Overview of All Jesus' Parables

 

Overview of All Jesus' Parables

Parable	Main Point	Scripture	Audience or Reason	Teaching
1. Lamp	A lamp is not put under a table but on a lampstand to give light	Matt 5:14-16 Mark 4:21-22 Luke 8:16-17, 11:33-36	Disciples and many listeners (Sermon on the Mount)	Scribes and Pharisees
2. Building a House	Those who hear and obey the word are like a house built on rock which stands firm; otherwise, it won't withstand water, rain, and wind	Matt 7:24-27 Luke 6:47-49	Disciples and many listeners (Sermon on the Mount)	Scribes
3. New Cloth on Old Garment	Law and grace cannot be mixed. If mixed, the law won't be law, and grace won't be grace	Matt 9:16 Mark 2:21 Luke 5:36	John's disciples and Pharisees	Pharisees
4. New Wine in Old Wineskins	Law and grace cannot be mixed. If mixed, the law won't be law, and grace won't be grace	Matt 9:17 Mark 2:22 Luke 5:37-38	John's disciples and Pharisees	Pharisees
5. Sower	The sower is Jesus or evangelists; listeners are of four types; whether the gospel bears fruit depends on the listener's heart	Matt 13:3-23 Mark 4:2-20 Luke 8:4-15	Disciples	All who hear the word (gospel)
6. Weeds	Christ sows the gospel of the kingdom; Satan sows weeds at night (Be watchful)	Matt 13:24-30	Disciples	All who hear the word (gospel)
7. Mustard Seed	The gospel is like a mustard seed, tiny at first but grows large with abundant branches (Initially 12 disciples, now 2.3 billion Christians)	Matt 13:31-32 Mark 4:30-32 Luke 13:18-19	Disciples	World
8. Yeast	The spread of the gospel is like yeast in dough, expanding rapidly	Matt 13:33 Luke 13:20-21	Disciples	World
9. Hidden Treasure	The treasure represents Christ's salvation; diligent work is needed to find it, and entering the kingdom requires sacrifice	Matt 13:44	Disciples	World
10. Pearl	The pearl represents Christ's salvation; diligent work is needed to find it, and entering the kingdom requires sacrifice	Matt 13:45-46	Disciples	World
11. Net	Evangelism is like casting a net; some are saved, some are not caught and discarded	Matt 13:47-50	Disciples	World
12. Owner of a House and His Treasures	Believers (scribes) should use their existing knowledge (law) as a foundation to develop new insights, teachings, and information	Matt 13:52	Disciples	Scribes and people
13. Lost Sheep	Christ fully commits to saving the lost sheep (all unbelievers)	Matt 18:12-14 Luke 15:3-7	Disciples	People
14. Unforgiving Servant	Forgive others limitlessly	Matt 18:23-35	Peter	People
15. Workers in the Vineyard	Repentance and salvation are God's grace; sovereignty belongs to God, regardless of early or late timing	Matt 20:1-16	Disciples	People
16. Two Sons	Unrepentant Jews who are rejected are like the first son; repentant sinners like prostitutes and tax collectors are like the second	Matt 21:28-32	Chief priests, elders	Traditional Jews who don't repent
17. Wicked Tenants	The son represents Christ; wicked tenants are those who killed Jesus; new tenants represent today's church	Matt 21:33-45 Mark 12:1-12 Luke 20:9-19	Chief priests, Pharisees, many people	Chief priests, Pharisees
18. Wedding Banquet	Explains how the gospel invitation was rejected by Jews and salvation was extended to Gentiles	Matt 22:2-14 Luke 14:16-24	Chief priests, Pharisees, many people	People
19. Fig Tree	The Lord uses the fig tree's growth to signify that the end times are near; people should repent	Matt 24:32-44 Mark 13:28-32 Luke 21:29-33	Disciples	People
20. Ten Virgins	The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins with lamps going to meet the bridegroom. The bridegroom represents Jesus, we are the virgins waiting for the Lord's return, oil symbolizes love and faith	Matt 25:1-13	Disciples	People
21. Talents	People should not bury the grace given by God but use it for the Lord	Matt 25:14-30	Disciples	People
22. Growing Seed	The sower doesn't know how the seed sprouts and grows; workers just spread God's word (sow), growth depends on God	Mark 4:26-29	Followers and disciples	People
23. Doorkeeper	Be watchful, for you don't know when the Lord will return	Matt 24:40-44 Mark 13:33-37	Disciples	People
24. Canceled Debts	The amount owed represents people's awareness of their debt of sin; those who feel a greater debt experience greater forgiveness	Luke 7:41-47	Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner, sinful woman	People
25. Good Samaritan	Reveals human nature; only through God's grace, the Lord's mercy and election can people be thoroughly changed and become a cleansed "good Samaritan"	Luke 10:30-37	Expert in the law	Self-righteous Jewish leaders
26. Friend at Midnight	Prayer should be persistent; God will reward	Luke 11:5-13	Two disciples	People
27. Rich Fool	Storing up treasures on earth is foolish; they don't accompany the soul to heaven	Luke 12:16-21	Audience of thousands; one person among them	People
28. Watchful Servants	No one knows when the Lord will return; one must be watchful and wait	Luke 12:35-40	Disciples	People
29. Faithful and Wicked Servants	The Lord will judge according to people's deeds when He returns	Matt 24:45-51 Luke 12:42-48	Peter's question	People
30. Barren Fig Tree	God gives people gifts; if not used for the Lord, they occupy space and will be removed	Luke 13:6-9	Crowd	Unrepentant Jews
31. Humility and Hospitality	The Lord teaches people to be humble and learn to hide themselves	Luke 14:7-11	The Lord visiting a Pharisee leader's home	People
32. Building a Tower and Going to War	Following the Lord requires sacrifice; take up your cross and follow Him	Luke 14:25-35	One person while the Lord was a guest	People
33. Lost Coin	The Lord seeks the lost with the same heart as someone looking for a lost coin	Luke 15:8-10	Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes	People
34. Prodigal Son	The father represents God, full of compassion; the elder son represents Pharisees and scribes; the younger son represents sinners. The Lord accepts repentant sinners and rebukes the self-righteous	Luke 15:11-32	Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes	Pharisees, scribes
35. Dishonest Manager	People should seize opportunities to secure protection for themselves; shouldn't believers use their talents even more to strive for heavenly protection and rewards?	Luke 16:1-13	Disciples	People
36. Rich Man and Lazarus	One's destination after death doesn't depend on earthly wealth but on whether one followed the Lord's teachings	Luke 16:19-31	Disciples	People
37. Master and Servant	Serving the Lord wholeheartedly is one's duty	Luke 17:7-10	Apostles	Disciples
38. Widow and Judge	Prayer should be persistent	Luke 18:1-8	Disciples	People
39. Pharisee and Tax Collector	Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; whoever humbles himself will be exalted	Luke 18:9-14	Disciples	Pharisees
40. Servants and Minas	Serving the Lord requires faithfulness in small matters	Luke 19:11-27	Crowd	People
41. Sheep and Goats	The day of the Lord's judgment; what you do for the least of these brothers, you do for the Lord	Matt 25:31-36	Crowd	People
42. Vine	The Lord is the vine, believers are branches; branches cannot leave the vine; those not bearing fruit will be removed	John 15	Disciples	People