求充滿這地 / Come and Fill This Land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj7daezGohs&list=RDxj7daezGohs&start_radio=1
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Bible memory verses
Bible memory verses
John 8:12
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
John 1:12
12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-..67
Parables of Jesus
https://bibilium.com/38-parables-of-jesus-parables-of-jesus/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/parables-of-jesus/#3
The parables of Jesus make up a crucial part of the Bible. Jesus had the wisdom to simplify the profound spiritual truths he needed to share with humanity in the form of relatable stories that are easy to understand. A parable is a tale about a simple, common subject to illustrate a deeper, valuable moral lesson. The source definition of the word “parable” means a placement side by side for the purpose of comparison.
Sometimes the Gospel authors begin a parable with an analogy, as "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1). Or Jesus may provide an example from everyday life to convey spiritual truth, such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan to emphasize love and mercy, or the Parable of the Friend at Midnight to show persistence in prayer.
A parable utilizes the full story to produce the spiritual lesson, whereas a proverb, metaphor, simile, or figure of speech centers usually on a word, phrase or sentence. Discover the many parables of Jesus from the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the collection of Bible verses below!
Note some parables are found in more than one book so there are parallels across the lists
Table of Contents
Parables of Jesus from the Book of Matthew
The Lamp - Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Speck and The Log - Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
New Cloth on Old Garment - Matthew 9:16-17
- “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
The Divided Kingdom - Matthew 12:24-30
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
The Sower - Matthew 13:1-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The Weeds Among the Wheat - Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
The Mustard Seed - Matthew 13:31-32
- He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
The Leaven - Matthew 13:33-34
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
Hidden Treasure - Matthew 13:44
- “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Pearl of Great Price - Matthew 13:45-46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Net - Matthew 13:47-50
- “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Heart of Man - Matthew 15:10-20
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides.[a] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
The Lost Sheep - Matthew 18:10-14
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
The Unforgiving Servant - Matthew 18:23-35
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Laborers in the Vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Two Sons - Matthew 21:28-32
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
The Tenant Farmers - Matthew 21:33-45
“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?
“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.
Marriage Feast or Great Banquet - Matthew 22:1-14
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The Budding Fig Tree - Matthew 24:32-35
- “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[a] is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Faithful vs. The Wicked Servant - Matthew 24:45-51
- “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Ten Virgins - Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Ten Talents or Gold Coins - Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Parables of Jesus from the Book of Mark
The Lamp - Mark 4:21-25
- He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
New Cloth on Old Garment - Mark 2:21-22
- “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
The Divided Kingdom - Mark 3:23-27
- So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.
The Sower - Mark 4:1-20
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,
“they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
The Growing Seed - Mark 4:26-29
- He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
The Mustard Seed - Mark 4:30-34
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
The Heart of Man - Mark 7:14-23
Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.”
He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
The Tenant Farmers - Mark 12:1-12
Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.
“He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
“But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
The Budding Fig Tree - Mark 13:28-33
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
The Faithful vs. The Wicked Servant - Mark 13:34-37
It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Parables of Jesus From the Book of Luke
These are Parables unique to the book of Luke.
The Good Samaritan - Luke 10:29-37
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Friend at Midnight - Luke 11:5-13
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Rich Fool - Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
The Barren Fig Tree - Luke 13:6-9
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
The Invited Guests - Luke 14:7-14
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10
- “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The Rich Man and Lazarus - Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The Persistent Widow - Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
The Pharisee and The Tax Collector - Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
https://bloggersforthekingdom.com/38-parables-of-jesus/#The_Lost_Sheep
It is important to keep in mind that these parables were told 2,000 years ago and to a group of people whose customs and lifestyles are different than ours today.
The stories were relatable to Jesus’s audience and while they are very relevant for us today, it takes a bit more decoding than it did in the days they were told.
How Many Parables of Jesus are There?
There is a bit of controversy over how many parables Jesus told. But, generally speaking, there are 38 main ones (that most agree on) and those are the ones we are going to focus on today.
