\nThe term parable comes from the Latin “parabola”, which in turn originates from the Greek \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03bf\u03bb\u03ae,\u00a0comparison, allegory<\/em>.
\nJesus Christ used parables, on the one hand, to reveal the truths of the Gospel message to his disciples and, on the other, to hide it from unbelievers. When the disciples asked, he explained the meaning of the parable to them.<\/p>\n
Jesus’ parables are not reported in the\u00a0canonical Gospels<\/strong>\u00a0in the same way. The\u00a0Gospel of Luke<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0contains the three\u00a0Parables of Mercy<\/strong>: the Lost Sheep<\/strong>\u00a0(Luke 15:1-7),\u00a0the Lost Coin\u00a0<\/strong>(Luke 15:1-10),\u00a0and the Prodigal Son<\/strong>\u00a0(Luke 15:11-32). Of these,\u00a0only the lost sheep\u00a0<\/em>is also present in the Gospel of Matthew and in the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas, while the other two are not present elsewhere.<\/p>\n Similarly, the\u00a0Parable of the Tares<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Parable of the Merciless Servant<\/strong> are mentioned\u00a0only in the Gospel of Matthew<\/strong>\u00a0(Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 18:23-35).<\/p>\n Only in the\u00a0Gospel of Mark<\/strong>\u00a0do we find the\u00a0Parable of the Seed that Sprouts By Itself<\/strong>\u00a0(Mark 4:26-29).<\/p>\n In\u00a0the\u00a0Gospel according to John,<\/strong>\u00a0we find only three parables of Jesus:\u00a0the Pericope of the Good Shepherd\u00a0(John 10:1-16), the\u00a0Parable of the Wheat\u00a0Grain (John 12:24), <\/strong>and the<\/strong>\u00a0Parable of the Vine and the Branches<\/strong>\u00a0(John 15:1-8). The three parables do not appear in any other of the Gospels.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Gospel of Thomas<\/strong>\u00a0also reports two parables not present elsewhere: that\u00a0of the Empty Jar<\/strong>\u00a0(Gospel of Thomas, 97) and the\u00a0Parable of the Murderer<\/strong>\u00a0(Gospel of Thomas, 98).<\/p>\n How many parables of Jesus are there? If we only count the parables contained in the synoptic Gospels, there are\u00a042<\/strong>, to which are added the 3 parables present only in the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15; Gospel of Thomas 9)<\/p>\n The Parable of the Sower<\/strong> tells of a farmer who goes out to sow his seeds. While sowing, some seeds fall along the way, and the birds eat them. Others fall on rocky ground, where they sprout quickly, but then die because they have no deep roots. Still others fall through the thorns, where they grow, but are suffocated by weeds. Finally, some seeds fall on good soil and produce a bountiful crop. The meaning of this parable is that the seeds represent the word of God, and the sower is the one who announces the Gospel. In contrast, the different types of soil represent different attitudes towards the divine message.<\/p>\n (Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-18; Thomas chapter 65)<\/p>\n In the Parable of the Murderous Winemakers, Jesus tells of a master who plants a vineyard, rents it to winemakers and sets off on a journey. When the time comes for the harvest, the master sends his servants to gather the harvest. However, evil winemakers beat, mistreat, and kill servants sent by their master. The master sends other servants, but they, too, are mistreated and killed. In the end, the master decides to send his son, thinking that the winemakers will at least respect him. However, the winemakers conspire against the son, kill him and appropriate his inheritance. With this account, Jesus warns the listeners about the conduct of the Jewish religious leaders of the time, who had rejected the prophets sent by God and who would soon rebel against Himself, the Son of God.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19; Thomas 20).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is similar to a small mustard seed that a man takes and sows in his field. The grain, despite being one of the smallest seeds<\/strong>, grows to become a large tree, so much so that the birds of the sky find shelter among its branches.<\/p>\n (Mark 2:18-22; Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:33-39; Thomas 47).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses two images to illustrate the mission He is carrying out and the incompatibility between His teachings and the Pharisees’ religious traditions. Jesus suggests that if you put a patch of new fabric on an old dress, the new cloth will shrink when washed, causing further damage to the old fabric. Jesus also compares His teaching to fresh wine, which must be stored in new containers to avoid being contaminated by old ones.<\/p>\n (Mark 3:27; Matthew 12:29; Luke 11:21-22; Thomas 35).<\/p>\n This parable is often interpreted in the context of Jesus’ ministry and his confrontation with the forces of evil and the devil. The image Jesus paints is of a strong man protecting his home, and only if he is bound can he be robbed. This symbolises Jesus’ power over Satan and His dominion over evil. Jesus suggests that His ministry cannot be hindered or defeated by adverse forces; rather, it is meant to prevail over wickedness and bring freedom and salvation to people.