57 Bible Verses about Parables
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I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions. And by the ministry of the prophets I have used similitudes.
And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was tread more.
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who came to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As LORD lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou are the man. Thus says LORD, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul. And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would have added to thee such and such things. Why have thou despised the word of LORD, to do that which is evil in his sight? Thou have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be thy wife, and have slain him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said by the word of LORD to his fellow, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. Then said he to him, Because thou have not obeyed the voice of LORD, behold, as soon as thou are departed from me, a lion shall kill thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.read more.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. And as the king passed by, he cried out to the king, and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man. If by any means he is missing, And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him, So shall thy judgment be, thyself have decided it. And he hastened, and took the headband away from his eyes, and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. And he said to him, Thus says LORD, Because thou have let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
And the word of LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel, and say, Thus says lord LORD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar.read more.
He cropped off the topmost of the young twigs of it, and carried it to a land of merchandise. He set it in a city of merchants. He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree. And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots of it were under him. So it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And, behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it. It was planted in a good soil by many waters that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit that it might be a goodly vine. Say thou, Thus says lord LORD: Shall it flourish? Shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, that it may wither? It shall wither in all its fresh springing leaves, even without great power or many people to Yea, behold, being planted, shall it flourish? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew. Moreover the word of LORD came to me, saying, Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king of it, and the rulers of it, and brought them to him to Babylon. And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him. He also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land, that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt that they might give him horses and many people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape who does such things? Shall he break the covenant, and yet escape? As I live, says lord LORD, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. Nor shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons. For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant. And, behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things. He shall not escape.
Then I said, Ah lord LORD! They say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, Thus says lord LORD: Set on the caldron. Set it on, and also pour water into it. Gather the pieces of it into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile [of wood] for the bones under [the caldron]. Make it boil well, yea, let the bones of it be boiled in the midst of it.read more.
Therefore thus says lord LORD: Woe to the bloody city, to the caldron whose rust is therein, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece. No lot has fallen upon it. For her blood is in the midst of her. She set it upon the bare rock. She did not pour it upon the ground to cover it with dust. That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood upon the bare rock, that it should not be covered. Therefore thus says lord LORD: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great. Heap on the wood; make the fire hot. Boil the flesh well, and make the broth thick. And let the bones be burned. Then set it empty upon the coals of it, that it may be hot, and the brass of it may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed. She has wearied [herself] with toil, yet her great scum does not go forth out of her, her scum by fire. In thy filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed thee and thou were not cleansed, thou shall not be cleansed from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my wrath toward thee to rest.
Give ear, O my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parable{s (LXX/NT)}. I will utter dark sayings of old,
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried out, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken to you. The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?read more.
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? And the trees said to the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deed of his hands (for my father fought for you, and ventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian, and ye have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother), if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you, but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo, and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. And the king said to her, What troubles thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him.read more.
And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who smote his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus they will quench my co And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee. And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless. And the king said, Whoever says anything to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. Then she said, I pray thee, let the king remember LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood not destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As LORD lives, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on. And the woman said, Why then have thou devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as he who is guilty, in that the king does not fetch home again his banished one. For we must die, and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again, neither does God take away life, but devises means that he who is banished be not an outcast from him.
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed b Thou have indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart has lifted thee up. Glory by it, and abide at home, for why should thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou should fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebano Thou say, Lo, I have smitten Edom. And thy heart lifts thee up to boast. Remain now at home. Why should thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou should fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels, to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
And the disciples having come, they said to him, Why do thou speak to them in parables? And having answered, he said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those men it has not been given. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever has not, even what he has will be taken away from him.read more.
Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing ye will hear, and will, no, not understand, and seeing ye will see, and will, no, not perceive. For this people's heart became fat, and their ears hear heavily, and their eyes are shut, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn, and I will heal them.
And when he became alone, those around him, with the twelve, asked him the parable. And he said to them, To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all things occur in parables. So that seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest they should turn, and the sins would be forgiven them.
And his disciples questioned him, saying, What is this parable? And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the others in parables, so that seeing they would not see, and hearing they would not understand.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but do not understand, and see ye indeed, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and be healed.
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. But others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much soil, and straightaway they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.read more.
But when the sun was risen, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered. And others fell in the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Listen. Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow. And it came to pass during the sowing, some fell by the path, and the birds came and devoured it. And others fell on the rocky ground where it had not much soil. And straightaway it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.read more.
And when the sun was risen it was scorched, and because it had no root it dried out. And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it gave no fruit. And others fell into the good ground and gave fruit, coming up and increasing, and brought forth, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.
The man who sows went forth to sow his seed. And during his sowing, some fell by the way, and it was trampled, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And another fell on the rock, and having grown, it withered away because of not having moisture. And another fell amidst the thorns, and having grown together, the thorns choked it.read more.
And another fell on the good ground, and having grown it produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Therefore every man, whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it had been founded upon the rock. And every man who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand.read more.
And the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell. And great was the fall of it.
Every man who comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man who builds a house, who dug and excavated, and laid a foundation upon the rock. And when a flood developed, the stream beat upon that house, and could not shake it, for it had been founded upon the rock. But he who heard, and not having done, is like a man who built a house upon the soil without a foundation, on which the stream beat, and straightaway it fell. And the ruin of that house became great.
He set forth another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man sowing good seed in his field. But while the men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst the wheat, and went away. And when the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.read more.
But the bondmen of the house-ruler having come, they said to him, Sir, did thou not sow good seed in thy field? From where then does it have tares? And he said to them, A hostile man did this. And the bondmen said to him, Do thou desire therefore, after going, we would gather them up? But he said, No, lest while gathering up the tares, ye uproot the wheat together with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest. And at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles in order to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.
And he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or by what parable shall we compare it? It is like a grain of the mustard plant, which, when it is sown in the ground, is smaller than all the seeds upon the ground. Yet when it is sown, it goes up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it makes great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under the shade of it.
And he said, What is the kingdom of God like, and to what will I compare it? It is like a grain of a mustard plant, which having taken, a man cast into his own garden. And it grew and developed into a great tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in the branches if it.
He spoke another parable to them. The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which having taken, a woman hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened.