Why Did Jesus Talk in Parables?
So, why would Jesus talk in parables? Why did he not just come right out and say what he wanted to say?
I can think of three reasons why Jesus talked in parables.
- To get the people’s attention. A good story always perks the interest of the listeners.
- The parables were relatable to the people. They understood the objects and situations of the story and therefore were more able to relate to Jesus’s message and the spiritual lessons he was imparting.
- He wanted to conceal the wisdom held in some of the parables. Jesus had two different audiences, those who wanted to know the truth and those who wanted to catch Jesus saying something contrary to their written law. Those who were truly seeking the truth would study and ponder the parables to find the wisdom in them. The parables were intended for this audience.
The Parables of Jesus and Their Lessons
As mentioned above, there are 38 parables of Jesus. Some of them repeat the same message, some of them have dozens of interpretations, and several of them are for a time yet to come. Here is a list of the 38 parables of Jesus along with a brief (and simple) explanation of each one.
Lamp on a Stand
The parable of the lamp on a stand is found in Mark 4:21-23 and Matthew 5:14-16. It teaches us to shine God’s light (our faith) boldly and brightly so it can light the way for non-believers to find their way to Christ.
Fig Tree
Found three times in scripture, Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-29, and Luke 21:29-31, the parable of the fig tree teaches us to be aware of the times in which we live and prepare for Jesus’s return.
Mustard Seed
The parable of the mustard seed is found in Matthew 13:31-31, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19. Jesus teaches us that faith may begin small like the seed of a mustard plant, but that it grows and spreads.
Good Samaritan
The parable of the good Samaritan is probably one of the most well-known parables of Jesus. It is found in Luke 10:30-36 and is a reply to a man who was trying to justify himself. This parable teaches us who our neighbor is and to whom we are intended to show love and kindness to (spoiler alert: we are intended to show God’s love to everyone!).
Prodigal Son
Another well-known parable is that of the Prodigal son. Found in Luke 15:11-32, it tells the story of two brothers. The younger brother demands his inheritance early, runs off with it, and makes some poor decisions. The other brother remains with the father, working beside him. This story teaches us that God loves us no matter what poor choices we make in life and forgives us when we come back to Him.
Wheat and Weeds
The parable of the wheat and weeds is found in Matthew 13:24-30 and tells how satan’s seed is sown right alongside Jesus’s seed (Those who choose to follow God and those who choose not to follow God).
The Sower
The parable of the Sower is found in Matthew 13. It teaches us that we are the ones who determine what kind of soil our hearts will be. We decide whether we will have a hard heart, a shallow heart, a crowded heart, or a receptive heart.
We can choose to be like fertile soil that embraces God and continues to grow stronger in our faith. Or we can be the other soils – so distracted by things of the world that prevent Jesus from growing stronger in our hearts.
New Cloth on an Old Coat/ New and Old Wine Skins
These two examples are found together in Matthew 9:16-17, Mark 2:21-22, and Luke 5:36-39. They teach us that we must change our lives when we follow Jesus.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
One of my favorite songs to sing with my kids is taken from this parable and is an important concept for us to ponder as adults. It is found in Luke 6:48-49 and Matthew 7:24-26. Jesus compares those who hear his words to two men who build houses.
One builds on the rock (Jesus and his teachings) and the other builds on the sand (the world). We learn that the man who builds his house on the rock is strong, but the man who builds his house on the sand will find his house washed away.
The Money Lender and Unequal Debts
This parable is found in Luke 7:41-43 and teaches us that Jesus forgives all of our sins both major and minor.
The Rich Fool
The parable of the rich fool is about a man who finds contentment and security in earthly riches and is found in Luke 12:16-21. It teaches us to not put our security in earthly riches because we do not know what tomorrow holds.
The Wise and Foolish Servants
Don’t you love how Jesus often contrasted people in his stories? This parable is no exception.
The parable of the wise and foolish servants is found in Luke 12:42-48 and Matthew 24:45-50 and teaches us to be faithful and to stand strong in the faith while we wait for Jesus to return.
