Parables (with interpretations)
Parables were used to help and encourage only believers. Matt. 13:10-23, 34-35
Parables were used to teach as much as people were willing and able to understand. Truth was hidden from unbelievers who did not give honor to Christ. Mark 4:33-34
A wise man builds his house on a rock. (Christ should be our foundation.) Matt.7:24-27, Luke 7:46-49
A mourning bridegroom. ( People should seek the correct action for the present time and act accordingly) Matt.9:16-17, Luke 5:33-39
Christ promised that anyone who has left home or family or lands for His sake will receive one hundred fold of these things in this time (while on earth) along with persecution from the world, plus in the age to come (time in heaven) eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (The first part of this promise agreed with popular Jewish tradition that expected when the messiah came He would usher in His earthly rule and would give many earthly rewards. It was not understood that Christ’s 1000 year rule on earth would come later when He returned the second time and overcame evil on earth. By this time He had already defeated evil in Heaven.)
The (Holy Spirit) like new wine must reside in a new (body) wineskin to prevent the destruction of the container. Mark 2:22 In like manner, un-shrunk new cloth is not attached to old cloth to prevent the old cloth from tearing. Mark 2:21 (This is one reason why new believers must be spiritually reborn when they receive God’s Holy Spirit. The other reason for spiritual rebirth is that it is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God. John 3:3-7 One must have God’s spirit instead of Satan’s to come into God’s presence.) The coming of the Holy Spirit and the new covenant given by Christ is compared to when Jesus changed water into wine. John 2:2-10 (Just as the new wine created by Christ was better than the old, the Holy Spirit and the new covenant are better than what was before, even though they were saved to the last. The Holy Spirit is better than Satan’s spirit, and God’s new covenant guided by love is a great improvement over the old covenant attempting salvation through obedience to the law.) (See also questions and answers.)
Two sparrows sold for a copper coin.(Shows the value of a lowly individual to God.)Matt.10:29-31
Children in the marketplace. ( Look beyond what you expect.) Matt.11:16-19, Luke 7:30-35 Seed sower. (Seek likely good areas for bountiful gain. The parable shows the different ways
God’s word is received.) Matt. 13:3-9, 19-33, Mark 4:3-20, Luke 8:4-15
Seeds scattered. (God’s kingdom began on earth by sending God’s good news of salvation
first to many unimportant people. It continues to grow, almost unnoticed, but will result in a huge harvest of saved souls.) Mark 4:26-32
A lamp is made to be seen. (All truth & works will be revealed) Mark 4:21-23, Luke 8:16-17 The lamp of the body is the eye. When the eye sees pure things, the body will be full of light
(purity). When the eye sees wickedness, the body will be full of wickedness. Luke 11:34-36
Seed & weeds, treasure, pearls & a dragnet. (Good and evil are to be together until God’s judgement day. Then there will be a separation by judgement.) Matt.13:24-30, 37-50
A mustard seeds growth into a tree is like the kingdom of heaven which grows large and has room for many. Matt.13:31-32, Luke 13:18-19 (Heaven is also to be hidden until the proper time, similar to a woman who hid meal until it had risen.) Matt.13:33, Luke 13: 20-21
A narrow gate and the need to be prepared describes the difficulty of entering heaven. Luke 13:23-30
Heaven is compared to beautiful pearls. Matt.13:45-46 The important qualities of heaven are the presence of God and other believers in Christ and peace brought about by the absence of sin. These things are worth giving up all other things to receive.
A king (Jesus) forgives a servants (followers) debt and requires the servant to do the same.
Matt.18:23-35
Laborers paid equally, though some came late. (Salvation can be obtained at any time until one dies having accepted Christ’s grace.) Matt.20:1-16
Two sons sent to work. (Worldly position is not important, but a humble attitude and obeying God is.) Matt.21:28-32.
A vineyard owner’s servants & son are killed. (Respect those whom God sends and especially Christ or be judged harshly.) Matt.21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11, Luke 20:9-18 See also the Vines parable under questions and answers.
