The Parables of Jesus

Parables were short stories that had a moral or ethical point related to matters of Jewish law, interpretation, and application. The use of parables was popular in all stages of Jewish literature, from the Bible to the writings of the rabbis.

Jesus used parables often to coincide with his teaching and understanding of Torah. His parables were often misunderstood, even by his own disciples, and often had several layers of meaning. Here are the parables by Jesus recorded in Mathew, Mark, and Luke:

Parable: Lamp under a bowl 

Matthew 5:14– 15; Mark 4: 21– 22; Luke 8:16; 11: 33 

Parable: Wise and foolish builders 

Matthew 7:24–27; Luke 6:47–49 

Parable: New cloth on an old coat 

Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36 

Parable: New wine in old wineskins 

Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37– 38 

Parable: Sower and the soils 

Matthew 13:3–8, 18–23; Mark 4:3– 8, 14– 20; Luke 8:5– 8, 11–15 

Parable: Weeds 

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 

Parable: Mustard seed 

Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19 

Parable: Yeast 

Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21 

Parable: Hidden treasure 

Matthew 13:44 

Parable: Valuable pearl 

Matthew 13:45–46 

Parable: Net 

Matthew 13:47–50 

Parable: Owner of a house 

Matthew 13:52 

Parable: Lost sheep 

Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7 

Parable: Unmerciful servant 

Matthew 18:23-34 

Parable: Workers in the vineyard 

Matthew 20:1-16 

Parable: Two sons 

Matthew 21:28-32 

Parable: Tenants 

Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke: 20: 9– 18 

Parable: Wedding banquet 

Matthew 22: 2-14

Parable: Fig tree 

Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-31 

Parable: Faithful and wise servant 

Matthew 24: 45-51; Luke 12:42-48 

Parable: Ten virgins 

Matthew 25:1-13 

Parable: Bags of gold (minus) 

Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27 

Parable: Sheep and goats 

Matthew 25:31-46 

Parable: Growing seed 

Mark 4:26-29 

Parable: Watchful servants 

Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40 

Parable: Moneylender 

Luke 7:41-43 

Parable: Good Samaritan 

Luke 10:30-37 

Parable: Friend in need 

Luke 11:5-8 

Parable: Rich fool

Luke 12:16-21 

Parable: Unfruitful fig tree 

Luke 13:6-9 

Parable: Lowest seat at the feast 

Luke 14:7-14 

Parable: Great banquet 

Luke 14:16-24 

Parable: Cost of discipleship 

Luke 14:28-33 

Parable: Lost coin 

Luke 15:8-10 

Parable: Lost (prodigal) son 

Luke 15:11-32 

Parable: Shrewd manager 

Luke 16:1-8 

Parable: Rich man and Lazarus 

Luke 16:19-31 

Parable: Master and his servant 

Luke 17:7-10 

Parable: Persistent widow 

Luke 18:2-8 

Parable: Pharisee and tax collector 

Luke 18:10-14

The Storyteller - Summer (2016) at Grace Church

Hello friends! 

It's summer! And one of the rhythms within Grace Church's annual teaching schedule is to spend our summers looking into the character, personhood, actions, and teachings of Jesus as recorded in the four Gospel accounts.

Jesus was a masterful communicator and thought-provoking rabbi; and this summer we will be considering the message of God's good news and Kingdom through Jesus' many parables and allegories in a series entitled, The Storyteller.

This isn't the first time we have looked at Jesus as a storyteller. Listen to Kingdom Stories Pt. 1 + Kingdom Stories Pt. 2 (from way back in 2012!).

Oh, and there's is a way for you to participate in this teaching series too. Here it is...

Do you have any questions about a parable or about one of the many allegories Jesus shared in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John?  If so, please let us know and we will be sure to address it!

Jesus is the Better...

*** I am indebted to Timothy Keller for this post.  I first heard him say something like this (and probably better!) at a Gospel Coalition Conference.

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning HIMSELF." ...then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about ME in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” ~ Luke 24:27, 44-45

Jesus is the better Adam. In Genesis, Adam chose to rebel, broke fellowship with God, and failed in the Garden of Eden. In the Gospels, Jesus, the second Adam, walked in obedience and did not fail his test in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Instead of hiding from God and covering his shame, he went before God in prayer and covered the shame of all who were in the first Adam.

