44 Bible Verses about Parables

And his disciples asked Him, what might be the meaning of this parable. And He said, To you it is granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but I speak to others in parables, that in seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

And the disciples came to Him and said, Why dost thou speak to them in parables? And He answered them, saying, Because it is granted unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not granted: for whosoever really hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundantly; but whosoever thus hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken away from him: read more.
for this reason I speak to them in parables; because though they see, they will not see; and though they hear, they will not hear, nor understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is grown stupid, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; least they should see at all with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear: for indeed I tell you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard them.

And when He was apart from the multitude, those that were about Him with the twelve asked Him concerning the parable. And he said unto them, To you it is granted to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without all things are delivered in parables: that in seeing they may see and not perceive, and in hearing they may hear and not understand, least they should be converted, and their sins be forgiven them.

Let him, that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

And Jesus answered him, I assure thee, thou shalt be with me this day in paradise.

I know not, God knoweth) that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unutterable words, which it is not permitted unto man to speak.

All these things spake Jesus in parables to the multitudes; and at this time He spake nothing to them without a parable: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will publish things which have been concealed from the foundation of the world.

And in many such parables spake He the word to them, as they had ability to hear it: but spake not to them without a parable. And He explained all to his disciples in private.

Another parable propounded He unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a man, who sowed good grain in his ground: but while men were asleep, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. Now when the blade shot forth, and produced the corn, then the tares also appeared. read more.
So the servants came to their master, and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? whence then are the tares? And he said unto them, Some enemy hath done this. The servants therefore said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, No: least in plucking up the tares ye root up the corn along with them. Let both grow together till harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather the weeds together, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but carry the wheat into my barn.

Then Jesus leaving the multitude went into the house; and his disciples came to Him, saying, Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field: and He answered them, and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of my kingdom; and the tares are the children of the wicked one. read more.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered together, and burnt in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world: the Son of man will send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that commit offences, and those who do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous shall then shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he was sowing, some fell by the way-side, and was trodden down, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell upon stony ground, and as soon as it sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. read more.
But some fell on good ground, and sprang up and yielded fruit an hundred-fold. And as He said these things He cried out, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." And his disciples asked Him, what might be the meaning of this parable. And He said, To you it is granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but I speak to others in parables, that in seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now this is the meaning of the parable, The seed is the word of God: and those by the way-side, are such as hear indeed; but then the devil cometh and taketh away the word from their hearts, least they should believe and be saved. And those on stony-ground are such as when they hear, receive the word with joy; but have no root, and so believe only for a while, and in the time of trial fall away. And that which fell among thorns, are those who when they have heard the word go away and are choked with the cares and riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground, are those who having heard the word, retain it in a good and honest heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.

saying, "Behold a sower went out to sow; and as he was sowing, some seeds fell by the way-side, and the birds came and ate them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and they soon sprung up indeed, because they had no depth of earth; read more.
but when the sun rose, they were burnt up, and withered; because they had no root: and others fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: but others fell on good ground, and yielded fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, and some thirty. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." And the disciples came to Him and said, Why dost thou speak to them in parables? And He answered them, saying, Because it is granted unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not granted: for whosoever really hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundantly; but whosoever thus hath not, even that which he hath, shall be taken away from him: for this reason I speak to them in parables; because though they see, they will not see; and though they hear, they will not hear, nor understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, Ye shall hear by the hearing of the ear, and not understand; and in seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is grown stupid, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; least they should see at all with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear: for indeed I tell you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard them. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the gospel-kingdom, and regardeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and snatcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he who received the seed as by the way-side. And he who received the seed as upon stony grounds, is one that heareth the word and immediately receiveth it with joy: yet hath he no root in himself, and therefore is but for a short season; and when affliction cometh, or persecution on account of the word, he is as soon disgusted. And he that received the seed among the thorns, is one that likewise heareth the word; but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choketh the word, and so it becometh unfruitful. But he who received the seed into good ground, is one that heareth and understandeth the word, who indeed beareth fruit, and yieldeth, like fertile lands, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.

So, every one of you, that doth not give up all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.

For who of you that hath a mind to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expence, whether he hath wherewithal to perfect it? least having laid a foundation and not being able to finish, all that see it, should deride him, saying, this man began to build and was not able to finish.

