New Cloth on an Old Coat
Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21; Luke 5:36
"No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old."The Parables of Jesus in Chronological Order
Why did Jesus teach through stories of seeds, shepherds, and lost sons? His parables, simple yet profound, unveil the mysteries of God's kingdom, inviting all to ponder its truth. Jesus used these narratives to share timeless wisdom with those ready to hear, as illustrated by the Parable of the Sower, which reveals how hearts receive His message.
The full depth of Jesus' parables shines brightest through faith, a gift from God. While they challenge everyone to reflect, their deepest truths often unfold through divine insight, as Jesus said after the Sower, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 13:9). This page offers a comprehensive, chronological guide to Jesus' parables, blending scripture and context to deepen your understanding.
Our list is drawn from careful study of the Gospels, harmonizing their narratives to trace Jesus' teaching journey. Each parable is presented in the World English Bible, with the King James Version available via hover or tap, anchoring your exploration in scripture. Join us to discover the enduring power of Jesus' stories.
New Wine into Old Wineskins
Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37–38
"No one puts new wine into old wine skins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved."A Lamp Under a Basket
Matthew 5:14–16; Mark 4:21–22; Luke 8:16, 11:33
"You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house."Combines Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) and later teachings (Mark 4, Luke 8, 11), emphasizing revelation.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24–27; Luke 6:47–49
"Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock… Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand…"The Two Debtors
Luke 7:40–43
"A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:29–37
"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers… But a certain Samaritan… was moved with compassion… 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'"The Friend at Night
Luke 11:5–8
"Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight… and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread…' yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs."The Sower
Matthew 13:1–9; Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8
"Behold, a farmer went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside… Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty."The Weeds Among the Wheat
Matthew 13:24–30
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds… Let both grow together until the harvest…"The Growing Seed
Mark 4:26–29
"The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know how… When the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle…"The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19
"It's like a grain of mustard seed… when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches…"The Leaven
Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."The Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6–9
"A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard… 'Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none…'"The Rich Fool
Luke 12:16–21
"The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly… 'I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones…' But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you…'"The Watchful Servants
Luke 12:35–40; Mark 13:35–37
"Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord… Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him."Also called "You Must Be Ready" in some traditions.
The Places of Honor
Luke 14:7–11
"When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don't sit in the best seat… For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."The Great Banquet
Luke 14:15–24
"A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people… 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame…'"The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14:28–33
"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost… So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple."The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3–7; Matthew 18:12–14
"Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them… 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"The Lost Coin
Luke 15:8–10
"Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one… 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'"The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32
"A certain man had two sons. The younger… traveled into a far country… But while he was still far off, his father saw him… '…for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again…'"The Unjust Steward
Luke 16:1–8
"There was a certain rich man who had a manager… The manager said within himself, 'What will I do…?'… His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely…"The Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19–31
"Now there was a certain rich man… A certain beggar, named Lazarus… In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment…"Some view this as a literal story due to named characters, but we include it as a parable for its allegorical teaching.
Unworthy Servants
Luke 17:7–10
"But who is there among you, having a servant plowing… 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"The Unjust Judge
Luke 18:1–8
"There was a judge in a certain city… A widow was in that city… '…because this widow bothers me, I will defend her…'"The Pharisee and Tax Collector
Luke 18:9–14
"Two men went up into the temple to pray… The tax collector… 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'… this man went down to his house justified…"The Good Shepherd
John 10:1–16
"Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door… I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…"A Johannine metaphor, included as a parable for its allegorical depth.
The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:23–35
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king… one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents… His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors…"The Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man… who went out early in the morning to hire laborers… '…So, the last will be first, and the first last.'"The Ten Minas
Luke 19:11–27
"A certain nobleman… gave them ten mina coins… 'Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.'… 'Take the mina away from him…'"The Two Sons
Matthew 21:28–32
"A man had two sons… 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'… Which of the two did the will of his father?"The Tenants
Matthew 21:33–44
"There was a man… who planted a vineyard… The farmers… 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him…'"The Wedding Feast
Matthew 22:1–14
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast… 'Bind him hand and foot… and throw him into the outer darkness…'"Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls… sold all that he had, and bought it."The Net
Matthew 13:47–50
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet… gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away…"New and Old Treasures
Matthew 13:52
"Therefore every scribe… is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things."The Faithful and Wise Steward
Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:42–48
"Who then is the faithful and wise steward… Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes…"The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–29; Luke 21:29–31
"Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender… know that it is near, even at the doors."Sometimes seen as a simile, included for its eschatological teaching.
The Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
"For it is like a man going into another country… To one he gave five talents… After a long time, the lord… reconciled accounts with them…"Similar to The Ten Minas (Luke 19:11–27), listed separately for its distinct details.
The Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1–13
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins… those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut…"