What does it seem to you? If it happens a hundred sheep are with some man, and one of them went astray, after going (having left the ninety-nine on the mountains), does he not seek the one going astray? And if he happens to find it, truly I say to you, that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. So, it is not a purpose before your Father in the heavens, that one of these little ones should perish.
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go for that which was lost until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes to the house, he calls together his men friends and his men neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.read more.
I say to you, that thus there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of repentance.
Because of this the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a king, who wanted to settle account with his bondmen. And when he began to settle, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him. But of him not having to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all things, as many as he had, and payment to be made.read more.
The bondman therefore having fallen down, worshiped him, saying, Lord, be patient toward me and I will pay thee all. And having felt compassion, the lord of that bondman released him, and forgave him the debt. But after going out, that bondman found one of his fellow bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having grabbed him, he choked him, saying, Pay me if thou owe anything. So his fellow bondman having fallen down at his feet, besought him, saying, Be patience toward me, and I will pay thee. But he would not, instead, having left him, he cast him into prison until he would pay that which was owed. And when his fellow bondmen saw the things that happened, they were extremely sorry. And after coming, they reported to their lord all the things that happened. Then his lord having summoned him, he says to him, Thou evil bondman, I forgave thee all that debt because thou besought me. Was it not necessary for thee also to be merciful to thy fellow bondman, as I also was merciful to thee? And having become angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors until he would pay all that was due to him. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye do not forgive each man his brother, from your hearts, their trespasses.
For the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a house-ruler, who went out in the early morning at the same time to hire workmen for his vineyard. And having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And having gone out about the third hour, he saw others having stood idle in the marketplace.read more.
And he said to those men, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever would be right I will give you, and they went. Again having gone out about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise. And having gone out about the eleventh hour, he found others who have stood idle. And he says to them, Why have ye stood here idle the whole day? They say to him, Because no man has hired us. He says to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever would be right ye will receive. And having become evening, the lord of the vineyard says to his manager, Call the workmen, and render to them their wage, having begun from the last until the first. And those who came about the eleventh hour, each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more. And they also received a denarius each. And when they received it, they murmured against the house-ruler, saying, These last did one hour, and thou have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat. But having answered, he said to one of them, Friend, I do not wrong thee. Did thou not agree with me for a denarius? Take thine and go. But I want to give to this last man, as to thee also. Is it not permitted for me to do what I want with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last, for many are called but few chosen.
Hear ye another parable. There was a certain man who was a house-ruler, who planted a vineyard, and placed a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it to farmers, and went on a journey. And when the time of the fruits approached, he sent his bondmen to the farmers to receive his fruits. And the farmers having taken his bondmen, they beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.read more.
Again, he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them in like manner. But finally he sent to them his son, saying, They will be made ashamed by my son. But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and possess his inheritance. And having seized him, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? They say to him, Evil men, he will miserably destroy them, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will render him the fruits in their seasons.
And he began to speak to them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set up a hedge, and dug a winevat, and built a tower, and leased it to farmers, and went on a journey. And at the season he sent forth a bondman to the farmers, so that he might receive by the farmers from the fruit of the vineyard. And having seized him, they beat him, and sent him away empty.read more.
And again he sent another bondman to them. And that man, having stoned, they wounded in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and that man they killed, and many others, beating some, and killing some. Therefore, still having his one beloved son, he also sent him to them, last, saying, They will be made ashamed by my son. But those farmers said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. And having taken him, they killed him, and cast him outside of the vineyard. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.
And he began to speak this parable to the people. A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to farmers, and went abroad for a considerable time. And at the season he sent a bondman to the farmers, so that they would give him from the fruit of the vineyard. But having beaten him, the farmers sent him away empty. And he proceeded to send another bondman. And they, having beaten and shamefully treated, sent him also away empty.read more.
And he proceeded to send a third. And they also having wounded this man, cast him out. And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will be made ashamed after seeing this man. But when the farmers saw him, they deliberated among themselves, saying, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may become ours. And having cast him outside of the vineyard, they killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. And having heard it, they said, May it not happen!
And having responded, Jesus again spoke to them in parables, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a king who made a wedding for his son. And he sent forth his bondmen to call those who were invited to the wedding festivities, and they did not want to come.read more.
Again he sent forth other bondmen, saying, Speak to those who were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding festivities. But having disregarded, they departed, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, and the others having seized his bondmen, abused and killed them. But having heard that, the king was angry, and having sent forth his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he says to his bondmen, The wedding is indeed ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore to the crossings of the ways, and as many as ye may find, call to the wedding festivities. And those bondmen having departed into the roads, they gathered together all, as many as they found, both bad and good. And the wedding was filled with those who were dining. But when the king came in to see those who were dining, he saw there a man who was not clothed with a wedding garment. And he says to him, Friend, how did thou come in here not having a wedding garment? But he was speechless. Then the king said to the helpers, After binding him hands and feet, take him away and cast him out into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to the bridegroom's gathering. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish, foolish women, who, having taken their lamps, took no olive oil with them.read more.
But the wise took olive oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight a shout occurred, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go ye forth for his gathering. Then all those virgins were roused, and put their lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us from your olive oil, because our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Perhaps there may not be enough for us and you. But go ye rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And the prepared entered in with him for the wedding festivities, and the door was shut. But afterward the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But having answered, he said, Truly I say to you, I know you not. Watch therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour in which the son of man comes.
And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and lengthen, he knows not how. For the earth bears fruit spontaneously, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.read more.
But when the fruit yields, straightaway he sends forth the sickle, because the harvest has come.
And having summoned all the people, he said to them, Hear me all of you, and understand. There is nothing outside the man, entering into him that can defile him, but the things coming out of him those are the things that defile the man.
And behold, a certain lawyer stood up testing him, and saying, Teacher, having done what, would I inherit eternal life? And he said to him, What is written in the law? How read thou? And having answered, he said, Thou shall love Lord thy God from thy whole heart, and from thy whole soul, and from thy whole strength, and from thy whole mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.read more.