But yet no one having lighted a candle putteth it into a secret place, nor under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light. The eye is the candle of the body: therefore when thine eye is clear, thy whole body also is light; but when it is bad, thy body also is dark. Take heed therefore least the light which is in thee be darkness. read more.
For if thy whole body be light, having no part dark, it will be (when all enlightened) as when a candle giveth thee light by its brightness.

And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or a bed, and not to be set on a candlestick?

for when a strong man well-armed defends his palace, his substance is secure:

No one can enter into the house of a strong man, and plunder his goods; unless he first bind the strong man, and then he may pillage his house.

Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom his lord hath set over his family to give them food in due season? blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so employed: verily I tell you, that he will set him over his whole estate. read more.
But if that servant be wicked and say in his heart, my master delayeth his coming, and begin to beat his fellow-servants, and to revel with drunkards: the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doth not expect him, and in an hour which he knows not, and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with hypocrites: where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, that was cast into the sea, and inclosed fishes of various sorts; which, when it was full, they dragged to the shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, and threw out the bad. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous; read more.
and shall cast them into the fiery furnace, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking precious pearls, who, having found one of great value, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

And He called the multitude to Him, and said unto them, Hear and understand it: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this polluteth the man. Whereupon his disciples came and said to Him, Dost thou know that the pharisees, when they heard this assertion, were offended at it? read more.
But He answered and said, Every plantation which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Regard them not; for they are blind guides of the blind: and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch. Then Peter answered, and said unto Him, Explain to us this parable.

And therefore the gospel-kingdom is like unto a king, who had a mind to settle accounts with his servants: and when he began to reckon, there was brought to him one, who was debtor in ten thousand talents: and not having it to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had; and payment to be made. read more.
The servant therefore fell prostrate before him, saying, Lord, bear with me a while, and I will pay thee all: and his lord had compassion on him, and discharged him, and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he was going out, met with one of his fellow-servants, who owed him but an hundred pence; and he laid hold on him and seized him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest me: and his fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and intreated him, saying, Bear with me a while, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went away and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. Now when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very much grieved, and came and acquainted their lord with all that had passed. Then his lord called for him again, and said to him, Thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all that vast debt at thy request, and oughtest not thou to have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had on thee? And his lord being highly provoked delivered him to the officers, till he should pay all that was owing to him. Thus will my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts their trespasses.

Hear another parable, There was a certain man, a master of a family, that planted a vineyard, and made a fence about it, and put a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and travelled abroad. And when the fruit-season drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive the fruits of it: and the husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. read more.
And he sent again other servants more than the first: and they did the like to them. At last he sent unto them his Son, saying, They will reverence my Son. But when the husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves, This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and seize on his inheritance: so they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and slew him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do to those husbandmen? They answer, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render him the fruits in their seasons. Then saith Jesus to them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, "The stone which the builders refused, is made the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" Therefore I tell you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation, that will bring forth the fruits thereof. And he that stumbleth at this stone shall be bruised, but on whomsoever it falls, it will crush him to pieces. And when the chief priests and pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that He spake of them:

Now learn a parable from the fig-tree: when it's branch is tender and bringeth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so ye also, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near even at the doors. Verily I tell you, this generation shall not pass away, till all these be fulfilled.

Another parable delivered He unto them, saying, The gospel-kingdom is like a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which is indeed one of the lest of all seeds: but when it is grown, is the greatest among herbs, and even becometh a tree; so that the birds of the air come and lodge in it's branches.

But what think ye of this? There was a man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go, work to day in my vineyard: and he answered I will not; but afterwards repenting, he went. And coming to the second, he spake in like manner: and he answered, Yes, Sir; and went not. read more.
Now which of the two did the will of his father? They say unto Him, The first. Jesus replied, Verily I say unto you, that publicans and prostitutes enter into the kingdom of God before you: for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him; but publicans and harlots believed him; and though ye saw that, ye did not repent afterwards, to believe him.

