Christ taught His followers using both His example and parables.

Why did Christ use parables?

• • Simplification of Complex Truths – Parables allowed Jesus to explain deep spiritual and moral lessons in simple, relatable terms. By using everyday scenarios that people could identify with, such as farming, feasts, or lost items, He made abstract concepts more accessible.
  • Engagement and Reflection – Parables often required listeners to think critically and reflect on their meaning. This encouraged engagement and personal reflection, leading to a deeper understanding of the message.
  • Concealment and Revelation – Parables had a dual purpose. For some, they were a way to conceal the full truth from those who were not open to it, fulfilling a prophecy from the Old Testament (Isaiah 6:9–10). At the same time, for those who were receptive, the parables revealed profound spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God and God’s will for humanity. In Matthew 13:10–17, Jesus explains to His disciples that parables reveal truths to those with open hearts but obscure them from those who are not ready to hear.
  • Memorability – The stories Jesus told were memorable because they were vivid, often surprising, and easy to retell. This helped His messages to spread and be remembered long after He spoke them.
  • Inviting Personal Participation – Parables often left room for interpretation, inviting listeners to place themselves in the story and apply the lesson to their own lives. The open-ended nature of many parables encouraged self-examination and personal growth.
  • Challenging Conventional Thinking – Many of Jesus’ parables turned common social or religious norms on their head, challenging people to reconsider their views on God, morality, and the Kingdom. For example, in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus redefined the concept of “neighbor” in a radical way.

Here are a list of parables per Gospel:

Matthew

• The Parable of the Sower (13:3–23)
• The Parable of the Weeds (13:24–30)
• The Parable of the Mustard Seed (13:31–32)
• The Parable of the Leaven (13:33)
• The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (13:44)
• The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price (13:45–46)
• The Parable of the Net (13:47–50)
• The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (18:23–35)
• The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (20:1–16)
• The Parable of the Two Sons (21:28–32)
• The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (21:33–44)
• The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (22:1–14)
• The Parable of the Ten Virgins (25:1–13)
• The Parable of the Talents (25:14–30)
• The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (25:31–46)

Mark

• The Parable of the Sower (4:1–20)
• The Parable of the Growing Seed (4:26–29)
• The Parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30–32)
• The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (12:1–12)

Luke

• The Parable of the Sower (8:4–15)
• The Parable of the Weeds (8:9–15)
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan (10:25–37)
• The Parable of the Friend at Midnight (11:5–8)
• The Parable of the Rich Fool (12:13–21)
• The Parable of the Watchful Servants (12:35–40)
• The Parable of the Faithful Servant (12:42–48)
• The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (13:6–9)
• The Parable of the Lost Sheep (15:3–7)
• The Parable of the Lost Coin (15:8–10)
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son (15:11–32)
• The Parable of the Unjust Steward (16:1–13)
• The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (16:19–31)
• The Parable of the Persistent Widow (18:1–8)
• The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (18:9–14)
• The Parable of the Ten Minas (19:11–27)
• The Parable of the Good Shepherd (10:11–18)

John

• The Parable of the Good Shepherd (10:1–18)
• The Parable of the Vine and the Branches (15:1–8)

Other Notable Parables Found in Multiple Gospels:

• The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13–21; Matthew 6:19–21)
• The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1–14; Luke 14:7–24)
• The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13; Luke 12:35–40)

Here is a list of Jesus’ parables from the New Testament of the Bible, using the King James Version (KJV):

1. The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:4-15
2. The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
3. The Parable of the Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19
4. The Parable of the Leaven – Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21
5. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure – Matthew 13:44
6. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price – Matthew 13:45-46
7. The Parable of the Dragnet – Matthew 13:47-50
8. The Parable of the Householder – Matthew 13:52
9. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18:21-35
10. The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16
11. The Parable of the Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32
12. The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers – Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
13. The Parable of the Great Supper – Luke 14:15-24
14. The Parable of the Lost Sheep – Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7
15. The Parable of the Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
16. The Parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
17. The Parable of the Unjust Steward – Luke 16:1-13
18. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus – Luke 16:19-31
19. The Parable of the Persistent Widow – Luke 18:1-8
20. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14
21. The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
22. The Parable of the Friend at Midnight – Luke 11:5-8
23. The Parable of the Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21
24. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9
25. The Parable of the Wedding Feast – Matthew 22:1-14
26. The Parable of the Ten Virgins – Matthew 25:1-13
27. The Parable of the Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
28. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats – Matthew 25:31-46

These are the parables attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.