57 Bible Verses about Parables

Say The Lord Jehovah says: A large eagle came to Lebanon. It had large wings with long, colorful feathers. It took hold of the top of a cedar tree.

Jehovah told me: Go and buy a linen belt. Wear it on your hips for a while, but do not put it in any water.

Let me sing to my loved one a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hill.

Say: 'What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he devoured men.

Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Say to them: The Lord Jehovah says, Put on the cooking pot, put it on and also pour water in it.

His disciples asked him what this illustration means. He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand.

The disciples asked him: Why do you speak in illustrations? He responded: You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for you is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.) He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has. read more.
I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. 'By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive. The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.' Happy and blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see, and could not see them. They also desired to hear the things that you hear, and could not hear them.

When he was alone his followers including the twelve asked about the illustrations. He told them: The secret of the kingdom of God is given to you. Illustrations are spoken to outsiders. So that seeing they may see and not perceive. And hearing they may hear and not understand. Otherwise they might repent and be forgiven.

He who can hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the congregations! To him who overcomes I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the (Paradise) Garden of God.'

He replied: Today I tell you this. You will be with me in paradise.

how he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.

([Psalm of Asaph]) Listen, O my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in an illustration. I will utter dark sayings of old,

Jesus spoke with illustrations to the crowds. He did not speak anything without using illustrations. That which was spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying: I will open my mouth in illustrations. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

He spoke the word to them with many illustrations as long as they were able to listen. He spoke only with illustrations. However he made all things clear to his disciples in private.

He told another illustration, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field. While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away. When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat. read more.
The servants of the householder said to him: 'Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?' He replied: 'An enemy did this.' The servants offered to remove the weeds. He said: 'No, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather weeds first, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.'

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples gathered near him. They said: Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field. Jesus said: He that sows the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world (the society of mankind). The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. read more.
The enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. The weeds are gathered up and burned (destroyed) with fire. It will be this way at the end of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who stumble others and commit lawlessness. The angels will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteous will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear.

Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet.

King Jehoash of Israel sent this message to King Amaziah of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon. It said: 'Let your daughter marry my son, but a wild animal from Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed some fell by the side of the road. It was trampled under foot and the birds of heaven devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock. As soon as it grew it withered away because it had no moisture. Still other seed fell among the thorns. The thorns grew with it, and choked it. read more.
Other seed fell on the good ground. It grew and produced fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things he cried. He said: He who has ears to hear let him hear. His disciples asked him what this illustration means. He said: You are meant to know the secrets of the kingdom of God. I speak to the rest in illustrations, that seeing they may not see and hearing they may not understand. Now the illustration is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the side of the road are they who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are those who receive the word with joy. These have no root. They believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are people who hear the word and go their own way. They are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and do not produce fruit. The good ground represents the honest and good-hearted people. They hear the word, hold fast to it and produce forth fruit with patience.

He told them many illustrations. He said: A farmer went out to sow. Some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds devoured them. Others fell on rocky places and did not have much soil. read more.
When they grew, the sun scorched them, and because they had no root they withered and died. Others fell upon the thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them. Some fell on good ground and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that has ears let him hear. The disciples asked him: Why do you speak in illustrations? He responded: You are allowed to know the divine secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but it is not for others to know. (The Greek word for you is plural and is applied to the disciples as a group.) He who has shall receive more to the point of abundance. He who does not have, it shall be taken away including that which he has. I speak to them in illustrations (stories) (parables) (allegories), because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear. They just do not understand. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. 'By hearing, you shall hear, and shall in no way understand. By seeing you shall see, and shall in no way perceive. The heart of this people is callous and dull. Their ears are plugged. They cannot hear. They closed their eyes and cannot see. They cannot see nor hear nor understand with their heart. They should turn around and I would heal them.' Happy and blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see, and could not see them. They also desired to hear the things that you hear, and could not hear them. Listen to the illustration of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one takes away that which was sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. Anyone sown among the rocky places hears the word and immediately with joy receives it. There is no root in him. He endures for a while. When he has tribulation or persecution because of the word, he falls away. He that was sown among thorns hears the word. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. He that was sown upon the good ground hears the word, and understands it. He bears fruit, producing sometimes a hundredfold, sometimes sixty, and sometimes thirty.

