The Parables
50 parables of Christ · 17 parables of the prophets
A parable sets one thing beside another: a story from the field, the house or the court, told so that the hearer may see the kingdom of God, or see himself. “I will open my mouth in parables,” says the Psalm, and Matthew writes that this was fulfilled when Jesus taught the crowds. This page gathers every parable of the Saints Translation in one place, in two groups.
First stand the parables of Christ, given in full with His words in red. Second are the parables of the prophets, from Jotham and Nathan to Ezekiel, which prepared Israel’s ear for His; the longer ones are shortened, with a link to the whole. Each entry gives the parable’s common name, a sentence on what it says, the text, and the other places it is told. At the foot of the page is an index by book.
What counts as a parable is partly a judgment. Included here are the stories and extended comparisons that Scripture itself calls parables or that have always been read as such, together with four figures from the Gospel of John, which John calls figures of speech. Short proverbs and single similes are left out, as are the visions of the prophets and their acted signs.
The Parables of Christ: The Kingdom of the Heavens · Hearing and Following · Mercy and the Lost · Prayer · Riches and the Table · Israel and the Judgment · Watchfulness and the End · Figures in the Gospel of John
The Parables of the Prophets: Parables Told to Kings · Parables of Isaiah and Jeremiah · Parables of Ezekiel
The Parables of Christ
The Lord taught the crowds in parables, and without a parable He did not speak to them; to His disciples He explained everything privately. His parables stand first here and are given in full, with His words in red.
The Kingdom of the Heavens
The Sower. The seed is the word; the four soils are four ways of hearing it. The Lord explains it Himself.
He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured them. Others fell on rocky places, where they did not have much soil, and immediately sprang up because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered. Others fell among thorns; the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on the good soil and yielded fruit: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Let the one who has ears hear.” … You, then, hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown beside the road. The one sown on rocky places is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet has no root in himself, but is temporary. When affliction or persecution arises because of the word, he immediately stumbles. The one sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the anxiety of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. The one sown upon the good soil is the one who hears the word and understands; he indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”
Matthew 13:3–9 · Matthew 13:18–23
Also told in: Mark 4:3–9 · Mark 4:14–20 · Luke 8:5–8 · Luke 8:11–15
The Weeds among the Wheat. Good seed and darnel, the weed an enemy sowed, grow together until the harvest, when the Son of Man sends His angels to separate them. The Lord explains it Himself.
He set another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away. When the crop sprouted and bore fruit, then the darnel appeared also. The householder’s slaves came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where, then, does it have darnel?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy did this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather it?’ He said, ‘No, lest while gathering the darnel you uproot the wheat with it. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers: Gather the darnel first and bind it into bundles to burn it, but gather the wheat into my storehouse.’” … He answered, “The One sowing the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom; the darnel are the sons of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the consummation of the age; and the reapers are angels. Just as the darnel is gathered and burned with fire, so it will be at the consummation of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom all causes of stumbling and those who practice lawlessness. They will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let the one who has ears hear.
Matthew 13:24–30 · Matthew 13:37–43
The Seed Growing of Itself. The kingdom grows as seed does, night and day, the sower knows not how, until the harvest.
He said, “The kingdom of God is like this: a man casts seed on the ground, and sleeps and rises, night and day, while the seed sprouts and grows—he himself does not know how. The earth bears fruit of itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. When the crop permits, he immediately sends in the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.”
Mark 4:26–29
The Mustard Seed. The smallest of seeds becomes a tree in whose branches the birds make their dwelling.
He set another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. It is smaller than all the seeds, but when it grows it is greater than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and rest in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31–32
Also told in: Mark 4:30–32 · Luke 13:18–19
The Leaven. A little leaven hidden in three measures of flour leavens the whole.
He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until the whole was leavened.”
Matthew 13:33
Also told in: Luke 13:20–21
The Hidden Treasure. A man sells all that he has, for joy, to buy the field where the treasure lies.
The kingdom of the heavens is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid. In his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44
The Pearl of Great Price. A merchant sells everything to buy one pearl of great value.
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. Finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45–46
The Dragnet. The net gathers every kind; at the end of the age the angels separate the evil from the righteous.
Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet cast into the sea and gathering fish of every kind. When it was full, they drew it onto the shore, sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but threw the rotten away. So it will be at the consummation of the age: the angels will go out and separate the evil from the midst of the righteous and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
Matthew 13:47–50
The Householder’s Treasure. Every scribe trained for the kingdom brings out of his treasure things new and old.
He said to them, “Therefore every scribe made a disciple for the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Matthew 13:52
The Lamp on the Lampstand. A lamp is not lit to be hidden; nothing is hidden except to be revealed.
