Parables of Jesus

1. Drawing in the Net, Matthew 13:47–50
Good & Bad fish relating to a final judgment. It may also refer to subsequent harvests and the tribulation as there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those weeping may repent and can be refined through fire, whereas those gnashing teeth will not be refined.
2. Laborers in the Vineyard, Matthew 20:1–16
The last shall be first and the first last. Humility and submission are of utmost importance. Just like the “other brother” who was jealous of the feast thrown for the prodigal.
3. Lost Money, Luke 15:8–10
The woman denoting the Holy Spirit and the lost coin in similarity to the Prodigal. Rejoicing for the redemption of the lost. Those lost now have “bought” humility and submission. This is what is needed to directly serve Jehovah.
4. The Faithful Servant, Luke 12:35–48
The Rapture and the watch for the Rapture. The judgment and separation of the Church.
5. The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30–37
The Good Samaritan is Jesus the Inn Keeper is the Church. The man fallen are the elect whom God has allowed to be tested and refined.
6. The Seed Growing Secretly, Mark 4:26–29
God has us scatter the seed, but it is He that causes it to grow. Yet it is us who “reap” the crop, but the Glory is always God’s.
7. The Lost Sheep, Matthew 18:12–14, Luke 15:1–7
The Shepherd is Jesus and the mountain is Heaven. Jesus comes after the Prodigal to call him and make a way to come home. There is more rejoicing over the lost than those who stayed home. The treasure again is the humility and submission that is found in being utterly lost recognizing the true need for a Savior and God’s true position as Sovereign and heart in Love.
8. The Mustard Seed, Matthew 13:31–32 Mark 4:30–32 Luke 13:18–19
The last (smallest) shall be first and the first (largest) shall be last. The field is the earth and the birds of the air denotes heaven and future fulfillment.
9. The Pearl, Matthew 13:45–46
Putting all your “marbles” on God and “none” on this world. Taking your heart in every way out of this world and “betting” it on the next with no plan “B”.
10. The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11–32
The Prodigal is the ruler under the Lord who asked for his estate and has come to this earth and sinned in “wild living”. Yet the Prodigal found humility in his weakness. In coming back he believes he brings back nothing, but in fact he brings exactly what the Sovereign Ruler in the universe needs; loyalty, humility, submission, etc. It is all of this that the “other brother” is missing. Instead because of his “good behavior” he believes he is “entitled”. God does not need anything from us. He is the Creator of all things and can bestow anything upon anyone. Since He is love He also gives us free will and will not make us submit. This is the one thing He needs especially from those closest to Him and holding the highest positions. This is why the Prodigal is given the robe and the ring and the “fattened calf” is slaughtered for him.
11. The Sower (The Four Soils), Matthew 13:3–23 Mark 4:1–20 Luke 8:5–15
Jesus interpreted this parable himself. The seed is the gospel message and the soil conditions are those of the heart. We also learn here a lesson in general about the parables that there is a spiritual application and that Jesus spoke in parables so that those of “good soil” can hear the message and produce a subsequent crop.


12. The Wedding Feast, Matthew 22:1–14, Luke 14:16–24
The wedding clothes are humility and lowliness of heart. Those without will be thrown out where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who weep may then find lowliness of heart.
13. Pharisee and the Publican, Luke 18:9–14
Again humility is the message. Notice like the Prodigal the publican stood “far off”. The other brother and the Pharisee are one in the same.
14. Ten Talents, Matthew 25:14–30, Luke 19:11–27
The last man with the talents kept them to himself and he did not “risk”. The others multiplied and thus must have “risked much” in order to gain for their Master. Again the weeping and gnashing implies tribulation.
15. The Budding Fig Tree, Matt 24:32–36, Mark 13:28–32, Luke 21:29–33
Those watching for the Lord’s return know when tribulation (summer) is near. After spring is summer. If indeed the Fig Tree is Israel then we have to look at 1948 and 1967. The time for the Lord’s coming and the Rapture is near.
16. The Friend at Night, Luke 11:5–8
Persistence matters – a lot!!! Midnight is the time of the Rapture and the door is a reference to the Rapture. The man doesn’t come to the door because of friendship but because of persistence.
17. The Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:44
Selling all for God in the field, which is this world. Putting “all your marbles” on God.
18. The Importunate Widow, Luke 18:1–8
Again like the friend at night – persistence is worth a lot! In this parable Jesus stresses this even more because the judge is not even a Godly man.