A bountiful harvest is not meant to be stored for the sake of excess riches. Riches are not important to God for salvation. God provides for our needs even as He provides for the birds. Lilies do not work, yet they are beautiful to God. Do not be anxious about eating or drinking, but seek the kingdom of God and these things shall be given you. Give alms to God to build treasure in heaven. Luke 12:16-34
Marriage of a king’s son. (All were invited, but those who reject God’s invitation to salvation & heaven & those sent to bring the message or are not prepared to enter heaven will be cast out. Matt.22:2-14 The guest that did not have on a proper wedding garment in verses 11-13 was thrown out. The garment was representative of the covering of Christ’s blood over the saved. The king is God the Father.)
Ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. (Only those who are ready to meet Christ, when He returns, at God’s appointed time will enter heaven. The church is to become the bride of Christ.) Matt.25:1-13
Servants given talents. (To everyone who uses what he has been given wisely, more will be given. Those who do not use their God given talents and blessings will lose them and will not be saved. Matt.25:14-30, Luke 19:12-26
A kingdom or house divided cannot stand. (God and Satan are separate and do not work against themselves) Mark 3:24-26, Luke 11:17-23
The blind leading the blind. Followers become equal to the teacher. Good trees bear like fruit. (Do not look at others hypocritically without first judging yourself, then lovingly help. Speak only if your heart is prepared in love.) Luke 7:39-44 See also Judgement relating to what is spoken.
The good Samaritan. (A neighbor is defined as the person giving help to those in need of help.) Luke 10:29-37 (This was a surprise to the listening Jews since they did not like the Samaritans.)
A friend needing food for a journey & a son asking for food. (A loving God always gives good gifts to those He cares about.) Luke 11:5-13
Scribes & Pharisees: Woe to those who appear to be and do good but are full of greed and wickedness on the inside. They are like the graves of the dead which are not seen. Luke 11:39-44
Lawyers: Woe to any who cause unjust or unreasonable burdens to be put on others and do not help them. Woe to any who, by harsh treatment, prevent others from learning about and accepting the key of knowledge (leading to Godliness). Luke 11:45-52
Watch for the master (Christ’s return) at an unexpected time and be ready to go. Luke 12:35-48 Watch for the signs signaling the event. If you do not correct your ways while there is time, you will pay the total price before the judge. Luke 12:54-59 One sin is not greater than another. God accepts no sin. If you do not repent, you will perish. Luke 13:1-5
Christ cursed (killed) a fig tree that gave a false hope for food. See “The parable of the fig tree”on page 93.
If a fig tree (or a person) does not bear fruit after a time of cultivation, it/(he or she) is in danger of being destroyed. Our time on earth is such a time of cultivation. Luke 13:6- 9
Christ, in righteous anger, cleansed the temple of those making a profit in the name of religion and stopped disrespect towards God’s house of prayer. He turned the people to God’s desire for prayer, restored respect for God and signaled a change in how to please God with a new type of sacrifice. Now, God desires the wills of men’s hearts to be sacrificed instead of animals. They were now to submit their lives to Christ in godly living, and in return God would live in the temples of their bodies and speak directly, through His Holy Spirit and scripture, to them. Matt.11:15-18
Lowly seating at a wedding feast. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:8-11
The unattended feast. (Come when God calls, lest He change His mind and you are left out.) Luke 14:15-24
Counting the cost. (To be a deciple, one must be willing to forsake family, bear suffering and not have worldly wealth as an idol.) Luke 14:26-33
Salt without flavor cannot fix itself and is worth nothing. (Without deciples encouraging people to turn to God, the world would become evil and worthless.) Luke 14:34-35
Searching for a lost sheep & a lost coin. (Heaven rejoices more over one lost repentant person saved than over 99 just persons already safe. God desires none to be lost and earnestly tries to lead them.) Luke 15:4-10
Sheep (people of the world), are called by the good Shepard (Christ), to follow Him to