And he said to him, Thou answered correctly. Do this and thou will live. But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And having replied, Jesus said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. And he encountered bandits, who also, having stripped him and having beat him, departed having left him being half dead. And by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise also a Levite who happened upon the place, having come, and having looked, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to him, and when he saw him, felt compassion. And having come, he wrapped up his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. And having set him on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when departing, after taking out two denarii, he gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him, and whatever thou might spend more, I will repay thee at my return. Which therefore, of these three, appears to thee to have become neighbor to the man who fell among the bandits? And he said, He who did mercy with him. Therefore Jesus said to him, Go, and do thou likewise.
And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The land of a certain rich man brought forth well. And he pondered within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have nowhere I will store my crops? And he said, I will do this. I will dismantle my barns, and I will build greater, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.read more.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou have many goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, Thou foolish man, they demand thy soul from thee this night, and the things that thou prepared, whose will they be? So is he who stores up for himself, and is not being rich toward God.
And he said to him, A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many. And he sent forth his bondman at the hour of the meal to say to those who were invited, Come, because all things are now ready. And they all from one began to make excuse. The first said to him, I have bought a field, and I have need to go out and see it. I ask thee have me excused.read more.
And another said, I bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to test them. I ask thee have me excused. And another said, I married a wife, and because of this I cannot come. And that bondman, having come, he informed his lord these things. Then the house-ruler having become angry, he said to his bondman, Go out quickly into the thoroughfares and lanes of the city, and bring here the poor and maimed and And the bondman said, Lord, as thou commanded it has happened, and yet there is room. And the lord said to the bondman, Go out into the roads and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you, that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper. For many are called, but few chosen.
Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her lady friends and lady neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma that I lost. Thus I say to you, there becomes joy in the presence of the agents of God over one sinner who repents.read more.
And he said, A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided to them his living. And not many days after, the younger son, having gathered all together, journeyed into a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth living recklessly. And when he spent all, a mighty famine developed in that country, and he began to be in want. And having gone, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he longed to fill his belly from the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave to him. But when he came to himself, he said, How many hired men of my father's have abundance of loaves, but I am perishing with hunger. After rising, I will go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired men. And having risen, he went to his father. But while he was still distant, afar off, his father saw him and felt compassion. And having ran, he fell on his neck, and kissed him much. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his bondmen, Bring forth the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and shoes for his feet. And having brought the fatted calf, kill it, and having eaten, we will be cheerful, because this my son was dead, and became alive again. And he was lost, and is found. And they began to be cheerful. But his elder son was in a field. And while coming, having approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And having summoned one of the boys, and inquired what these things might be. And he said to him, Thy brother arrived, and thy father has killed the fatted calf, because he received him back healthy. But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore, his father having come out, he called him. But having answered, he said to his father, Lo, so many years do I serve thee, and I never passed by a commandment of thine, and yet thou never gave me a goat that I might be merry with my friends. But when this thy son came, who has devoured thy living with harlots, thou killed for him the fatted calf. And he said to him, Child, thou are always with me, and all my things are yours. But it was needful to make merry and be glad, because this thy brother was dead, and became alive again, and was lost, and was found.
And he also spoke this parable to some of those who were persuaded in themselves that they were righteous, and disdained other men. Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. Having stood by himself, the Pharisee prayed these things: God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, predatory, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.read more.
I fast twice per Sabbath. I tithe all things, as many as I acquire. But the tax collector, having stood from afar, would not even lift his eyes to the sky, but beat upon his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinful man. I say to you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that man. Because every man who lifts himself up will be made lower, and he who makes himself lower will be lifted up.
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And having called ten of his bondmen, he gave them ten minas and said to them, Do business until I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy behind him, saying, We do not want this man to reign over us.read more.
And it came to pass for him to return, having taken the kingdom. And he said for these bondmen to be called to him, to whom he gave the silver, so that he might know what any man gained by trading. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy mina gained ten minas. And he said to him, Well, thou good bondman. Because thou became faithful in the least, be thou having authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy mina gained five minas. And he also said to him, And thou become over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold thy mina, which I had put away in a napkin. For I was afraid of thee because thou are an austere man. Thou take up what thou did not lay down, and reap what thou did not sow. He says to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, thou evil bondman. Thou had known that I am an austere man taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow. Then why did thou not give my silver into a bank, and having come I would have collected it with interest? And he said to those who stood by, Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas. And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas. For I say to you, that to every man who has, will be given, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away from him. Nevertheless those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring here, and kill them before me.
And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. And he did not speak to them apart from a parable, but privately he explained all things to his disciples.
Hear ye then the parable of the man who sows. Of every man who hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understands it, evil comes, and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that which was sown by the wayside. And that which was sown upon the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightaway receiving it with joy,read more.
yet he has no root in himself, instead it is temporary. And when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway he is caused to stumble. And that which was sown in the thorns, this is he who hears the word, and the care of this age, and the deceitfulness of wealth, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But that which was sown upon the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who indeed bears fruit, and is productive, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
The man who sows sows the word. And these are those by the path where the word is sown. And whenever they may hear, straightaway Satan comes, and takes away the word that has been sown in their hearts. And these in like manner are those being sown upon the rocky places, who, whenever they may hear the word, straightaway receive it with joy.read more.
And they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway they are caused to stumble. And these are those being sown in the thorns, who hear the word, and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the cravings about other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And these are those that were sown upon the good ground, who hear the word and receive it, and bear fruit, one thirty, and one sixty, and one a hundred.
Now the parable is this. The seed is the word of God. And those by the way are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, lest having believed, they would be saved. And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. And these have no root, who believe for a time, and withdraw in time of trial.read more.
And that which fell in the thorns, these are those who heard, and as they go they are choked by cares and wealth and pleasures of life, and do not bring to maturity. But those in the good ground, these are those who in an good and right heart, having heard the word, hold it firm, and bring forth fruit in perseverance.
Then having sent the multitudes away, Jesus came into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field. And having answered, he said to them, He who sows the good seed is the Son of man, and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of evil.read more.
And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are heavenly agents. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned in fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of man will send forth his agents, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he entered into a house from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable. And he says to them, Are also ye so without understanding? Do ye not perceive that everything outside that enters into the man cannot defile him, because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the toilet (making all foods clean)?read more.
And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from inside the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, reviling, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from inside, and defile the man.
From Thematic Bible
Parables » Of the old testament » Of the prophets
and say, Thus says lord LORD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar.