For as a man, who was going to travel abroad, called his servants, and delivered to them his stock: and to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability: and then he took his journey. Now he that had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and gained other five talents: read more.
and likewise he that had the two, he also gained two more: but he who had received the one, went and digged in the earth, and hid his master's money: and after some time the lord of those servants cometh and settleth his account with them. And he who had received the five talents came and brought to him five talents more, saying, Sir, thou deliveredst to me five talents, behold I have gained other five talents to them: and his lord said to him, Well done, my good and trusty servant, thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will set thee over many, enter into thy master's joy. And he also who had received the two talents came to him and said, Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents, behold I have gained two other talents with them: his lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will set thee over many, enter into the joy of thy lord. And he also who received the one talent came to him and said, Sir, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou sowedst not, and gathering where thou hast not strewed; and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the ground; behold, there is thine own: but his lord answered and said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed; thou oughtest then to have put my money to the bankers, and when I came I should have received my own with interest. Take ye therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath the ten talents; (for to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound; but from him that hath not, even what he hath, or seemeth to have, shall be taken away:) and cast out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding-feast for his son; and sent his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: and they would not come. Then he sent other servants, saying, Tell them that are invited, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come to the wedding. read more.
But they slighted him, and went away, one to his field and another to his merchandize: and others seized his servants, and shamefully abused them, and slew them. And when the king heard of it, he was highly provoked, and sent his troops, and destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then saith he to his servants, The feast is ready, but they that were invited were not worthy of it: go therefore into the public streets, and as many as ye meet with invite to the wedding. And those servants went out into the high-ways, and brought in all they met with, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man that had not put on a wedding-garment, and saith to him, Friend, how camest thou in here without a wedding-garment? and he was struck speechless. Then said the king to his attendants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him up, and throw him out into the darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of the teeth: for there are many called, but few approved.

For the gospel-kingdom is like the master of a family, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard: and agreeing with the men for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard: and going out about the third hour he saw others standing in the market-place doing nothing, read more.
and said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and what is reasonable I will give you: so they went. And going out again about the sixth and ninth hour he did in like manner. And going out about the eleventh hour, he found others standing without work, and saith to them, Why stand ye here all the day doing nothing? They say unto him, because no one hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is reasonable ye shall receive. Now when evening was come, the owner of the vineyard saith to his steward, Call the work-men and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every one a penny: but when the first came, they thought that they should receive more; and they also received every one a penny. And after they had received it they murmured against the master of the house, saying, These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burthen and heat of the day. But he answered, and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and be gone: it is my pleasure to give to this last as I do to thee; and may I not do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? Thus the last shall be first, and the first last; for there are many called, but few chosen.

Whoever therefore heareth these words of mine, and performeth them, I will compare him to a prudent man, who built his house on a rock: and the rain fell upon it, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And whoever heareth these words of mine, and performeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: read more.
and the rain fell upon it, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and the fall thereof was great.

Then will the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom: and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps, and took no oil with them: read more.
but the wise took oil in their vessels as well as in their lamps. Now while the bridegroom stayed, they were all drowsy and fell asleep: and in the middle of the night there was a cry, The bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all the virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps: and the foolish ones said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out: but the wise answered them, saying, Least there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to them that sell it, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the wedding-feast, and then the door was shut. Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us: but he answered them, Verily I declare unto you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for ye know not the day, nor the season in which the Son of man cometh.

but this ye know, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broke open: therefore be ye also ready;

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field, which a man having found conceals, and being rejoiced at it goes and sells all that he has, and purchases that field.

Now there was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, living voluptuously and splendidly every day. And there was a poor man named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table: and the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died, read more.
and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham from afar, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said, Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy life-time, and likewise Lazarus his evils: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And besides, there is a great gulf fixed between us and you; so that they, who would pass from hence to you, cannot; nor can they pass to us, who would come from thence. Then he said, Therefore I intreat thee, Father, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify to them my misery, least they also come into this place of torment. Abraham answered him, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them: and he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they will repent. And he replied, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.

Or what king, going to engage with another king in battle, doth not sit down first and consult, whether he be able with ten thousand men to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? and if not, while he is yet far off, he sendeth an embassy, and desireth conditions of peace. So, every one of you, that doth not give up all that he hath, cannot be my disciple.

And Jesus replying said, There was a certain man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among thieves, who after they had stripped and beaten him, went away, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest came down that way, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place, went and looked at him, and then crossed the way and passed by. read more.
But a certain Samaritan, as he was travelling, came up to him, and when He saw him, he was moved with compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine; and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he went away he took out two denaries, and gave them to the inn-keeper, and said to him, Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee. Which now of these three dost thou think was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that took pity on him. Therefore said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou in like manner.