(Heaven). The other sheep, vs. 16, refers of the gentiles to be included with the Jews. John 10:1-16
The prodigal, lost, son returns home. (See searching for a lost sheep.) Luke 15:11-32
The ineffective steward, rebuked by the master, settles debts quickly at reduced requirements. (Encourages the lost to seek salvation quickly by repenting and accepting Christ as Lord instead of having to pay the much more severe penalty of being separated from God throughout eternity.) Luke 16:1-13
Lazarus, a sickly beggar, and a rich man are compared before and after death. Positions of comfort are reversed. ( It is implied that the rich man did not seek God in life and Lazarus did, thereby each received his proper reward after death. When the rich man pleads for a warning to his living brothers God replies that is what Moses and the prophets are for.) Luke 16:19-31
Servants doing their jobs are not worthy of special attention. (Don’t expect special rewards for doing God’s will as is owed Him.) Luke 17:7-10
In the day when the son of man is revealed (as our Lord coming in the sky) and as the saved are being taken to meet Christ in the air, some will be drawn to think about what and who they are leaving. Christ warns that we are not to look back for an instant, remembering what happened to Lot’s wife. Luke 17:20-37 In verse 22 Christ seems to extend the warning not to think back and desire the old earthly life to those who are in Heaven.
The unjust judge and the persistent widow (God will speedily avenge those elect who cry out to Him) Luke 18:1-8
The Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple (Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.) Luke 18:9-14
A taxing question is explained as: (Give the government and each other what is owed and give God His due.). Luke 20:22-25
My (Christ’s) grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. (When we have no ability to change undesirable circumstances, God’s grace becomes our mainstay to be again shown stronger than the circumstances.) 2Cor.12:9
A Samaritan woman at a well is told her life and how to receive everlasting life. John 4:6-24, 25-29 (Understatement revealed when she perceives Him a prophet for telling her about her life.)
Christ came into the world (to prepare) for judgment (of the world), that those who do not see (understand what is sin in God’s eyes, but are open to change) may see, and that those who see ( think they know what sin is, but are wrong) may be blind (deceived, convicted and judged). John 9:39-41
A grain of wheat must die to produce much grain. (Those who give their life for God will produce many followers of Christ that are saved for eternal life.) John12:24-26
Christ is the true vine and His Father the vine dresser. (A godly spiritual life that results in salvation and produces results can only be kept alive through Christ.) John 15:1-8 God gets rid of sin and builds faith in the lives of those doing His work, that they may be more effective. God gets rid of those that are not actively doing His will. John 15:2
By man (Adam) came death, by Man (Christ) also came the resurrection. 1Cor.15:21-23 Christ came by water and the blood. (Water represents the cleansing act of baptism. The
blood indicates Christ’s human suffering and sacrifice on the cross. The life of the flesh is in the blood, therefore, it is through blood sacrifices that atonement is made for the soul. Leviticus 17:11) These things are witnessed (were seen & now upheld) by God’s Spirit speaking truth. 1st John 5:6
If you have left your first love (The joy and excitement of Christ in your submitted life), remember where you fell, then repent and do the first works (repeat what led you to salvation), or else your lampstand (light of salvation) will be removed. Rev.2:5
Those who do not repent of sexual immorality shall become sick and their children shall know death (instead of salvation). Rev.2:21-23
Those that have the name of life (of Christ) but are dead in works, repent or Christ will surprise you. Those who overcome this will remain in the book of life and Christ will support you (at judgement) Rev.3:1-5
Those who do not deny the name of Christ and do his works with perseverance shall not have to endure the tribulation that comes on the whole world, and Christ will write on him His new name. Rev.3:7-12
Those who are neither hot or cold, but only caring a little about Christ will be spewed out and rejected by Christ. They do not even know they are in need. They must repent and be zealous in seeking Christ to be forgiven and redeemed. Rev.3:14-20