He said to them, “Does the lamp come to be put under the modius basket, or under the bed? Is it not to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, nor has anything become secret except to come into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and more will be added to you. For whoever has will be given more; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Mark 4:21–25
Also told in: Matthew 5:14–16 · Luke 8:16–18 · Luke 11:33
Hearing and Following
The Two Builders. Whoever hears His words and does them builds on rock; whoever hears and does not, on sand.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be likened to a prudent man who built his house upon the rock. The rain came down, the rivers came, and the winds blew and fell upon that house, and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. The rain came down, the rivers came, and the winds blew and struck that house, and it fell; and its fall was great.”
Matthew 7:24–27
Also told in: Luke 6:47–49
New Cloth and New Wineskins. No one patches an old garment with new cloth or puts new wine into old wineskins.
Jesus said to them, “Can the bridegroom’s companions fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment. Otherwise the new patch pulls away from the old, and a worse tear results. No one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost along with the skins. New wine belongs in fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:19–22
Also told in: Matthew 9:15–17 · Luke 5:34–39
The Children in the Marketplace. This generation is like children who will neither dance nor mourn; yet wisdom is justified.
To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call to the others, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a lament, and you did not beat your breasts.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom was vindicated by her works.”
Matthew 11:16–19
Also told in: Luke 7:31–35
The Strong Man Bound. No one plunders a strong man’s house unless he first binds the strong man.
He called them to Himself and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but has come to an end. No one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his belongings unless he first binds the strong man. Then he will plunder his house.
Mark 3:23–27
Also told in: Matthew 12:25–29 · Luke 11:17–22
The Returning Unclean Spirit. The house left empty is taken again by seven spirits worse than the first.
When the unclean spirit leaves a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it vacant, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself; they enter and dwell there, and that person’s last condition becomes worse than the first. So it will also be with this evil generation.”
Matthew 12:43–45
Also told in: Luke 11:24–26
The Tower Builder and the King Going to War. Whoever would be His disciple must first sit down and count the cost.
For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the expense, whether he has enough to finish it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to complete it, all who see it may begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was unable to finish.’ Or what king, going to meet another king in war, will not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet the one coming against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his own possessions cannot be My disciple.
Luke 14:28–33
The Unprofitable Slaves. When you have done all that was commanded, say, We have done what we ought to have done.
Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, gird yourself, and serve me while I eat and drink; and after that you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank the slave because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done everything commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable slaves; we have done what we ought to have done.’”
Luke 17:7–10
The Blind Leading the Blind. Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 6:39–40
Also told in: Matthew 15:14
Mercy and the Lost
The Two Debtors. The one who is forgiven much loves much.
“A certain lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. Since they had nothing with which to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them, then, will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one to whom he forgave more.” He said to him, “You judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I tell you: her many sins are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:41–47
The Good Samaritan. The neighbor is the one who showed mercy. Go, and do likewise.
Jesus replied, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers. They stripped him, inflicted blows, and went away, leaving him half dead. By coincidence a certain priest was going down that road. He saw him and passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite also came to the place, saw him, and passed by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan, traveling, came upon him. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion. He approached and bound his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He placed him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and cared for him. On the next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Care for him, and whatever more you spend I will repay you when I return.’ Which of these three seems to you to have become a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go, and you do likewise.”
Luke 10:30–37
The Lost Sheep. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
So He told them this parable: “What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
Luke 15:3–7
Also told in: Matthew 18:12–14
The Lost Coin. There is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Or what woman, having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her women friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma that I lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8–10
The Lost Son. The father runs to the son who was dead and is alive again, and pleads with the elder brother.
And He said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ And he divided his livelihood between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country. There he scattered his property by living recklessly. When he had spent everything, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to fill his belly with the carob pods the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have bread to spare, while I am perishing here from hunger! I will rise and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ And he rose and went to his own father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. He ran, fell upon his neck, and kissed him warmly. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and clothe him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet, and bring the fattened calf and slaughter it. Let us eat and be glad, because this son of mine was dead and came to life again; he was lost and was found.’ And they began to be glad. Now his older son was in the field. As he came and drew near the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things might mean. He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father slaughtered the fattened calf because he received him back in good health.’ But he became angry and was unwilling to enter. His father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Behold, all these years I have served you as a slave, and I never passed over your command; yet you never gave me a young goat so that I might be glad with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Child, you are always with me, and everything of mine is yours. But we had to be glad and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and was found.’”
Luke 15:11–32
The Unforgiving Slave. The one forgiven ten thousand talents would not forgive a hundred denarii: so My heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from the heart.
Therefore the kingdom of the heavens was likened to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began settling accounts, one debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he could not repay, the master ordered him to be sold, together with his wife, children, and everything he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell down and bowed before him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.’ Moved with compassion, that slave’s master released him and forgave him the loan. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii. He seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Repay whatever you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he repaid what was owed. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were exceedingly grieved. They came and explained to their master everything that had happened. Then his master summoned him and said, ‘Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ His master became angry and handed him over to the torturers until he repaid everything owed. So also My heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from your hearts.”
Matthew 18:23–35
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The one who humbled himself went down to his house justified rather than the other.
