44 Bible Verses about Parables

And His disciples were asking Him, what this parable might be. And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand.

And the disciples, having come near, said to Him, "Wherefore dost Thou speak to them in parables?" And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but whosoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. read more.
On this account, I speak to them in parables; because, seeing, they see not; and, hearing, they hear not, nor understand. And to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'With hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and, seeing, ye will see, and will not perceive; for the heart of this people was made gross, and with their ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I should heal them.' But happy are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are seeing, and did not see them; and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear them.

And, when He was alone, those who were about Him with the twelve asked Him as to the parables. And He said to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those without all things are done in parables; that, seeing, they may see, and not perceive; and, hearing, they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn, and be forgiven."

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies. To him that overcomes, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

And He said to him, "Verily I say to you, "To-day you shall be with Me in Paradise."

that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, which it is not lawful for a man to speak.

All these things Jesus spake to the multitudes in parables; and, without a parable, He was wont to speak nothing to them; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

And with many such parables He spake the word to them, as they were able to hear it. And without a parable He spake not to them; but privately to His disciples He explained all things.

Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field; and, while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares in the midst of the wheat, and went away. And, when the blade sprang up, and produced fruit, then appeared the tares also. read more.
And the servants of the house-holder, corning near, said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence, then, has it tares?' And he said to them, 'An enemy did this.' The servants say to him, 'Do you wish, then, that we, going, should gather them up?' He says, 'No; lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. Suffer both to grow together until the harvest. And, in the season of harvest, I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them into bundles, with the view of burning them; but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Then, leaving the multitudes, He went into the house; and His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." And, answering, He said, "He that sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world: and the good seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom; but the tares are the sons of the evil one; read more.
and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil; and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. As, therefore, the tares are gathered up, and are burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of the Kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those who do iniquity; and they 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 that has ears let him hear.

"The sower went forth to sow his seed. And in his sowing some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the birds of the heaven devoured it. And another fell upon the rock; and, springing up, it was withered because of not having moisture. And another fell amid the thorns; and the thorns growing with it choked it. read more.
And another fell into the good ground; and, growing, it produced fruit, a hundredfold." Saying these things, He was crying aloud, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." And His disciples were asking Him, what this parable might be. And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables; that, seeing, they may not see, and, hearing, they may not understand. Now this is the parable: The seed is the word of God. And those by the wayside are those who heard; then the Devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart; lest, having believed, they should be saved. "And those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root; who, for a season, believe, and in time of temptation fall away. "And that which fell among the thorns, these are those who heard; and, going forth, they are choked with anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, and bear no fruit to perfection. "And that in the good ground, these are such as, in a good and honest heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience.

And He spake to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went forth to sow. And, in his sowing, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the birds, coming, devoured them. And others fell on the rocky places, where they had not much earth; and straightway they sprang up, because they had not depth of earth. read more.
And, the sun having risen, they were scorched; and, because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. And others fell on the good ground, and were yielding fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that has ears let him hear." And the disciples, having come near, said to Him, "Wherefore dost Thou speak to them in parables?" And He, answering, said to them, "Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but whosoever has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. On this account, I speak to them in parables; because, seeing, they see not; and, hearing, they hear not, nor understand. And to them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'With hearing ye will hear, and will not understand; and, seeing, ye will see, and will not perceive; for the heart of this people was made gross, and with their ears they heard heavily, and their eyes they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I should heal them.' But happy are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For verily I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what ye are seeing, and did not see them; and to hear what ye are hearing, and did not hear them. Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower. When any one hears the word of the Kingdom, and understands it not, the evil one comes, and snatches away what has been sown in his heart: this is he that was sown by the wayside. And he that was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and straightway with joy receives it; yet he has not root in himself, but is only temporary; and, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, straightway he stumbles. And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word; and the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But he that was sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word and understands it; who, indeed, bears fruit, and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

"So, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own goods, cannot be My disciple.

For who of you, wishing to build a tower, does not, first, sitting down, calculate the expense, whether he has enough for its completion? lest, perhaps, having laid a foundation, and not being able to finish it, all who behold begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish!'

"No one, having lighted a lamp, puts it in a cellar, or under a measure, but on a lamp-stand, that those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is sound, your whole body also is full of light; but, when it is evil, your body also is dark. Take heed, therefore, lest the light in you be darkness. read more.
If, therefore, your whole body be full of light, not having any part dark, it shall be wholly light, as when the lamp, with its bright shining, illuminates you."