Jesus is the better Abel, who was innocent yet lost his life to his own kin. So too, Jesus’ blood was spilled at the hands of his Israelite brothers.

Jesus is the better Noah. Just as Noah built the ark to save people from the flood, so too Jesus became the true ark who absorbed the wrath of God so that all who would enter him would have eternal life.

Jesus is the better Abraham, who answered the call of God to go to a foreign country and walk in obedience by faith. And just as Abraham was told to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac, God the Father would one day sacrifice his one and only son Jesus.

Jesus is the better Isaac, who carried wood to the place of his sacrifice just as Jesus would carry his cross of wood to Calvary.

Jesus is the better Jacob, who wrestled with God and walked away limping. Jesus wrestled with God in Gethsemane, and though wounded and limping, walked away from his grave blessed and victorious.

Jesus is the better Joseph, who after suffering was appointed to the right hand of the King of Egypt and extended forgiveness and provision to those who betrayed him. So too, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, extending grace and providing for us who also betrayed him.

Jesus is the better Moses. Just as Moses was the mediator between God and man and gave us the Law, so too Jesus is now the only mediator between God and man, giving us the Law of the New Covenant, which is not engraved on stones but is written on our hearts.

Jesus is the better rock that was struck in the desert, giving us water for everlasting life.

Jesus is the better bread that has come down from heaven.  Just as the Israelites were fed in the wilderness by heavenly manna, the Christian is continually preserved by Jesus’ body.

Jesus is the better pillar of fire.  Just as Moses and the people were led by a pillar of fire in their wanderings toward the Promised Land, so too Jesus is the light of the world who leads us home to the true Promised Land.

Jesus is the greater Samson, who in his last feat pulled the coliseum down upon himself and his enemies. Jesus pulled down the wrath of God upon himself and spared his enemies.

Jesus is the greater Boaz. Boaz redeemed Ruth and brought her and her despised people into community with God’s people. So too, Jesus redeemed his bride, the church, from all the nations of the earth and gave them an eternal community.

Jesus is the better David. Just as David killed the giant Goliath, who defied God and taunted his people, Jesus slew the giant Satan at Calvary and comforts the people of God.

Jesus is the greater King David.  Rather than staying home from war, Jesus went to war. Rather than committing adultery like David, Jesus saved the prostitute and gave her back her dignity. Rather than covering up sin by murdering Uriah, Jesus, the true light, exposed sin and saved the dying criminal crucified beside him.

Jesus is the greater Solomon, and, because of his wisdom, when he taught it was not as one of the scribes.

Jesus is the better temple of God that we enter to worship the Lord.

Jesus is the greater Elijah, who, after defeating the false prophets of Ba’al, offered up the sacrifices at Mt.Carmel. So too, Jesus exposed the religious frauds for who they were and, rather than offering a sacrifice to prove Yahweh is the one true God, he is Yahweh’s sacrifice.

Jesus is the greater Nehemiah. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, but Jesus ushers in the city known as the New Jerusalem.

Jesus is the greater Esther, who risked her life by entering the palace of king Xerxes.  But Jesus gave his life at Pilate’s palace.

Jesus is the better Job. Job suffered as an innocent man under the onslaught of Satan, and so too Jesus suffered as an innocent man and bore the wrath of God, the wrath of Satan, and the wrath of mankind. And just as Job’s friends were of no use to him in his agony, Jesus’ disciples slept when he was in great distress.

Jesus is the greater Jeremiah, who in exile was known as the weeping prophet just as Jesus, the man of many sorrows, wept at Lazarus’ grave and over those living in exile in their own land.

Jesus is the greater Isaiah, who saw some future events unfolding. So too, Jesus has perfect knowledge of eternity past and eternity future.

Jesus is the greater Hosea, who married an unfaithful, whoring wife yet pursued her in love. Jesus does the same and more for his unfaithful bride, the Church, every hour.

Jesus is the greater Jonah. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish because he ran from the will of God, and, by God’s power, he appeared again and proclaimed God’s Word, which led to the salvation of the Ninevites. But Jesus spent three days in the grave because he ran toward the will of God, faithfully preached the gospel, and appeared three days later, which led to the salvation of the world.

On and on it goes. Jesus is not only the true and greatest of all the people in the Bible - He radically recycles everything in the Old Testament according to his person and work. 

He is the better prophet.

He is the better High Priest.

