Parable
Main Point
Scripture
Audience or Reason
Teaching
1. Lamp
A lamp is not put under a table but on a lampstand to give light
Matt 5:14-16
Mark 4:21-22
Luke 8:16-17, 11:33-36
Disciples and many listeners (Sermon on the Mount)
Scribes and Pharisees
2. Building a House
Those who hear and obey the word are like a house built on rock which stands firm; otherwise, it won't withstand water, rain, and wind
Matt 7:24-27
Luke 6:47-49
Disciples and many listeners (Sermon on the Mount)
Scribes
3. New Cloth on Old Garment
Law and grace cannot be mixed. If mixed, the law won't be law, and grace won't be grace
Matt 9:16
Mark 2:21
Luke 5:36
John's disciples and Pharisees
Pharisees
4. New Wine in Old Wineskins
Law and grace cannot be mixed. If mixed, the law won't be law, and grace won't be grace
Matt 9:17
Mark 2:22
Luke 5:37-38
John's disciples and Pharisees
Pharisees
5. Sower
The sower is Jesus or evangelists; listeners are of four types; whether the gospel bears fruit depends on the listener's heart
Matt 13:3-23
Mark 4:2-20
Luke 8:4-15
Disciples
All who hear the word (gospel)
6. Weeds
Christ sows the gospel of the kingdom; Satan sows weeds at night (Be watchful)
Matt 13:24-30
Disciples
All who hear the word (gospel)
7. Mustard Seed
The gospel is like a mustard seed, tiny at first but grows large with abundant branches (Initially 12 disciples, now 2.3 billion Christians)
Matt 13:31-32
Mark 4:30-32
Luke 13:18-19
Disciples
World
8. Yeast
The spread of the gospel is like yeast in dough, expanding rapidly
Matt 13:33
Luke 13:20-21
Disciples
World
9. Hidden Treasure
The treasure represents Christ's salvation; diligent work is needed to find it, and entering the kingdom requires sacrifice
Matt 13:44
Disciples
World
10. Pearl
The pearl represents Christ's salvation; diligent work is needed to find it, and entering the kingdom requires sacrifice
Matt 13:45-46
Disciples
World
11. Net
Evangelism is like casting a net; some are saved, some are not caught and discarded
Matt 13:47-50
Disciples
World
12. Owner of a House and His Treasures
Believers (scribes) should use their existing knowledge (law) as a foundation to develop new insights, teachings, and information
Matt 13:52
Disciples
Scribes and people
13. Lost Sheep
Christ fully commits to saving the lost sheep (all unbelievers)
Matt 18:12-14
Luke 15:3-7
Disciples
People
14. Unforgiving Servant
Forgive others limitlessly
Matt 18:23-35
Peter
People
15. Workers in the Vineyard
Repentance and salvation are God's grace; sovereignty belongs to God, regardless of early or late timing
Matt 20:1-16
Disciples
People
16. Two Sons
Unrepentant Jews who are rejected are like the first son; repentant sinners like prostitutes and tax collectors are like the second
Matt 21:28-32
Chief priests, elders
Traditional Jews who don't repent
17. Wicked Tenants
The son represents Christ; wicked tenants are those who killed Jesus; new tenants represent today's church
Matt 21:33-45
Mark 12:1-12
Luke 20:9-19
Chief priests, Pharisees, many people
Chief priests, Pharisees
18. Wedding Banquet
Explains how the gospel invitation was rejected by Jews and salvation was extended to Gentiles
Matt 22:2-14
Luke 14:16-24
Chief priests, Pharisees, many people
People
19. Fig Tree
The Lord uses the fig tree's growth to signify that the end times are near; people should repent
Matt 24:32-44
Mark 13:28-32
Luke 21:29-33
Disciples
People
20. Ten Virgins
The kingdom of heaven is like ten virgins with lamps going to meet the bridegroom. The bridegroom represents Jesus, we are the virgins waiting for the Lord's return, oil symbolizes love and faith
Matt 25:1-13
Disciples
People
21. Talents
People should not bury the grace given by God but use it for the Lord
Matt 25:14-30
Disciples
People
22. Growing Seed
The sower doesn't know how the seed sprouts and grows; workers just spread God's word (sow), growth depends on God
Mark 4:26-29
Followers and disciples
People
23. Doorkeeper
Be watchful, for you don't know when the Lord will return
Matt 24:40-44
Mark 13:33-37
Disciples
People
24. Canceled Debts
The amount owed represents people's awareness of their debt of sin; those who feel a greater debt experience greater forgiveness
Luke 7:41-47
Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner, sinful woman
People
25. Good Samaritan
Reveals human nature; only through God's grace, the Lord's mercy and election can people be thoroughly changed and become a cleansed "good Samaritan"
Luke 10:30-37
Expert in the law
Self-righteous Jewish leaders
26. Friend at Midnight
Prayer should be persistent; God will reward
Luke 11:5-13
Two disciples
People
27. Rich Fool
Storing up treasures on earth is foolish; they don't accompany the soul to heaven
Luke 12:16-21
Audience of thousands; one person among them
People
28. Watchful Servants
No one knows when the Lord will return; one must be watchful and wait
Luke 12:35-40
Disciples
People
29. Faithful and Wicked Servants
The Lord will judge according to people's deeds when He returns
Matt 24:45-51
Luke 12:42-48
Peter's question
People
30. Barren Fig Tree
God gives people gifts; if not used for the Lord, they occupy space and will be removed
Luke 13:6-9
Crowd
Unrepentant Jews
31. Humility and Hospitality
The Lord teaches people to be humble and learn to hide themselves
Luke 14:7-11
The Lord visiting a Pharisee leader's home
People
32. Building a Tower and Going to War
Following the Lord requires sacrifice; take up your cross and follow Him
Luke 14:25-35
One person while the Lord was a guest
People
33. Lost Coin
The Lord seeks the lost with the same heart as someone looking for a lost coin
Luke 15:8-10
Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes
People
34. Prodigal Son
The father represents God, full of compassion; the elder son represents Pharisees and scribes; the younger son represents sinners. The Lord accepts repentant sinners and rebukes the self-righteous
Luke 15:11-32
Tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes
Pharisees, scribes
35. Dishonest Manager
People should seize opportunities to secure protection for themselves; shouldn't believers use their talents even more to strive for heavenly protection and rewards?
Luke 16:1-13
Disciples
People
36. Rich Man and Lazarus
One's destination after death doesn't depend on earthly wealth but on whether one followed the Lord's teachings
Luke 16:19-31
Disciples
People
37. Master and Servant
Serving the Lord wholeheartedly is one's duty
Luke 17:7-10
Apostles
Disciples
38. Widow and Judge
Prayer should be persistent
Luke 18:1-8
Disciples
People
39. Pharisee and Tax Collector
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; whoever humbles himself will be exalted
Luke 18:9-14
Disciples
Pharisees
40. Servants and Minas
Serving the Lord requires faithfulness in small matters
Luke 19:11-27
Crowd
People
41. Sheep and Goats
The day of the Lord's judgment; what you do for the least of these brothers, you do for the Lord
Matt 25:31-36
Crowd
People
42. Vine
The Lord is the vine, believers are branches; branches cannot leave the vine; those not bearing fruit will be removed
John 15
Disciples
People
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