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded the rest as nothing: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed these things to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of humanity—plunderers, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I tithe everything I acquire.’ But the tax collector, standing far away, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be propitious to me, the sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9–14
The Workers in the Vineyard. The last receive as the first, for the master is generous; the last will be first and the first last.
For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the workers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. He went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will give you whatever is right.’ They went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hours and did the same. About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and said to them, ‘Why have you stood here idle the whole day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the workers and pay them the wage, beginning with the last up to the first.’ Those hired about the eleventh hour came and received a denarius each. When the first came, they supposed they would receive more, but they too received a denarius each. On receiving it, they grumbled against the householder, saying, ‘These last worked one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the day’s burden and scorching heat.’ He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not wronging you. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go. I wish to give to this last one as also to you. Am I not permitted to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Matthew 20:1–16
Prayer
The Friend at Midnight. Because of his persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
And He said to them, “Which of you will have a friend and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, since a friend of mine has arrived at my home from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ and that man will answer from inside, ‘Do not trouble me. The door is already shut, and my children are in bed with me. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, even if he will not get up and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless insistence he will rise and give him as much as he needs. And I tell you: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Luke 11:5–10
The Widow and the Unjust Judge. Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night?
And He told them a parable about their need to pray always and not lose heart, saying, “There was a certain judge in a certain city who neither feared God nor respected any person. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a time he was unwilling. But afterward he said within himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or respect any person, yet because this widow troubles me, I will give her justice, lest by coming continually she wear me down.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry to Him day and night? And will He delay over them? I tell you, He will bring about justice for them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1–8
Riches and the Table
The Rich Fool. So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Then He told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man yielded abundantly. And he reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to gather my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and gather all the grain and my goods there. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Rest, eat, drink, be glad!”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night they are demanding your soul from you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16–21
The Shrewd Steward. The sons of this age are more prudent toward their own generation than the sons of light.
He also said to the disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this man was accused before him of scattering his possessions. He called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their own houses.’ And he called each one of his own master’s debtors and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred baths of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your document, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your document and write eighty.’ And the master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted prudently. For the sons of this age are more prudent toward their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves from the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they may welcome you into the eternal tents.
Luke 16:1–9
The Rich Man and Lazarus. If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.
Now there was a certain rich man, and he clothed himself in purple and fine linen, making merry splendidly every day. And a certain poor man named Lazarus had been laid at his gateway, covered with sores and longing to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. And it happened that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted his eyes and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in pain in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you received your good things during your life, and Lazarus likewise bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are in pain. And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to cross from here to you cannot, nor may they cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I ask you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may solemnly warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ But he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ And he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 16:19–31
The Lowest Place at the Feast. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they chose the foremost places at table. He said to them, “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not recline in the foremost place, lest someone more honored than you has been invited by him, and the one who invited both you and him comes and says to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then you will begin, with shame, to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline in the last place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will have honor before all who recline at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:7–11
The Great Supper. Those first invited made excuses; the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame are brought in.
But He said to him, “A certain man was giving a great supper, and he invited many. At the hour of the supper he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because things are now ready.’ And they all alike began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I bought a field, and I need to go out and see it. I ask you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I bought five pairs of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you, have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I married a wife, and for this reason I cannot come.’ The slave returned and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring the poor, the disabled, the blind, and the lame in here.’ And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.’ And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and along the fences, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my supper.’”
Luke 14:16–24
Israel and the Judgment
The Barren Fig Tree. Leave it this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
And He told this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the vineyard worker, ‘Behold, for three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why should it also render the ground unproductive?’ But he answered him, ‘Master, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. And if it produces fruit in the coming year—but if not, you shall cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6–9
The Two Sons. The one who said No but went did the father’s will: tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom before you.
But what do you think? A man had two children. He came to the first and said, ‘Child, go work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I do not want to,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. He came to the second and said the same. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you that tax collectors and prostitutes go ahead of you into the kingdom of God. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. Even after seeing this, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Matthew 21:28–32
The Wicked Tenants. The owner sends his slaves and last of all his son; the vineyard will be given to others.
Hear another parable. A householder planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. He leased it to farmers and traveled abroad. When the season of fruits drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to receive his fruits. The farmers seized his slaves: one they beat, another they killed, another they stoned. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they did the same to them. Last he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’ They seized him, cast him outside the vineyard, and killed him. So when the master of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” They said to Him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and lease the vineyard to other farmers who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected became the head of the corner; this came from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one falling upon this stone will be shattered; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”
Matthew 21:33–44
Also told in: Mark 12:1–11 · Luke 20:9–18
The Wedding Feast. Many are called, but few are chosen.
Jesus again answered them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a king who made a wedding feast for his son. He sent his slaves to call those invited to the wedding feast, but they were unwilling to come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those invited: Behold, I have prepared my meal. My bulls and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they disregarded it and went away, one to his own field, another to his business. The rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king became angry. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. So go to the outlets of the roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ Those slaves went out into the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good, and the wedding feast was filled with people reclining. The king entered to see those reclining and saw there a man not clothed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you enter here without a wedding garment?’ He was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind his feet and hands and cast him into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ For many are called, but few chosen.”
