Parables of Jesus (All 38 Parables with Verse & Meaning) written by Marko Marina, Ph.D. and posted to BartEhrman.com May 14th, 2024.
Mark also has Jesus delivering a series of parables so that other people (outsiders) won’t understand him. In Mk 4:11-12, he says to the disciples: “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” by Marko Marina, Ph.D. here.
[His] article aims to explore all 38 parables attributed to Jesus, providing a clear and concise overview of each. Designed for a lay audience, this guide will present these parables in a structured format, listing each parable along with its biblical references and a brief interpretation of its meaning.
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List of Jesus’ Parables – Extracted from his article.
| Parable Title | Bible Verse(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| The Purpose of the Parables | Mt 13:10-17; Mk 4:10-12; Lk 8:9-10 | Explains why Jesus uses parables to teach |
| The Sower | Mt 13:1-9, 18-23; Mk 4:1-9, 13-20; Lk 8:4-8, 11-15 | Seed growth depends on the condition of the heart. |
| The Weeds/Mustard Seed | Mt 13:31-32; Mk 4:30-32; Lk 13:18-19 | The Kingdom of God starts small and grows large. |
| The Leaven | Mt 13:33; Lk 13:20-21 | The Kingdom of God grows pervasively from small beginnings. |
| The Hidden Treasure | Mt 13:44 | The Kingdom of God is worth everything one has. |
| The Pearl of Great Value | Mt 13:45-46 | Finding the kingdom of God surpasses all else. |
| The Net | Mt 13:47-50 | The kingdom of heaven gathers all, sorted at the end. |
| Owner of the House | Mt 13:52 | The Kingdom is like a householder who begins out his treasure. |
| The Lost Sheep | Mt 18:12-14; Lk 15:3-7 | God rejoices over the repentance of one sinner. |
| The Unforgiving Servant | Mt 18:23-35 | Forgive others as God has forgiven you |
| The Two Sons | Mt 21:28-32 | Action speaks louder than words |
| The Tenants | Mt 21:33-41; Mk 12:1-9; Lk 20:9-16 | Judgment against those who reject God’s messengers. |
| The Wedding Feast | Mt 22:2-14; Lk 14:16-24 | Many are invited to the kingdom, but few are chosen. |
| The Ten Virgins | Mt 25:1-13 | Be prepared for the coming of the Kingdom. |
| The Talents | Mt 25:14-30; Lk 19:12-28 | Use God’s gifts wisely. |
| The Good Samaritan | Lk 10:30-37 | Love your neighbor as yourself. |
| The Rich Fool | Lk 12:16-21 | Life doesn’t consist of an abundance of possessions. |
| The Barren Fig Tree | Lk 13:6-9 | Repent or face judgment. |
| The Lost Coin | Lk 15:8-10 | God values each individual. |
| The Prodigal Son | Lk 15:11-32 | God welcomes repentant sinners |
| The Dishonest Manager | Lk 16:1-13 | Use worldly resources to gain eternal friends. |
| The Rich Man and Lazarus | Lk 16:19-31 | A warning against ignoring the suffering and poverty of others. |
| The Persistent Widow | Lk 18:1-8 | Persist in prayer and seeking justice. |
| The Pharisee and the Tax Collector | Lk 18:9-14 | Humility is valued over self-righteousness. |
| The Sheep and the Goats | Mt 25:31-46 | Jesus separates people like sheep and goats based on their acts of kindness and speaks of the afterlife. |
| Lamp Under a Bowl | Mt 5:14-16; Mk 4:21-22; Lk 11:33 | Believers should shine a light on the world. |
| Wise and Foolish Builders | Mt 7:24-27; Lk 6:47-49 | Build life on Jesus’ teachings |
| New Cloth on an Old Coat | Mt 9:16; Mk 2:21; Lk 5:36 | Jesus’ new teachings don’t fit old traditions completely. |
| New Wine in Old Wineskins | Mt 9:17; Mk 2:22; Lk 5:37-38 | Jesus’ message needs new forms. |
| Master and His Servant | Lk 17:7-10 | No person should think that he or she is worthy of God’s praise or reward. |
| Fig Tree | Mk 11:12-14, 20-25 | Faith and prayer can move mountains. |
| The Watchful Servants | Mk 13:34-37; Lk 12:35-40 | Be ready for the coming of the Lord |
| Cost of Discipleship | Lk 14:28-33 | Consider the sacrifices of following Jesus |
| The Two Debtors | Lk 7:41-43 | Greater forgiveness leads to greater love |
| Growing Seed | Mk 4:26-29 | The Kingdom of God grows mysteriously. |
| Workers in the Vineyard | Mt 20:1-16 | God’s generosity is given according to divine will, not human ideas of fairness |
| Importunate Neighbor | Lk 11:5-8 | Persistence in prayer is rewarded. |
| Strong Man | Mt 12:29; Mk 3:27; Lk 11:21-22 | Jesus’ power is beyond every evil force in the world. |
