Jesus' Parables 

One of the most effective means that Jesus used to teach the truths of the kingdom was the parable method. Parables are simple stories, often having to do with nature, that illustrate a moral or spiritual truth. While Jesus had previously used parables, it was during his third public preaching tour that he started to frequently utilize this method with the masses. Once, when a group of about one thousand people were gathered to hear Jesus speak, Peter offered to speak to them. But Jesus said: “No, Peter, I will tell them a story.” And with that, Jesus told the Parable of the Sower.

Following this event, Jesus shared the benefits of using parables with his apostles. Jesus chose to teach in parables primarily to engage the imagination, provoke reflection, and inspire decision-making in his listeners. Parables allowed him to present profound spiritual truths in relatable stories that were simple on the surface but deep in meaning, making his teachings accessible to everyone regardless of their educational background or social status. This method also served to conceal or veil the meanings of his teachings from those who were opposed to him, sought to trap him, or who were otherwise not genuinely interested in spiritual growth.

The following is a synopsis of each of the 32 parables that Jesus employed in his ministry. Many are well-known and beloved, and others may be less known. But all are inspiring and thought-provoking. They are, in alphabetical order:

This story illustrates the way that the Jewish nation treated prophets in Jesus’ day and time, even the violent rejection of Jesus himself and his saving gospel of the kingdom.

A man planted a fig tree in his yard but found no fruit on it for three years; so, he ordered it to be cut down. But the gardener asked for one more year to fertilize it and dig around its roots. The tree bore fruit the next year after being tended to, because it was a good tree. This parable shows the value of nurturing and patience.

Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear; instead, focus on your spiritual growth. Look how the Father takes care of the birds, who store no food and yet they thrive. You are far more valuable than birds.

This nature parable invites the reader to observe the signs of the times when discerning the coming of the kingdom, just as when the fig tree begins to show signs of new life in the spring.

The foolish carpenter works on rotten wood, only to have it rejected for the foundation of the building. Ensure that your intellectual and moral character can support the growth of your spiritual nature, leading to the evolution of your immortal soul.

A man was attacked by robbers and left for dead on the road. A priest and a Levite passed by the man and ignored him and his terrible suffering. But a Samaritan who passed by took pity on the man. He ministered to his wounds and took him to the inn for shelter. This parable illustrates true brotherly love, one of the pillars of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus likens himself to the true shepherd who is willing to sacrifice for his sheep. Jesus assures us: “I know my own, and they know me. I will not flee from danger; I will fulfill my Father's will and protect the flock entrusted to me.”

A ruler invited many guests to a great supper but they all made excuses when the time for the dinner came. Angry at this show of disrespect, the ruler sent his servants to invite the poor and the outcast. When there was still room for more guests, the ruler told his servants to go out into the countryside and invite all that they saw, declaring that none of the initial invited guests would taste his supper. The servants obeyed, and the house was filled.

In this addendum to the parable of the sower, a man sows seeds and they grow while he sleeps by night and works by day, maturing into a harvest from the first blade to the full grain. Though he did not understand how it came about, he harvested the crop when it had ripened.

The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman hid in three measures of flour, eventually making all the flour rise.

Look at the lilies, how they grow without toiling yet they have finer clothes than any king. If God clothes the grasses of the fields so beautifully, how much more will he provide for you, his ambassadors? Trust in God's provision.

This nature parable illustrates that the gospel of the kingdom is like a living seed – a living truth that continuously unfolds in new ways across generations. It is intended to bear fruit in each individual and each generation through spiritual growth and adaptation. It must never be allowed to become merely a tradition about Jesus or his time on earth.

In this story of a king who prepares a lavish marriage feast for his son, many who were invited made excuses and didn’t come. When they were invited a second time, some rebelliously turned on the messengers, mistreating them and even killing some of them. So the king ordered the destruction of their city, and the messengers found new guests: strangers, good and bad, rich and poor, until the house was filled. However, one guest is expelled for failing to wear the provided wedding garment. The heavenly Father wants to include everyone in his kingdom and this parable emphasizes the readiness and acceptance required to partake.