19. The Leaven, Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20–21
The woman is the Holy Spirit and she hides and spreads the leaven throughout the whole bread. Leaven stands for sin and the whole Church has sin in it. The Church needs to recognize its humble state and fully recognize its need for a Savior and also God’s Sovereignty and Love.
20. The Master and Servant, Luke 17:7–10
God owes us nothing. Again humility, loyalty and service are what God needs. Jesus demonstrated this by washing the Apostle’s feet.
21. The Rich Fool, Luke 12:16–21
Treasures in a temporary world are true foolishness. It requires faith and “investment risk” (our lives & service) to buy shares in the Kingdom.
22. The Rich Man and the Beggar Lazarus, Luke 16:19–31
I’m not even sure this is a Parable, but instead a small look at the beyond. Even so, the theme of the humble and poor carries. The rich man had no mercy on Lazarus and in this way put all “his marbles” on the temporary life. Also, worth mentioning is that Abraham tells him that he cannot relay a message and that his kin have the prophets to listen to.
23. The Tares, Matthew 13:24–30
This makes it obvious that the Church has “sown” into it corruption. Wheat and Tares look alike until they are mature at which time the Wheat bows its head and the Tares heads are still upright. Again Pride vs. Humility and the judgment to follow such attitudes of the heart.
24. The Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1–13
This parable is about the Rapture and keeping watch. Virgins and the midnight call are clear clues. All fall asleep, but the wise virgins have done the necessary work in buying the oil for the lamp, which stands for the Holy Spirit. The foolish ones are too late.

25. The Two Debtors, Luke 7:41–47
The one who is forgiven the most understands our true position in relation to God. It is actually a great blessing to understand our deep sin nature and need for God. It needs to be a desperate longing and cannot be a question in one’s mind. Jesus tells this in relation to a woman who is clearly a sinner but is “falling at his feet” compared to someone comfortable with where they are. Though it is not desirable it is far better in the long run to be a “debtor” of some sort in this life. And the more the better depending on how much it takes to create the “correct” heart condition which is humility and submission to God.
26. The Two Sons, Matthew 21:28–32
Actions speak louder than words. And also added onto this is that the tax collectors & prostitutes are at the front of the line into the Kingdom reinforcing the last shall be first and the first last along with true humility.
27. The Unjust Steward, Luke 16:1–9
This is a parable of forgiveness. At some point we our time comes and we cannot possibly repay God or live up to His standards. “You will be forgiven as you forgave others”. If someone has wronged you they have also wronged God. Reduce the “bill” by forgiving the debt and then when your “time” comes it will go better with you.
28. The Wicked Husbandmen, Matthew 21:33–46, Mark 12:1–12, Luke 20:9–19
This parable is revealed in the end and the Pharisees knew Jesus was speaking of them. The “vineyard” would be given to another nation “the Church”.
29. The Wise and the Foolish Builders, Matthew 7:24–27
A house or dwelling can relate to our bodies & flesh. Those who build on Jesus have life everlasting and this cannot ever be taken by any storm of life. But anything that does not have this foundation can be taken away in the storm. Jesus not only needs to be present, but the foundation.

30. Unmerciful Servant, Matthew 18:23–35
You will be forgiven as you forgive. All of us owe God a debt greater than we can ever repay. In this, we should forgive our fellow human beings (neighbors) and even our enemies. Usually when true forgiveness comes into play isn’t an enemy that is hardest to forgive? Or someone that “truly” owes us? When this is true give or forgive freely because our Father owes us nothing and we are “dead to rights”.
31. Building a tower and waging war, Luke 14:28–33
It will not be easy, short lived, etc. in this life to inherit the Kingdom. You get what you pay for… If you expect much, expect the road to be extremely challenging all the way to death and maybe even death itself.
32. The Barren Fig Tree, Luke 13:6–9
Subsequent harvests and intercession by the first fruits in the Rapture. Notice this is the fig tree so it relates to Israel and the time of tribulation. The intercessor buys one more year to fertilize and dig to produce fruit.
33. The Guests, Luke 14:7–15
Again the last shall be first and the first last. Also, the humble of life will take the prominent places. Don’t be presumptuous but wait to be called. In the Kingdom humility will be valued over assertiveness which is quite different than this life. God is the ruler and creator. He does not need our gifts, but our absolute and unconditional submission.