And He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under the measure, or under the bed! Is it not, that it may be put on the lampstand?

"When the strong man, fully armed, is guarding his own court, his goods are in peace;

But no one is able, after having entered into the house of the strong man, to plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man; and then will he plunder his house.

"Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his lord set over his household, to give them their food in season? Happy is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say to you, that he will appoint him over all his possessions. read more.
But, if that evil servant shall say in his heart, 'My lord is delaying,' and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not expecting him, and in an hour when he knows not, and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!"

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net, cast into the sea, and gathering of every kind; which, when it was filled having drawn it up again upon the beach, and sitting down, they gathered the good into vessels, but cast away the bad. So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth, and will separate the wicked from the midst of the righteous, read more.
and will cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls; and, having found one pearl of great price, departing, he has sold all that he had, and bought it.

And, having called the multitude near, He said to them, "Hear, and understand: Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth??his defiles the man." Then, His disciples, coming near, say to Him, "Knowest Thou that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, were made to stumble?" read more.
But He, answering, said, "Every plant which My Heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides; and if a blind man be guiding a blind man, both will fall into a pit." And Peter, answering, said to Him, "Explain to us the parable."

Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a king who wished to make a reckoning with his servants. And, when he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor of ten thousand talents; but, as he had nothing to pay, his lord commanded that he be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. read more.
The servant, falling down, therefore, was bowing to him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And, moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt. But, going forth, that servant found one of his fellow-servants, who was owing him a hundred denaries; and, having laid hold of him, he was choking him, saying, 'Pay, if you are owing anything!' His fellow-servant, falling down, therefore, was entreating him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you! And he would not; but, going away, he cast him into prison, till he should pay what was due. Therefore, his fellow-servants, seeing what was done, were exceedingly grieved; and, going, they made known to their lord all that was done. "Then, calling him to him, his lord says to him, 'Evil servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you besought me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had mercy on you?' And, being angry, his lord delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all the debt. So also will My Heavenly Father do to you, if ye forgive not, each one his brother, from your hearts."

"Hear another parable. There was a man?? householder??ho planted a vineyard, and placed a fence around it, and dug a wine-press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad. And, when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits. And the husbandmen, taking his servants, one, indeed, they beat; and one they killed; and one they stoned. read more.
Again he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them likewise. But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will reverence my son.' But the husbandmen, seeing the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and have his inheritance!' And, taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. When, therefore, the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those husband-men?" They say to Him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus saith to them, "Did ye never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made head of a corner; this was from the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes?' "Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof. And he who falls on this stone shall be broken in pieces; but on whomsoever it falls, it will scatter him as dust." And the high-priests and Pharisees, having heard His parables, knew that He was speaking concerning them.

"Now from the fig tree learn the parable; When already its branch becomes tender, and the leaves are putting forth, ye know that the summer is near; even so ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors. Verily I say to you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things come to pass.

Another parable He set before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man, having taken, sowed in his field: which, indeed, is less than all the seeds; but, when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and roost in its branches."

"But what think ye? A man had two children; and to the first, he said, 'Child, go, work today in the vineyard.' And he, answering, said, 'I go, sir,' and he went not. And, coming to the second, he spake in like manner; and he, answering, said, 'I am not willing;' but later, repenting, he went. read more.
Which of the two did the will of the father?" They say, "The last." Jesus saith to them, "Verily I say to you that the tax-collectors and the harlots are going into the Kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him; but the tax-collectors and the harlots believed him; but ye, having seen him, did not even repent afterward, that ye might believe him."

"For it is as when a man, going abroad, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods: and to one, indeed, he gave five talents; and to another, two; and to another, one??o each according to his own ability; and he went abroad. "Straightway the one receiving the five talents, going, traded with them, and gained five others. read more.
Likewise he also who received two gained other two. And he who received one, going away, digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. And, after a long time, the lord of those servants comes, and makes a reckoning with them. And the one who received the five talents, coming near brought other five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; behold, I gained other five talents.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your lord.' "He also, who received the two talents, coming near, said, 'You delivered to me two talents; behold, I gained other two talents.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.' And he who received the one talent, coming near said, 'Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man; reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter; and, being afraid, going away, I hid your talent in the earth: behold, you have your own.' But his lord, answering, said to him, 'Wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter. It behooved you, therefore, to put my money to the bankers; and, at my coming, I would have received my own with interest. Take from him, therefore, the talent, and give it to him who has the ten talents.' For, to every one that has, shall be given, and he shall be made to abound; but from him that has not shall be taken away even what he has; and cast out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!

