Bible Study
The Parables of Jesus
Stories that teach
Jesus often taught in parables — short stories drawn from everyday life. This study gathers some of the best-known, each with its opening verse and a link to read the whole parable in context.
1
The Sower
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Seed falls on four kinds of ground (Matthew 13).
2
The Good Samaritan
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
A parable about who is a neighbour (Luke 10).
3
The Prodigal Son
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The father runs to meet his returning son (Luke 15).
4
The Lost Sheep
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Leaving ninety-nine to seek the one that is lost.
5
The Mustard Seed
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
The smallest seed becomes a great tree.
6
The Talents
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
7
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
A house built on rock withstands the storm.
8
The Pearl of Great Price
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
A merchant sells all to buy one pearl.
9
The Ten Virgins
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Five were ready and five were not.
10
The Pharisee and the Publican
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
“God be merciful to me a sinner.”