Woman and the Yeast
This parable is only one verse long and found once. In Matthew 13:33 Jesus tells us about a woman who puts yeast into her bread dough. It is found right after the parable of mustard seed and is also about how faith (and the church) spreads and grows.
Pearl and Hidden Treasure
The parable of the pearl and hidden treasure helps us to understand the true value of our salvation. It is found In Matthew 13:44-46
Jesus compares salvation to a hidden treasure. Salvation is more valuable than anything this earth can give us and that forsaking all to obtain it is worth it.
Parable of the Net
This parable is found in Matthew 13:47-50 and teaches us that in the end there will be a separation of the righteous and the evil. The righteous will go to heaven and the evil will go to hell.
The Lost Sheep
The parable of the lost sheep is a favorite because it shows Jesus as a loving shepherd. It is found in Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:4-7 and teaches us that Jesus will go through great lengths to find his children and bring them to salvation.
The Master and His Servant
Found in Luke 17:7-10, this parable talks about the role of a servant. As followers of Christ, we should have a humble heart willing to do his will without seeking recognition or advancement.
The Unmerciful Servant
Found in Matthew 18:21-34, the parable of the unmerciful servant tells a story about a man who was forgiven a large debt. One would think he would be grateful and extend that same forgiveness to the man who owed him a debt. He does not and his end is not pleasant. This parable is an important command to forgive as we have been forgiven.
A Friend at Midnight
The parable of a friend coming at midnight and asking for bread teaches us that we need persistence when we pray. It is found in Luke 11:5-8.
Lowest Seat at the Feast
Found in Luke 14:7-14, this parable tells about taking the lower seat when invited to a feast rather than wanting to be important and take a better seat. Jesus is trying to teach humility.
Invitation to a Great Banquet
In Luke 14:16-24, Jesus tells a parable about a great feast. Several people are invited and give excuses about not being able to attend. The servants are then instructed to go out and invite everyone to the feast. This is Jesus’s way of teaching that salvation is an invitation to everyone.
The Cost of Discipleship
Found in Luke 14:25-33 Jesus talks about the cost of following him. He talks about “counting the cost” and how a man who wants to build something first sits down and figures the cost to see if he can afford it. The same is true of a king. He decides if he has the needed amount of soldiers to go into battle. The same is true for those who decide to follow Jesus. We need to decide if we are willing to put in what is needed.
The Lost Coin
Found in Luke 15:8-10, the parable of the lost coin is about a woman who loses a coin. She cleans her entire house looking for it and rejoices when she finds it. The parable describes the joy in heaven when a sinner comes to salvation.
The Unjust Steward
The unjust steward is found in Luke 16:1-8 and speaks of the business transactions of a steward and his boss. It is intended to teach us to be wise stewards, not only with our money, but everything God has given us.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
Found in Luke 16:19-31, is the story of a rich man and a poor beggar. This parable teaches us that how we live our life here on earth has a direct influence in how we live in the afterlife.
Workers in the Vineyard
Found in Matthew 20:1-16 is a story of a vineyard owner who goes out and looks for workers. He hires at various times throughout the day, promising each worker the same wage.
At the end of the day, some grumbling is heard by the workers that were hired in the morning and worked many hours but receive the same wage as those who worked only a few.
This parable teaches us that God provides the same gift to all of those who choose to follow Him no matter what time during their life they come to Him.
The Persistent Widow
The persistent widow teaches us to pray with perseverance even when we don’t see the results of our prayers immediately. This parable is found in Luke 18:1-8.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Found in Luke 18:10-14, the parable contrasts two men as they pray. One is arrogant and the other humble. I don’t think I need to tell you that Jesus wishes for us to be like the humble one.
Parable of the 10 Minas
In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy businessman who travels to another country. Before going, he entrusts money to several of his employees. Each employee does something different with the money, some to the favor of their boss and others not so much. This parable instructs us to take what God has given us and use it to His glory.
