The BibleTexts.com

Parables of Jesus

in the canonical gospels and the Gospel of Thomas

edited by Robert Nguyen Cramer (version 5.7.31.1)

The texts of the parables below are taken from the NRSV (synoptic parables) or from the Brill edition of the Gospel of Thomas.

Jesus' explanation for using parables, according to the canonical gospels: Explanation #1 | Explanation #2 | Explanation #3 | Some other references to Jesus' parables

INTRODUCTION TO JESUS' PARABLES

It should be noted that Jesus did not advocate all of the actions taken by the characters in his parables, such as assassination, war, plundering a strong man's house, investing money with bankers, etc. He heavily utilized metaphor and even shock to get his point across. He used his parables to make his hearers think. He challenged them to a new vision of God's rule that always radically turned up-side down the common views -- whether religious, cultural, ethnic, and/or social views. Jesus' parables encouraged his hearers not simply to think outside of the box. They declared that there is no box -- only God's unconditionally compassionate, all-powerful, just, and wisely governed reign over all. This Good News boldly declared null, void, and powerless all oppression, exclusion, weakness, uncleanness, outcast status, etc.

In the face of the religious restrictions preached and mandated by the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priests, and the scribes, Jesus was inclusive, not only in his words but in his life. He was willing to regularly suffer the humiliation, mean-spirited insults, and physical persecution resulting from his associating with -- ministering to and being ministered to by -- those disenfranchised, repudiated, or despised by others. He ate and mingled with rich and poor, young and old, men and women, those self-assured of their righteousness and those who in the eyes of others were living sinfully, the conservative Jewish authorities and the more liberal masses, those religiously and ethnically similar (Jews) and those religiously, nationally, and/or ethnically dissimilar (Samaritans, Greeks, Romans), even those who had been labeled as anti-Roman terrorists (e.g., Simon Zelotes and possibly Judas Iscariot) and those who had been labeled as supporters of Roman occupation (e.g., Matthew, a.k.a. Levi). He also spent time with his critics.

Jesus' Good News proclaimed and witnessed to God as the Father of all, in whom the kingdom of God is the only reality. To see an example of how Jesus' courageous teachings and life directly coincided with the Good News illustrated in his parables, see http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-c.htm.


Parables that likely originated with Jesus [+ wording that may not have originated with Jesus]

 

Patches and wineskins
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TEXTS

 

Powerful man
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Sower / Soils
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Harvest Time
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Mustard Seed
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Evil Tenants
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Leaven
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Great Supper / Marriage Feast (see also Lack of Wedding Garment)
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TEXTS

 

Wheat and Weeds
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Treasure
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Pearl
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TEXTS

 

Net
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Lost Sheep
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TEXTS

 

Unmerciful Servant
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Laborers in the Vineyard
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Ten Bridesmaids
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Talents
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Good Samaritan
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Rich Fool
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Barren Fig Tree
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

Tower Builder
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

 

King at War
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TEXTS

 

Lost Coin
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TEXTS

REFERENCES
COMMENTARY

 

Prodigal Son
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Unjust Steward
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Unjust Judge
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Pharisee and Publican
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Empty Jar
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Assassin
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Parables that may not have originated with Jesus

 

House Divided
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Fig Tree
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Wise and Foolish Builders
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Two Sons
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Lack of Wedding Garment
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Wise and Foolish Servants
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Sheep and Goats
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Rich Man (a.k.a., "Dives," per the Latin Vulgate) and Lazarus
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TEXTS

REFERENCES

COMMENTARY

 

Sheep and Shepherd ("figure of speech," Strong's #3942)
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1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”


Jesus' purpose of using parables, according to the canonical gospels

 

Explanation #1 for using parables (Strong's #3850)
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Explanation #2 for using "parables" (Strong's #3850)
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Explanation #3 for using "figures of speech" (Strong's #3942)
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Marks of the Genuine Parables of Jesus
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Bibliography
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All glossary terms
Edited by Robert Nguyen Cramer
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