Matthew 22:1–14
Watchfulness and the End
The Budding Fig Tree. When its branch becomes tender, you know that summer is near.
Learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors. Truly I tell you that this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will certainly not pass away.
Matthew 24:32–35
Also told in: Mark 13:28–31 · Luke 21:29–33
The Doorkeeper. Stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming.
Watch out; stay awake, for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going abroad who left his house and gave his slaves authority, each his own work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. Therefore keep watch, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming: in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, or in the morning. Otherwise he may come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: keep watch!”
Mark 13:33–37
The Watchful Slaves. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds awake: he will gird himself and serve them.
Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like people waiting for their own master to return from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him at once. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds keeping watch when he comes. Amen, I tell you: he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and come and serve them. Whether he comes in the second watch or in the third and finds them so, blessed are they.
Luke 12:35–38
The Thief in the Night. If the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake.
So keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord comes. But know this: if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you too must be ready, because the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.
Matthew 24:42–44
Also told in: Luke 12:39–40
The Faithful and the Wicked Slave. Blessed is the slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave whom the master appointed over his household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find doing so. Truly I tell you that he will appoint him over all his belongings. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master delays,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him in two and assign his portion with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
Matthew 24:45–51
Also told in: Luke 12:42–48
The Ten Virgins. Five were prudent and took oil; the bridegroom came, and the door was shut.
Then the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five prudent. For the foolish took their lamps but did not take oil with them. The prudent took oil in containers along with their lamps. As the bridegroom delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. At midnight a cry arose: ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins arose and put their lamps in order. The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ The prudent answered, ‘There may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to those selling and buy for yourselves.’ While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready entered with him into the wedding feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ He answered, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:1–13
The Talents. To each according to his ability; to everyone who has, more will be given.
For it is like a man traveling abroad, who called his own slaves and handed over his belongings to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, each according to his own ability, and traveled abroad. Immediately the one who received the five talents went and traded with them and gained another five. Likewise the one with two gained another two. But the one who received one went away, dug in the ground, and hid his master’s silver. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over five talents to me. Look, I gained another five talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will appoint you over many. Enter into your master’s joy.’ The one with two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you handed over two talents to me. Look, I gained another two talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things; I will appoint you over many. Enter into your master’s joy.’ The one who received one talent also came and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter. I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’ His master answered him, ‘Evil and idle slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have deposited my silver with the bankers, and when I came I would have recovered what is mine with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken. Cast the useless slave into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14–30
The Minas. Do business until I come.
While they were hearing these things, He went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately. So He said, “A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and return. He called ten of his own slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ And it happened that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered those slaves to whom he had given the money to be called to him, so that he might know what business they had done. The first came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has gained ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, have authority over ten cities.’ The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ And he said to this one also, ‘You too shall be over five cities.’ And the other came, saying, ‘Master, behold your mina, which I kept laid away in a cloth. For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘From your own mouth I judge you, evil slave. You knew that I am a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Then why did you not put my money on deposit? And when I came, I would have collected it with interest.’ And he said to those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them—bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
Luke 19:11–27
The Sheep and the Goats. Insofar as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will stand the sheep at His right and the young goats at His left. Then the King will say to those at His right, ‘Come, you blessed by My Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and come to You?’ The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, insofar as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’ Then He will also say to those at His left, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not give Me food, I was thirsty and you did not give Me drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, insofar as you did not do it to one of the least of these, neither did you do it to Me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31–46
Figures in the Gospel of John
The Good Shepherd and the Door. The sheep hear His voice; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John calls it a figure of speech.
“Amen, amen, I tell you: the one who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs in from elsewhere, is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But they will certainly not follow a stranger; rather, they will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus spoke this figure of speech to them, but they did not understand what the things were that He was speaking to them. So Jesus spoke to them again: “Amen, amen, I tell you that I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came so that they may have life and have abundance. I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired worker, who is not a shepherd and whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees—and the wolf seizes them and scatters them— because he is a hired worker and has no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not from this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:1–16
The True Vine. He is the true vine, His Father the vinegrower, the disciples the branches.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinegrower. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every one that bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown outside like the branch and withers; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. In this My Father has been glorified: that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.
John 15:1–8
The Grain of Wheat. Unless it falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I tell you: unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:23–26
The Woman in Labor. Her grief turns to joy when the child is born: so your grief will become joy.
Amen, amen, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will become joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she has borne the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world. So you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you.
John 16:20–22
The Parables of the Prophets
Before the Lord spoke in parables, the prophets did: to kings who would not otherwise listen, and to a people who had to be shown themselves in a story. These come second; the longer ones are shortened, with a link to the whole.
