Jesus used a variety of parables. In fact, this was his primary way of teaching. In this article we will briefly explore these parables and their meanings.
First, how do you identify a parable in Scripture?
What is a parable?
A parable is defined by a few features:
- It is a short, simple, fictional story. Some parables are longer than others, occupying several verses. Others are short, occupying only a single verse or two.
- The story is often about common things in everyday life that we know and understand making the story realistic.
- In the story this common everyday thing is compared to a spiritual truth. So, parables are usually symbolic or metaphoric.
- The story focuses on teaching spiritual concepts and principles for practical living.
Even with these defining features, not everyone agrees about the number of parables in Scripture.
This list of parables highlights the most common ones with a brief description of their meaning.
The 38 parables of Jesus and their meaning
In his teaching Jesus drew from the everyday life of the people. He used several symbols in his stories to quickly connect his lessons to something his audience knew from various aspects of their lives. This list has been categorized according to some life categories I created.
Plant and agriculture parables
The Parable of the Weeds
Passage: Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
Lesson focus: membership in God’s kingdom
Meaning: Both the wicked (unbelievers) and the righteous (believers) will remain together in the world until Jesus returns. It is Christ and his angels who will separate the righteous from the wicked and deliver judgment on the wicked.
The Parable of the Sower (or Soils)
Passage: Matthew 13:3–23, Mark 4:3–20, Luke 8:5–15
About: The condition of the heart
Meaning: We receive and respond to the word of God based on the condition of our hearts.
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Passage: Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, Luke 13:18–19
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: The kingdom of heaven starts off tiny but grows and expands to become quite large, spreading out over a wide range.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Passage: Matthew 24:32–35, Mark 13:28–29, Luke 21: 29–31
About: End times signs
Meaning: There will be signs of the approaching end times. We should be observant and note these events so that we will know when God’s kingdom is soon to come.
The Parable of the Growing Seed
Passage: Mark 4:26–29
About: The kingdom of God
Meaning: The work of growing the kingdom is all up to God. Although we participate with God in planting the seeds of God’s word, only God can cause them to grow and mature.
The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree
Passage: Luke 13:6–9
About: Fruitfulness and repentance
Meaning: We have a limited time in which to respond to God’s work in our lives by repenting and bearing fruit. God is patient but not extend this opportunitu forever. When this time has expired, judgement will come.
People parables
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
Passage: Matthew 7:24–27, Luke 6:47–49
About: Wise living
Meaning: Those who both hear the word of God and are obedient to the word of God are living according to wisdom. When the storms of life come, they will fair well. Those those who hear but refuse to put God’s word into practice are living in folly. When hardships hit, they will fail and crumble.
The Parable of the Homeowner (or Scribe)
Passage: Matthew 13:52
About: Teachers of the Word of God
Meaning: Those who teach God’s word, should be prepared to present truths that are both old and new. The full breath of God’s Word includes both traditional and new revelation.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Passage: Matthew 18:23–31
About: Forgiveness
Meaning: We should be quick to forgive others and forgive as many times as we have been offended just as God extends His forgiveness towards us without measure.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (or Wicked Husbandmen)
Passage: Matthew 21:33–44, Mark 12:1–11, Luke 20:9–18
About: God’s pursuit of mankind
Meaning: God made several attempts at appealing to the religious leaders in Israel through the many prophets over centuries and Jesus, his son. But they were all rejected, abused, and murdered. God then turned his efforts to the Gentiles who received the gospel and were fruitful. God will not always allow himself to be rejected. He will move on to those who will accept him.
The Parable of the Moneylender (or The two debtors)
Passage: Luke 7:41–43
About: Forgiveness, gratitude, and love
Meaning: Those who have benefited from God’s forgiveness in great amounts will have more gratitude and love for God. The more we recognize how much God has forgiven our many sins, the more we should be inspired to love him in greater measure.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
Passage: Luke 12:16–21
About: Wealth, greed and eternal life
Meaning: We are not to spend our lives gathering and hoarding wealth for ourselves because there is no eternal value in that. Instead we are to use wealth to bless others and to further the purposes of God.
The Parable of the Watchful Servants
Passage: Luke 12:35-40, Mark 13:34–37
About: Watchfulness and the second coming
Meaning: Those who serve Christ should live in readiness of his return. We should be in constant watchfulness, expecting that Jesus will come back at any time. When he returns he should find us working instead of spiritually asleep.
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Servants
Passage: Matthew 24:45-51, Luke 12:42–48
About: Faithfulness while waiting for Christ
Meaning: We should avoid becoming distracted and falling spiritually due to the apparent delay of Christ. As we wait for Jesus to return, we should be faithful in serving Christ.
The Parable of the Master and the Servant
Passage: Luke 17:7–10
About: Service and duty
Meaning: It is our duty to serve God. And we should do so with humility and without seeking reward, recognition, or personal gain. This mindset comes from recognizing that we are unworthy to serve God, yet he still expects to complete our assignment in service to him. God isn’t obligated to us but we owe him everything which still isn’t enough to pay our debt. Our service to God is a privilege.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Passage: Luke 10:30–37
About: Being a good neighbor
Meaning: Our neighbors are not only those of the same race, ethnicity, or religion as us but includes every person we come in contact with. We should demonstrate God’s love towards them regardless of who they are or where they come from.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the unjust judge
Passage: Luke 18:2–8
About: Persistence in prayer
Meaning: True prayer is a lifestyle that requires persistence, a resolve to never give up asking and deep, abiding faith in God.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Passage: Luke 16:19–31
About: The importance of meeting the needs of others
Meaning: Wealth, status, power and privilege do secure a place in heaven for us. Instead compassion towards the poor and needy along with meeting their needs is the key. If we are selfish and neglect the needy, we will end up like the rich man in the story. But if we are kind, caring and compassionate towards the sick and suffering, we receive a reward like Lazarus did. In the eternal perspective, it is dangerous to live a life that serves only ourselves.