He said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, ye presently say, there is a shower coming, and so it proves: and when ye observe the south-wind blowing, ye say there will be heat, and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye know how to discern the face of the earth and of the heavens, and why do ye not discern the present time? read more.
and why do ye not even of yourselves judge what is right?

Salt is good; but if the salt have lost it's savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? it is neither fit for the land, nor for the dunghil; but they throw it away. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And He spake a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room to lay up my corn. And he said, This I will do: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will bestow all my products and my goods. read more.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast plenty of goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided? So is he that heapeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a distant country to receive the investiture of a kingdom and then to return. And he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten pounds, and said, Trade with them till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. read more.
And when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to be called to him, to whom he had delivered the money, that he might know what use each had made of it. Then came the first and said, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well done, thou good servant, as thou hast been faithful in a very little, thou shalt be governor over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath produced five pounds: and he said to this likewise, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, and said, Behold, my Lord, thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man, who takest up what thou didst not lay down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. But he said to him, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant, Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow; and why then didst thou not put my money into the bank, that when I came I might have received it with interest? And he said to them that stood by, Take away the pound from him, and give it to him that hath the ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds already:) for I tell you, that to every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even what he seemingly hath shall be taken away. But those mine enemies, who would not have me to reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

as a man travelling abroad, who left his house, and gave charge to his servants, to each his work, and bid the porter be watchful. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh: (in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning:) least coming on a sudden he should find you sleeping. read more.
And what I say to you, I say to all, Watch.

Now when an impure spirit is gone out of a man, he wanders through dry desert places, seeking rest, and findeth none:

And He said, a certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion that falleth to my share. And he divided his substance between them. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together and went abroad into a distant country, and there squandered away his substance by living luxuriously. read more.
And when he had spent all, there happen'd a grievous famine in that country, and he began to be in want. And he went and let himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat: and no man relieved him. But coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I am perishing with hunger? I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants. And he rose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion; and he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And his son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, bring out the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again, and was lost and is found. And they began to be merry. But his elder son was out in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing: and he called one of the servants to him, and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, Thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and well: but he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and desired him. But he answered and said to his father, Behold so many years as I serve thee, nor have I ever transgressed thy command, and yet thou hast never given me a kid, to be merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, who hath eaten up thy substance with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art always with me, and all that I have is thine. But it was fit we should be merry and rejoice; for this thy brother was dead, and is come to life again, was lost and is found.

Another parable spake He unto them, saying, The gospel-kingdom is like leaven, which a woman took and put into a large quantity of dough, till the whole was leavened.

As no one putteth a piece of new cloth to an old garment; for its new patch teareth away from the old garment, and the rent is made worse:

nor do they put new wine into old vessels; otherwise, the casks burst, and the wine is spilt, and the vessels are destroyed: but they put new wine into new vessels, and both are preserved.

And He spake a parable to those that were invited, observing how they chose the chief seats, saying unto them, When thou art invited by any one to a wedding, do not sit down in the uppermost place, least one more honorable than thou be invited by him; and he who invited thee and him, should come and say to thee, Give place to this person, and then thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. read more.
But when thou art invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, that, when he who invited thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then wilt thou have honor before them that sit at table with thee: for whosoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And He spake also this parable to some that trusted in themselves as being righteous, and despised others. Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a pharisee and the other a publican. The pharisee standing by himself prayed thus, O God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, rapacious, unjust, adulterous, or even as this publican. read more.
I fast twice a week, and I give tithes of all that I possess. But the publican standing at a distance did not presume so much as to lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, O God, be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for whoever exalteth himself shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she find it? and when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and neighbors together; saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Thus, I tell you, there is joy among the angels of God over one repenting sinner.

A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed him five hundred denaries, and the other fifty: and they not being able to pay him, he freely forgave them both: tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? And Simon answered, I suppose he to whom he forgave most. And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged: read more.
and turning to the woman, He said to Simon, Dost thou see this woman? I came into thine house, and thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she has bathed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me not the respect of a kiss; but this woman, ever since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Thou didst not anoint my head with common oil, but she hath anointed even my feet with sweet ointment. Wherefore, I tell thee, her sins though many are forgiven, for she loved much: but he to whom little is forgiven, loveth but little.