Parables Told to Kings
Jotham: The Trees Choose a King. The olive, the fig and the vine refuse the crown; the bramble accepts it. Spoken against Abimelech from Mount Gerizim.
They told Jotham. He went and stood on Mount Gerizim’s summit, raised his voice, and called out, saying to them, “Listen to me, men of Shechem, and may God listen to you. The trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ The olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my richness, which God and human beings have glorified in me, and go rule the trees?’ The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come, reign over us.’ The fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness and my good produce and go rule the trees?’ The trees said to the vine, ‘Come, reign over us.’ The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my wine, human beings’ gladness from God, and go rule the trees?’ The trees said to the bramble, ‘Come yourself, reign over us.’ The bramble said to the trees, ‘If you are truly anointing me as king over you, come, trust in my shelter. But if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume Lebanon’s cedars.’
Judges 9:7–15
Nathan: The Poor Man’s Ewe Lamb. The rich man takes the poor man’s one lamb; David condemns him, and Nathan answers, You are the man.
The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David. He came in to him and said, “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds. The poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb that he had acquired, preserved, and reared. It grew up with him and his sons together. It ate from his bread, drank from his cup, and slept in his bosom. It was like a daughter to him. A passerby came to the rich man. He was unwilling to take from his own flocks or herds to prepare a meal for the traveling stranger who had come to him. He took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” David became intensely angry with the man. David said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves death! He must repay the ewe lamb sevenfold, because he did this thing and had no pity.” Nathan said to David, “You are the man who did this! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I am the One who anointed you king over Israel, and I am the One who rescued you from Saul’s hand.
2 Samuel 12:1–7
The Woman of Tekoa: The Two Sons. A widow pleads for her one remaining son, so that the king may bring back his own banished one.
The woman of Tekoa came in to the king, fell facedown to the ground, bowed down to him, and said, “Help, O king, help!” The king said to her, “What troubles you?” She said, “Indeed, I am a widow; my husband has died. Your servant had two sons. Both fought in the field, with no one between them to intervene. One struck his brother and killed him. Now the whole paternal family has risen against your servant. They say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, and we will put him to death for the life of the brother he killed. We will remove your heir as well.’ They would extinguish my last remaining ember, leaving my husband neither remnant nor name on the face of the earth.” The king said, “Go to your house in good health, and I will give orders concerning you.” The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “Let the lawlessness fall on me, my lord the king, and on my father’s house; let the king and his throne be innocent.” The king said, “Who is speaking to you? Bring him to me, and he will not touch him again.” She said, “Please let the king remember the Lord his God, for a blood avenger to become great in destruction; and they will certainly not remove my son.” He said, “As the Lord lives, not a hair of your son will fall to the ground.” The woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.” …
2 Samuel 14:4–14
The Prophet and the Escaped Prisoner. A disguised prophet tells of a prisoner he let go; King Ahab pronounces his own sentence.
One of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the Lord’s word, “Please strike me.” But the man was unwilling to strike him. He said to him, “Because you have not listened to the Lord’s voice, look, you are running away from me, and a lion will strike you.” He left him, and a lion found him and struck him. He found another man and said, “Please strike me.” The man struck him, delivering a blow and bruising him. The prophet went and stood waiting for the king of Israel on the road, binding his eyes with a bandage. As the king passed, he cried to the king, “Your servant went out to the army of the battle. Look, a man brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man. If he escapes, your life will be for his life, or you must weigh out a talent of silver.’ Your servant looked around here and there, and the man was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “Look, the ambushes too! You have committed murder beside me.” He hurried and removed the bandage from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you let a doomed man out of your hand, your life will be for his life, and your people for his people.’”
1 Kings 21:35–42
Joash: The Thornbush and the Cedar. The thornbush of Lebanon asks the cedar’s daughter for his son, and the wild beasts trample the thornbush.
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, ‘Come, let us face one another.’ Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, ‘The thornbush in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon: “Give your daughter to my son as a wife.” But the wild animals in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thornbush. You have indeed struck Idumea, and your heart has lifted you up. Enjoy glory while sitting at home! Why contend in your wickedness? You will fall, you and Judah with you.’
2 Kings 14:8–10
Parables of Isaiah and Jeremiah
Isaiah: The Song of the Vineyard. The beloved did everything for his vineyard and it yielded thorns; the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. The Lord’s parable of the tenants takes up this song.
I will sing now to the beloved a song of the loved one for my vineyard. The beloved had a vineyard on a horn, in a fertile place. I put a fence around it, palisaded it, planted a Sorech vine, built a tower in its midst and dug a wine vat in it. I waited for it to produce grapes, but it produced thorns. Now, man of Judah and residents of Jerusalem, judge My case and the matter of My vineyard. What more shall I do for My vineyard that I did not do for it? For I waited for it to produce grapes, but it produced thorns. Now I will announce to you what I will do to My vineyard: I will remove its fence, and it will be plundered; I will pull down its wall, and it will be trampled, and I will abandon My vineyard. It will certainly not be pruned or dug, and thorns will rise in it as in fallow ground. I will command the clouds not to rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord Sabaoth is Israel’s house, and the man of Judah a beloved new planting. I waited for it to produce judgment, but it produced lawlessness, not righteousness but an outcry.