Thus says LORD to me, Go, and buy thee a linen sash, and put it upon thy loins, and do not put it in water.
Let me sing for my well-beloved a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.
and say, What was thy mother? A lioness. She couched among lions. In the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps. And she brought up one of her whelps. He became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, Thus says lord LORD: Set on the caldron. Set it on, and also pour water into it.
Parables » Why jesus Christ spoke in parables
And his disciples questioned him, saying, What is this parable? And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the others in parables, so that seeing they would not see, and hearing they would not understand.
And the disciples having come, they said to him, Why do thou speak to them in parables? And having answered, he said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those men it has not been given. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever has not, even what he has will be taken away from him. read more.
Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing ye will hear, and will, no, not understand, and seeing ye will see, and will, no, not perceive. For this people's heart became fat, and their ears hear heavily, and their eyes are shut, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn, and I will heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men longed to see the things that ye see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that ye hear, and did not hear them.
And when he became alone, those around him, with the twelve, asked him the parable. And he said to them, To you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, all things occur in parables. So that seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest they should turn, and the sins would be forgiven them.
Parables » Of Christ found in one gospel only, (chapter specified) » The barren fig tree, luke 13
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give him to eat from the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of my God.
And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to thee, today thou will be with me in the paradise.
that he was caught up into the paradise, and heard inexpressible sayings that are not permitted for a man to utter.
Parables » Jesus Christ speaking in parables
Give ear, O my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parable{s (LXX/NT)}. I will utter dark sayings of old,
Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes, and he did not speak to them independent of a parable, so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things concealed from the foundation of the world.
And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. And he did not speak to them apart from a parable, but privately he explained all things to his disciples.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Tares
He set forth another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man sowing good seed in his field. But while the men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst the wheat, and went away. And when the blade sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared. read more.
But the bondmen of the house-ruler having come, they said to him, Sir, did thou not sow good seed in thy field? From where then does it have tares? And he said to them, A hostile man did this. And the bondmen said to him, Do thou desire therefore, after going, we would gather them up? But he said, No, lest while gathering up the tares, ye uproot the wheat together with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest. And at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles in order to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.
Then having sent the multitudes away, Jesus came into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field. And having answered, he said to them, He who sows the good seed is the Son of man, and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of evil. read more.
And the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are heavenly agents. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned in fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of man will send forth his agents, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Parables » Of the old testament » Of joash
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed b
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebano
Parables » Parables of Christ » Sower
The man who sows went forth to sow his seed. And during his sowing, some fell by the way, and it was trampled, and the birds of the sky devoured it. And another fell on the rock, and having grown, it withered away because of not having moisture. And another fell amidst the thorns, and having grown together, the thorns choked it. read more.
And another fell on the good ground, and having grown it produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples questioned him, saying, What is this parable? And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the others in parables, so that seeing they would not see, and hearing they would not understand. Now the parable is this. The seed is the word of God. And those by the way are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, lest having believed, they would be saved. And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. And these have no root, who believe for a time, and withdraw in time of trial. And that which fell in the thorns, these are those who heard, and as they go they are choked by cares and wealth and pleasures of life, and do not bring to maturity. But those in the good ground, these are those who in an good and right heart, having heard the word, hold it firm, and bring forth fruit in perseverance.
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. But others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much soil, and straightaway they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. read more.
But when the sun was risen, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered. And others fell in the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. But others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear. And the disciples having come, they said to him, Why do thou speak to them in parables? And having answered, he said to them, Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those men it has not been given. For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever has not, even what he has will be taken away from him. Because of this I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing ye will hear, and will, no, not understand, and seeing ye will see, and will, no, not perceive. For this people's heart became fat, and their ears hear heavily, and their eyes are shut, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn, and I will heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men longed to see the things that ye see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that ye hear, and did not hear them. Hear ye then the parable of the man who sows. Of every man who hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understands it, evil comes, and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is that which was sown by the wayside. And that which was sown upon the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightaway receiving it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, instead it is temporary. And when tribulation or persecution develops because of the word, straightaway he is caused to stumble. And that which was sown in the thorns, this is he who hears the word, and the care of this age, and the deceitfulness of wealth, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But that which was sown upon the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who indeed bears fruit, and is productive, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Builder of a tower
So therefore every man of you who does not renounce all things being possessed by him, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you wanting to build a tower, does not, having first sat down, count the cost whether he has the things for completion? So that perhaps, having laid its foundation, and not being able to finish, all those who see begin to ridicule him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Parables » Of the vine
Thy mother was like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters. It was fruitful and full of branches because of many waters. And it had strong twigs for the scepters of those who bore rule. And their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches. But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong twigs were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them. read more.
And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. And fire has gone out of the twigs of its branches. It has devoured its fruit, so that there is no strong twig in it to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree. And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots of it were under him. So it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs. There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. And, behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it. read more.
It was planted in a good soil by many waters that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit that it might be a goodly vine. Say thou, Thus says lord LORD: Shall it flourish? Shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, that it may wither? It shall wither in all its fresh springing leaves, even without great power or many people to Yea, behold, being planted, shall it flourish? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Lighted candle
And no man, having lit a lamp, puts it in a concealed place, nor under the bushel, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter in may see the light. The lamp of thy body is the eye. Therefore, when thine eye is sound, thy whole body is also bright, but when it is bad, thy body is also dark. Watch therefore the light in thee not be darkness. read more.
If therefore thy whole body is bright, not having any part dark, the whole will be bright, as when the lamp illuminates thee by the radiance.
And he said to them, Does the lamp come so that it might be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not so that it might be put on the lampstand?
Parables » Parables of Christ » Strong man armed
When the fully armed strong man guards his palace, the things possessed by him are in peace,
But no man, having enter into the house of the strong man, can plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he may plunder his house.
Parables » Of the vineyard
Let me sing for my well-beloved a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he dug it, and gathered out the stones of it, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress in it. And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought fo And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard. read more.
What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away the hedge of it, and it shall be eaten up. I will break down the wall of it, and it shall be trodden down. And I will lay it waste. It shall not be pruned nor hoed, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression, for righteousness, but, behold, a cry.
