Emotional Stories with Deep Spiritual Lessons
A parable of Jesus in the Bible is a story using everyday imagery from life at the time of Christ, to teach profound spiritual truths about God’s eternal Kingdom. Jesus “cast” a familiar earthly situation “alongside” a deeper heavenly meaning, serving as an object lesson that invites reflection and reveals truth to the spiritual sincere while concealing the meaning from the indifferent or the hypocritical religious leaders.
The parables reveal a God of astonishing grace, mercy and love. The stories use of ordinary life reveal eternal truth that elevates the humble and confronts the proud. The stories simplicity teach and delight children but have spiritual truths that are deep enough for a lifetime.
Jesus’ parables call for a response and are not meant to just be admired. What are these parables telling you? How are they speaking to your heart? What transformations of mind and new actions do you need to make to become more like God?
When and Who
IMPORTANT KEY PATTERNS
• Crowds: Kingdom Truths Veiled
• Pharisees: Rebuke and Exposure of Hypocrisy
• Disciples: Explanation, Preparation and Resposibility
• Final Week: Judgment and Accountability
The chronological order are not exact as some of the Gospels are not written completely in sequence of when events occurred. The parables below are grouped together based upon the time period they were told and who the message was given to.
EARLY MINISTRY
1. Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24–27 | Luke 6:47–49
Audience: The crowds and disciples
(Conclusion of Sermon on the Mount/Plain)
2. New Cloth on an Old Garment
Matthew 9:16 | Mark 2:21 | Luke 5:36
Audience: Disciples of John and Pharisees
3. New Wine in Old Wineskins
Matthew 9:17 | Mark 2:22 | Luke 5:37–39
Audience: Disciples of John and Pharisees
4. Creditor and Two Debtors
Luke 7:41–43
Audience: Simon the Pharisee (with others at the dinner)
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TEACHING PHASE (Year 2)
5. The Sower
Matthew 13:3–9 | Mark 4:3–9 | Luke 8:5–8
Audience: Large crowds
Explained privately to: The disciples
6. Lamp Under a Basket
Matthew 5:14–15 | Mark 4:21–25 | Luke 8:16–18
Audience: Disciples (within hearing of crowds)
7. Growing Seed
Mark 4:26–29
Audience: Crowds
8. The Weeds (Tares)
Matthew 13:24–30
Audience: Crowds
Explanation later: Disciples
9. Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31–32 | Mark 4:30–32 | Luke 13:18–19
Audience: Crowds
10. Leaven
Matthew 13:33 | Luke 13:20–21
Audience: Crowds
11. Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
Audience: Disciples
12. Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
Audience: Disciples
13. Dragnet
Matthew 13:47–50
Audience: Disciples
14. Householder (Old and New Treasures)
Matthew 13:52
Audience: Disciples
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YEAR OF OPPOSITION (Year 3)
15. Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:23–35
Audience: Disciples (in response to Peter’s question)
16. Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:12–14 | Luke 15:3–7
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples listening)
17. Good Samaritan
Luke 10:30–37
Audience: A lawyer (expert in the Law)
18. Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5–8
Audience: Disciples
19. Rich Fool
Luke 12:16–21
Audience: Crowds
(triggered by a man disputing inheritance)
20. Watchful Servants
Luke 12:35–40 | Matthew 24:42–44
Audience: Disciples
21. Faithful and Wise Steward
Matthew 24:45–51 | Luke 12:42–48
Audience: Disciples
(Peter specifically asks who this is for)
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JUDEAN AND PEREAN MINISTRY
22. Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6–9
Audience: Crowds
23. Great Banquet
Luke 14:16–24
Audience: Pharisees and dinner guests
24. Tower Builder
Luke 14:28–30
Audience: Large crowds following Jesus
25. King Going to War
Luke 14:31–33
Audience: Large crowds
26. Lost Coin
Luke 15:8–10
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples present)
27. Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples listening)
28. Shrewd (Unjust) Manager
Luke 16:1–9
Audience: Disciples
(Pharisees overheard and mocked Him)
29. Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19–31
Audience: Pharisees
30. Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1–8
Audience: Disciples
31. Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9–14
Audience: Those confident in their own righteousness
(primarily Pharisees)
32. Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16
Audience: Disciples
(spoken after Peter’s question about reward)
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FINAL WEEK IN JERUSALEM (PASSION WEEK)
33. Two Sons
Matthew 21:28–32
Audience: Chief priests and elders
34. Wicked Tenants
Matthew 21:33–46 | Mark 12:1–12 | Luke 20:9–19
Audience: Chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees
35. Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:1–14
Audience: Chief priests and Pharisees
36. Lesson of the Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32–35 | Mark 13:28–31 | Luke 21:29–33
Audience: Disciples (on the Mount of Olives)
37. Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1–13
Audience: Disciples
38. Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
Audience: Disciples
39. Minas
Luke 19:11–27
Audience: Disciples and followers traveling to Jerusalem
40. Sheep and the Goats (Parabolic Judgment Teaching)
Matthew 25:31–46
Audience: Disciples
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Popular Categories
Many parables overlap categories because Jesus often taught:
- Kingdom Truth with a Warning
- Grace with Accountability
- Invitation with Cost
That overlap is intentional—it presses the listener toward decision.