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21; Thomas 96).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a small amount of yeast that a woman takes and mixes into flour until the entire dough is fermented.\u00a0Yeast, although initially a small and seemingly insignificant quantity, has the power to influence and transform the entire mass of flour. This parable highlights the gradual growth and spread of the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n (Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-33)<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses the image of the budding fig tree to teach His disciples to observe the signs of the times, just as they observe the tree’s budding, which heralds the approach of summer. Similarly, some signs herald the coming of the Kingdom of God and the return of Jesus.<\/p>\n (Luke 15:1-7; Matthew 18:12-14; Thomas 107).<\/p>\n The\u00a0Parable of the Lost Sheep<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. In this parable, Jesus uses the image of a shepherd who loses one of his hundred sheep and takes care only to find that one, abandoning the others, to illustrate God’s great love and care for each individual.<\/p>\n (Matthew 5:14-16; Mark 4:21-23; Luke 8:16-18).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus invites His disciples to be like a lamp placed on a skylight, which emits a light that illuminates the surrounding environment. As followers of Jesus, believers are called to bring the light of God’s truth and love into the world, manifesting his presence through their actions and witness.<\/p>\n (Matthew 24:45-51; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:42-48).<\/p>\n In the Parable of the Faithful Servant, Jesus uses the image of a faithful and prudent servant to illustrate the importance of responsibility and vigilance in awaiting His return. This parable highlights the importance of faithfulness and diligence in serving the Lord as he awaits the end times.<\/p>\n (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24; Thomas 64).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses the image of a king organising a large wedding banquet for his son. He sends his servants to invite the guests, but they refuse to come. The king sends his servants again, but some ignore the invitation, and others mistreat and kill the king’s servants. The king, angry, sends his servants into the streets to invite anyone they meet, good and bad, to fill the banquet hall. The wedding banquet symbolises the Kingdom of Heaven and God’s invitation to participate in it. Initial invitees who decline the invitation represent those who decline the invitation to salvation, while those who are invited from the streets represent those who respond positively to the invitation.<\/p>\n (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses the image of two men building two houses, one on the rock and the other on the sand, to illustrate the importance of basing one’s life on the solid rock of His Word. This parable highlights the importance of listening to and putting into practice Jesus’s words.<\/p>\n (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses the image of a master setting out on a journey and entrusting his servants with different sums of money, each according to their abilities. On his return, the master asks for an account of the talents entrusted to him. This parable underscores the importance of wisely using the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43; Thomas 57).<\/p>\n The Parable of the Weeds tells of a man who sows good seed in his field, but during the night, the enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. When the wheat and tares grow together, the master’s servants ask if they should uproot the tares, but the master replies by letting them both grow until the time of harvest. Only at that time, the master will send the harvesters to collect the tares first to burn them and then the wheat to store it. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy that sows the weeds is the devil. At the end of the world, there will be the harvest, or the final judgment, in which the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:44; Thomas 109).<\/p>\n A man finds a treasure hidden in a field. The treasure is so precious that a man sells everything he has and buys that field. This short parable illustrates the great value of the Kingdom of Heaven and the importance of investing everything to obtain it.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:45-46; Thomas 76).<\/p>\n A merchant searches for precious pearls and finds a pearl of great value. The merchant, recognising the great value of that pearl, sells everything he has and buys the pearl. The pearl of great value represents the Kingdom of Heaven, which is so precious that it is worth sacrificing everything we have to obtain it.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:47-50; Thomas 8).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus uses the image of a net thrown into the sea that collects fish of all kinds. When the net is complete, the fishermen pull it ashore and sit down to separate the good fish from the bad. The good fish are put in the baskets, while the bad ones are thrown away. This parable illustrates the final judgment, when angels will separate the righteous from the wicked.