23 Bible Verses about Jesus Using Parables

He then spoke many things to them in figurative language. "The sower goes out," He said, "to sow.

Then He proceeded to teach them many lessons in figurative language; and in His teaching He said,

Then He began to speak to them in figurative language. "There was once a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, fenced it round, dug a pit for the wine-tank, and built a strong lodge. Then he let the place to vine-dressers and went abroad.

Again Jesus spoke to them in figurative language.

So He called them to Him, and using figurative language He appealed to them, saying, "How is it possible for Satan to expel Satan?

With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.

All this Jesus spoke to the people in figurative language, and except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them,

I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.

But except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them; while to His own disciples He expounded everything, in private.

(And His disciples came and asked Him, "Why do you speak to them in figurative language?" "Because," He replied, "while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of the Heavens, to them it is not. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever has not, from him even what he has shall be taken away.read more.
I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.

"To you," He replied, "has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;

"To you," He replied, "it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but all others are taught by parables, in order that they may see and yet not see, and may hear and yet not understand.

"All this I have spoken to you in veiled language. The time is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in veiled language, but will tell you about the Father in plain words.

Jesus spoke to them in this figurative language, but they did not understand what He meant.

Jesus concluded this series of parables and then departed.

Another saying of His was this: "How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?

"Explain to us this figurative language," said Peter.

When He was alone, the Twelve and the others who were about Him requested Him to explain His figurative language.

"Do you all miss the meaning of this parable?" He added; "how then will you understand the rest of my parables?"

"Master," said Peter, "are you addressing this parable to us, or to all alike?"

After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;

And they kept looking out for an opportunity to seize Him, but were afraid of the people; for they saw that in this parable He had referred to *them*. So they left Him and went away.

At this the Scribes and the High Priests wanted to lay hands on Him, then and there; only they were afraid of the people. For they saw that in this parable He had referred to them.