Kingdom of God Parables
What God’s kingdom is like
- Mustard Seed — Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19
- Leaven — Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21
- Hidden Treasure — Matthew 13:44
- Pearl of Great Price — Matthew 13:45–46
Grace & Redemption Parables
God’s mercy toward sinners
- Prodigal Son — Luke 15:11–32
- Lost Sheep — Matthew 18:12–14; Luke 15:3–7
- Lost Coin — Luke 15:8–10
Judgment & Accountability Parables
Final judgment and responsibility
- Ten Virgins — Matthew 25:1–13
- Talents — Matthew 25:14–30
- Minas — Luke 19:11–27
- Rich Man and Lazarus — Luke 16:19–31
Discipleship & Cost Parables
The cost of following Christ
- Tower Builder — Luke 14:28–30
- King Going to War — Luke 14:31–33
- Great Banquet (Excuses) — Luke 14:15–24; Matthew 22:1–14
Prayer & Dependence Parables
How believers approach God
- Persistent Widow — Luke 18:1–8
- Pharisee and Tax Collector — Luke 18:9–14
- Friend at Midnight — Luke 11:5–8
Love, Mercy & Neighborliness Parables
Compassion and forgiveness
- Good Samaritan — Luke 10:25–37
- Unforgiving Servant — Matthew 18:21–35
Faith & Response Parables
Response to God’s Word and authority
- Sower (Soils) — Matthew 13:3–23; Mark 4:3–20; Luke 8:4–15
- Two Sons — Matthew 21:28–32
- Wicked Tenants — Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19
Israel & Religious Leaders Parables
Warning and rebuke to religious privilege
- Wicked Tenants — Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19
- Wedding Feast — Matthew 22:1–14
- Two Sons — Matthew 21:28–32
Watchfulness & Readiness Parables
Preparedness for Christ’s return
- Ten Virgins — Matthew 25:1–13
- Faithful and Wise Servant — Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:42–48
Wealth & Stewardship Parables
Money, possessions, eternal priorities
- Rich Fool — Luke 12:13–21
- Talents — Matthew 25:14–30
- Minas — Luke 19:11–27
- Dishonest (Unjust) Manager — Luke 16:1–13
Hidden Spiritual Truths
How do you find the meaning in a parable of Jesus?
The clues of the hidden gems of spiritual truth in the parables are often found outside just the words of the story. To get to the intent of Jesus telling the story you must, look at the context of the passage to see why Jesus was telling the story. What was His purpose? Important things to look for are…
- The audience the story is being told to and did they ask any questions before the story was told, make a statement or have thoughts that Jesus perceived before He told them the story.
- Time the story was told during his three year ministry
- The geographical location and setting when the story was told
- And, Jesus often ends the parables with a hint of the lesson the story teaches and occasionally gives the complete spiritual truth of the parable told.
Parables are often meant to have the audience see themselves within the story and relate to what’s going on at the time the story is told.
Sometimes parables are part of a sermon or time of teaching. By looking at what is being taught… it gives insight to the meaning of the parable that relates to the teaching.
At times, a parable is told in a sequence of parables, all relating to the main spiritual lesson. However, slight nuisances of the related parables bring out additional insights. Plus, most parables are being told to a mixed audience… Farmers, shepards, fishermen, rich, poor, etc. So Jesus tells “the same story” from the perspective of two different people by telling two parables back to back.