In that day [is] a vineyard of wine. Sing ye to it. I LORD am its keeper, I will water it every moment. Lest any hurt it, I will guard it night and day.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Faithful, and evil servants
Who then is the faithful and wise bondman, whom his lord appointed over his service, to give them the provision on time? Blessed is that bondman, whom his lord when he comes will find so doing. Truly I say to you, that he will appoint him over all things being possessed by him. read more.
But if that evil bondman should say in his heart, My lord is late coming, and should begin to beat the fellow bondmen, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the lord of that bondman will come in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he is not aware, and he will cut him in two, and place his share with the hypocrites. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Net cast into the sea
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered from every kind, which, when it was full, after dragging to the shore, having sat down, they gathered the good into vessels, but they cast out the useless. So it will be at the end of the age. The heavenly agents will come forth, and separate the bad from among the righteous, read more.
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Pearl of great price
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a merchant, seeking fine pearls. Who, having found one very valuable pearl, after departing, sold all, as many things as he had, and bought it.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Meats » Not defiling
And having called in the multitude, he said to them, Hear and understand. Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man. Then having come near, his disciples said to him, Know thou that the Pharisees were offended when they heard the saying? read more.
But having answered, he said, Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant, will be uprooted. Leave them. They are blind leaders of blind men, and if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch. And having answered, Peter said to him, Explain this parable to us.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Unmerciful servant
Because of this the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a king, who wanted to settle account with his bondmen. And when he began to settle, one debtor of ten thousand talents was brought to him. But of him not having to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all things, as many as he had, and payment to be made. read more.
The bondman therefore having fallen down, worshiped him, saying, Lord, be patient toward me and I will pay thee all. And having felt compassion, the lord of that bondman released him, and forgave him the debt. But after going out, that bondman found one of his fellow bondmen who owed him a hundred denarii. And having grabbed him, he choked him, saying, Pay me if thou owe anything. So his fellow bondman having fallen down at his feet, besought him, saying, Be patience toward me, and I will pay thee. But he would not, instead, having left him, he cast him into prison until he would pay that which was owed. And when his fellow bondmen saw the things that happened, they were extremely sorry. And after coming, they reported to their lord all the things that happened. Then his lord having summoned him, he says to him, Thou evil bondman, I forgave thee all that debt because thou besought me. Was it not necessary for thee also to be merciful to thy fellow bondman, as I also was merciful to thee? And having become angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors until he would pay all that was due to him. So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if ye do not forgive each man his brother, from your hearts, their trespasses.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Wicked husbandmen
Hear ye another parable. There was a certain man who was a house-ruler, who planted a vineyard, and placed a hedge around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and leased it to farmers, and went on a journey. And when the time of the fruits approached, he sent his bondmen to the farmers to receive his fruits. And the farmers having taken his bondmen, they beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again, he sent other bondmen more than the first, and they did to them in like manner. But finally he sent to them his son, saying, They will be made ashamed by my son. But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and possess his inheritance. And having seized him, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? They say to him, Evil men, he will miserably destroy them, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus says to them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone that those who build rejected, this came to be in the head of the corner. This happened from Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Because of this I say to you, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing the fruits of it. And he who falls on this stone will be shattered, but on whomever it may fall, it will grind him to dust. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he spoke about them.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Fig-tree leafing
Now learn a parable from the fig tree. When its branch now becomes tender, and sprouts leaves, ye know that the summer is near. So ye also, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors. Truly I say to you, this generation will, no, not pass away, until all these things happen.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Mustard-seed
He set forth another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard plant, which having taken, a man sowed in his field. Which indeed is smaller than all seeds, but when it is grown, it is greater than the plants, and becomes a tree, so as for the birds of the sky to come and lodge in the branches of it.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Two sons
But what does it seem to you? A man had two children. And having come to the first, he said, Child, go work today in my vineyard. And having answered, he said, I do not want to, but having repented later, he went. And having come to the second, he said likewise. And having answered, he said, I, sir, and did not go. read more.
Which of the two did the will of the father? They say to him, The first. Jesus says to them, Truly I say to you, that the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in a way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him. And having seen it, ye did not repent afterward to believe him.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Talents
For, like a man going on a journey, he called his own bondmen, and delivered to them the things possessed by him. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his personal ability, and straightaway he journeyed. And having departed, the man who received the five talents worked with them, and made five other talents. read more.
And likewise also the man of the two gained two others. But having departed, the man who received the one dug in the ground, and hid his lord's silver. Now after a long time the lord of those bondmen comes, and takes up accounting with them. And having come, the man who received the five talents brought five other talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered five talents to me, lo, I have gained five other talents besides them. And his lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman. Thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And also having come, the man who received the two talents said, Lord, thou delivered two talents to me, lo, I have gained two other talents besides them. His lord said to him, Well, good and faithful bondman. Thou were faithful over a few things, I will appoint thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And the man who received the one talent also having come, said, Lord, I knew thee that thou are a hard man, reaping where thou did not sow, and gathering from where thou did not scatter. And after being afraid, having gone, I hid thy talent in the ground. Lo, thou have thine own. But having answered, his lord said to him, Thou evil and lazy bondman, thou knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather from where I did not scatter. Thou ought therefore to have placed my silver with the bankers, and having come I would have received back my own with interest. Take ye therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every man who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away from him. And cast ye the unprofitable bondman into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.
Parables » Parables in the mouths of fools
The legs of a lame man hang loose. So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Marriage-feast
The kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a king who made a wedding for his son. And he sent forth his bondmen to call those who were invited to the wedding festivities, and they did not want to come. Again he sent forth other bondmen, saying, Speak to those who were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings have been killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding festivities. read more.
But having disregarded, they departed, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise, and the others having seized his bondmen, abused and killed them. But having heard that, the king was angry, and having sent forth his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he says to his bondmen, The wedding is indeed ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore to the crossings of the ways, and as many as ye may find, call to the wedding festivities. And those bondmen having departed into the roads, they gathered together all, as many as they found, both bad and good. And the wedding was filled with those who were dining. But when the king came in to see those who were dining, he saw there a man who was not clothed with a wedding garment. And he says to him, Friend, how did thou come in here not having a wedding garment? But he was speechless. Then the king said to the helpers, After binding him hands and feet, take him away and cast him out into the outer darkness. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Laborers hired
For the kingdom of the heavens is compared to a man, a house-ruler, who went out in the early morning at the same time to hire workmen for his vineyard. And having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And having gone out about the third hour, he saw others having stood idle in the marketplace. read more.
