready for Christ’s return.
12. The Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18)
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and is willing to lay down His life for them, highlighting His love and care for His followers.
13. The Parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-8)
Jesus compares His relationship with His followers to a vine and its branches, teaching about the importance of abiding in Him for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
14. The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
A widow persists in seeking justice from an unjust judge, showing the value of persistent prayer and faith in God’s justice.
15. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
A servant is forgiven a huge debt but refuses to forgive a smaller debt owed to him, illustrating the need for us to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
16. The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
A father asks his two sons to work in the vineyard, with one initially refusing but later obeying, and the other promising to work but not doing so, teaching about the importance of true repentance and obedience.
17. The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)
A landowner sends servants and his son to collect fruit from tenants, who mistreat and kill them, symbolizing Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers and ultimately Jesus Himself.
18. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
A landowner hires workers throughout the day but pays them all the same wage, illustrating God’s grace and generosity in salvation.
19. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
A rich man ignores a beggar named Lazarus at his gate but both end up in different afterlife destinations, highlighting the consequences of how we treat others in this life.
20. The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
A man invites guests to a banquet, but they make excuses not to come, so he invites others, symbolizing the offer of salvation to all people, regardless of their status or background.
21. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
A fig tree fails to bear fruit, and the owner decides to cut it down, but the gardener pleads for one more year of care, illustrating God’s patience and desire for repentance and fruitfulness.
22. The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)
A woman searches for a lost coin until she finds it, representing God’s relentless pursuit of sinners and the joy in heaven over even one sinner who repents.
23. The Parable of the Lost Son (Matthew 15:11-32)
A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one lost sheep, emphasizing God’s love and care for each individual and His desire that none should perish.
24. The Parable of the Unforgiving Brother (Matthew 18:15-35)
A king forgives a servant’s huge debt, but the servant refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him by his brother, illustrating the importance of forgiveness and mercy towards others.
25. The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30)
A farmer plants wheat, but an enemy sows weeds in the field, and both grow together until the harvest, symbolizing the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment.
26. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
Three servants are given talents by their master, with two investing and earning more, but one burying it out of fear, teaching about using our gifts and resources for God’s kingdom purposes.
27. The Parable of the Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8)
A man asks his friend for bread at midnight and keeps knocking until he receives it, illustrating the value of persistent prayer and trust in God’s provision.
28. The Parable of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
Jesus commands His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey His commands, emphasizing the global mission of the church.
29. The Parable of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
Ten lepers are healed by Jesus, but only one returns to thank Him, highlighting the importance of gratitude and recognizing God’s blessings in our lives.
30. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13)
A dishonest manager is commended for his shrewdness in preparing for his future, challenging believers to use their resources wisely and prioritize eternal investments.
31. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
Two men pray in the temple, with the humble tax collector being justified before God instead of the proud Pharisee, teaching about the importance of humility and repentance.
32. The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Five wise virgins are prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival with enough oil for their lamps, while five foolish ones are not, illustrating the need for readiness and vigilance in anticipating Christ’s return.
33. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
A master entrusts his servants with talents, and they are rewarded based on how they invest them, teaching about using our abilities for God’s purposes.
34. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
A man is robbed and beaten, but a Samaritan helps him while others pass by, teaching about the importance of compassion and caring for others.
35. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
A son demands his inheritance, squanders it, and returns home to his forgiving father, symbolizing God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
36. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14)
A shepherd leaves his flock to find one lost sheep, emphasizing God’s relentless pursuit of those who stray from Him.
37. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
A tiny seed grows into a large tree, representing the growth and expansion of the Kingdom of God from humble beginnings.
38. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)
Two men pray in the temple, with the humble tax collector being justified before God instead of the proud Pharisee, teaching about the importance of humility and repentance.
List of Of Parables In The New Testament
Each parable is short and usually cannot be interpreted literally. Parables teach us by using symbolism to illustrate their point, so the meaning is usually found by interpreting the symbols being used. Below you will find a list of all New Testament parables mentioned in scripture along with a short summary explaining what each one means:
What Are The 7 Parables In The Bible
1. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23)
- This parable talks about a sower who sows seeds on different types of soil, representing different responses to the gospel message.
2. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32)
- Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, which starts small but grows into a large tree where birds can perch.
3. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
- This parable illustrates God’s love for sinners by showing how a shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one lost sheep.
4. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
- This parable tells the story of a son who squanders his inheritance but is welcomed back by his father with open arms, symbolizing God’s forgiveness and grace.
5. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
- In this parable, Jesus teaches about loving your neighbor as yourself through the story of a Samaritan who helps a man left for dead on the side of the road.
6. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
- Jesus uses this parable to teach about using our God-given gifts and resources wisely and faithfully, emphasizing stewardship and responsibility.
7. The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
- This parable warns about being prepared for the second coming of Christ, comparing the wise and foolish virgins who either had enough oil for their lamps or did not.
The Lost Sheep
As a shepherd, you leave the flock to find the one lost sheep.
As a shepherd, you leave the flock to find the lost one.
As a shepherd, you leave your flock to find that one lost sheep.
As a shepherd, you leave your flock to find that lost one.
The Lost Coin
This parable is about a woman who loses one of her coins, and then searches for it with an intensity that is greater than the other women’s reactions to the lost coin.
The moral of this story is that our worth as individuals is inversely proportional to how much we value ourselves. Only as people see their own value will they be able to appreciate each other’s worth.
The Prodigal Son
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is about the love of a father for his son. The parable is told in Luke 15:11-32 and it is the story of two brothers, one who loves and serves his father, and another who leaves home and wastes all his money on wild living. When he has nothing left, a man hires him to care for pigs. After some time passes, this younger brother realizes that he has made a huge mistake by leaving home and wasting all his wealth. He then decides to return home after having learned his lesson; however, when he returns home he finds that his father has waited for him with open arms!
The Good Samaritan
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most beloved stories in the New Testament. It is also one of the most misunderstood. This parable is about a traveler who was robbed, beaten and left for dead by thieves on a rural road (Luke 10:25-37). A priest and a Levite saw him lying there as they passed by, but they did not stop to help him because Jews considered Samaritans to be unclean people (vomit) (v 26). A Samaritan man came along shortly after those two had passed and he took pity on this wounded victim (vv 32-33). The Samaritan bandaged his wounds and carried him to an inn where he paid for two rooms—one for himself and another for his injured companion (v 35).
The story ends with Christ explaining how we should treat others: “Go now and do likewise” or “Go into all nations teaching them what I have told you.” This parable teaches us that anyone can save another person’s life—even someone who comes from a different ethnic group or religion than yourself!
The Unjust Steward
The Unjust Steward is a parable that teaches us how to be good stewards of God’s resources. The story teaches us that we should use God’s resources wisely, and not waste them.
The rich man had an unjust steward who took advantage of him by cheating him out of his money and property. The unrighteousness involved in the story is clear because the rich man gave his servants much more than he needed, but then was cheated out of his possessions by an untrustworthy servant who did not know how to properly handle wealth or property.
The Rich Fool
The rich fool was a man who wasted his money by buying things that were foolish. He did not use his money wisely, because he wasted it on foolish things.
The rich fool was a man who had much wealth, but he did not use his wealth to do good things for other people. He spent all of his money on foolishness, and then there was nothing left for him when he died!
The Rich Man and Lazarus
The Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable in which Jesus teaches the lesson that those who do not help the poor will be punished by God. The story takes place after death, when Abraham asks for two people to come out of hell. He sends the rich man back to earth, but he refuses because he is in agony (Luke 16:19-31).
The story has several important symbolic characters:
- The Rich Man represents Jews who did not help Gentiles.
- Lazarus represents Gentiles who were poor and sickly as a result of their poverty or sickness (Luke 16:19-30).
Laborers In The Vineyard
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is a parable told by Jesus to some Pharisees and Sadducees who were complaining about the fact that some people had been hired at various times during the day to work in a vineyard. The parable was intended as a rebuke against those who thought that their spiritual standing earned them greater rewards from God, or that they could somehow force God’s hand by working harder than others.
Workers in a vineyard
The parable is about the Kingdom of God and the reward of the faithful. In this parable, a landowner hires people at different times throughout the day to work in his vineyard. When he pays them at the end of the day, he pays them all equally (1st hired = 1 penny; 2nd hired = 1 penny; 3rd hired = 1 penny). The workers looked at this as unfair because they had worked longer than others but were still paid an equal amount. They complained to each other saying “Those who came last worked only one hour, yet you have made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and its heat.”
This story illustrates how Jesus values all people regardless of their position or status on earth. All are considered equal before God no matter what color they are or where they come from!
Two Sons
The prodigal son is the first of a series of parables in Luke 15. The story begins with a father who has two sons and one day he decides to give his wealth to both sons, but he tells them that they must wait until he dies before receiving it.