Likewise, concluded Jesus, none of you may be my disciples unless you give up everything you have.

If you plan to build a tower, you sit down first and figure out what it will cost. Then you see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you do not, you will not be able to finish the project after laying the foundation. Everyone who sees what happened will ridicule and poke fun of you. You started and could not finish,' they will say.

Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water. It was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water. Its branches were strong and fit for a ruler's scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches. It was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel. It was stripped of its fruit. Its strong branches withered and fire consumed them. read more.
Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter. This is a song of grief and is to be used as a song of grief.'

Then it took a seedling from that country and planted the seedling in fertile soil. The eagle planted the seedling like a willow where there was plenty of water. The plant sprouted and grew into a low vine that spread over the ground. Its branches turned upward toward the eagle. Its roots grew downward. Thus it became a vine, producing branches and growing shoots. There was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Now, the vine stretched its roots toward this eagle and sent its branches toward the eagle so that the eagle could water it. The vine turned away from the garden where it was planted. read more.
It was planted in good soil beside plenty of water so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a wonderful vine.' Say, 'The Lord Jehovah says: Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it and all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. Though it is transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it, wither on the beds where it grew?'

No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. read more.
If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light.

He asked them: Is the lamp placed under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on the stand?

When the fully armed strong man guards his own palace, his goods are safe.

No one can enter into the house of the strong man and steal his property unless he first captures the strong man. Then he will steal his property.

Let me sing to my loved one a song of my beloved concerning his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He dug the soil all around and removed its stones. He planted it with the choicest vine. And he built a tower in the middle of it and also hewed out a wine vat in it. Then he expected it to produce good grapes, but it only produced worthless ones. Now then, you inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, judge between my vineyard and me! read more.
What more could have been done for my vineyard than what I have already done for it? When I waited for it to produce good grapes, why did it produce only sour, wild grapes? Here is what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge and break down the wall that protects it. I will let wild animals eat it and trample it down. It will turn into a desert, neither pruned nor cultivated. It will be covered with thorns and briars. I will command the clouds not to send rain. I am Jehovah of Hosts (All Powerful)! Israel is the vineyard, and Judah is the garden I tended with care. I had hoped for honesty and for justice, but dishonesty and cries for mercy were all I found.

In that day sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, Jehovah, watch over it. I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.

Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his lord put in charge of his other servants, to give them their food at the proper time? That servant is blessed when his lord comes and finds him doing his will. I tell you, he will put him in charge of everything he owns. read more.
But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays, so I will beat (mistreat) my fellow servants.' And he eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect it, an hour when he is unaware. He will punish him severely, and send him to be with the hypocrites. There they will cry and grind their teeth.

The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. They drew it up on the beach when it was full. They gathered the good into containers and threw away the bad. It will be that way at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous. read more.
The wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls. When he found one pearl of great value, he sold all that he had, and bought it.

He got the people together and said to them: Listen, and let my words be clear to you. That which comes out of the mouth makes a man unclean, not that which goes into the mouth. The disciples told him the Pharisees were upset by what he said. read more.
In answer he replied: Every plant my Father in heaven has not planted in the earth will be pulled out by the roots. Let them be. They are blind guides. If a blind man guides another blind man, they will fall in a hole together. Then Peter said to him: Make the story clear to us.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country. When the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit. The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. read more.
He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.' When the workmen saw the son, they said, 'Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.' They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen? They all said: He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready. Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16) For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them.

Learn from the illustration of the fig tree. When the branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. Therefore, when you see all these things, you will know he is near, even at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that time) will not pass away till all these things take place.

In another illustration Jesus said: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man sowed in his field. Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. Yet when it grows it becomes as large as a tree. In fact the birds of heaven lodge in the branches.