Isaiah 5:1–7
Isaiah: The Plowman. The farmer does not plow forever or thresh every grain alike; his God instructs him.
Give ear and hear my voice; pay attention and hear my words. Will the plowman plow all day? Or will he prepare seed before working the ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not then sow a little black cumin and cumin, and again sow wheat, barley and emmer within your borders? You will be disciplined by your God’s judgment and will rejoice. For black cumin is not cleaned with harshness, nor will a wagon wheel roll over cumin; black cumin is shaken out with a rod, but cumin will be eaten with bread. For I will not be angry with you forever, nor will the sound of My bitterness trample you. These wonders too came from the Lord Sabaoth. Take counsel; raise up futile consolation!
Isaiah 28:23–29
Jeremiah: The Potter and the Clay. As clay in the potter’s hand, so is the house of Israel in the Lord’s hand.
The word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah, saying: Rise and go down to the potter’s house, and there you will hear My words. And I went down to the potter’s house, and look, he was doing work upon the stones. And the vessel he was making fell apart in his hands, and again he made it another vessel, as pleased him to make. And the Lord’s word came to me, saying: Can I not make you as this potter does, house of Israel? Look, you are like the potter’s clay in My hands. At last I will speak concerning a nation or kingdom, to remove them and destroy, and if that nation turns from all their evils, I will change My mind concerning the evils I planned to do to them. And at last I will speak concerning a nation and kingdom, for it to be rebuilt and planted, and if they do evil things before Me by not hearing My voice, I will change My mind concerning the good things I spoke of doing for them.
Jeremiah 18:1–10
Jeremiah: The Two Baskets of Figs. Good figs for the exiles whom God will bring back; bad figs for those who remain.
The Lord showed me two baskets of figs lying before the Lord’s sanctuary, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had deported Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, the rulers, craftsmen, prisoners, and rich people from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, like early figs; the other basket had very bad figs that could not be eaten because of their badness. And the Lord said to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? I said: Figs. The good are exceedingly good, and the bad exceedingly bad; they cannot be eaten because of their badness. And the Lord’s word came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord, Israel’s God: Like these good figs, so I will acknowledge Judah’s deportees, whom I have sent from this place to the Chaldeans’ land, for good things. And I will fix My eyes upon them for good things and restore them to this land for good things. I will rebuild them and certainly not tear them down, plant them and certainly not pluck them out. And I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. They will be My people and I will be their God, because they will return to Me from their whole heart. And like the bad figs that cannot be eaten because of their badness—thus says the Lord—so I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his nobles, Jerusalem’s remnant left in this land, and those dwelling in Egypt. …
Jeremiah 24:1–10
Parables of Ezekiel
The Wood of the Vine. Vine wood is good for nothing but the fire: so are the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
The Lord’s word came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, what could vinewood be among all the branch wood found among the forest trees? Will they take wood from it to make anything for work? Will they take a peg from it to hang any vessel upon it? It has only been given to fire for consumption. Fire consumes its yearly prunings, and it is utterly spent. Surely it will not be useful for work? Even while it was whole, it would not serve for work. Let alone if fire utterly consumes it—will it still serve for work? Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: As with the vinewood among the forest trees, which I have given to fire for consumption, so I have given Jerusalem’s inhabitants. I will set My face against them. They will come out of the fire, and fire will devour them. They will recognize that I am the Lord when I set My face firmly against them. I will make the land a devastation, because they have fallen into transgression, says the Lord.’”
Ezekiel 15:1–8
The Foundling Bride. The Lord finds Jerusalem cast out at birth, raises and adorns her, and she turns to prostitution; yet He will remember His covenant.
The Lord’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, solemnly testify to Jerusalem about her lawlessness, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord to Jerusalem: Your root and your birth are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, on the day you were born they did not bind your breasts; you were not washed with water, not salted with salt, and not wrapped in swaddling cloths. Nor did My eye spare you to do any of all these things for you, to feel anything for you. You were cast upon the face of the plain because of your life’s crookedness, on the day you were born. I passed by you and saw you befouled in your blood, and said to you, ‘From your blood, life! Multiply!’ I have made you like the growth of the field. You multiplied, grew great and entered cities of cities. Your breasts stood firm and your hair grew, but you were naked and exposed. I passed through you and saw you; behold, your season was the season of those lodging. I spread My wings over you and covered your exposure. I swore to you and entered a covenant with you, says the Lord, and you became Mine. I washed you with water, washed your blood off you, and anointed you with oil, and clothed you in patterned garments, shod you in blue-purple, girded you with fine linen, and wrapped you in hair-woven cloth, and adorned you with ornaments, placed bracelets around your hands and a necklace around your neck, …
Ezekiel 16:1–14
The Two Eagles and the Vine. Expressly called a parable: the great eagle plants the cedar’s top, and the vine turns to a second eagle. It concerns the king of Babylon, Zedekiah and Egypt.
