Parables of Jesus

The Sower A farmer sows seed on four types of soil: the path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. Jesus explains that the seed is the word of God, received differently by different hearts.
The Weeds Among the Wheat An enemy secretly sows weeds among good wheat. At harvest the two are separated — the weeds burned, the wheat gathered into the barn.
The Mustard Seed The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed — the smallest of all seeds — that grows into a great tree where birds come to nest in its branches.
The Leaven The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixes into three measures of flour until the whole batch is leavened.
The Hidden Treasure A man discovers treasure hidden in a field. Overjoyed, he sells everything he owns and buys that field.
The Pearl of Great Price A merchant searching for fine pearls finds one of extraordinary value and sells everything he has to obtain it.
The Fishing Net The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that catches all kinds of fish. At the end of the age, the wicked are separated from the righteous.
The Lost Sheep A shepherd leaves his ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost. When found, he rejoices more over it than over those that never strayed.
The Unforgiving Servant A king forgives a servant's enormous debt, but that servant refuses to forgive a fellow servant a small one. The king revokes his mercy.
The Workers in the Vineyard A landowner pays all workers — hired at dawn or at the final hour — the same daily wage, illustrating that God's grace is not based on earned merit.
The Two Sons One son refuses his father's request but later obeys; the other agrees but does not act. Jesus asks which one did the father's will.
The Wicked Tenants Tenants of a vineyard beat the owner's servants and kill his son. The owner will destroy them and give the vineyard to others who bear fruit.
The Wedding Banquet Invited guests refuse the king's banquet with flimsy excuses. The king fills the hall with strangers; one without proper attire is cast out.
The Ten Virgins Ten bridesmaids await the bridegroom. Five bring extra oil and are ready when he arrives; five do not and find the door shut.
The Talents and the Minas A master entrusts servants with money before a journey. Those who invest and grow it are rewarded; the servant who buries it has it taken away.
The Sheep and the Goats At the final judgment, the Son of Man separates people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats — by whether they cared for "the least of these."
The Growing Seed A man scatters seed and sleeps; it sprouts and grows though he does not know how. The earth produces grain by itself, until harvest comes.
The Good Samaritan A man beaten by robbers is ignored by a priest and Levite but rescued by a despised Samaritan. "Which of the three was a neighbor to this man?"
The Friend at Midnight A man wakes his neighbor at midnight for bread. The neighbor rises — not out of friendship but because of the man's persistence. Ask; seek; knock.
The Rich Fool A wealthy man tears down his barns to build larger ones for his abundance. That very night his soul is required of him: "Whose will these things be?"
The Barren Fig Tree A fig tree bears no fruit for three years. The owner wants to cut it down; the gardener asks for one more year to dig and fertilize it.
The Great Banquet A man's invited guests make excuses. He tells his servant to bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame — and still there is room.
The Lost Coin A woman loses one of her ten silver coins and sweeps the whole house searching for it. When found, she calls her neighbors to rejoice with her.
The Prodigal Son A son demands his inheritance, wastes it, and returns in shame. His father runs to meet him and throws a party. The older son resents it.
The Unjust Steward A manager about to be dismissed reduces his master's debtors' bills to secure friends for himself. Jesus commends his worldly shrewdness.
The Rich Man and Lazarus A rich man feasts lavishly while Lazarus begs at his gate. Both die; Lazarus rests in Abraham's side while the rich man suffers in torment.
The Persistent Widow A widow keeps pressing an unjust judge until he grants her justice. If even he relents, how much more will God answer those who cry to him day and night?
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector A proud Pharisee lists his virtues before God; a tax collector simply beats his chest and asks for mercy. The second goes home justified, not the first.