"The Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a man?? king??ho made a marriage feast for his son. And he sent forth his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast, and they were not willing to come. "Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatlings have been slain, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.' read more.
"But they, neglecting it, went away; one, indeed, to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, maltreated and slew them. "And the king was enraged; and, sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he says to his servants, 'The marriage feast, indeed is ready; but those who had been invited were not worthy; go, therefore, to the outlets of the highways; and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage feast.' And the servants, going out into the highways, gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests. "And he saw there a man not having on a wedding-garment; and he says to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here, not having on a wedding-garment?' And He was speechless. Then said the king to the attendants, 'Having bound his feet and hands, cast him forth into the outer darkness:' there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth! For many are called, but few chosen.'"

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like to a man who was a householder, who went forth early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard; and, having agreed with the laborers for a denary a day, he sent them into his vineyard. "And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle; read more.
and to them he said, 'Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.' And they went away. "Again, going forth about the sixth and the ninth hour, he did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, going forth, he found others standing, and he says to them, 'Why stand ye here all the day idle?' They say to him, 'Because no man hired us.' He says to them, 'Go ye also into the vineyard.' "And, evening having come, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, 'Call the laborers, and pay them the wages, beginning from the last to the first.' "And those who were hired about the eleventh hour, coming, received, each, a denary. And the first, coming, supposed that they would receive more; and they also received, each, a denary. And, having received it, they murmured against the householder, saying, 'These last wrought but one hour, and you made them equal with us, who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!' "But he, answering, said to one of them, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denary? Take up your own, and go. But I will to give to the last even as to you: Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?' So the last shall be first, and the first last.

"Every one, therefore, who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be likened to a prudent man, who, indeed, built his house upon the rock; and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it had been founded on the rock. "And every one who hears these words of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, who, indeed, built his house upon the sand: read more.
and the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was its fall."

"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be likened to ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish, and five wise; for the foolish, taking their lamps, did not take oil with them; read more.
but the wise took oil in the vessels with their lamps. Now, the bridegroom tarrying, they all became drowsy, and were sleeping; but at midnight a cry has been made, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him!' "Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you; go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And, while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and the ready ones went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. "And afterward come also the remaining virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he, answering, said, 'Verily I say to you, I know you not.' Watch, therefore, because ye know not the day, nor the hour!

But know this, that, had the householder known at what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and in his joy he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day. And a certain poor man, Lazarus by name, had been laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs falling from the rich man's table; yea, even the dogs, coming, were licking his sores. read more.
And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hades, lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And, crying, he said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; because I am in anguish in this flame!' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that, in your lifetime, you received in full your good things, and Lazarus, likewise, evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish. And, in all these things, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed; so that those wishing to cross from hence to you cannot; nor do they pass from thence to us.' And he said, 'I pray you, therefore, father, that you 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, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'Nay, father Abraham; but, if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"

"Or what king, going on to engage another king in war, does not, sitting down, first take counsel, whether he is able, with ten thousand, to meet him who is coming against him with twenty thousand? And, if not by any means, while he is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he asks conditions of peace. "So, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own goods, cannot be My disciple.

And Jesus, answering, said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers; who, both stripping him and inflicting blows, went away, leaving him half dead. And by chance, a certain priest was going down that way; and, seeing him, he passed by on the opposite side. And, in like manner, a Levite also, coming to the place, and seeing him, passed by on the opposite side. read more.
But a certain Samaritan, going on his way, came down to him; and, seeing him, he was moved with compassion; and, coming to him, he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and, setting him on his own beast, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And, on the morrow, taking out two denaries, he gave them to the host, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatsoever you expend additional, I, when I return, will repay you.' Which, therefore, of these three seems to you to have become neighbor of him who fell among the robbers?" And he said, "He that dealt kindly with him." And Jesus said to him, "Go, and do likewise."

And He said to the multitudes also, "When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say 'A shower is coming!' and so it happens. And, when ye see a south wind blowing, ye say, 'There will be scorching heat!' and it comes to pass. Hypocrites! Ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and of the heavens but how is it ye know not how to interpret this time? read more.
And why even of yourselves do ye not judge what is right?

Salt, therefore, is good; but if even the salt become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the land nor for manure: they throw it without. He that has ears to hear, let him hear!"

