Parables
This page contains every one of Jesus’ parables and illustrations.
Kingdom parables
These passages begin with the characteristic introduction, “The kingdom of heaven is like . . .”
The fishing net
Mt 13:47–50
The great banquet
Mt 22:1–14; Lk 14:16–24
The growing seed
Mk 4:26–29
The hidden treasure
Mt 13:44
The laborers in the vineyard
Mt 20:1–16
The leaven
Mt 13:33; Lk 13:20–21
The mustard seed
Mt 13:31–32; Mk 4:30–32; Lk 13:18–19
The pearl of great value
Mt 13:45–46
The talents or minas
Mt 25:14–30; Lk 19:11–27
The tares among the wheat
Mt 13:24–30, 36–43
The ten virgins
Mt 25:1–13
The unforgiving servant
Mt 18:21–35
Other parables
These passages are explicitly called parables but do not begin with the “kingdom of heaven” introduction like the passages above.
The barren fig tree
Lk 13:6–9
The budding fig tree
Mt 24:32–35; Mk 13:28–31; Lk 21:29–33
The dishonest manager
Lk 16:1–13 (see Lk 15:3)
The faithful servant
Mt 24:42–51; Mk 13:34–37; Lk 12:35–48
The lost coin
Lk 15:8–10 (see Lk 15:3)
The lost sheep
Mt 18:12–14; Lk 15:3–7
The persistent widow
Lk 18:1–8
The Pharisee and the tax collector
Lk 18:9–14
The prodigal son
Lk 15:11–32 (see Lk 15:3)
The rich fool
Lk 12:16–21
The rich man and Lazarus
Lk 16:19–31 (see Lk 15:3)
The sower
Mt 13:3–9, 18–23; Mk 4:2–9; Lk 8:4–8
The two sons
Mt 21:28–32
The wedding feast
Lk 14:7–11
The wicked tenants
Mt 21:33–44; Mk 12:1–11; Lk 20:9–18
The wine and wineskins
Mt 9:16–17; Mk 2:21–22; Lk 5:36–39
Illustrations
These are not explicitly labelled parables by Scripture, but are clearly allegories, similes, metaphors, etc. used for illustrative purposes.
The cost of discipleship
Lk 14:28–33
The friend at night
Lk 11:5–8
The good samaritan
Lk 10:30–37
The kings’ taxation
Mt 17:25–26
The lamp under a bushel
Mt 5:14–15; Mk 4:21–25; Lk 8:16–18
The master and servant
Lk 17:7–10
The sheep and goats
Mt 25:32–33
The strong man
Mt 12:29; Mk 3:27; Lk 11:21–22
The two debtors
Lk 7:41–43
The wise and foolish builders
Mt 7:24–27; Lk 6:46–49