The kingdom of heaven is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a field. Though one of the smallest of seeds, it grows into a large tree where birds can rest in its branches.

This parable of wineskins is a reminder that the teachers of the gospel of the kingdom should take care not to graft the new teachings upon the teachings of the old order. But this does not mean the old teachings are to be disregarded: “That which is old and also true must abide. But that which is new and also true, we must have the faith and courage to accept.”

This parable contrasts the prayers of a Pharisee and a publican (tax collector) in the temple. The humble publican's plea for mercy is favored over the Pharisee's self-righteous boasting, illustrating that those who humble themselves will be exalted by God.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for the finest pearls. When he finds one of great value, he sells all he owns to buy it.

Both of these parables are effective portrayals that demonstrate the importance of good stewardship of one’s God-given abilities and aptitudes. “Everyone who has shall be given more, but from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him.'”

This parable illustrates God's willingness to receive anyone who seeks to enter the kingdom, no matter how long they may have strayed away from him. As long as they are sincere, they will be welcomed home, as was the son who strayed far from his family.

A rich man builds ever bigger barns to store his wealth. He plans to enjoy a life of ease and pleasure, but he is called foolish because he neglects the spiritual and eternal aspects of his life while taking care of his material possessions. These possessions – and his very life – were soon to be taken from him. Despite his earthly wealth, he was not rich in the eyes of God.

This parable tells the story of a servant who was clever but unjust. He cheated his master’s clients for his own gain and also wasted his master’s resources. This parable illustrates the truth that “no man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one while he despises the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The kingdom of heaven is like a sower who scattered seeds; some fell on the wayside where they were trampled or eaten, some fell on rocky ground where they dried up, some fell among thorns that choked them, and some fell on good soil, yielding abundant crops. This parable hints at what future messengers of the kingdom can expect in their ongoing ministry across generations.

The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net cast into the sea, gathering all kinds of fish. When the net is full, the fishermen sort the good fish into their boats and throw away the bad ones.

A woman fashioned ten pieces of silver into a beautiful necklace, but she lost one of the pieces. She searched high and low until she found the missing piece. Like the woman in the story, the Father and his Son go forth to search for those who are lost. And like the woman who rejoiced when she found her lost piece of silver, there is joy in heaven over even one sinner who repents and returns to God.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure found in a field, so valuable that a man joyfully sells everything he owns to buy that field.

In this Parable of Prodigal Son, they were asked by their father to go work in the vineyard. One son initially refused to go, but then had a change of heart and obeyed his father. The other son said he would go, but then he went back on his promise. Even if they initially refuse, sinners can repent and enter the kingdom of God before those who claim to serve God but fail to do the Father's works.

After being forgiven his large debt by the king, the chief steward refused to show mercy to a fellow steward who owed him a small amount, throwing him in prison instead. When the king learned of this, he condemned the ungrateful steward and put him in jail until he paid his debt, teaching that those who receive mercy should also show mercy.

Jesus performed this service for the apostles as a parable to illustrate the meaning of the new commandment that he subsequently gave them: “Love one another even as I have loved you. And by this will all men know that you are my disciples if you thus love one another.”

In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a man who sowed good seeds in his field, but an enemy planted weeds among them. When the servants suggested pulling out the weeds, the master advised against it to avoid damaging the wheat, opting to wait until harvest time when it would be safer to separate the wheat from the weeds. Then the weeds could be burned and the wheat could be stored.

Jesus told his followers about the white lily, which grows up from the slimy mud to reach the sunlight, where it flowers into beauty. This is a comparison to how humans, rooted in earthly nature, can elevate their spiritual nature through faith to bear noble spiritual fruits.

A householder hired laborers throughout the day to work in his vineyard, promising them a fair wage. He offered all of them the same pay, no matter when they started to work. But the ones who started early in the day resented the fact that the ones who started later received the same wage. The vineyard owner told them they were not being treated unfairly, because they agreed to the wages when they started. He told them that he was entitled to show kindness and mercy to those who came late.