And he said to those men, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever would be right I will give you, and they went. Again having gone out about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise. And having gone out about the eleventh hour, he found others who have stood idle. And he says to them, Why have ye stood here idle the whole day? They say to him, Because no man has hired us. He says to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever would be right ye will receive. And having become evening, the lord of the vineyard says to his manager, Call the workmen, and render to them their wage, having begun from the last until the first. And those who came about the eleventh hour, each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more. And they also received a denarius each. And when they received it, they murmured against the house-ruler, saying, These last did one hour, and thou have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat. But having answered, he said to one of them, Friend, I do not wrong thee. Did thou not agree with me for a denarius? Take thine and go. But I want to give to this last man, as to thee also. Is it not permitted for me to do what I want with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last, for many are called but few chosen.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Wise and foolish builders
Therefore every man, whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it had been founded upon the rock. And every man who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. read more.
And the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell. And great was the fall of it.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Ten virgins
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who, having taken their lamps, went forth to the bridegroom's gathering. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish, foolish women, who, having taken their lamps, took no olive oil with them. read more.
But the wise took olive oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight a shout occurred, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go ye forth for his gathering. Then all those virgins were roused, and put their lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us from your olive oil, because our lamps are going out. But the wise answered, saying, Perhaps there may not be enough for us and you. But go ye rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And the prepared entered in with him for the wedding festivities, and the door was shut. But afterward the other virgins also came, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But having answered, he said, Truly I say to you, I know you not. Watch therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour in which the son of man comes.
Parables » Remarkable parables of the old testament
The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. read more.
But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? And the trees said to the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was t read more.
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who came to him.
And the king said to her, What troubles thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him. And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who smote his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus they will quench my co
Parables » Of the old testament » Of woman of tekoa
Now therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. And thy handmaid said, I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of hi
Parables » Of the old testament » Of a prophet
And as the king passed by, he cried out to the king, and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man. If by any means he is missing,
Parables » Of the old testament » Of nathan
And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Man of the house watching
But know this, that if the house-ruler had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Treasure hid in a field
Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man having found, he hid. And from the joy of it, he goes and sells all, as many things as he has, and buys that field.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Rich man and lazarus
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously daily. But there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed near his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But even the dogs that came licked his sores. read more.
And it came to pass for the poor man to die and be carried by the heavenly agents to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died and was buried. And having lifted up his eyes in Hades, being in torments, he sees Abraham from afar and Lazarus by his bosom. And having cried out, he said, Father Abraham, be merciful to me, and send Lazarus, so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame. But Abraham said, Child, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now here he is comforted and thou are in agony. And besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that those here who want to cross over to you are not able, nor may those go across from there to us. And he said, I beg thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment. But Abraham says to him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham, but if some man would go to them from the dead they will repent. And he said to him, If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if some man would rise from the dead.
Parables » Parables of Christ » King going to war
Or what king going to encounter another king in war, will not, having first sat down, consult whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while he is still far off, having sent a delegation, he asks the things about peace. So therefore every man of you who does not renounce all things being possessed by him, cannot be my disciple.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Good samaritan
And having replied, Jesus said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. And he encountered bandits, who also, having stripped him and having beat him, departed having left him being half dead. And by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise also a Levite who happened upon the place, having come, and having looked, passed by on the other side. read more.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to him, and when he saw him, felt compassion. And having come, he wrapped up his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. And having set him on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when departing, after taking out two denarii, he gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him, and whatever thou might spend more, I will repay thee at my return. Which therefore, of these three, appears to thee to have become neighbor to the man who fell among the bandits? And he said, He who did mercy with him. Therefore Jesus said to him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Cloud and wind
And he also said to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, straightaway ye say, A shower is coming, and so it happens. And when a south wind is blowing, ye say, There will be heat, and it happens. Ye hypocrites, ye know how to examine the face of the earth and the sky, but how can ye not examine this season? read more.
And also why do ye not judge yourselves what is right?
Parables » Parables of Christ » Savor of salt
The salt material is good, but if the salt material becomes tasteless, by what will it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the land nor for manure; they cast it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Rich fool
And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The land of a certain rich man brought forth well. And he pondered within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have nowhere I will store my crops? And he said, I will do this. I will dismantle my barns, and I will build greater, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. read more.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou have many goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, Thou foolish man, they demand thy soul from thee this night, and the things that thou prepared, whose will they be? So is he who stores up for himself, and is not being rich toward God.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Pounds
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And having called ten of his bondmen, he gave them ten minas and said to them, Do business until I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy behind him, saying, We do not want this man to reign over us. read more.
And it came to pass for him to return, having taken the kingdom. And he said for these bondmen to be called to him, to whom he gave the silver, so that he might know what any man gained by trading. And the first came, saying, Lord, thy mina gained ten minas. And he said to him, Well, thou good bondman. Because thou became faithful in the least, be thou having authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy mina gained five minas. And he also said to him, And thou become over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold thy mina, which I had put away in a napkin. For I was afraid of thee because thou are an austere man. Thou take up what thou did not lay down, and reap what thou did not sow. He says to him, Out of thy mouth I will judge thee, thou evil bondman. Thou had known that I am an austere man taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow. Then why did thou not give my silver into a bank, and having come I would have collected it with interest? And he said to those who stood by, Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has the ten minas. And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas. For I say to you, that to every man who has, will be given, but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away from him. Nevertheless those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring here, and kill them before me.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Man taking a far journey
like a man abroad, having left his house, and having given authority to his bondmen, and to each man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper that he should watch. Watch therefore, for ye know not when the lord of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at cock crowing, or in the morning, lest having come suddenly, he may find you sleeping. read more.
And what I say to you I say to all, watch!
Parables » Parables of Christ » Unclean spirit
But when the unclean spirit goes forth out of the man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and finds it not.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Prodigal son
And he said, A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided to them his living. And not many days after, the younger son, having gathered all together, journeyed into a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth living recklessly. read more.