Parable of the Two Sons
In Matthew 21:28-32 is a parable of two sons. One tells his father that he will do what he is told, but doesn’t. The second son tells his father no, but changes his mind and does what his father asked. This story is pointed at hypocrites.
Wicked Tenants (Vinedressers)
This parable is found three times in the gospels: Matthew 21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11, and Luke 20:9-16. It tells the story of a man who plants a vineyard. He hires men to look after it and goes out of town. He sends servants to check on the progress of the vineyard and his employees beat them up and send them back.
Next, he sends his son, thinking his employees would respect him. Unfortunately, they see this as an opportunity and kill the son. In the end, the man comes and kills the wicked employees and gives the vineyard to others.
This parable tells the story of the Jewish people. God gives them of his goodness (the vineyard) but they are not faithful. He sends prophets to warn them and instruct them, but they do not listen. He sends His son, Jesus, but they kill him. The Gentiles now receive the promise of the long-awaited Messiah.
The Wedding Feast
Found in Matthew 22:1-13, this parable is similar to the parable of the invitation to the banquet. Ite tells the story of a wedding feast and those who are invited do not come. The father of the groom sends his servants out to invite everyone they meet. This parable tells about Israel rejecting Jesus as their Messiah and how this opens salvation to the gentiles.
The Wise and Foolish Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13 tells the story of ten virgins, five wise and five foolish. This story teaches us that there are two kinds of Christians, those who are actively following Christ and those who are not actively following Christ. The foolish virgins are not happy by the end of the story.
Parable of the Talents
Similar to the parable of the minas is the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. It tells the story of a businessman who travels to another country leaving his business in the hands of his employees. Two are faithful and deal wisely with his business and one is foolish and does not aid his employer at all.
Jesus is teaching us to be faithful with what He has given us and use it to His glory.
The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:31-46 tells us about a judgment that is to come at the end of days. Jesus will divide his faithful children from those who were not faithful, the goats on one side and the sheep on the other. (spoiler alert: you do NOT want to be a goat!).
The Sheep and the Shepherd
In John 10:1-18, Jesus talks about being the good shepherd and taking care of his sheep. It is a beautiful story of how he calls his children and cares for them, giving his life for them and protecting them. This parable illustrates the blessings of a life devoted to Christ.
Watchful Servants
This parable is a call to action to remain faithful and watchful for Jesus’s return. It is found in Mark 13:32-37 and Luke 12:35-40.
If studying the Bible better is on your list of things to do this year, be sure to visit our Bible Study Resources page where you’ll find everything you need to make Bible study a regular part of your daily routine.
Understanding the Parables of Jesus
While most of what we read in the Bible is written by different people, these 38 Parables of Jesus were written by Him. They are the words of Jesus, straight from His mouth!
I love reading the parables because they offer correlations that help us to make better sense of what He is trying to teach us through them. This helps us to better apply the lessons to our own lives.
The best part about the parables of Jesus is that we can read them a dozen times and be able to relate to them in different ways. The Bible is the living word of God.
Which parable speaks to you where you are in your life right now? Which one do you want to dig into and learn more about? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
http://biblesymbol.com/list-of-parables/
List of Parables In the Bible
Jesus Teaching Parables
This is a table listing all the Parables in the Bible. The blue texts are active and can be viewed by placing your mouse cursor over the verse.
Each Parable is listed in the book that it is found, if the same parable is mentioned in more than one of the Gospels it is listed with a reference to each gospel in which it is found. The Parables are placed in alphabetical order according to their Name.
Using the Search box you may search for any parable by name or verse. For example, you can type “Luke 6” in the Search box and only the parables in Luke 6 will be displayed, or you can type “John” in the search box and find all the Parables in the book of John.
You may exclude the columns that you don’t want to see using the “Columns” option to make extra room for the columns you do want to see.
There are 105 Parables in the List.
There is a formatted downloadable document listing all the parables with all the text and references in the Download Articles and Books Page. Available in both PDF and MS Word format.
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