What do you think? A man had two sons. He asked the first to work today in the vineyard. The first son said in answer, 'I will not.' Later he changed his mind and went to work. He said the same to the second son. That son answered, 'Yes, I will go,' but he did not go to work. read more.
Which of the two pleased his father? They replied: The first. Jesus said to them: I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of God before you. John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. Even the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. When you saw this, you did not regret your sins and did not have faith in him.

It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants' ability. Then he went on his journey. Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents. read more.
In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: 'Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The one who received two talents said: 'Lord you gave me two talents and I gained another two talents.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The servant who received one talent said: 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. You reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter. I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the earth. See, you have what is yours.' But his lord answered: 'You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. You should have put my money in the bank. I should have received my money back plus interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. More will be given to every one who has and he will have abundance. He who does not have will have every thing taken away. Throw the worthless servant into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth.'

As the legs of the lame are not equal so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He sent out his servants to invite guests to the feast, but they would not come. Again he sent out other servants with orders to say to the guests, 'I have prepared my feast. Oxen and fat livestock are butchered and everything is ready, so come to the feast.' read more.
But they paid no attention and went about their business. One went to his farm and another went to his trade. The rest violently attacked his servants and put them to death. The king was angry, and sent his armies to put the evil servants to death and to destroy their town with fire. He said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but the guests were not worthy. Go then, to the main roads, and invite all those whom you see to come to the feast.' They went to the roads and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests. When the king met the guests he found that one of them was not wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding. The king asked why did he not wear proper clothes for the wedding? But the guest had no excuse. The king gave orders for that person to be tied hand and foot and thrown outside into the dark. That is where people will cry and grind their teeth in pain. Many are called, but few chosen.

The kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workmen for a penny a day. Then he sent them into his vineyard. He went out the third hour and saw others in the marketplace doing nothing. read more.
He said to them: 'Go to the vineyard with the others. I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went to work. He went out the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same. The eleventh hour, he saw others doing nothing. He asked: 'Why are you here all the day doing nothing?' They said: 'No man has given us work.' He told them to go work with the rest in the vineyard. When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager: 'Let the workers come and pay them from the last to the first.' Those men who went to work at the eleventh hour were each given a penny. Those who worked longer, expected to be paid more. They were also given a penny. When they got it, they protested against the master of the house. They said: 'The last ones have done only one hour's work. You have made them equal to us. We have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.' He told them: 'I do you no wrong. You made an agreement with me for a penny. Take what is yours and leave. I wish to give to the last workers the same as to you. Is it lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye jealous because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first last.

Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock. The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it did not fall. It was built on a solid rock foundation. Every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. read more.
The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house and it fell with a great crash.

The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took no oil with their lamps. read more.
The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. They all slept, because the bridegroom delayed his arrival. There was a shout at midnight. 'Here is the bridegroom! Come meet him.' The virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps. All the foolish virgins said to the wise: 'Give us your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered: 'There will not be enough for both of us. Go to the dealers and buy oil for yourself.' While they were away, the bridegroom came. They that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. Later the other virgins came, saying: 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he told them: 'I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour.

The trees went out to anoint a king over them. They said to the olive tree: 'Be our king.' The olive tree answered: 'I would have to stop producing my oil in order to govern you. My oil is used to honor gods and human beings.' Then the trees said to the fig tree: 'Come and be our king.' read more.
The fig tree replied: 'I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit that I may govern you.' Then the trees spoke to the grapevine: 'You come and be our king.' But the vine answered: 'I could not govern you for I would have to stop producing my wine. It makes gods and human beings happy.' So then all the trees said to the thorn bush: 'You come and be our king! The thorn bush answered: 'If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you do not, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'

Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle. But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him. read more.
Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the traveler.

The king asked her: What can I do for you? She answered: I am a widow; my husband is dead. I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other. All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive.

Your Majesty, I came here to tell you about my problem. I was afraid of what someone might do to me. I decided to come to you, because I thought you could help.

When the king went by he cried out to him: Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: 'guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.'

Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor.

Know this, if the master of the house had known what time the thief was coming, he would have watched and his house would not have been vandalized.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field.

