23 Bible Verses about Jesus Using Parables

And He spoke many things to them in parables [i.e., brief stories to illustrate His teaching], saying, "Once a farmer went out [to his field] to plant grain.

He taught the people many things using parables [to illustrate His lessons]. In His teaching He said to them,

Jesus began speaking to them [i.e., to the leading priests and experts in the law of Moses (See 11:

Jesus again spoke in parables to them [i.e., the Jewish leaders], saying,

And He called them to Him and began speaking to them in parables [i.e., brief stories to illustrate His teaching], saying, "How can Satan drive out Satan?

And He spoke "the word" to them [i.e., the crowds] with as many such parables as they were able to receive.

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds with parables. He did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Therefore, I am speaking to them with parables because [although] they can see, they [really] do not perceive, and [although] they can hear, they [really] do not comprehend, and so they [utterly] fail to understand [what I am trying to get across].

And He did not speak to them [i.e., concerning the kingdom] without using a parable, but He explained everything to His own disciples privately.

Jesus' disciples came and said to Him, "Why are you speaking to them [i.e., the large crowds] by using parables?" He replied, "You disciples are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but the crowds of people are not. For to the person who [already] has something, [more] will be given, so he will have a larger amount [i.e., of understanding], but from the person who has [almost] nothing, even [the little] he has will be taken away from him.read more.
Therefore, I am speaking to them with parables because [although] they can see, they [really] do not perceive, and [although] they can hear, they [really] do not comprehend, and so they [utterly] fail to understand [what I am trying to get across].

He said to them, "You disciples are being given an understanding of the secret of the kingdom of God, but to outsiders everything will be told in parables.

And He said to them, "You [disciples] are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of God, but the rest of the people [are being told] in parables, so that [even though they appear to be] seeing, they will not [actually] see; and [even though they seem to] hear, they will not understand.

"I have spoken these things to you in figurative language. [However], the time will come when I will not speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

Jesus told them this parable [i.e., a brief story to illustrate his teaching] but they did not understand what it meant.

And it happened, when Jesus had finished [giving] these parables, He went away from that place.

And He continued to speak, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? Or, what parable will [best] illustrate it?

And Peter said to Him, "Explain the parable to us."

And when He was alone those people who gathered around Him, along with the twelve apostles, asked Him what the parables meant.

And Jesus continued to speak to them, "Do you not know what this parable means? Then how can you understand any of the other parables?

Then Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for our benefit [only] or for all people?"

And when the leading priests and Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they realized He was speaking about them.

And they [i.e., the leading priests and experts in the Law of Moses] attempted to arrest Jesus, but [hesitated because] they feared what the crowd might do, for they understood that He was speaking the parable against them. So, they left Him and went away.

Then the experts in the law of Moses and the leading priests attempted to arrest Jesus right away, [but hesitated] because they feared [what] the people [might do], since they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.