38 Parables of Jesus List and Their Meanings
| Parable | Reference | Parables of Jesus Meaning/Summary | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree, Unfruitful Tree) | Luke 13:6 | God is generous, slow to anger, and shows mercy. However, we shouldn’t count on His patience to be endless. He has expectations that we will bear fruit at some point for His Kingdom by following Him. At some point, the barren trees will be cut down. | HERE |
| Cost of Being a Disciple, Counting the Cost, The Cost of Discipleship, The Cost of Following Jesus | Luke 14:25 Matthew 8:18 | Following Jesus comes at a cost. For some, the cost is actually their life. For others, the cost is potentially the loss of family or friends, or denying our earthly pleasures. The choice to follow at the potential cost is ours. (But it’s worth it!) | HERE 9/20/23 |
| Parable of the Faithful Servant (Wise and Foolish Servants) | Matthew 24:45 Luke 12:42 | The return of Christ and His final judgment will be a surprise – at an unknown day and time. His wise and faithful servants will stay faithful to Christ until He returns, whereas the foolish servants will grow weary of waiting and turn to worldly ways, then face harsh punishment when Christ returns unannounced. | HERE |
| Parable of the Fig Tree | Matthew 24:30 Mark 13:28 Luke 21:29 | Pay attention to the signs of the time around you, because the end will come. Keep yourself prepared for the coming judgment by refraining from the ways of the world and following Christ instead. | HERE |
| Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Friend in Need) | Luke 11:5 | Jesus promises that when we approach Him with shameless audacity, He will listen and answer. He welcomes us to come to Him with all our wants and needs. He promises to open the door when we knock. | HERE 8/16/23 |
| Parable of the Good Samaritan | Luke 10:25 | Christians have the love of Jesus written in their hearts. They act upon Jesus’ directive to love one another no matter the circumstances or the inconvenience. | HERE |
| Parable of the Good Shepherd | John 10:1 | Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep, who can trust Him with our lives. He gave His life for our salvation, so if we just keep listening to Him and following His voice, He will protect us. | HERE |
| Parable of the Great Banquet (Banquet) | Luke 14:15 | The poor and the lowly are as welcome to God’s kingdom as the rich and great. An invitation is extended to all and those who accept it enjoy the reward. | HERE |
| Parable of the Growing Seed | Mark 4:26 | The Kingdom of God expands within the world, beginning with the Word of Christ that sprouts within a person’s soul, gradually growing by grace until it matures and springs outward and forward. | HERE |
| Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Buried Treasure) | Matthew 13:44 | Many people know the Word of God only at a surface level – a superficial relationship with God. Those who choose to dig deep into the Word uncover the valuable treasure that a life lived in step with the Lord brings. | HERE |
| Parable of the Householder (Owner of the House, House Owner) | Matthew 13:52 | As Christians, old and new experiences, teachings, and learning all have a useful purpose for our spiritual growth. We need to keep refreshing ourselves on the lessons to keep growing. | HERE |
| Parable of the Lamp on a Stand (Lamp) | Matthew 5:15 Mark 4:21 Luke 8:16 | Our light for Christ must shine. It isn’t intended to be hidden within us. As Christians, we should exude Christ’s light with our words and actions. | HERE |
| Parable of the Lost Coin | Luke 15:8 | One lost coin is a lost soul that God will work endlessly to bring back to Him and rejoices in their return. | HERE |
| Parable of the Lost Sheep (Wandering Sheep) | Matthew 18:10 Luke 15:1 | Christ is earnest in bringing lost sinners home, even when the lost aren’t interested in returning. Our Father wants all His children to be saved. | HERE |
| Parable of the Lowest Seat (Parable of Honor, Place of Honor, Take the Lowest Seat, Lowest Seat at the Feast) | Luke 14:8 | Jesus led by example as a role model for our lives. As such, He expects His followers to be humble servants and not pompous, prideful boasters who seek out public recognition. | HERE 9/13/23 |
| Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lost Son) | Luke 15:11 | The Lord welcomes repentant sinners with open arms when they turn back to Him. | HERE |
| Parable of the Master and Servant | Luke 17:7 | We are God’s servants and must remain humble in our service to Him. When we do as He asks, we are only doing our duty and should not expect a reward. | HERE 8/30/23 |
| Parable of the Moneylender (Two Debtors) | Luke 7:41 | Our sin is a debt we owe to God and Christ paid the debt for our sins so that we might be saved. The greater the sin forgiven, the more grateful the sinner should be, but all sin is forgiven equally and freely with repentance. | HERE |
| Parable of the Mustard Seed | Mark 4:30 Luke 13:18 | The Kingdom of God begins with the tiniest seed of faith that, when nurtured with care, grows into an enormous tree of life. | HERE |
| Parable of the Net (Fishing Net) | Matthew 13:47 | The Gospel is the net thrown into the sea of people. Some will accept The Word and those who don’t are sorted out and rejected. | HERE |
| Parable of the Pearl (Pearl of Great Price, Great Pearl) | Matthew 13:45 | People are tempted by fake pearls that the world offers. When we search out the Kingdom of Heaven (a true pearl) and realize its priceless value, everything else becomes worthless in our eyes. | HERE |