A rich man dressed in the most expensive clothes and lived in great luxury every day. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, used to be brought to the rich man's door. He hoped he could eat the bits of food that fell from the rich man's table. Then the dogs would come and lick his sores. read more.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man died and was buried. He was in great torment in the grave (hades). He looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side. He called out: Father Abraham! Take pity on me! Please send Lazarus to dip his finger in some water and cool off my tongue. I am in torment in this fire! Abraham said: Remember, my son, in your lifetime you were given good things, while Lazarus got all the bad things. Now he is enjoying himself while you are in torment. There is a deep pit lying between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so. And no one can cross over to us from where you are. The rich man said: I beg you, father Abraham, send Lazarus to my father's house. Have him go warn my five brothers that they will not come to this place of torment. Abraham said: Your brothers have Moses and the prophets to warn them. They should listen to them. The rich man responded: It is not enough father Abraham! If someone from the dead went to them they would repent. Abraham said: If they would not listen to Moses and the prophets, they would not listen to someone from the dead.

When a king commands ten thousand men to fight another king who comes against him with twenty thousand men, he will sit down first and decide if he is strong enough to defeat the other king. If he is not strong enough he will send messengers to the other king to ask for terms of peace while he is still far away. Likewise, concluded Jesus, none of you may be my disciples unless you give up everything you have.

Jesus answered: A man traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers. They stripped him, beat him and left him half dead. A priest traveled on that road. When he saw him he passed by on the other side. When a Levite came to the place he saw the man and passed by on the other side. read more.
Then a Samaritan arrived where he was. He was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring oil and wine on them. He set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn to take care of him. The next day he paid the host two shillings. He said take care of him and if you spend more I will repay you when I return. Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? He said: The one who showed mercy to him. Jesus said to him: Go and you do like wise.

He said to the crowd: When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say it will rain and it does. When you see a south wind blowing, you say there will be scorching heat and there is. You hypocrites, you know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven but how is it that you do not know how to interpret this time? read more.
Why do you not judge what is right?

Salt is good. But if it loses its saltiness it cannot be made salty again. It is neither good for the soil nor for the manure pile. You throw it away. Listen if you have ears!

He spoke an illustration to them: The land of a rich man produced well. He reasoned to himself, what will I do? I have nowhere to store my fruits? He said: I would pull down my barns and build larger barns. I will store all my grain and goods there. read more.
I will say to my self: 'You have many possessions saved for many years. Take it easy and eat, drink and be merry.' But God said to him: 'You fool this night you will give up your life. Then who will have all these things you accumulated?' He who lays up (earthly) treasure for himself is not rich toward God.

He said: A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return. His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us. read more.
He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them. The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more. He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities. The second said: Your pound, Lord, has made five pounds. He replied: You should be over five cities. Another reported: Lord, here is your pound. I kept it stored in a napkin. I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you do not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow. He said to him: Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow. Why did you not put my money in the bank? That way I could collect interest when I returned. The nobleman said: Take away the pound he was given and give it to him that has the ten pounds. They said: Lord he has ten pounds! I say to you, that every one who has more shall be given. The man who does not have what little he has shall be taken away from him. Bring my enemies that do not want me to rule over them and kill them in front of me.

It is similar to a man traveling to another country. He leaves his house and gives authority to his servants to do the work. He commands them to watch. Watch therefore for you do not know when the lord of the house comes. It could be in the evening, at midnight or in the morning (when the cock crows). He could come suddenly and find you sleeping. read more.
What I say to you I say to all, be on the watch (be vigilant) (stay awake) (be circumspect) (attentive and ready)!

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it.