A perfect example
Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep to two different audiences and the meaning of the parable, the why, is different. Let’s take a look.
In Matthew 18 the disciples are asking, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child to himself and as He and the child stood in the midst of disciples, He began to teach them.
“Therefore he who is of such a nature as to humble himself like this little child, esteeming himself small inasmuch as he is so, thus thinking truly, and because truly, therefore humbly of himself, this person is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
He then continues this lesson about receiving the child and not causing children to stumble. He goes on to teach the woes of being a stumbling block…. And then tells the parable of the Lost Sheep.
The story was told to the disciples to give them the insight that the greatest in His Kingdom was the one who was seeking and saving the least of people, those who are lost… including even the little child in front of them.
The second time Jesus told this parable of the Lost Sheep was to the Pharisees. The scene is very different. The Pharisees and those learned in the scriptures went to grumbling in a low undertone muttering, conferring secretly with one another and discontentedly complaining, saying, This fellow is giving sinners access to himself and his companionship and is eating with them.
The pious judgement fills the air in this scene…
So Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep this time with a completely different audience and purpose.
The lost sheep in this story represents the tax collectors and sinners stained with certain vices and crimes. The Shepard is Jesus Himself who is seeking the lost to save. When He finds the lost sheep, He picks it up and carries it on His shoulders… rejoicing!
- Jesus seeks and saves and carries lost souls… and it makes him exceedingly joyful and happy!
The neighbors that rejoice with the Shepard are the Angels that rejoice in heaven when someone repents and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. There is overflowing joy and rejoicing in heaven every time a sinner is saved and becomes a follower of Jesus.
The Pharisees see themselves as the ninty nine sheep in this story. They are the ones who feel they are righteous and have no need to repent. Jesus is telling the Pharisees in this story of the Lost Sheep, that it is more important to God in heaven and brings more joy to Him, when one of the sinners that Jesus is eating with repents.
This joy of one person with a heart of repentance brings far more joy to God than the “righteousness” of 99 pious religious people with unrepentant hearts.
Same parable… two different meanings and two different lessons to be learned.
- One of the small details that are different is where the ninety nine sheep were left (mountain vs wilderness). Jesus relates to people by telling stories in their setting. Jesus told this story to the disciples in Galilee, an area with the highest mountains in Israel, and He told the story to the Pharisees in Perea, east of the Jordan river in a wilderness type of terrain. Love how Jesus relates to people where they are.
- Also when the story was told to the Pharisees, the Shepard when he finds the sheep puts it on His shoulders (not part of the story told to the disciples). This signifies the great care and love He has for the Tax collectors and sinners he is eating with… and all those who repent of their sins and turn to Him as their Lord and Savior.
When he tells the parable of the Lost Sheep to the Pharisees, He follows up the lesson by telling two more parables that relate to the Lost Sheep. He tells the parable of the Lost Coin and the parable of the Lost Son. These three parables together give greater insight into how God seeks the lost and those who repent.
Let’s look at how sometimes, three parables told back to back create a far greater lesson than one told by itself.
These three parables all have something in common, the lost sinner.
In the Lost Sheep parable,
The Pharisees see that they are the 99 sheep in the story and that Jesus is eating with sinners, because God and all of heaven rejoices over one person who repents, more than rejoicing over the “righteousness” of 99 pious religious people.
The lost sheep has no ability to come back to the Shepard, but when it is found, it is cared for and loved on. The lost sheep has emotion that a lost coin does not have.
The Lost Coin parable…
Focuses on the Women who is seeking to find the lost coin. The Pharisees do not see themselves as a coin, that has no emotion, so it helps them relate to the seeker. It puts perspective on why Jesus is seeking to hang out with sinners.
Everyone, including the Pharisees have lost money at some point, and your mind goes into overdrive trying to find the missing money. You might have $200 in your pocket, but your search for the $20 you lost. Jesus seeks and saves the lost.
In the story of the Lost Son,
The Pharisees would see themselves as the son who was obedient and faithful to the father. They would see the rebellious and frivolously wicked son as the tax collectors and sinners Jesus was eating with.