<\/p>\n (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50).<\/p>\n Jesus compares His disciples to the salt of the earth. Salt performs several functions: it preserves, flavours and purifies. So believers should also influence the world around them. This parable, therefore, invites us to live an authentic life consistent with the principles of the Gospel, to be a positive force in the world, and to preserve morality and justice in society.<\/p>\n (Luke 12:16-21; Thomas 63).<\/p>\n One man had accumulated a lot of wealth. Since his harvest had been abundant, he thought of demolishing his warehouses to build bigger ones, so that he could store even more. After doing this, he thought about relaxing, eating, drinking, and enjoying life. However, he had not considered his mortality or thought about what would happen after his death. He had lived only to accumulate material wealth, without worrying about his actions or his relationship with God.<\/p>\n (Matthew 11:16-17; Luke 7:31-32).<\/p>\n Jesus uses the analogy of children sitting in the public square, expressing their disappointment in their peers, to highlight the harsh reality of people’s lack of acceptance and understanding of John and Him, despite differences in their approaches and messages. They were like those children who tried in vain to involve their playmates.<\/p>\n (Mark 4:26-29).<\/p>\n This parable is linked to that of the sower and that of the mustard seed. The Kingdom of God continues to grow, guided by God himself and following his times, without depending on human action. The disciples only have to persevere in their work, aware that their progress is entrusted to divine providence.<\/p>\n (Matthew 20:1-16).<\/p>\n In this parable, Jesus tells of a landlord who hires workers for his vineyard at different times of the day: in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon and even an hour before sunset. Ultimately, the employer pays all workers the same salary, regardless of how long they work. This parable illustrates God’s generosity and mercy, which are not just about amounts of time or effort, but depend on his grace and love. It also symbolises the inclusiveness of the Kingdom of Heaven, where even those who convert late to the faith or repent shortly before the end still receive the Kingdom reward.<\/p>\n (Matthew 21:28-32).<\/p>\n It tells of a father who asks his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first child initially refuses, but later repents and goes to work. The second son agrees to go, but ultimately he does not. The parable of the two sons urges us to reflect on our response to God’s will in our lives. It reminds us that obedience to God does not consist only in our words but requires concrete actions that demonstrate our faith and commitment to him.<\/p>\n (Matthew 25:1-13).<\/p>\n Ten virgins prepare to meet the groom for a wedding party. Five of them are wise and carry extra oil for their lamps, while the other five are foolish and have not prepared properly. This parable highlights the importance of vigilance and preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God. The lamps represent faith and spiritual preparation, while the extra oil symbolises prudence and perseverance in the spiritual life.<\/p>\n (Matthew 18:23-35).<\/p>\n This parable illustrates the importance of forgiveness and compassion. Jesus tells of a king who wants to deal with his servants. One of them is presented as owing a considerable sum. Since he is unable to repay the debt, the king orders that he, his family, and his assets be sold to pay off the debt. The servant, begging the king for mercy, begs for patience and promises to repay everything. Moved by compassion, the king forgives his debt and sets him free. However, that servant, once out of the king’s palace, meets another servant who owes him a much smaller sum. Despite his appeal for a postponement of payment, the merciless servant throws him in prison until he has paid all the debt. Some other servants, witnesses of this behaviour, report it to the king, who, indignant at the lack of mercy shown by the servant who had been forgiven, hands him over to the torturers until he has repaid all that he owed him. \u00a0The king represents God, whose forgiveness is generous and free.<\/p>\n (Matthew 13:51-52).<\/p>\n In this parable, a Jewish scribe who converted to Christianity is compared to a landlord who extracts both old and new things from his family treasure. The parable emphasises the importance of understanding both the Old Testament and Jesus’s new teachings, as both are essential to carrying out God’s plan.<\/p>\n (Matthew 25:31-46).<\/p>\n Jesus explains how one day the Son of Man will come in His glory and all the nations will be gathered before Him. He will separate people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats: sheep (representing those who have lived according to the principles of the Kingdom of God) on the right and goats (representing those who have neglected the needs of others) on the left. This parable highlights the importance of compassion and solidarity towards those in need as an expression of our love for Jesus himself.