And He spake a parable to them, saying, "A certain rich man's field yielded bountifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not where to store my fruits?' And he said, 'This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there will I store all my grain and my goods. read more.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Senseless one! this night they require your soul of you; and the things you prepared, whose shall they be?' So is he who is laying up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

He said, therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And, calling ten servants of his, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' But his citizens were hating him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, 'We do not wish this man to be king over us.' read more.
And it came to pass, when he came back, having received the kingdom, that he commanded the servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they accomplished in business. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your pound gained ten pounds.' And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your pound gained five pounds.' And he said also to this man, 'Be thou also over five cities.' And the other came, saying, 'Lord, behold, your pound which I had lying away in a napkin; for I feared you, because you are a harsh man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.' He says to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, O evil servant! You knew that I am a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping where I did not sow; and wherefore did you not put my money in bank; and I, at my coming, would have exacted it with interest.' And he said to those standing by, 'Take away from him the pound, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' And they said, 'Lord, he has ten pounds.' 'I say to you that to every one who has shall be given; but from him who has not shall be taken away even that which he has. But, these my enemies, who did not wish me to be king over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.'"

It is as when a man away from home, having left his house, and having given authority to his servants, to each his work, commanded also the porter to watch. Watch, therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house is coming, at evening, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. read more.
And what I say to you, I say to all, 'Watch.'"

"But, when the unclean spirit goes out from the man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and finds it not.

And He said, "A certain man had two sons. And the younger said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided to them his living. And, not many days after, gathering all things together, the younger son went abroad into a far country, and there wasted his estate, living riotously. read more.
And, when he spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want. And, going his way, he attached himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he was longing to be filled with the pods which the swine were eating; and no one was giving to him. But, coming to himself, he said, 'How many hired servants of my father have a superabundance of bread, and I am perishing here with hunger! Arising, I will go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I sinned against Heaven, and before you; I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.' And, arising, he came to his father. But, while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion; and, running, he fell on his neck, and kissed him much. And the son said to the father, 'Father, I sinned against Heaven, and before you; no longer am I worthy to be called your son!' But the father said to his servants, 'Quickly bring forth a robe, the best, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet; and bring ye the fatted calf, kill it; and, eating, let us be merry; because this my son was dead, and came to life again; had been lost, and was found.' And they began to be merry. "Now his elder son was in a field; and as, in coming, he drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And, calling to him one of the young men, he inquired of him, what these things might be. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come; and your father killed the fatted calf, because he received him in sound health.' But he was angry, and was not willing to go in; but his father, coming out, kept entreating him. But he, answering, said to his father, 'Behold, so many years do I serve you; and, at no time, did I transgress a command of yours; and you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But, when your son??his one who devoured your living with harlots??ame, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours' But it was meet to make merry, and rejoice; because this your brother was dead, and came to life again; and had been lost, and was found."

Another parable He spake to them: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman, taking, hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."

"And no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse rent is made."

"Neither do they put new wine into old wine-skins; otherwise, indeed, the skins burst, and the wine runs out, and the skins are destroyed; but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved together."

And He spake a parable to those who were bidden, when He observed how they were choosing out the first seats; saying to them, "When you are bidden by any one to a marriage feast, sit not on the first seat, lest possibly a more honorable man than you may have been invited by him; and he who bade you and him, coming, shall say to you, 'Give place to this man;' and then you shall, with shame, begin to occupy the lowest place. read more.
But, when you are invited, going, sit in the lowest place, that, when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher;' then you will have glory in the presence of all who are reclining at table with you; because every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

And He spake also this parable to some who had trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest: Two men went up into the temple to pray; one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, having taken his stand, was praying these things with himself: 'God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax-collector! read more.
I fast twice on the Sabbath; I give a tenth of all that I acquire.' "But the tax-collector, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes to heaven, but was smiting his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' I say to you, this man went down justified to his house, rather than the other; because every one who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."

"Or what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently, till she finds it? And, having found it, she calls together her female friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me; because I found the piece which I lost!' So, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents."

"There were two debtors to a certain money-lender. The one owed five hundred denaries; and the other, fifty. And, they having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, therefore, will love him the more?" Simon, answering, said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the more." And He said to him, "Rightly did you judge." read more.
And, turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you behold this woman! I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet; but this woman wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, from the time I entered, ceased not to kiss My feet. My head with oil you did not anoint; but she anointed My feet with perfume. Wherefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; because she loved much; but he, to whom little is forgiven, loves little."