The Lord’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, tell a narrative and speak a parable to the house of Israel, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord: The great eagle, great-winged, long in span, full of talons, which has authority to enter Lebanon, took the cedar’s choice parts; he nipped off the tips of its tender growth, carried them to the land of Canaan, and set them in a fortified city. He took some of the land’s seed and put it in the plain, a plant beside abundant water; he appointed it to be watched over. It sprouted and became a weak vine, small in size so that it might appear. Its branches were upon it and its roots beneath it. It became a vine, produced offshoots and extended its climbing growth. There was another great eagle, great-winged and abundant in talons. Behold, this vine was intertwined toward him, its roots toward him; it sent its branches to him to water it together with the clod of its planting. It grows fat in a good plain beside abundant water, to produce shoots, bear fruit and become a great vine. Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: Will it prosper? Will not the roots of its tender growth and its fruit rot, and all its early shoots dry up? No great arm or numerous people will be needed to pull it from its roots. Behold, it grows fat—surely it will not prosper? Will it not dry up completely as soon as the scorching wind touches it? It will dry up together with the clod of its growth.’”
Ezekiel 17:1–10
See also: Ezekiel 17:22–24
The Lioness and Her Cubs. A lament for the princes of Israel, caught one after another in the pit.
“And you, take up a lament over Israel’s ruler, and say: What was your mother? A cub! She came to be among lions; among lions she multiplied her cubs. One of her cubs sprang away; he became a lion, learned to seize prey, and ate human beings. Nations heard against him; he was caught in their destruction, and they led him with a muzzle to Egypt’s land. She saw that he had been driven away from her and that her support had perished; she took another of her cubs and appointed him a lion. He moved among lions, became a lion, learned to seize prey, and ate human beings. He fed in his boldness, desolated their cities, and destroyed the land and its fullness by the sound of his roaring. Nations from the surrounding countries set themselves against him and spread their nets over him; he was caught in their destruction. They put him in a muzzle and a cage. He came to Babylon’s king, and he brought him into prison, so that his voice would not be heard upon Israel’s mountains.
Ezekiel 19:1–9
See also: Ezekiel 19:10–14
The Two Sisters, Oholah and Oholibah. Samaria and Jerusalem as two sisters who were unfaithful in Egypt and after.
The Lord’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother, and they prostituted themselves in Egypt in their youth. There their breasts fell; there they were deflowered. Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. They became Mine and bore sons and daughters. Their names: Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah. Oholah prostituted herself away from Me and set her desire upon her lovers, the Assyrians approaching her, clothed in blue-purple, leaders and generals; all choice young men, horsemen riding horses. She bestowed her prostitution upon them, all choice sons of Assyrians; and with all upon whom she set her desire, in all her reflections she was defiled. She did not abandon her prostitution from Egypt, for they lay with her in her youth; they deflowered her and poured their prostitution upon her. Therefore I handed her into her lovers’ hands, into the hands of Assyrians’ sons, upon whom she had set her desire. They uncovered her shame, took her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became a subject of talk among women, and they inflicted punishments upon her, upon the daughters.
Ezekiel 23:1–10
The Boiling Pot. Utter a parable to the rebellious house: set on the pot. It is spoken on the day the siege of Jerusalem began.
The Lord’s word came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth of the month, saying, “Son of man, write for yourself for a day, from this day on which Babylon’s king pressed against Jerusalem, from this present day, and speak a parable against the provoking house. Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: Set on the cauldron and pour water into it, and put the cut pieces into it, every good cut, leg and shoulder stripped from the bones, from choice animals taken. Burn the bones beneath them. It boiled, it boiled, and her bones have been cooked within her. Therefore thus says the Lord: O city of bloodshed! A cauldron with rust in it, whose rust has not come out of her! He brought it out limb by limb; no lot fell upon her. For her blood is within her. I have set it upon smooth rock; I have not poured it upon the earth to cover it with earth. To make wrath rise for vengeance to be exacted, I have set her blood upon smooth rock so that it will not be covered. Therefore thus says the Lord: I too will enlarge the firebrand and multiply the wood and kindle the fire, so that the flesh melts and the broth is reduced, and it stands upon the coals, so that its copper is scorched and heated and melts amid its uncleanness, and its rust ceases, yet her abundant rust certainly will not leave her; her rust will be put to shame, because you were being defiled. And what if you are not cleansed any more until I fill up My wrath? …
Ezekiel 24:1–14
The Great Cedar. Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, envied by the trees of Eden, and it was cut down: a warning to Pharaoh.