And when he spent all, a mighty famine developed in that country, and he began to be in want. And having gone, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he longed to fill his belly from the husks that the swine ate, and no man gave to him. But when he came to himself, he said, How many hired men of my father's have abundance of loaves, but I am perishing with hunger. After rising, I will go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thy hired men. And having risen, he went to his father. But while he was still distant, afar off, his father saw him and felt compassion. And having ran, he fell on his neck, and kissed him much. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. I am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his bondmen, Bring forth the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and shoes for his feet. And having brought the fatted calf, kill it, and having eaten, we will be cheerful, because this my son was dead, and became alive again. And he was lost, and is found. And they began to be cheerful. But his elder son was in a field. And while coming, having approached the house, he heard music and dancing. And having summoned one of the boys, and inquired what these things might be. And he said to him, Thy brother arrived, and thy father has killed the fatted calf, because he received him back healthy. But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore, his father having come out, he called him. But having answered, he said to his father, Lo, so many years do I serve thee, and I never passed by a commandment of thine, and yet thou never gave me a goat that I might be merry with my friends. But when this thy son came, who has devoured thy living with harlots, thou killed for him the fatted calf. And he said to him, Child, thou are always with me, and all my things are yours. But it was needful to make merry and be glad, because this thy brother was dead, and became alive again, and was lost, and was found.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Leaven
He spoke another parable to them. The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which having taken, a woman hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened.
Parables » Parables of Christ » New cloth and old garment
And no man puts a patch of new cloth upon an old garment, for the patch of it pulls from the garment, and a tear becomes worse.
Parables » Parables of Christ » New wine and old bottles
Neither do they put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins will perish. But they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Men bidden to a feast
And he spoke a parable to those who were invited when he noticed how they chose out the chief places, saying to them, When thou are invited by any man to wedding festivities, do not sit down in the chief place, lest there may be a more honorable man than thou who was invited by him. And he who invited thee and him, having come, will say to thee, Give place to this man, and then thou will begin with embarrassment to take the last place. read more.
But when thou are invited, having gone, sit down in the last place, so that when he who has invited thee comes, he will say to thee, Friend, go up higher, then it will be esteem to thee in the presence of those dining with thee. Because every man who lifts himself up will be made lower, and he who makes himself lower will be lifted up.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Pharisee and publican
And he also spoke this parable to some of those who were persuaded in themselves that they were righteous, and disdained other men. Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. Having stood by himself, the Pharisee prayed these things: God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, predatory, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. read more.
I fast twice per Sabbath. I tithe all things, as many as I acquire. But the tax collector, having stood from afar, would not even lift his eyes to the sky, but beat upon his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinful man. I say to you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that man. Because every man who lifts himself up will be made lower, and he who makes himself lower will be lifted up.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Lost piece of silver
Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her lady friends and lady neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma that I lost. Thus I say to you, there becomes joy in the presence of the agents of God over one sinner who repents.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Creditor and debtors
There were two debtors to a certain creditor, the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And of them not having to repay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore, do thou say, will love him more? And having answered, Simon said, I suppose that it was to whom he forgave more. And he said to him, Thou have judged correctly. read more.
And having turned to the woman, he said to Simon, See thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gave no water for my feet. But this woman has wet my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gave me no kiss, but this woman, since I came in, has not ceased kissing my feet much. Thou did not anoint my head with olive oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I say to thee, her many sins are forgiven, because she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Tree and its fruit
For a good tree is not producing corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree producing good fruit. For each tree is known from its own fruit. For they do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they harvest grapes from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth the good, and the bad man out of the bad treasure of his heart brings forth the bad, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Beam and mote
And why do thou see the speck in thy brother's eye, but do not perceive the beam in thine own eye? Or how can thou say to thy brother, Brother, allow me to take out the speck that is in thine eye, when thou thyself do not see the beam in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first take out the beam from thine own eye, and then thou wil
Parables » Parables of Christ » Children of the bride-chamber
And Jesus said to them, The sons of the wedding hall cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them. But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Seed growing secretly
And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and lengthen, he knows not how. For the earth bears fruit spontaneously, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. read more.
But when the fruit yields, straightaway he sends forth the sickle, because the harvest has come.
Parables » Of the garment which was torn in pieces
And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces, for thus says LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel),
Parables » Of the skins filled with wine
Therefore thou shall speak to them this word. Thus says LORD, the God of Israel: Every bottle shall be filled with wine. And they shall say to thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine? Then thou shall say to them, Thus says LORD: Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkennes And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says LORD. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
Parables » Of the prisoner of war
And as the king passed by, he cried out to the king, and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man. If by any means he is missing, And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said to him, So shall thy judgment be, thyself have decided it. And he hastened, and took the headband away from his eyes, and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
Parables » Of the husbandman
Give ye ear, and hear my voice, hearken, and hear my speech. Does he who plows to sow plow continually? Does he [continually] open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled the face of it, does he not cast abroad the chick-peas, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border of it? read more.
For his God instructs him aright, [and] teaches him. For the chick-peas are not threshed with a sharp instrument, nor is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin, but the chick-peas are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod. Bread [grain] is ground, for he will not be always threshing it. And though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he does not grind it. This also comes forth from LORD of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Importunate friend
And he said to them, Which of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, since a friend arrived from the road to me, and I do not have what I would set before him, and that man from inside, having answered, would say, Do not cause toils for me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I am not able, after getting up, to give thee? read more.
I say to you, though he will not give him, after getting up, because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, having awaken, he will give him as many as he needs. And I say to you, ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and ye will find. Knock, and it will be opened.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Importunate widow
And he also spoke a parable to them about it being necessary to always pray, and not to give up, saying, In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God, and did not regard man. And a widow was in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my opponent. read more.
And for a time he would not, but after these things he said within himself, Although I fear not God, and regard not man, yet because this widow causes me a beating, I will avenge her, lest by no end of coming she give me a black eye. And the Lord said, Hear ye what the unrighteous judge says. And God, will he, no, not do the vengeance of his chosen who cry out to him day and night, and yet being patient toward them? I say to you, that he will do their vengeance speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he then find faith on the earth?
Parables » Parables of Christ » Barren fig-tree
And he spoke this parable. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. And he said to the vine workman, Behold, three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down, why also waste the ground? And having answered, he says to him, Sir, allow it this year also until I may dig around it and cast manure. read more.