The younger son asks for his share of the inheritance early and leaves home, spending it all on partying and women. He becomes so poor that he has nothing left except for one piece of clothing to wear, so he goes out into the fields and starts working with pigs in order to eat something. After realizing what an idiot he was for leaving his father’s house behind, this young man decides that he needs some help from his father if there is any chance at getting back on track with life again. He returns home with no shame or remorse over how foolishly he acted before leaving (he still had plenty of money left in his pocket), only wanting forgiveness from his Dad as well as a job at least as good as what others were doing around town just so long as they weren’t pigs! But instead when this man walked through those doors again after being gone such a long time without contact whatsoever—his dad welcomed him back home with open arms saying “my son was dead but now lives again; my lost inheritance had been found!”
Wedding Feast Parable (Matthew 22)
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. He sent out many servants to invite those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come. So he sent his servants again, telling them to say, “Tell those who are invited: I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle have been killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” But they made light of it and went away one after another because they did not want to come (Matthew 22).
This parable teaches us that God loves us all so much that He wants all people everywhere on earth to turn from their sins and receive His forgiveness through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). The only way any person can be saved is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10).
Marriage of the Kings Son (Matthew 22)
The king here is God. The wedding feast is heaven, and the invited guests are the Jews. The servants that were sent out to invite people to come to this wedding feast are the prophets who come between John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The King’s son was Jesus Christ, who is referred to as “the Bridegroom” in Matthew 22:1-10 and Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:34-35; 7:28-29; John 3:29 (cf. Isaiah 61:10). To be invited you must first accept God’s invitation through one of his servants/messengers, which include Moses and Elijah in Matthew 17:3; Malachi 4:5-6 (cf.. Malachi 3:1). After one has been accepted by God he or she can then enter into a relationship with Him through prayer like Solomon did when he prayed for wisdom from God in 1 Kings 3:5-12
Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18)
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant is found in Matthew 18:23-35. This parable teaches that forgiveness is more important than mercy because it leads to mercy.
A king who owed a large amount of money to a servant asked him to forgive him this debt, but the servant refused and sent his master away empty handed. When the king heard what happened, he became angry and punished both servants by having them thrown into prison until they paid back all that was owed.
When other servants heard about what happened, they were afraid because they knew their master had authority over them too; so they went and told their fellow servants that if any one of them did not forgive their debts it would be like throwing themselves into prison as well!
Good Samaritan (Luke 10)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a man who was robbed and left for dead by thieves on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. This story, known as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. The main character in this story was not just any passerby; he was someone who had met with misfortune and needed assistance. A priest, Levite and Samaritan all passed him by without offering any help whatsoever—even though they were obligated to do so as religious leaders in first-century Israel.
But then along came another traveler: a Samaritan! He knew nothing about this injured man—he had never even met him before that day—and yet he stopped what he was doing to help him when no one else would give two cents’ worth of concern.
Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13)
The parable of the barren fig tree is a warning to Israel. The fig tree represents Israel and its fruit is God’s blessing. When Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they were no longer blessed by God. In fact, they were cursed with the judgement of God (Matt 23:29).
The message here is simple: if you reject Christ as your Lord and Saviour then you will not receive His blessings but rather face His wrath and punishment instead!
As a result of this rejection, God had no choice but to punish them through Roman occupation and 70 years captivity in Babylonian exile. However, when Christ returns again, there will be no more curse upon Israel because He will bring about restoration for all nations that have been ruined by sin.
Thrown Out of a Wedding Party (John 2)
The first of many miracles that Jesus performed was at a wedding party, when he turned water into wine.
This event occurred in Cana.
The hosts at the party were running out of wine and so they asked Jesus if he could help them by turning some water into some more wine.
Jesus said, “I can do it.” And then he turned their water into new wine!
Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16)
One of the more famous parables, this story tells of a rich man who dies and goes to hell. The poor man Lazarus is sent to heaven while the rich man is left in torment. The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back from heaven so that he may warn his brothers not to end up in hell too.
The message here seems pretty obvious: be aware of how you treat others because you never know where they’ll end up. This lesson applies whether you’re talking about your life on earth or after it’s over (and especially if you’ve been naughty).
Each parable is short and usually cannot be interpreted literally. Parables teach us by using symbolism to illustrate their point, so the meaning is usually found by interpreting the symbols being used.
A parable is a short story that uses symbolism to illustrate its point, so the meaning is usually found by interpreting the symbols being used. Parables are not only for children, but can be for all ages. You may have heard many of them before: “The Ant And The Grasshopper” and “The Prodigal Son.”
There are many parables in the New Testament and we will explore some of them here. Each parable has a message that teaches us something about God and ourselves. A good example is “The Wise And Foolish Virgins” which tells us that being prepared spiritually is important before entering into heaven or hell (Matt 25:1-13).
Conclusion
I hope this list of parables will help you learn more about the Bible and how important they are in teaching us spiritual lessons. Each one teaches with a unique message