Jesus said: A man had two sons. The younger one said to him, Father I want my share of the property. He divided his property between his two sons. In a short time the younger son sold his share of the property. He left home with the money and traveled to a far away country where he wasted his money in reckless living. read more.
He spent everything! When a famine spread over that country he was left with nothing. He went to work for a citizen of that country who sent him to his farm to take care of the pigs. He wanted to eat the Carob bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. Finally it dawned on him, my father's hired workers have more than they can eat and I am about to starve! I will go to my father and say: 'Father I have sinned against God and against you. I am not fit to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired workers.' He went to his father. He was a long way from home when his father saw him. His heart filled with pity. He ran and threw his arms around his son and kissed him. Father, the son said: 'I have sinned against God and against you. I am not fit to be called your son.' The father called his servants. He said: 'Hurry and bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Get the prize calf and kill it. Let us celebrate with a feast! My son was dead. Now he is alive. He was lost. Now he has been found. The feasting began.' The older son was out in the field. When he came close to the house he heard music and dancing. He asked one of the servants what was happening? Your brother returned home, the servant answered. Your father killed the prize calf because he has returned safely. The older brother was so angry he would not enter the house. His father came out and begged him to come in. He spoke to his father in anger. All these years I have worked like a slave for you. I have never disobeyed you. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! This son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes. When he comes home you kill the prize calf for him! The father answered, My son, you are always here. And everything I have is yours! We had to celebrate and be happy. Your brother was dead. Now he is alive! He was lost and now he has been found!'

He offered another illustration: The kingdom of heaven is similar to leaven. A woman hid leaven in three measures of meal until it was all leavened.

Why patch an old garment with cloth that has not been shrunk? The patch shrinks and pulls away from the old cloth leaving a big hole.

Neither do men put new wine in old wineskins. The skins burst and the wine is lost. They put new wine in fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.

He spoke an illustration to the invited guests. He noticed they chose from the most important seats. So he said to them: When you are invited to a marriage feast do not take the place of honor. Someone more distinguished than you may be invited. Your host would tell you, give this person your place. Then you would be embarrassed and have to take the place of least honor. read more.
When you are invited, take the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, friend, move to a more honorable place. And the other guests will see how you are honored. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. And people who humble themselves will be exalted.

He then spoke this illustration to some who trusted in themselves. They were very self-righteous. They looked down on others: Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. read more.
I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector stood far away and would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven. He beat his breast, saying: God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted!

Suppose a woman with ten silver coins loses one of them. What does she do? She lights a lamp and sweeps her house. She looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. When she finds it she calls her friends and says let us celebrate. I am happy I found the lost coin. I tell you, it is the same for the angels of God who rejoice over one sinner who repents.

A certain lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred shillings and the other fifty. They did not have money to pay the debt so he forgave them both. Which of them did he love the most? Simon answered: I suppose it was the one whom he forgave the most. Jesus said: Your judgment is correct. read more.
Turning to the woman, he said to Simon: See this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet. She watered my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You did not kiss me. Since the time I came in she has not ceased kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil. She anointed my feet with ointment. She loved much! She has many sins and they are forgiven. When little is forgiven, little love is shown.

A good tree does not produce corrupt fruit and a corrupt tree does not produce good fruit. The identity of a tree is made clear by the fruit it produces. Men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good. The evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth that which is evil. Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye? Yet you do not consider the beam in your own eye. How can you say to your brother: 'Let me remove the speck in your eye when you do not notice the beam in your own eye?' You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Jesus replied: Should the wedding guests mourn and also celebrate with the groom? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast.

He added: The kingdom of God is like this. A man plants seed in the earth. He sleeps and gets up night and day until the plants grow though he has no idea how. The earth gives fruit by itself. First comes the leaf, then the head, then full grain. read more.
When the grain is ready he immediately sends men to cut it, because the time for cutting has come.

Ahijah took his new robe in his hands and tore it into twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam: Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: 'I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you. But one tribe will be his because of my servant David, and because of Jerusalem. Out of the tribes of Israel he will have the town I have made mine.

Speak this word to them: 'Thus says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Every jug is to be filled with wine. When they say to you, Do we not know that every jug is to be filled with wine? Say to them: Jehovah says I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land, the kings that sit for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness! I will dash them against each other, both the fathers and the sons together, declares Jehovah. 'I will not show pity nor be sorry nor have compassion so as not to destroy them.'

When the king went by he cried out to him: Your servant went out into the fight. A man came to me. He brought a man to me and said: 'guard this man. Do not let him get away. Your life is the price of his life or you will have to give a talent of silver in payment.' But while your servant was turning this way and that, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him: 'You are responsible; you have given the decision against yourself.' He quickly took the headband from his eyes. The king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets.

