THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST


THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.
He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. Gospel of Mark 4:33-34
Jesus often taught in parables, an ancient Eastern literary genre. The prophet Ezekiel, for example, wrote in parables, such as the eagles and the vine (17:1-24) and the parable of the pot (24:1-14). The word parable in Hebrew מָשָׁל is present in both vignettes (17:2 and 24:3). A parable is a story that presents comparisons to teach an important moral lesson. The root meaning of the word parable means a placing side by side for the sake of comparison. A parable envisions the whole narrative to generate the spiritual message, whereas a proverb, metaphor, simile, or figure of speech focuses generally on a word, phrase or sentence. The Gospel writer identifies a narrative with a spiritual meaning by specifically calling the lesson a παραβολή (parable). At times the Gospel writer begins the story with the term like, as "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1).

The Parables are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some parables are common to all three Synoptic Gospels, such as the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:2-20, and Luke 8:4-15). Matthew relates ten Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven, seven of which occur in Chapter 13 and are central to his Gospel. Examples of parables unique to each Gospel are the Weeds Among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30), the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16); the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29); the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37); the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31); and the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14) .

The word parable does not appear in the Gospel of John. The related word παροιμιαν (figure of speech) appears in 10:6 and refers to the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). Jesus, by calling himself the Good Shepherd, recalls the imagery of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd," and the Prophets (Isaiah 40:1-11, Jeremiah 23:1-8, Ezekiel 34). By doing so, he fulfills Old Testament prophecy as he identifies himself as the Messiah. The word παροιμίαν also appears in John 16:25 and provides insight into the message of Jesus: "I have spoken to you in figures of speech; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but tell you plainly of the Father."

The following chart lists the important parables of Jesus Christ.
This list primarily includes those parables specifically named as such by a Gospel writer.

THE PARABLES OF JESUS
PARABLE	MATTHEW	MARK	LUKE
The Speck and The Log	7:1-5		6:37-42
New Cloth on Old Garment	9:16-17	2:21-22	5:36-39
The Divided Kingdom	12:24-30	3:23-27	11:14-23
The Sower	13:1-23	4:1-20	8:4-15
The Growing Seed		4:26-29
The Rich Fool			12:16-21
The Barren Fig Tree			13:6-9
The Weeds Among the Wheat	13:24-30
The Mustard Seed	13:31-32	4:30-34	13:18-19
The Leaven	13:33-34		13:20-21
Hidden Treasure	13:44
Pearl of Great Price	13:45-46
The Net	13:47-50
The Good Samaritan			10:29-37
The Invited Guests			14:7-24
The Heart of Man	15:1-20	7:1-23
The Lost Sheep	18:10-14		15:1-7
The Prodigal Son			15:11-32
The Rich Man and Lazarus			16:19-31
The Persistent Widow			18:1-8
The Pharisee and The Publican			18:9-14
Laborers in the Vineyard	20:1-16
The Tenants	21:33-45	12:1-12	20:9-19
The Wedding Feast	22:1-14		14:15-24
The Fig Tree	24:32-44	13:28-37	21:29-33
The Faithful or Wicked Servant	24:45-51		12:35-48
The Ten Virgins	25:1-13
Ten Talents or Gold Coins	25:14-30		19:11-27

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) is a wonderful example of a story that provides spiritual guidance. Jesus compares the response of a Levite, a priest, and the Samaritan to a beaten man lying on the side of a road. Jesus ends the narrative by instructing his listeners to follow the actions of the good Samaritan: "Go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37).

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