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Passage: Luke 18:10–14
About: What is real righteousness
Meaning: Real righteousness does not consist of religious routines and external show of certain behaviors. It is about the posture of the heart before God, repentance of sin and acceptance of Christ’s mercy.
Relationship parables
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Passage: Luke 15:11–32
About: God’s love for the lost
Meaning: Even when we move away from God, He’s always looking to restore us to himself by his unconditional love, forgiveness and unending grace. To access all this, our part is to return, confess our sins and repent.
The Parable of the Friend Seeking Bread (Persistent neighbor)
Passage: Luke 11:5–8
About: Persistence in prayer
Meaning: When we pray, we are to keep asking until God answers. It is his will that we are persistent in our prayers.
The Parable of the Two Sons
Passage: Matthew 21:28–32
About: Obedience to God
Meaning: The kingdom of God will be occupied by those who are actually obedient to the will of God rather than just lip service and it will be those we least expect.
Occupation parables
The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Unjust Steward)
Passage: Luke 16:1–13
About: Wisdom in using worldly wealth
Meaning: The wisest way to steward worldly wealth is to use it to make friends for the kingdom. If we are to secure an eternal, heavenly future it is best to invest our material possessions towards serving others. In being generous to others we are fulfilling the purpose of our master.
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Passage: Matthew 20:1–16
About: The reward for following Jesus
Meaning: Although different people will dedicated different amounts of time in their lifetime in service to Christ, all will receive the same reward of eternal life.
Event parables
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Passage: Matthew 25:1–13
About: End times and second coming
Meaning: It is extremely important to live in daily readiness for the return of Jesus because we do not know when he will come back.
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
Passage: Matthew 22:1–14
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: God invited the Jews to accept Jesus as the way to salvation but they rejected him so God extended the same offer of salvation to everyone else outside of Israel. Those who accept Christ and his righteousness receive salvation.
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Passage: Luke 14:16–24
About: The kingdom of God
Meaning: When the Jews rejected Christ, he turned to the Gentiles so that all the available space in the kingdom would be filled. The kingdom of God is reserved for those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Animal parables
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
Passage: Matthew 25:31–46
About: Service to others and second coming
Meaning: Those who perform acts of charity towards others will be saved, not because of their good works but because they lived out their faith in Jesus through these good works. Those who refuse to live out their faith by serving others will be lost.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Passage: Luke 15:3–7
About: God’s love for sinners and the lost
Meaning: God’s heart breaks for those who are lost in sin. He is kind, caring and gentle towards them. He is ever seeking to bring them back and rejoices when they return.
Object parables
The Parables of New Cloth and New Wineskins
Passage: Matthew 9:16–17, Mark 2:21–22, Luke 5:36–38
About: Old versus new religion
Meaning: When Jesus came, he started something new. The old system of religion was based on rituals such as fasting and feast days but his new religion was based on faith and intimate relationship with God. Jesus emphasized inner transformation over outward traditional practices.
The Parable of the Lamp Stand
Passage: Matthew 5:14–16, Mark 4:21–22, Luke 8:16
About: The Christian life
Meaning: Christians have a responsibility to shine in the world and to be witnesses for Christ. The light that has been given to them by Christ is their faith and the truth of the gospel which God has placed us in the world to share.
The Parable of the Leaven
Passage: Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20–21
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: The kingdom of heaven starts off small but grows steadily in its influence, transforming the world.
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Passage: Matthew 13:44
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: The kingdom of heaven is worth every and any sacrifice made to get it.
The Parable the Pearl
Passage: Matthew 13:45–46
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than any material thing in this world.
The Parable of the Net (or Dragnet)
Passage: Matthew 13:47–50
About: The kingdom of heaven
Meaning: The kingdom of heaven attracts all kinds of people but at the end of time, God will sort and separate the good from the evil.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Passage: Luke 15:8–10
About: God’s love for the lost
Meaning: God loves those who are lost. He will search for and pursue them because they are most valuable to him. And when they are found he will rejoice.
The Parable of the 10 Talents
Passage: Matthew 25:14–30, About: About: Stewardship of resources
Meaning: As we wait for the return of Jesus, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the resources (money, time, or talent) God has given us so they can be multiplied and in increase in value for God’s glory.
The Parable of the 10 Minas
Luke 19:12–27
About: The kingdom of God
Meaning: As we wait for Jesus to return, we are to do the work that Jesus left us to do by being faithful in using what he has given to us.
Final words on parables in the Bible
These parables hold powerful and practical truths for daily living. Jesus used the simplest methods to teach these truths so that even as the world changes we can still understand His heart.
Of course, because so much time has passed between when Jesus walked the earth and now, we do have to invest time in studying the culture and context in order to get a fuller understanding of the parables.
I pray you will go on this journey with God and allow him to teach you his ways from his own lips and heart.
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