Give ear and hear my voice. Listen and hear my speech. Does the plowman keep plowing all day in order to sow seed? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cummin and scatter the cummin, plant the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place? read more.
He instructs him in right judgment and his God teaches him. The black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin. But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, and the cummin with a rod. Bread flour must be ground. Therefore he does not thresh it forever, break it with his cartwheel, or crush it with his horsemen. This also comes from Jehovah of Hosts. He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.

He also said: Which of you have a friend you would approach at midnight and say lend me three loaves. This is because a friend of mine is visiting and I do not have any food to feed him. You hear a voice from the house say, 'The door is shut, my children are in bed, do not bother me. I cannot rise and help you.' read more.
I tell you even if he will not rise and give you what you need because he is your friend, he will arise and give you what you need because you keep asking. I say to you: Ask and it will be given you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you.

He spoke an illustration to them emphasizing the need to pray and not become tired: There was a judge in a city that did not fear God and had no respect for man. There was a widow in that same city. She went to him asking for legal protection from her adversary. read more.
At first he refused. Then he thought about it and he said to himself, I do not fear God and have little respect for man. However this widow bothers me. For this reason I will avenge her. If she keeps coming to me she will wear me out. The Lord continued: Pay attention to what the unrighteous judge said. Should God avenge his chosen that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say to you, that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, will the Son of man find faith on the earth when he comes?

Jesus told them an illustration: There was a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He looked for figs on it but found none. So he told his gardener, I have been coming here looking for figs on this tree for three years. I have not found any. So cut it down! Why should it continue using the soil? But the gardener said: Just give it one more year, sir. I will dig around it, fertilize it and leave it alone. read more.
If the tree bears figs next year it will be good. If it does not you can have it cut down.

Jesus told his disciples: There was a rich man who had a servant who managed his property. The rich man learned that the manager was accused of wasting his master's money. He said: 'Is it true what I hear about you? Give me a complete accounting of your management of my property for you may not be my manager any longer.' The servant thought: 'I am fired from my job. What shall I do? I am not strong enough for heavy work and I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I will do when my job is gone. My friends will welcome me in their homes.' He called all the people who were in debt to his master. He asked the first one: 'How much do you owe my master?' One hundred barrels of olive oil,' he said. 'Here is your bill,' he told him; 'settle for fifty.' He asked another: 'How much do you owe?' 'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he answered. 'Here is your bill. Pay eight hundred bushels.' The master of the dishonest manager praised him for doing a shrewd thing. People of this world are more astute at handling their affairs than people who belong to the light.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He takes away the branches in me that do not bear fruit. He cleans every branch that bears fruit. That way it may bear more fruit. You are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. read more.
Remain with me, and I with you. The branch cannot bear fruit by itself. It must remain on the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain with me. I am the vine and you are the branches. He that remains with me, and I with him, the same bears much fruit. You can do nothing apart from me.

Truly I tell you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber. He who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The doorkeeper opens to him and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them. read more.
When all of his own are out he leads them. The sheep follow him for they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger but will flee from him. They do not know the voice of a stranger. They did not understand this illustration Jesus spoke to them.

Then Jesus told them an illustration: If you have a hundred sheep and lose one of them, what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one you lost until you find it. When you find it you are happy. You carry it on your shoulders. read more.
You bring it back home. You invite your friends and neighbors together to celebrate. You say, 'I am so happy I found my lost sheep.' It is the same. I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine good people who do not need to repent.

He became very hungry. While the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened, something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners was descending to the earth. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. read more.
Peter heard a voice say: Kill and eat. But Peter said: No Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is defiled or unclean. The voice spoke to him again the second time: You stop calling defiled that which God has cleansed. This happened a third time and immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven.

