A parable is a short, vivid story drawn from ordinary life, farming, feasting, money, family, that carries a spiritual meaning. Jesus used them to reveal the Kingdom of God, engaging the heart and letting the hearer discover the truth rather than simply being told it.

Why did Jesus teach in parables?

Parables reach the heart, not just the head. They reward the humble and the curious, let truth land indirectly, and reveal or conceal depending on how the listener responds. Jesus said, 'without a parable spake he not unto them' (Matthew 13:34).

How many parables did Jesus tell?

Scholars count roughly thirty to forty depending on how they are defined. This reference collects the major teaching parables, one page each, with the faithful text, its meaning, and the human question it answers.

The words of Jesus

The Parables of Jesus

Jesus taught mostly in parables: short, vivid stories from everyday life, a sower in a field, a lost coin, a father running to meet his son, that reveal the Kingdom of God and the heart of the Father, and invite the listener to see and respond.

“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.”

Matthew 13:34

Below are the major parables, each with the faithful text of the story, what it means, and the human question it answers. Some of the best-loved, the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and the Good Samaritan, are told as personal encounters over on Meet Jesus, and are linked here in their place.

The Kingdom of God

The Sower · Mark 4
The Mustard Seed · Mark 4
The Wheat and the Tares · Matthew 13
The Hidden Treasure · Matthew 13
The Pearl of Great Price · Matthew 13
The Parables of the Kingdom (overview) · Matthew 13

The mercy of God for the lost

The Prodigal Son · Luke 15
The Lost Sheep · Luke 15
The Lost Coin · Luke 15
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector · Luke 18
The Two Debtors · Luke 7

Grace, forgiveness, and the heart

The Unforgiving Servant · Matthew 18
The Workers in the Vineyard · Matthew 20
The Two Sons · Matthew 21

Love your neighbour

Prayer that does not give up

The Persistent Widow · Luke 18
The Friend at Midnight · Luke 11

Watching and readiness

The Wicked Tenants · Matthew 21
The Wedding Feast · Matthew 22
The Ten Virgins · Matthew 25
The Talents · Matthew 25

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A door, not a lecture

A parable is not a puzzle to be solved and set down. It is a door. The One who told these stories is still telling them, and he still opens the door to anyone who comes to him with an honest heart. You do not have to understand everything to begin. You only have to come and see.

Read the Gospel of John Meet Jesus His words and acts The Kingdom of God

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Frequently asked questions

What is a parable?: A parable is a short, vivid story drawn from ordinary life, farming, feasting, money, family, that carries a spiritual meaning. Jesus used them to reveal the Kingdom of God, engaging the heart and letting the hearer discover the truth rather than simply being told it.
Why did Jesus teach in parables?: Parables reach the heart, not just the head. They reward the humble and the curious, let truth land indirectly, and reveal or conceal depending on how the listener responds. Jesus said, 'without a parable spake he not unto them' (Matthew 13:34).
How many parables did Jesus tell?: Scholars count roughly thirty to forty depending on how they are defined. This reference collects the major teaching parables, one page each, with the faithful text, its meaning, and the human question it answers.