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
- 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