For that is not a good tree which produceth bad fruit, nor is the tree bad, which produceth good fruit: for every tree is known by it's fruit; for men do not gather figs from thorns, nor grapes from a bramble. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

But why dost thou look at the chaff in thy brother's eye, and takest no notice of the beam that is in thine own? or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother let me take out the splinter that is in thine eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first take out the beam from thine own eye, and then thou wilt see distinctly how to take out the chaff that is in thy brother's eye.

And Jesus said unto them, Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, while the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they will fast.

And He said, The kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up, and increase; he knows not how. For the earth produces fruit of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear: read more.
but when the fruit is ripe, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine on his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him: and he from within shall answer and say, Do not be troublesome; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise to give thee. read more.
I tell you, tho' he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend: yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he wants. And so I tell you, Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

And He spake also a parable to them, to shew that men ought always to pray, and not to faint: saying, There was a judge in a certain city, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. And there was a widow in that city, who came to him, saying, Do me justice of my adversary. read more.
And he would not for a time: but afterwards he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow gives me trouble, I will do her justice, least by continually coming she weary me out. And the Lord said, hear what even the unjust judge saith: and will not God do justice for his elect that cry to Him day and night, though He bear long with them. I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. And yet when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith in the land?

And He spake this parable, A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, but found none. And he said to the vine-dresser, behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down, why should it cumber the ground? And he said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, till I dig about it, and lay dung to it: read more.
then perhaps it may bear fruit; if not, afterwards cut it down.

And He said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and he was accused to him of wasting his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, What is this I hear of thee? give up the accounts of thy stewardship, for thou canst be no longer steward. And the steward said in himself, What shall I do? now my master takes away the stewardship from me; I am not able to work, and I am ashamed to beg. read more.
I know what I will do, that when I am turned out of my place, they may receive me into their houses. So he called his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, How much owest thou to my master? and he said, an hundred baths of oil. And he said to him, Take thy bill, and sit down and write but fifty. Then he said to another, And how much owest thou? and he said, an hundred measures of wheat: and he said to him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And his master commended the dishonest steward as having acted prudently: for the men of this world are as to their affairs wiser than the children of light.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman: every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every one that beareth fruit, He purgeth, that it may bear more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. read more.
Abide therefore in me, and I will abide in you: for as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, unless it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, beareth much fruit: but without me ye can do nothing.

Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entreth not into the sheep-fold by the door, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber. But he that cometh in by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice; and He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. read more.
And when he bringeth forth his sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers. This parable Jesus spake unto them; but they did not understand what He said to them.

But He spake to them this parable, saying, What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and loseth one of them, doth not leave the ninety-nine in the field, and go after that which was lost, till he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing: read more.
and coming home, he calleth his friends and neighbors together and saith unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Thus, I tell you, there shall be joy in heaven over one repenting sinner, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons, that have no need of repentance.

And he was very hungry, and desired something to eat: but while they were getting it ready, he fell into a trance; and saw heaven opened, and some thing descending to him, like a great sheet tied at the four corners, and let down to the earth: in which were all kinds of four-footed creatures, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. read more.
And there was a voice which said to him, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing polluted or unclean. And the voice said to him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, do not thou account polluted. This was done thrice, and the vessel was taken up again into heaven.

In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, some for meaner uses. If therefore any one purify himself from these corruptions, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and fitted for the Master's use, being prepared for every good work.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror, who beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what manner of man he was. But he that looketh well into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

where it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a servant, and one by a free-woman? But he who was of the servant, was born according to the course of nature; whereas the son of the free-woman was by virtue of the promise. Which things are figurative; for these persons are emblems of the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto bondage, which is Hagar: for this name Hagar, read more.
a rock, is expressive of mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that for a while didst not bear, break forth and cry aloud for joy, thou that didst not travail with child; for many more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath an husband." Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of the promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. But what saith the scripture? "Cast out the servant and her son: for the son of the servant shall not inherit with the son of the free-woman." Now we, my brethren, are not children of the servant, but of the free-woman.

If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand:

and if a family be divided against itself, that family cannot stand: and if Satan oppose himself and be divided,

And He said to them by way of parable, Can a blind man guide a blind man? will they not both fall into a ditch?

Do thou therefore endure hardship, as becomes a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one, that enters into military service, embarrasseth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him.

And if any one contend in the public games, he gains not the crown unless he contend fairly.

The husbandman must labour first, in order to partake of the fruits.