Parables of Jesus

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Parables of Jesus

Parables about the Kingdom of Heaven

  1. The Sower – Mark 4:3-9, 13-20; Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15
  2. The Weeds (Wheat and Tares) – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
  3. The Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
  4. The Yeast (Leaven) – Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21
  5. The Hidden Treasure – Matthew 13:44
  6. The Pearl of Great Price – Matthew 13:45-46
  7. The Net''' – Matthew 13:47-50
  8. The Growing Seed''' – Mark 4:26-29

Parables about God’s Love and Grace

  1. The Lost Sheep – Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7
  2. The Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
  3. The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
  4. The Workers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16

Parables about Readiness and Judgment

  1. The Ten Virgins (Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids) – Matthew 25:1-13
  2. The Talents (Minas in Luke) – Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27
  3. The Sheep and the Goats – Matthew 25:31-46
  4. The Wedding Feast (Great Banquet) – Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24
  5. The Faithful and Wicked Servant – Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
  6. The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31
  7. The Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21

Parables about Forgiveness and Mercy

  1. The Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18:23-35
  2. The Two Debtors – Luke 7:41-43
  3. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14

Parables about Discipleship and Obedience

  1. The Wise and Foolish Builders – Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49
  2. The Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32
  3. The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
  4. The Shrewd Manager (Unjust Steward) – Luke 16:1-13

Parables about Persistence in Prayer

  1. The Friend at Midnight – Luke 11:5-8
  2. The Persistent Widow (Unjust Judge) – Luke 18:1-8

Parables about Faith and Humility

  1. The Lowest Seat at the Feast – Luke 14:7-11
  2. The Servant’s Duty – Luke 17:7-10

Parables about Israel and Rejection of Christ

  1. The Wicked Tenants (Vineyard Owner’s Son) – Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
  2. The Barren Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9

Grouped by symbol

Agricultural Symbols (Seeds, Plants, and Vineyards)

  1. The Sower – Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 13-20; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15
  2. The Weeds (Wheat and Tares) – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
  3. The Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
  4. The Yeast (Leaven) – Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21
  5. The Growing Seed – Mark 4:26-29
  6. The Barren Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9
  7. The Wicked Tenants (Vineyard Owner’s Son) – Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19

Money, Treasure, and Debt

  1. The Hidden Treasure – Matthew 13:44
  2. The Pearl of Great Price – Matthew 13:45-46
  3. The Talents (Minas in Luke) – Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27
  4. The Shrewd Manager (Unjust Steward) – Luke 16:1-13
  5. The Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18:23-35
  6. The Two Debtors – Luke 7:41-43

Sheep, Animals, and Shepherding

  1. The Lost Sheep – Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7

Banquets, Feasts, and Meals

  1. The Wedding Feast (Great Banquet) – Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24
  2. The Lowest Seat at the Feast – Luke 14:7-11
  3. The Friend at Midnight – Luke 11:5-8

Servants and Masters

  1. The Workers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16
  2. The Faithful and Wicked Servant – Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
  3. The Servant’s Duty – Luke 17:7-10

Fathers and Sons

  1. The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
  2. The Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32

Builders and Foundations

  1. The Wise and Foolish Builders – Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49

Fishing and the Sea

  1. The Net – Matthew 13:47-50

Judges and Authority Figures

  1. The Persistent Widow (Unjust Judge) – Luke 18:1-8

Everyday Life and Miscellaneous Symbols

  1. The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
  2. The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31
  3. The Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21
  4. The Ten Virgins (Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids) – Matthew 25:1-13
  5. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14

Here’s a list of Jesus' parables with an identification of Christ in each one, based on sensus plenior principles.

Agricultural Symbols (Seeds, Plants, and Vineyards)

  1. The Sower – (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-9, 13-20; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15)
    • Christ is the Sower, planting the word of God in hearts. He is also the Seed, which must fall into the ground and die to bear fruit (John 12:24).
  2. The Weeds (Wheat and Tares) – (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43)
    • Christ is the Farmer, sowing good seed. The wheat represents His people, growing into His image, while the enemy sows falsehood.
  3. The Mustard Seed – (Matt. 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)
    • Christ is the Mustard Seed, which starts small but grows into the Kingdom of God, providing rest and refuge.
  4. The Yeast (Leaven) – (Matt. 13:33; Luke 13:20-21)
    • Christ is the Leaven, transforming the whole batch of dough, just as His teaching spreads and changes hearts.
  5. The Growing Seed – (Mark 4:26-29)
    • Christ is the Seed, growing the Kingdom of God by His work, independent of human effort.
  6. The Barren Fig Tree – (Luke 13:6-9)
    • Christ is the Gardener, pleading for more time for the tree (Israel) to bear fruit before judgment.
  7. The Wicked Tenants (Vineyard Owner’s Son) – (Matt. 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)
    • Christ is the Son, sent to the vineyard (Israel), but rejected and killed. His death becomes the cornerstone of salvation.