"For there is no good tree that bears corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bears good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit; for they do not gather figs of thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and the evil, out of the evil treasure brings forth that which is evil; for out of the abundance of the heart does his mouth speak.

"And why do you behold the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, suffer me to cast out the mote that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite! cast first the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the mote that is in your brother's eye.

Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn while the Bridegroom is with them! But there will come days, when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then will they fast."

And He said, "So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knows not how. The earth of itself bears fruit; first the blade, then the head, then the full grain in the head. read more.
But, when the fruit permits, straightway he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."

And He said to them, "Who of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; forasmuch as a friend of mine came to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;' and he from within, answering, shall say, 'Trouble me not; already the door has been shut, and my children are with me in the bed; I cannot rise and give you.' read more.
I say to you, even if he will not, rising up, give to him because of his being his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he, rousing himself, will give him as many as he needs. And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:

And He spake a parable to them, to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, "There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, nor regarded man. And there was a widow in that city; and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Avenge me of my adversary.' read more.
And he would not for a time; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet, because this widow occasions me trouble, I will avenge her, lest, by her persistent coming, she wear me out.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the judge of unrighteousness says. And will not God avenge His elect, who are crying to Him day and night, and He is long suffering over them? I say to you, that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, will the Son of Man, when He cometh, find the faith on the earth?"

And He spake this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Behold, these three years I come, seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none; cut it down; why does it also make the land useless?' But he, answering, says to him, 'Lord, leave it this year also, until I dig about it, and cast in fertilizers. read more.
And if, indeed, it bear fruit for the future, well; but, if not, you shall cut it down.'"

And He said also to His disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and the same was accused to him as squandering his goods. And, calling him, he said to him, 'What is this I hear of you? Render the account of your stewardship; for you can be no longer steward.' And the steward said in himself, 'What shall I do? because my lord takes away the stewardship from me! To dig, I have not strength; to beg, I am ashamed! read more.
I resolved what to do; that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' And, calling to him each one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my lord?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take your accounts, and, sitting down, quickly write, Fifty.' After that he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He says to him, 'Take your accounts, and write, Four score.' And the lord praised the steward of unrighteousness, because he acted prudently; because the sons of this age are more prudent toward their own generation, than the sons of light.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He taketh it away: and every one that bears fruit, He cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. read more.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, unless ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit; because, apart from Me, ye can do nothing.

"Verily, verily, I say to you, he that enters not through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he that enters through the door is shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. read more.
When he drives out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice. But a stranger they will in no wise follow, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers." This parable spake Jesus to them; but they understood not what things they were which He spake to them.

And He spake to them this parable, saying, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and losing one of them, does not leave behind the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost one, until he finds it? And, finding it, he places it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: read more.
and, coming to his house, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep, which was lost. I say to you, that so there will be joy in Heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous men who have no need of repentance.

And he became very hungry, and wished to eat; and, while they were making ready, there came upon him a trance; and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth; in which were all the four-footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the heaven. read more.
And there came a voice to him, "Arising, Peter, kill and eat." But Peter said, "By no means, Lord! because never at any time did I eat anything common or unclean." And a voice came to him again, a second time, "What God cleansed, count not common." Now this happened three times, and straightway the vessel was taken up into heaven.

But, in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some, indeed, unto honor and some unto dishonor. If, therefore, one fully purify himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Because, if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror; for he observed himself, and went away, and straightway he forgot what manner of man he was. But he who looks carefully into a perfect law??hat of liberty??nd remains by it, becoming not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work??his man shall be happy in his doing.

For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bond-woman, and one by the free-woman. But the one by the bond-woman has been born after the flesh; and the one by the free-woman, through promise. Which things are an allegory; for these women are two covenants; one, indeed, from mount Sinai, bringing forth into servitude, which is Hagar read more.
(for the word Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia), and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which, indeed, is our mother; for it has been written, "Rejoice, O barren, that bear not! Break forth and cry, you that travail not! because many are the children of the desolate, rather than of her who has the husband." But ye, brethren, after the manner of Isaac, are children of promise. But, just as then, the one born after the flesh kept persecuting him born after the Spirit, so also is it now. But what says the Scripture? "Cast out the bond-woman and her son; for the son of the bond-woman shall in nowise inherit with the son of the free-woman." Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a bond-woman, but of the free-woman.

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

And He spake also a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one, serving as a soldier, entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

And, if also one contends in the games, he is not crowned, unless he contends lawfully.

The toiling husbandman must first partake of the fruits.