<\/p>\n (Luke 15:11-32).<\/p>\n The\u00a0Parable of the Prodigal Son<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. It tells the story of a father who had two sons. The younger son asks his father for his share of the inheritance and goes away, squandering everything in a dissolute life. After wasting everything, the young man finds himself in poverty and despair. When the father sees his son far away, he runs to meet him, hugs him and orders a big party to celebrate his return. This parable emphasises the mercy, love, and forgiveness of the father, who welcomes the prodigal son with open arms despite his wrong actions. It represents God’s infinite generosity in forgiving the repentant sinner and celebrating his return to grace.<\/p>\n (Luke 10:25-37).<\/p>\n The\u00a0Parable of the Good Samaritan<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0tells of a man who is attacked by robbers on the road to Jerusalem, robbed, beaten and left half dead. A priest and a Levite, both representatives of the Jewish religion, pass by, but they ignore it. Then comes a Samaritan, a member of an ethnic and religious group considered an adversary by the Jews. The Samaritan, however, shows compassion for the wounded man, heals him, carries him on his donkey and takes him to an inn, where he takes care of him. The Parable of the Good Samaritan<\/strong><\/a> teaches the importance of compassion, love and solidarity towards others, regardless of race, religion or social status. It questions prejudices and social divisions, showing that love for one’s neighbour goes beyond cultural and religious barriers.<\/p>\n
\nThere are parables present in\u00a0all the Synoptic Gospels and also in the Gospel of Thomas<\/strong>, an apocryphal one that does not narrate the life of Jesus, but collects his sayings, such as the\u00a0Parable of the Sower\u00a0<\/strong>(Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:5-15; Gospel of Thomas 9) or the\u00a0Parable of the Murderous Winemakers<\/strong>\u00a0(Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:9-18; Gospel of Thomas chapter 65) and many others.<\/p>\n![\"St.](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/st.-luke-the-evangelist-statue-in-resin-30-cm.jpg\")
<\/div>\nHow many parables of Jesus are there<\/h2>\n
Parables common to the four Gospels<\/h2>\n
The Parable of the Sower<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Murderous Winemakers<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Mustard Seed<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the New Wine in the Old Cupboards<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Strong Man<\/h3>\n
Parables common to the three Gospels<\/h2>\n
The Parable of Yeast<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Lost Sheep<\/h3>\n
![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Jesus-Good-Shepherd.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe Parable of the Lamp<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Faithful Servant<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet<\/h3>\n
Parables common to two Gospels<\/h2>\n
The Parable of the House Built on Rock<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Talents<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Weeds<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Pearl<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Net<\/h3>\n
Parable of the Salt of the Earth<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Rich Fool<\/h3>\n
Parable of the\u00a0Children in the Square<\/h3>\n
Parables exclusive to the Gospel according to Mark<\/h2>\n
![\"Rhodium](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Rhodium-plated-medal-with-St.-Mark-the-Evangelist-10-mm.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe Parable of the Seed that Sprouts on Its Own<\/h3>\n
Parables exclusive to the Gospel according to Matthew<\/h2>\n
![\"St](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/St-Matthew-the-Evangelist.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe Parable of the Vineyard Workers<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Two Sons<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Ten Virgins<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Merciless Servant<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Scribe Disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven<\/h3>\n
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats<\/h3>\n
Parables exclusive to the Gospel according to Luke<\/h2>\n
![\"Saint](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Saint-Luke-icon.jpg\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\nThe Parable of the Prodigal Son<\/h3>\n
![\"Bronzed](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Bronzed-Prodigal-Son.jpg\")
<\/div>\nThe Parable of the Good Samaritan<\/h3>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/The-meaning-behind-the-parable-of-the-Good-Samaritan.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"Saint](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Saint-John-icon.jpg\"){kind=icon}
<\/div>\n![\"Jesus](\"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/couk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/04\/Jesus-the-Good-Shepherd.jpg\")
<\/p>\n