He is the better King of all Kings.

He is the better lamb to be sacrificed.

Jesus is the better.

May we see Jesus -- his death, resurrection, and reign -- as the fulfillment of all God's redemptive activities! 
May we see HIM as better. 
May we follow HIM as he is superior to all else.
May we receive HIM as our Christ. 
And may we share him with those around us.

Tim Keller on The Jealousy of God

This is a really great talk from Pastor Tim Keller on the Jealousy of God. God's law, his creation of man and woman and the sending of his Son all reveal a God who is passionately in love with his people. He doesn't just want us to serve him out of obligation, he declares to us, "Love me with all you are as I love you."

Jealousy of God

What is the Gospel? - with N.T. Wright

This interview was filmed at a national consultation, entitled, A Faithful Gospel: How should we understand what the gospel is? It is the first in a series of five events taking place as part of the Evangelical Alliance's 'Confidence in the Gospel' initiative. For more info check out - eauk.org/confidence.

In this video clip, N.T. Wright answers:

• Why do we need to ask, "What is the Gospel?"
• What is the Gospel according to the Gospels?
• If you only had a couple minutes, how would you share the Gospel with someone?
• Do we need to talk about repentance when we present the Gospel?Why do you emphasize the importance elf talking about Jesus's life, as well as his death, when presenting the Gospel?
• Is the Gospel of Paul different from Jesus' Gospel?
• What would your advice be to a young evangelistic? 

Baptism Part 2: Death of the Messiah, Resurrection for Humanity

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. -Romans 6:3-5

Baptism is an act whereby we affirm our faith in God's promise to deliver and liberate his people and his world as he delivered Israel from Egypt. Baptism is our public initiation into the community and movement established by Jesus. We last looked at how baptism is connected to the Exodus narrative and is in itself an Exodus act, Baptism Part 1: New Exodus. Jesus is a better Moses who has rescued us from sin and has led us into the new world of God's Shalom.

Baptism is a beautiful and colorful sacrament. It is much more than a string connecting worlds, times or events. It is a web weaving in and out of history and throughout the biblical story connecting and illustrating the plan and intention of God for his world and for his humanity. Paul is getting at this very thing when in his letter to the Romans he comes to the topic of baptism.

Paul introduces and applies a very important theological truth that all who call themselves followers of Jesus must come to terms with: What is true of the Messiah, is also true of his people. The Gospel writers express this toward the end of their accounts. John in his Gospel remembers these words of Jesus:

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. -John 14:12

In his prayer in John 17, Jesus expresses his desire to have all his people with him where he is because he is loved by the Father, "before the creation of the world" (vs.24). Paul might have this in mind in his letter to the Ephesians when he tells them that they have been loved and chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)...what is true of Jesus is true of us.

So here in Romans 6, as Paul is re-telling Israel's story with the Messiah twist he comes to the Exodus. We have discussed how baptism and exodus correlate in part 1, Paul wants us to see baptism in an even greater light. The text quoted above postulates that being baptized in water is more than that, it is being baptized into Jesus' death and resurrection. Here Paul takes the truth, 'what is true of Jesus is true of his people', and exposes it's very foundation- we have become united with him (6:5). In baptism we follow Jesus into his death, an event that brought an end to death's reign. In baptism we obey the command of Jesus to take up our cross and follow him to Golgotha (Mark 8:34).

Paul continues his reasoning, if we become united to his death, we will also have his resurrection. Joining Jesus' movement and community is to join in his suffering. All who follow Jesus are called to their own wilderness experiences, but what is true of Jesus is true of us. Jesus died and was buried, his people die and enter the ground with him.  Jesus did not stay in the grave. We resurrect with him! Death has no victory over us, sin is no longer our master! (Romans 6:9-12) So in Baptism we not only re-enact the Exodus from Egypt, we re-enact humanity's Exodus from sin and death. In Baptism we demonstrate that we have been united to Jesus in such a way that we have died to sin as he did and we resurrect victorious over death as he did. By baptism we affirm faith in Jesus, that he was victorious and that we will indeed always be with him where he is. So by entering into the water we in a very real sense enter a new world and a new hope. When we raise out of the water we do so knowing that our life is new and that resurrection is in our future for our bodies as it is present in our spirits.

Have you yet to be baptized? Hurry to the water! Come to unity with Jesus in his death, resurrection and eternal life.