Money, Treasure, and Debt

  1. The Hidden Treasure – (Matt. 13:44)
    • Christ is the Treasure, hidden in the world, and the man (Christ Himself) gives all to claim it—just as He gave His life for His people.
  2. The Pearl of Great Price – (Matt. 13:45-46)
    • Christ is the Merchant, giving everything to purchase the pearl (His people). He is also the Pearl, formed through suffering.
  3. The Talents (Minas in Luke) – (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27)
  • Christ is the Master, entrusting His servants with gifts and expecting faithfulness.
  1. The Shrewd Manager (Unjust Steward) – (Luke 16:1-13)
  • Christ is the True Steward, who gives grace freely. The parable contrasts worldly shrewdness with the wisdom of God’s kingdom.
  1. The Unforgiving Servant – (Matt. 18:23-35)
  • Christ is the King, forgiving a great debt, but expecting His people to show mercy as He does.
  1. The Two Debtors – (Luke 7:41-43)
  • Christ is the Creditor, who cancels debts according to His grace.

Sheep, Animals, and Shepherding

  1. The Lost Sheep – (Matt. 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7)
  • Christ is the Good Shepherd, leaving the 99 to seek the lost.

Banquets, Feasts, and Meals

  1. The Wedding Feast (Great Banquet) – (Matt. 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24)
  • Christ is the King’s Son and the Bridegroom, inviting all to His wedding, though many reject Him.
  1. The Lowest Seat at the Feast – (Luke 14:7-11)
  • Christ is the Humble Guest, who took the lowest place (Phil. 2:6-8) and is exalted by God.
  1. The Friend at Midnight – (Luke 11:5-8)
  • Christ is the Friend, always providing for those who seek Him persistently.

Servants and Masters

  1. The Workers in the Vineyard – (Matt. 20:1-16)
  • Christ is the Master, giving grace to all, whether early or late.
  1. The Faithful and Wicked Servant – (Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48)
  • Christ is the Master, rewarding those who serve faithfully.
  1. The Servant’s Duty – (Luke 17:7-10)
  • Christ is the True Servant, showing that obedience is simply what is required of God’s people.

Fathers and Sons

  1. The Prodigal Son – (Luke 15:11-32)
  • Christ is the True Son, always obedient, and the Father, who welcomes sinners home.
  1. The Two Sons – (Matt. 21:28-32)
  • Christ is the True Son, who obeys the Father’s will, in contrast to those who say they will but do not.

Builders and Foundations

  1. The Wise and Foolish Builders – (Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49)
  • Christ is the Rock, the only true foundation.

Fishing and the Sea

  1. The Net – (Matt. 13:47-50)
  • Christ is the Fisherman, separating the righteous from the wicked at the end of the age.

Judges and Authority Figures

  1. The Persistent Widow (Unjust Judge) – (Luke 18:1-8)
  • Christ is the Righteous Judge, in contrast to the unjust one, responding to those who persist in faith.

Everyday Life and Miscellaneous Symbols

  1. The Good Samaritan – (Luke 10:25-37)
  • Christ is the Good Samaritan, who rescues the wounded man (humanity) and pays for his healing.
  1. The Rich Man and Lazarus – (Luke 16:19-31)
  • Christ is the True Lazarus, who suffered and was exalted. He is also the one whom people should listen to instead of seeking signs.
  1. The Rich Fool – (Luke 12:16-21)
  • Christ is the True Rich Man, storing treasures in heaven by giving Himself for others.
  1. The Ten Virgins (Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids) – (Matt. 25:1-13)
  • Christ is the Bridegroom, coming unexpectedly, and His people must be ready.
  1. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – (Luke 18:9-14)
  • Christ is the True Humble Man, teaching that justification comes by grace, not self-righteousness.

Conclusion

In every parable, Christ is either the central figure or the hidden meaning. He is the Sower, the Seed, the Shepherd, the King, the Bridegroom, the Rock, the Servant, and the Son. He is the one who seeks, saves, and judges. His identity is woven into every story, revealing the mystery of His work in salvation.

Would you like any particular parable explored in more depth?

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