Although surely it should bear fruit, and if not, in the coming year thou will cut it down.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Unjust steward
And he also said to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a manager, and this man was accused to him as squandering things possessed by him. And having called him, he said to him, What is this I hear about thee? Render the account of thy management, for thou can no longer manage. And the manager said within himself, What shall I do because my lord takes away the management from me? I am not able to dig. I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management they may receive me into their houses. And having summoned each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, How much do thou owe to my lord? And he said, A hundred measures of olive oil. And he said to him, Receive thy document, and having sat down, quickly write fifty. Next he said to another, And how much do thou owe? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he says to him, Receive thy document, and write eighty. And his lord commended the unrighteous manager because he did shrewdly. Because the sons of this age are shrewder in their own generation than the sons of the light.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Vine and branches
I am the TRUE grapevine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me not bearing fruit, he removes it. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. Now ye are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. read more.
Dwell in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it dwells in the grapevine, so neither ye, if ye do not dwell in me. I am the grapevine, ye are the branches. He who dwells in me, and I in him, this man bears much fruit, because without me ye can do nothing.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Good shepherd
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter in by the door into the fold of the sheep, but goes up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens to this man. And the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. read more.
And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And they will, no, not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers. Jesus spoke this allegory to them, but those men did not understand what it was that he spoke to them.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Lost sheep
And he spoke this parable to them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave behind the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go for that which was lost until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. read more.
And when he comes to the house, he calls together his men friends and his men neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost. I say to you, that thus there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of repentance.
Parables » The sheet lowered down from the sky (in peter's vision)
And he became very hungry and wanted to eat. But while those men prepared, a trance fell upon him. And he sees heaven opened, and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet bound at four corners, and being lowered to the earth, in which were all the four-footed things of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the sky. read more.
And a voice came to him, After rising, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord, because I have never eaten anything profane or unclean. And a voice again for a second time, What God has cleansed, thou shall not make profane. And this happened thrice, and again the vessel was taken up into heaven.
Parables » Of the woman of tekoa
And the king said to her, What troubles thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him. And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who smote his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus they will quench my co read more.
And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee. And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house, and the king and his throne be guiltless. And the king said, Whoever says anything to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. Then she said, I pray thee, let the king remember LORD thy God, that the avenger of blood not destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As LORD lives, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
Parables » Furnished house
Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wood and earthen, and some for esteem and some for disesteem. If therefore any man purges himself from these things, he will be a vessel for esteem, sanctified and useful to the master, prepared for every good work.
Parables » The mirror
Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this resembles a man observing his natural face in a mirror. For he observes himself, and goes away, and straightaway forgets what kind of man he was. But he who stooped to look into the perfect law, the one of liberty, and who remained, this man, who did not become a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, this man will be blessed in his doing.
Parables » The gourd
And LORD said, Thou have had regard for the gourd, for which thou have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night, and perished in a night. And should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand men who cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?
Parables » Of the old testament » Of jotham
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried out, and said to them, Hearken to me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken to you.
Parables » Of a vine of egypt
Thou brought a vine out of Egypt. Thou drove out the nations, and planted it. Thou prepared [place] before it, and it took deep root, and filled the land. The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were [like] cedars of God. read more.
It sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River. Why have thou broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it? The boar out of the wood ravages it, and the wild beasts of the field feed on it. Turn again, we beseech thee, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and, behold, and visit this vine, and the stock which thy right hand planted, and the branch that thou made strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down. They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
Parables » Of lions' cubs
Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the rulers of Israel, and say, What was thy mother? A lioness. She couched among lions. In the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps. And she brought up one of her whelps. He became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey. He devoured men. read more.
The nations also heard of him. He was taken in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt. Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. And he went up and down among the lions. He became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey. He devoured men. And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities. And the land was desolate, and the fullness of it, because of the noise of his roaring. Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and they spread their net over him. He was taken in their pit. And they put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
Parables » Of the lamb
And LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his sons. It ate of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was t read more.
And there came a traveler to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man who came to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who came to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As LORD lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
Parables » The two covenants
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from the freewoman. But in fact, the man from the servant girl was born according to flesh, but the man from the freewoman through promise. Which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants, indeed one from mount Sinai giving birth for bondage, which is Hagar. read more.
For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren woman not giving birth. Burst forth and shout, thou not suffering birth pains, because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband. Now we, brothers, who correspond to Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then, the man who was born according to flesh persecuted the man according to Spirit, so also now. Nevertheless, what does the scripture say? Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will, no, not inherit with the son of the freewoman. So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant girl, but of the freewoman.
Parables » The boiling pot
And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, Thus says lord LORD: Set on the caldron. Set it on, and also pour water into it. Gather the pieces of it into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile [of wood] for the bones under [the caldron]. Make it boil well, yea, let the bones of it be boiled in the midst of it.
Parables » Parables of Christ » Kingdom, divided against itself
Parables » Parables of Christ » House, divided against itself
Parables » Parables of Christ » Blind leading the blind
And he spoke a parable to them. Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a ditch?
Parables » The mercenary soldier
Thou therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man who serves in the military entangles himself in the affairs of life, so that he may please the man who enlisted the army.
Parables » Of the trees
The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. read more.
But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? And the trees said to the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said to the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Parables » Of the thistle and cedar
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife. And a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed b
Parables » The athlete
And also if any man competes, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully.
Parables » The farmer
Parables » Of aholah and aholibah
Parables » Of the two eagles
Topics on Parables
Jesus Using Parables
Matthew 13:3And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow.
Old Testament Parables
Judges 9:8-15The trees went forth a time to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
Others Using Parables
Ezekiel 20:49Then I said, Ah lord LORD! They say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Parables About The Last Judgment
Matthew 13:47-50Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered from every kind,
Parables Of Agriculture
Matthew 13:3-9And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow.
Parables Of Christ
Matthew 7:24-27Therefore every man, whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.
Parables Of Sowing
Matthew 13:3-8And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, the man who sows went forth to sow.
Parables Of The Kingdom
Mark 4:30And he said, To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or by what parable shall we compare it?
Parables Of The Kingdom Of Heaven
Mark 4:26-29And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground,
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