Jesus often spoke in parables; a parable is a short story that uses familiar images to help receptive men to ponder a cryptic deeper truth. Jesus uses parables to draw the humble to ponder and hunger for God, to conceal His teachings from the prideful, and to pronounce judgment on those who reject Him. Studying and meditating upon the Parables of Jesus can draw a man closer to God and help him grow in holiness.
In the chart below, each of the parables of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospels are noted in column (1). In the other columns, the Daily Devotion articles from the Liturgy which include each parable from the Gospels of Matthew (2), Mark (3), and Luke (4) and their page location are noted.
The Parables of Jesus Christ
Parable (1) | Matthew (2) | Mark (3) | Luke (4) |
The Builders | Mt 7:21, 24-27 | Lk 6:43-49 | |
The Two Debtors | Lk 7:36-50 | ||
The Sower | Mt 13:1-23 | Mk 4:1-20 | Lk 8:4-15 |
The Dragnet | Mt 13:47-53 | ||
The Growing Seed | Mk 4:26-34 | ||
The Wheat and the Weeds | Mt 13:24-30 | Lk 13:18-21 | |
The Lamp | Mk 4:21-25 | Lk 8:16-18 | |
The Mustard Seed The Seed’s Mysterious Growth The Leaven | Mt 13:31-35 | Mk 4:26-34 Mk 4:26-34 | Lk 13:18-21 Lk 13:18-21 |
The Hidden Treasure The Valuable Pearl The Dragnet | Mt 13:44-52 Mt 13:44-52 Mt 13:44-52 | ||
The Lost Sheep | Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 | Lk 15:3-7 | |
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant | Mt 18:21-19:1 | ||
Parable of the Good Samaritan | Lk 10:25-37 | ||
Parable of the Lowest Seat | Lk 14:1, 7-14 | ||
Parable of the Great Banquet | Lk 14:15-24 | ||
Parable of the Lost Sheep Parable of the Lost Coin | Lk 15:1-10 Lk 15:1-10 | ||
Parable of the Prodigal Son | Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 | ||
A Friend at Midnight | Lk 11:5-13 | ||
The Rich Fool | Lk 12:13-21 | ||
The Barren Fig Tree | Lk 13:1-9 | ||
The Unrighteous Steward | Lk 16:1-8 | ||
Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus | Lk 16:19-31 | ||
Parable of the Unrighteous Judge | Lk 18:1-8 | ||
Parable of Pharisee and the Tax Collector | Lk 18:9-14 | ||
The Laborers in the Vineyard | Mt 20:1-16 | ||
The Two Sons | Mt 21:28-32 | ||
The Wicked Tenants | Mt 21:33-43 | Mk 12:1-12 | Lk 20:9-19 (Omitted) |
The Wedding Feast | Mt 22:1-14 | ||
The Faithful and Unfaithful Servant | Mt 24:42-51 | Mk 13:33-37 | Lk 21:34-36 |
The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids | Mt 25:1-13 | ||
The Talents/Pounds | Mt 25:14-30 | Lk 19:11-28 | |
The Sheep and the Goats | Mt 25:31-46 |