The king asked her: What can I do for you? She answered: I am a widow; my husband is dead. I had two sons who fought with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them. One killed the other. All my relatives have turned against me and are demanding that I hand my son over to them. They want to kill him for murdering his brother. If they do this, I will be left without a son. They will destroy my last hope. They will leave my husband without a son to keep his name alive. read more.
The king responded: Go back home. I will take care of the matter. Your Majesty, she said, do whatever you must. My family and I will take the blame. You and the royal family are innocent. The king replied: If someone threatens you, bring him to me. He will never bother you again. She said: Please pray to Jehovah your God, Your Majesty, so that my relative who is responsible for avenging the death of my son will not commit a greater crime by killing my other son. I promise by the living Jehovah, David replied, your son will not be harmed. She added: Your Majesty, May I say something? Yes, he answered.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. He sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continues, being not a hearer who forgets but a doer who works, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Jehovah said: You have compassion for the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow. It came up overnight and perished in a night. Should I not then have regard for Nineveh, that great city, where there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand people that do not know the difference between their right and their left hand, and also many animals?

Jotham heard about this. He stood on top of Mount Gerizim and shouted out to them: Men of Shechem, listen to me and God may listen to you!

You brought a vine from Egypt. You forced out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it so that it took root and filled the land. Its shade covered the mountains. Its branches covered the mighty cedars. read more.
It reached out with its branches to the Mediterranean Sea. Its shoots reached the Euphrates River. Why did you break down the stone fences around this vine? All who pass by are picking its fruit. Wild boars from the forest graze on it. Wild animals devour it. O God, commander of armies, come back! Look from heaven and see! Come to help this vine. Take care of what your right hand planted, the son you strengthened for yourself. The vine has been cut down and burned. Let them be destroyed by the threatening look on your face.

Take up a song of grief concerning the princes of Israel. Say: 'What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs. She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he devoured men. read more.
The nations heard about him. He was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt. When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion. He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he devoured men. He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. His roaring terrified the residents of the land. Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison. Therefore his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

Jehovah sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said: There were two men in a certain city. One was rich and the other was poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle. But the poor man had only one little female lamb that he bought. He raised her, and she grew up in his home with his children. She would eat his food and drink from his cup. She rested in his arms and was like a daughter to him. read more.
Now, a visitor came to the rich man. The rich man thought it would be a pity to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler. So he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the traveler. David became very angry with the rich man. He said: I swear by the living God Jehovah that the man who did this should die! For doing such a cruel thing he should pay back four times for the lamb he took, for he had no compassion.

It is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the freewoman. How is it that the son by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise? This contains an allegory (symbolic drama). These women symbolize two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. read more.
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the Jerusalem that now is. She is in bondage with her children. The Jerusalem above is free. She is our mother. It is written, Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth. Break forth and cry, you who do not labor; for there are more children of the desolate than of the one who has the husband. Brothers, we are children who belong to the promise, the same as Isaac was. Just like then, the son who was conceived in a natural way according to the flesh persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That is exactly what is happening now! What do the scriptures say? Throw out the slave woman and her son. For the son of the slave woman must not share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. (Genesis 21:10) Brothers, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman.

Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Say to them: The Lord Jehovah says, Put on the cooking pot, put it on and also pour water in it. Put in it the pieces, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock. Also pile wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously. Also boil its bones in it.'

When a kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand.

When a house is divided against itself it will not be able to stand.

He told them an illustration: Can the blind guide the blind? Would they both fall into a pit?

You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No soldier entangles himself in the affairs of this life. That way, he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

The trees went out to anoint a king over them. They said to the olive tree: 'Be our king.' The olive tree answered: 'I would have to stop producing my oil in order to govern you. My oil is used to honor gods and human beings.' Then the trees said to the fig tree: 'Come and be our king.' read more.
The fig tree replied: 'I would have to stop producing my good sweet fruit that I may govern you.' Then the trees spoke to the grapevine: 'You come and be our king.' But the vine answered: 'I could not govern you for I would have to stop producing my wine. It makes gods and human beings happy.' So then all the trees said to the thorn bush: 'You come and be our king! The thorn bush answered: 'If you really want to make me your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. If you do not, fire will blaze out of my thorny branches and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.'

Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet.

If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

The hard-working farmer should be first to receive his share of the crops.