In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first of the month, the Lord’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, and to his multitude, ‘To whom have you likened yourself in your height? Behold, Assyria was a cypress in Lebanon, beautiful in offshoots and tall in size; its crown reached into the midst of clouds. Water nourished it; the abyss raised it high, led its rivers around its plantings and sent out its gatherings of water to all the plain’s trees. Therefore its size rose above all the plain’s trees, and its branches spread wide because of abundant water. All the sky’s birds nested in its offshoots; all the plain’s beasts gave birth beneath its branches, and every multitude of nations lived in its shade. It was beautiful in its height because of the multitude of its branches, for its roots reached abundant water. Such cypresses did not exist in God’s paradise; pines were not like its offshoots, and firs were not like its branches. No tree in God’s paradise resembled it in its beauty because of the multitude of its branches, and the trees of God’s paradise of delight envied it. Therefore thus says the Lord: Because you became great in size and set your crown amid clouds, and I saw it being lifted high, I handed it into the hands of a ruler of nations, and he brought about its destruction. …
Ezekiel 31:1–14
The Shepherds and the Sheep. Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves; the Lord Himself will seek His sheep. The Lord’s word, I am the good Shepherd, answers this prophecy.
The Lord’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against Israel’s shepherds. Prophesy and say to the shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord, the Lord: O shepherds of Israel, surely shepherds do not feed themselves? Do shepherds not feed the sheep? Behold, you consume the milk, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the fattened animal, but you do not feed My sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, restored the sick to health, bound up the broken, brought back the wandering or sought the lost. You have worn down the strong with toil. My sheep scattered because there were no shepherds and became food for all the field’s beasts. My sheep scattered on every mountain and upon every high hill, and scattered over the whole face of the earth. There was no one seeking them out or turning them back. Therefore, shepherds, hear the Lord’s word: I live, says the Lord, the Lord: surely because My sheep became plunder and My sheep became food for all the plain’s beasts for lack of shepherds, and the shepherds did not seek out My sheep but fed themselves and did not feed My sheep— because of this, shepherds, thus says the Lord, the Lord: Behold, I am against the shepherds. I will require My sheep from their hands and turn them aside from shepherding My sheep. The shepherds will no longer feed them. I will rescue My sheep from their mouth, and they will no longer be food for them. For thus says the Lord: Behold, I will seek out My sheep and visit them. …
Ezekiel 34:1–16
Index by Book
Judges (1) Jotham: The Trees Choose a King
2 Samuel (2) Nathan: The Poor Man’s Ewe Lamb · The Woman of Tekoa: The Two Sons
1 Kings (1) The Prophet and the Escaped Prisoner
2 Kings (1) Joash: The Thornbush and the Cedar
Isaiah (2) Isaiah: The Song of the Vineyard · Isaiah: The Plowman
Jeremiah (2) Jeremiah: The Potter and the Clay · Jeremiah: The Two Baskets of Figs
Ezekiel (8) The Wood of the Vine · The Foundling Bride · The Two Eagles and the Vine · The Lioness and Her Cubs · The Two Sisters, Oholah and Oholibah · The Boiling Pot · The Great Cedar · The Shepherds and the Sheep
Matthew (27) The Sower · The Weeds among the Wheat · The Mustard Seed · The Leaven · The Hidden Treasure · The Pearl of Great Price · The Dragnet · The Householder’s Treasure · The Lamp on the Lampstand · The Two Builders · New Cloth and New Wineskins · The Children in the Marketplace · The Strong Man Bound · The Returning Unclean Spirit · The Blind Leading the Blind · The Lost Sheep · The Unforgiving Slave · The Workers in the Vineyard · The Two Sons · The Wicked Tenants · The Wedding Feast · The Budding Fig Tree · The Thief in the Night · The Faithful and the Wicked Slave · The Ten Virgins · The Talents · The Sheep and the Goats
Mark (9) The Sower · The Seed Growing of Itself · The Mustard Seed · The Lamp on the Lampstand · New Cloth and New Wineskins · The Strong Man Bound · The Wicked Tenants · The Budding Fig Tree · The Doorkeeper
Luke (32) The Sower · The Mustard Seed · The Leaven · The Lamp on the Lampstand · The Two Builders · New Cloth and New Wineskins · The Children in the Marketplace · The Strong Man Bound · The Returning Unclean Spirit · The Tower Builder and the King Going to War · The Unprofitable Slaves · The Blind Leading the Blind · The Two Debtors · The Good Samaritan · The Lost Sheep · The Lost Coin · The Lost Son · The Pharisee and the Tax Collector · The Friend at Midnight · The Widow and the Unjust Judge · The Rich Fool · The Shrewd Steward · The Rich Man and Lazarus · The Lowest Place at the Feast · The Great Supper · The Barren Fig Tree · The Wicked Tenants · The Budding Fig Tree · The Watchful Slaves · The Thief in the Night · The Faithful and the Wicked Slave · The Minas
John (4) The Good Shepherd and the Door · The True Vine · The Grain of Wheat · The Woman in Labor
Saints Translation · The Parables · an editor’s gathering; summaries in our own words; texts quoted from the Saints Translation, with the words of Christ in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.