10 Bible Verses about Parables Of The Kingdom Of Heaven

"It is with the kingdom of God," he continued, "as if a man should have sown seed in the earth; night and day he sleeps and wakes while the seed is sprouting and growing tall, he knows not how. Of its own accord the earth bears its crops; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.read more.
Then as soon as the crop is ready the man has the sickle put in at once, because harvest-time is come.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in the ground, which a man finds but buries again, and then in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that land. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of beautiful pearls. "When he finds one of great price, he goes and sells everything he has and buys it.

"To what shall we compare the kingdom of God?" he said again. "in what parable shall we set it forth? It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the soil, is the smallest seed in the world; yet when sown shoots up and becomes larger than any plant, sending out such branches that the wild birds build their nests under its shadow."read more.
With many such illustrations Jesus used to tell his message to people as far as they were able to receive it; and to them it was his practice never to speak except in parables. But he used to explain everything in private to his disciples.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. "When it was full they hauled it upon the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless fish away. "So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous, and fling them into the furnace of fire.read more.
"There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. "Have you understood all this?" he asked. "We have," they answered him. "Then," said he, "every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old."

"For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care. "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one??o each according to his individual ability??nd then set out on his travels. "At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.read more.
"In the same way the one who got two talents made another two. "But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those slaves came, and demanded a reckoning with them. "The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said: "'Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' replied his master; 'You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your master's joy.' "The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said: "'Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.' "'Well done, good and faithful slave,' his master replied, 'You have been faithful over many things; enter into your master's joy.' "Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said: "'Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered; "so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!' "'You wicked and lazy slave,' said his master. 'You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?' Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest. So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has ten talents. (For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.) But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

"Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them;read more.
but the wise took oil in their flasks with their lamps. Now because the bridegroom tarried, they all fell to nodding and went on sleeping. But at midnight there arose a cry, "'Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!' "Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps; "and the foolish said to the wise, "'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' "'Not so, answered the wise, 'for there may not be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, rather, and buy some for yourselves.' "And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding-feast. And the door was shut. "Afterwards the other maidens came and cried, "'Lord, Lord, open unto us!' "'In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, 'I know you not.' "Be watchful then, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Just then Peter came to him, and asked him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" "I do not tell you 'till seven times,'" answered Jesus, "but till seventy times seven. "Thus the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.read more.
"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars. "And since he was unable to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, toward the payment of the debt. "Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!' "So then the master pitied his slave, and let him go, and forgave him his debt. "But on his way out, that slave met a fellow slave who owed him fifty dollars. Seizing him by the throat, and nearly choking him, he exclaimed, "'Pay me what you owe me!' "Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "'Be patient with me, and I will pay you.' "But he would not; on the contrary he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. "When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very angry; and they went and explained to their master all that had happened. "Immediately his master summoned him and said: "'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me. "'Ought not you also to have had pity on your fellow slave, just as I had pity on you?' "Then in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, until he should pay him all his debt. "So will my heavenly Father do to you also, unless from your heart each one of you forgive his brother."

Once more Jesus answered them in parables. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who made a wedding-feast for his son. "He sent out his slaves to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they did not want to come.read more.
"Again he sent out other slaves. 'Tell the invited guests,' he said, 'that my luncheon is now ready; my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is ready; come to the wedding-feast.' "They, however, paid no attention, but went off, one to his own farm, another to his business; "while the rest seized his slaves and maltreated and murdered them. "Then the king's wrath was roused, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. "Then he said to his slaves, "'The wedding-feast indeed is ready, but the invited guests were not worthy. "'So go out into the partings of the highways, and summon everybody you find there to the wedding-feast.' "So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together all whom they found, good or bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests. "Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and he discovered there a man who had not put on a wedding-garment. He said to him, "'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding-garment?' "The man was speechless. "'Bind him hand and foot, 'said the king to his officers, 'and cast him into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.' "For there are many called, but few are chosen."

He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; "but while men were asleep his enemy came and sowed tares among his wheat and went away. "And when the blade shot up and formed the wheat-kernel, then the tares also appeared.read more.
"The slaves of the owner went to him and said: "'Was it not good seed, sir, that you sowed in your field? From whence then, do you get tares?' "'It is an enemy who has done this,' he answered. "The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and collect them?' "'No,' he answered, 'for fear lest while you are collecting the tares, you at the same time pull up the wheat. "Let both grow together until harvest, and at harvest-time I will tell the reapers to first gather the tares and tie them in bundles for burning, but to bring all the wheat into my store-house.'"

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. "And when he had agreed with the workmen for two shillings a day, he sent them into his vineyard. "About nine o'clock he went out and noticed some other workmen standing idle in the market-place;read more.
"and he said to them, "'Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever is just I will pay you.' "So they went. Again at noon, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same thing. "When he went out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "'Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?' "'Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "He said to them, 'Do you also go into the vineyard.' "And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "'Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.' "When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received two shillings apiece; "and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings. "And as they took it they began to grumble against the master of the house. "'Those last men,' they said, 'have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.' "In reply he said to one of them. 'My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings? "Take your wage and begone! I chose to give to this last man the same as to you. "Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?' "So the last shall be first, and the first, last."