Parables of Jesus facts for kids

The Parable of the Prodigal Son by Guercino

The parables of Jesus are short, memorable stories that Jesus told to teach important lessons. You can find most of these stories in the Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, and Gospel of Luke in the Bible. They are a big part of what Jesus taught, making up about one-third of his recorded lessons. Many people who follow Christianity believe these parables are the actual words of Jesus.

Jesus' parables might seem simple, but they carry deep meanings. They often use everyday examples to help people understand big ideas. For instance, a story about a woman baking bread (parable of the Leaven) or a person helping someone in need (parable of the Good Samaritan) can teach about the Kingdom of God, the importance of prayer, or what love truly means.

These stories are so well-known that even today, many people around the world recognize them, whether they know much about the Bible or not. They have shaped how we understand the word "parable" itself.

Where the Parables Come From

The idea of teaching with parables was common long before Jesus. In ancient times, Jewish teachers often used stories or riddles called mashal (which means parable in Hebrew) to explain things. So, Jesus using parables was a natural way to teach, fitting right into the traditions of his time. People have been sharing and discussing Jesus' parables since the very beginning of Christianity.

Parables in the Gospels

Most of Jesus' parables are found in the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The Gospel of John is different; it has stories like the Vine and Good Shepherd, which some people call parables, but it mostly contains allegories (stories with hidden meanings) rather than simple parables. Many experts agree that parables are "noticeably absent" from John's Gospel.

Here's a quick look at where you can find the most parables:

• The Gospel of Luke has the most parables, with 24 in total. Eighteen of these are only found in Luke.
• The Gospel of Matthew has 23 parables, and eleven of them are unique to Matthew.
• The Gospel of Mark has eight parables, with two unique ones.

Some parables appear in more than one Gospel. For example, six parables are found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Other Ancient Writings

Besides the Bible, some other old documents also contain parables that people say Jesus told. Some of these are similar to the ones in the Bible, while others are completely new. For example, the Gospel of Thomas, an ancient text not in the Bible, has about fifteen parables. Eleven of these are similar to stories in the Bible, but others, like the Parable of the Assassin and the Parable of the Empty Jar, are unique to Thomas.

Another old text, the Apocryphon of James, also has three unique parables from Jesus: "The Parable of the Ear of Grain," "The Parable of the Grain of Wheat," and "The Parable of the Date-Palm Shoot."

Why Jesus Used Parables

In the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 13, verses 10-17), Jesus' followers asked him why he spoke to people in parables. Jesus explained that he used them to help some people understand spiritual truths, while others might not grasp the deeper meaning.

He said:

The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied,

"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables:

Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand."

Some scholars believe Jesus used parables as a teaching method for everyone. Others suggest that because Jesus often spoke to both believers and non-believers, parables helped reveal truth to some while keeping it hidden from others who weren't ready to understand.

Many Christian writers believe Jesus chose parables because he knew it was the best way for people to learn. They say parables connect everyday life with spiritual lessons, making deep ideas easier to understand. William Barclay, a writer from the 20th century, called a parable "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." He explained that Jesus used familiar examples to guide people's minds toward spiritual concepts.

Main Themes of the Parables

Many of Jesus' parables share similar themes, especially when they appear close together in the Gospels.

• The parable of the Leaven and the parable of the Mustard Seed both talk about the Kingdom of God starting small and growing into something big.
• The parable of the Hidden Treasure and the parable of the Pearl show how valuable the Kingdom of God is and why it's worth giving up everything for.
• The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin, and Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke are all about finding what was lost and the joy of forgiveness.

Other parables focus on different important lessons:

• The parable of the unforgiving servant teaches about forgiveness.
• The parable of the Good Samaritan shows what true love and kindness look like.
• The parable of the Friend at Night encourages people to keep praying and not give up.

Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven

These parables teach about understanding, seeking, and growing in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sower	Hidden Treasure	Pearl
Growing Seed	Mustard Seed	Leaven

Parables of Loss and Redemption

These stories focus on finding what was lost and the joy of being brought back.

Lost Sheep	Lost Coin	Prodigal (Lost) Son

Parables About Love and Forgiveness

These parables teach important lessons about how to treat others with love and how to forgive.

Good Samaritan	Two Debtors	Unforgiving Servant

Parables About Prayer

These stories encourage people to pray with persistence and humility.

Friend at Night	Unjust Judge	Pharisee & Publican

Parables About Being Ready for the Future

These parables often talk about being prepared for important events or the end times.

Faithful Servant	Ten Virgins	Great Banquet
Rich Fool	Wicked Husbandmen	Tares
The Net	Budding Fig Tree	Barren Fig Tree

Other Parables

Here are some other well-known parables that teach various lessons.

Wise & Foolish Builders	Lamp under a Bushel	Unjust Steward
Rich Man and Lazarus	Talents (Minas)	Workers in the Vineyard

Parables in Art

A depiction of the Parable of the Ten Virgins on a stained glass window in Scots' Church, Melbourne

For a long time, only a few of Jesus' parables were commonly shown in art, especially during the Middle Ages. The most popular ones were:

• The Parable of the Ten Virgins
• The Rich man and Lazarus
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son
• The Good Samaritan

Artists like Martin Schongauer, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and Albrecht Dürer are famous for their works based on parables. As time went on, especially from the Renaissance, more parables started appearing in art. The story of the Prodigal Son became a clear favorite.

Albrecht Dürer created a famous picture of the Prodigal Son with pigs in 1496. Rembrandt also painted this story many times. His painting Return of the Prodigal Son at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg is one of his most well-known works.

Parables in Poetry and Songs

The parables of Jesus have not only inspired art but also many poems and hymns (religious songs).

For example, the hymn "The Ninety and Nine" by Elizabeth C. Clephane (written in 1868) was inspired by the parable of the Lost Sheep:

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold.
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

Another example is "My Hope Is Built" by Edward Mote (around 1834), which was inspired by the parable of the Wise and the Foolish Builders. Also, "How Kind the Good Samaritan" by John Newton (around 1779) comes from the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Where to Find Parables in the Gospels

This table shows where different parables appear in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Gospel of John usually has allegories, not parables.

Parables in Other Ancient Texts

Some parables also appear in other ancient writings, not just the Bible. This table shows some of those parallels.

See also

• Gospel harmony
• Miracles of Jesus
• Parable
• Parables in the Qur'an

• Lisco, Friedrich Gustav and Fairbairn, Patrick, 1850. The Parables of Jesus Daniels and Smith Publishers, Philadelphia
• Oxenden, Ashton, 1864. The parables of our Lord William Macintosh Publishers, London.
• Snodgrass, Klyne, 2008. Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus William B Eerdmans Publishing Co
• Sumner, John Bird, 1850. The parables of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ C. Cox Publishers, London.
• Trinder, William Martin, 1816. Sermons on the parables of Jesus Christ" Baldwin, Cradock and Joy Publishers, London.

See also

In Spanish: Parábolas de Jesús para niños