| Parable of the Persistent Widow (Judge and the Widow, Unjust Judge, Importunate Widow) | Luke 18:1 | The unjust judge relented after being pestered time and again by the woman for justice. How much more will our faithful and just God grant us when we come to Him regularly and faithfully? | HERE |
| Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Two Men Who Prayed) | Luke 18:9 | God’s glory is to resist the proud and give grace to the humble. | HERE |
| Parable of the Rich Fool | Luke 12:13 | A fool prioritizes greed and wealth over his relationship with God. Eventually, the time available to strengthen our relationship with God will run out. | HERE |
| Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus | Luke 16:19 | This parable summarizes Jesus’ teaching that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. The rich man had been given much in life, but he had no care or concern for the poor (namely Lazarus). In the afterlife, the rich man was punished for his lack of care for the poor, while Lazarus now reaped rewards for what he lacked in life. The rich man wanted to warn his family and friends so they wouldn’t suffer the same fate, but everything they need to know is already written in Scripture. We have had a fair warning! The only question is whether we will heed it or ignore it. | HERE |
| Parable of the Shrewd Manager | Luke 16:1 | What we have in life is from God and we’re liable to use these gifts for God’s honor and glory. We’re called to be shrewd stewards in sharing and spreading God’s kingdom so that His gifts are not wasted. | HERE |
| Parable of the Sower (Four Soils) | Matthew 13:1 Mark 4:1 Luke 8:1 | God’s Word will only flourish and thrive when it reaches the hearts of faithful people who are willing to absorb and grow it. It withers and dies on the hearts of the evil, the uncommitted, the worldly, and the hypocrites. | HERE |
| Parable of the Talents (Gold Coins/Minas/Ten Minas/Bags of Gold) | Luke 19:11 Matthew 25:14 | God’s gifts are given freely with the expectation that we will use them for His goodness according to our ability. We will all account for our actions according to the gifts and advantages we’ve received. | HERE |
| Parable of the Tenants (Wicked Tenants, Wicked Vinedressers, Husbandmen, Evil Tenants, Evil Farmers) | Matthew 21:33 Mark 12:1 Luke 20:9 | As people treat others, they treat Christ. Christ’s followers should expect ill treatment from those who oppose Him. God will judge the opponents harshly. As for us, be generous with our fruits (gifts). | HERE |
| Parable of the Ten Virgins (Virgins, Bridesmaids, Bridegroom) | Matthew 25:1 | Be ready and prepared for the day of Christ’s coming. Ensure your lamp of faith is burning brightly with plenty of grace for fuel. Nurture your soul for Christ and don’t let carelessness make you unprepared. | HERE |
| Parable of the Two Sons | Matthew 21:28 | Both sons act poorly, but the first changed his mind and ultimately did the will of his father. The second paid only lip service with no repentance and no action. Our repentance and turning to God is the key to salvation. | HERE |
| Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Unmerciful Servant) | Matthew 18:21 | We’re too sinful to atone for our sins, but through God’s grace, our debts/sins are forgiven. As our debts are forgiven, we must forgive. | HERE |
| Parable of the Watchful Servants (Watchman, Waiting Servants) | Mark 13:32 Luke 12:35 | Keep watch (stay diligent in our faith) while we wait for our Master (Christ) to return. We don’t know the day or the hour, so be ready and prepared for when He comes, even if during the night. | HERE 9/6/23 |
| Parable of the Wedding Feast (Wedding Banquet, Feast) | Matthew 22:1 | The first people invited to the feast represented the Jews, God’s chosen people of the time. When they didn’t come, the doors were opened for all the others, as God’s arms are open to all. Hypocrites (with improper wedding clothing) will find themselves locked out of God’s Kingdom. | HERE |
| Parable of the Weeds | Matthew 13:24 | God created the good in the world and the devil sows evil that sinful people tend and make grow. We live in a world mixed with this good and bad and God will separate them when His judgment is made. | HERE |
| Parable of the Wineskins (Cloth and Wineskins, New Wine Old Wineskins, New Cloth Old Garment, New Patch Old Garment/Coat) | Matthew 9:16 Mark 2:21 Luke 5:36 | The prior religious teachings would be undergoing change with Jesus’ death and resurrection. It would mean new ways were emerging that might seem incompatible with the old, but should be introduced to new converts as they were able to understand. | HERE |
| Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Two Builders, Builder, House on the Rock) | Matthew 7:24 Luke 6:46 | Those who listen to Jesus and apply His instructions can withstand anything that comes their way. Those who choose not to listen or apply the teachings will struggle and crumble under the weight of worldly troubles. | HERE |
| Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard | Matthew 20:1 | When God gives grace to others, it is kindness to them, not an injustice to us. God is fair and merciful, welcoming everyone. | HERE |
| Parable of the Yeast | Matthew 13:33 Luke 13:20 | A small amount of God’s Word that is mixed into the soul spreads and grows slowly and unnoticeably, but with strength and without fail, changing a person from within. | HERE |