What Are the Parables of Jesus?
A parable is a teaching method that conveys a deeper idea through a short story drawn from everyday life. In the Gospels, Jesus Christ delivers much of his teaching through such parables: through familiar scenes like a farmer, a lost sheep, or a father and two sons, he speaks of the kingdom of God, forgiveness and love of neighbor. This page explains, neutrally, what a parable is, its best-known examples and where they are found; afterward you can read these chapters here for free.
What is a parable?
A parable is a short narrative that conveys an abstract truth through a concrete, familiar story. It invites the listener to think and to apply the story's meaning to their own life. Jesus often uses parables to convey complex teaching through scenes anyone can grasp — a field, a seed, leaven, something lost. This method makes the message both memorable and open to reflection.
Some of the best-known parables
One of the most familiar is the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15): it uses a son who leaves his father and later returns in repentance to speak of forgiveness. The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) answers the question "who is my neighbor?" with an unexpected person who helps a stranger robbed on the road. The parable of the sower (Matthew 13) likens different soils to different states of heart. These stories are full of lessons still often cited today.
What do the parables teach?
Jesus' parables mostly revolve around three themes: what the kingdom of God is like, God's mercy toward people and how people should treat one another. The prodigal son speaks of forgiveness, the good Samaritan of a love of neighbor that knows no boundaries, and the sower of how the message is received in different hearts. Parables impose no fixed interpretation; they invite the reader to draw their own conclusion.
Where can I read the parables?
The parables are concentrated especially in three Gospels — Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke 15 contains the prodigal son, Luke 10 the good Samaritan, and Matthew 13 the sower and many other parables. On this site you can select the relevant chapters and read the parables in their own context, free and ad-free.
Start here
Guides
- What Is the Gospel (İncil)?
- What Are the Torah, Psalms (Zebur) and Gospel?
- The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
- Who Wrote the Bible? When Was It Written?
- How Many Books Are There in the Bible?
- Chapters and Verses: How to Read a Reference Like "John 3:16"
- Who Is Jesus Christ?
- What Is the Zebur (Book of Psalms)?
- What Is Baptism?
- How Did the Bible Reach Us? (Manuscripts and Translation)
- What Is Prayer and How Do You Pray?
- What Are the Ten Commandments?
- What Are the Parables of Jesus?
- What Are the Old and New Testaments?
- What Is Christmas? When and Where Was Jesus Born?
- What Are Easter and the Resurrection?
- Who or What Is the Holy Spirit?
- What Is a Church (Kilise)?
- What Is Christianity?
- What Is Sin (Günah)?
- What Are Angels?
- What Are Heaven and Hell?
- What Is a Prophet?
- What Is the Trinity?
- Satan and Evil According to the Bible
- How Do You Memorize Bible Verses?
- Kadıköy Kilise Translation (KKR): Sources and Revision Notes
What does "parable" mean?
A parable is a teaching method that conveys a deeper truth through a short story taken from everyday life. Jesus often delivers his teaching through such familiar stories.
What are Jesus' best-known parables?
Among the best-known are the prodigal son (Luke 15), the good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the sower (Matthew 13). These speak, respectively, of forgiveness, love of neighbor and how the message is received in different hearts.
What is the parable of the good Samaritan about?
The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10) tells of an unexpected person helping a stranger who was robbed and wounded on the road, answering the question "who is my neighbor?" with a love that knows no boundaries.
Where are Jesus' parables found in the Bible?
The parables are concentrated especially in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. For example, the prodigal son is in Luke 15, the good Samaritan in Luke 10 and the parable of the sower in Matthew 13.
Can I read the parables online?
Yes. On this site you can read the chapters containing the parables (e.g. Luke 15, Luke 10, Matthew 13) in their own context, free and ad-free.