What Are Parables

Jesus taught through parables created in multiple Gospels.

Kingdom of God Parables

These parables describe what the Kingdom of God is like:

• Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8)

• Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

• Parable of the Mustard Seed

• Parable of the Leaven

• Parable of the Hidden Treasure

• Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

• Parable of the Dragnet

• Parable of the Growing Seed

Parables of God's Mercy and Forgiveness

These are among Jesus' most beloved teachings:

• Parable of the Lost Sheep

• Parable of the Lost Coin

• Parable of the Prodigal Son

• Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

• Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Parables About Loving Others

• Parable of the Good Samaritan

• Parable of the Friend at Midnight

• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Parables About Judgment and Readiness

• Parable of the Ten Virgins

• Parable of the Talents

• Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders

• Parable of the Rich Fool

• Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

• Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Parables About Grace

These often challenge conventional ideas about fairness:

• Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

• Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard

• Parable of the Two Sons

• Parable of the Great Banquet

Business and Stewardship Parables

• Parable of the Pounds

• Parable of the Minas

• Parable of the Dishonest Steward

The Three Most Famous

If someone knows only three parables of Jesus, they are usually:

1. Parable of the Good Samaritan — Who is my neighbor?

2. Parable of the Prodigal Son — God's forgiveness and welcome.

3. Parable of the Sower — How people receive spiritual truth.

An interesting observation is that many of Jesus' parables end without a clear conclusion. The listener is invited to finish the story in their own life. For example, in the Prodigal Son, Jesus never tells us whether the older brother joins the celebration. The unanswered question becomes a challenge to the hearer.

If you're interested in the idea that "all people eventually go to heaven," several parables are often discussed in that context, especially the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Prodigal Son, Workers in the Vineyard, and the Great Banquet, because they emphasize God's relentless search for the lost and God's surprising generosity.