Difference in this story, is that the father does not seek the son, but he does longing and patiently wait for his return. And, when he does see him returning from afar, he runs to him (seeking a restored relationship).
In this story, unlike the sheep who could never find his way back or the coin that has no intellect, the lost son has the ability to repent and come home. When the lost son decides he wants to come home and repents of his sinful heart, becomes willing to take the place of a servant… he heads home.
This story of a lost son shows what happens when someone repents. God will shower someone who humbly repents with love and kisses, cloth him and throw a feast of rejoicing. “…let us be merry. Because this son of mine was dead and has been restored to a correct life. He was lost and has been found”.
The Pharisees knowing that Jesus has them as the “faithful” son of the story, await the ending of this story.
Of course the son was faithfully working in the field… when he comes home to a feast, music and dancing in celebration of his brother coming home… ‘he flew into a rage”. His emotions were an explosive outlet of a long-time resentment against his brother.
The story points to the unloving heart of the Pharisees and the outward “obedience” they pride themselves on and use to judge the sinners around them. Unfortunately, as the elder son, the Pharisees do not rejoice with God when a sinner repents and becomes part of the family of God.
In the light of these three parables together… How do you perceive sinners around you? How do see God seeking and saving the lost? How do you react when a sinner receives the glorious life of salvation and heaven rejoices… do you rejoice with the angels? Or do you compare your “righteous” acts to the sinner and see an “unfairness” in God’s love? Are you seeking and saving the lost?
Early Ministry Parables
EARLY MINISTRY
1. Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24–27 | Luke 6:47–49
Spiritual Truth: This parable was told right after He taught the Sermon on the Mount and again when He gave the Sermon on the Plain. The lesson applies to the truths of the Bible, but the story was instruction on what would happen if you did or did not apply the teachings of the sermon He just gave.
When you come to Jesus, listen to His teachings in the Bible and then live out, in action, what you have learned you will stand strong through the “storms” life will inevitably bring. However, if you do not live according to Jesus’ teachings, when life’s trials and tribulations come, you will fall, and great will be the destruction and despair in your life.
Your Response: Will you work hard, “dig deep”, to study the lessons and commands of Jesus and then live by them? Or will you be lazy and foolish, by either not coming before God, not listening to His teaching and instead continuing to live your life by your own set of rules?
In times of trouble, what do you want your future to hold?
The new cloth on an old garment and the new wine in old wine skins both have the same meaning.
2. New Cloth on an Old Garment
Matthew 9:16 | Mark 2:21 | Luke 5:36
3. New Wine in Old Wineskins
Matthew 9:17 | Mark 2:22 | Luke 5:37–39
Spiritual Truth: The new represents the gospel of Jesus and the old represents living by the law and the ceremonies of Judaism. The Pharisee had taken the Mosaic Laws and became legalistic leaders using the rules and religious ceremonies to control people.
The gospel of Jesus would set people free from the ceremonies of the law as His death and resurrection would offer the ultimate atonement and many of the laws and ceremonies would no longer be needed.
If you try to live both the new life in Christ and live by the ceremonial Mosaic laws… you would be torn and broken as the two cannot be lived together.
In Luke, it also adds that some would decide to stay in the comfort of their belief in the old Mosaic ceremonial laws and reject the gospel of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Your Response: You have a choice to make! Do you believe in the new covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ or do you believe something else will save you?
4. Creditor and Two Debtors
Luke 7:41–43
Spiritual Truth: In this story, Simon had Jesus over for dinner. A woman who was a sinner, was using expensive oil, her tears and her hair to wash Jesus’ feet. Expressing great love for Jesus.
Simon, thought quietly to himself, that if Jesus really was a “prophet” he would have known how evil this woman was… and never allow her to touch Him.
- It is interesting to note that the woman was not looked down upon because she was poor or needy. She bought an alabaster box of ointment. At that time, this was very expensive perfume that was often worth an average year’s salary. Tens of thousands of dollars in today’s world… and her love for Jesus was so deep that she washed his feet with it.
- Some may perceive reckless abandoned love like this to be a waste… but Jesus saw it as a great act of love for Him. “…Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much…” Do you love God in this way?
Jesus, perceived Simon’s thoughts and told the parable about two debtors.
The meaning is that the greater the sin in one’s life (recognition of the deep sin and ugly evil acts/thoughts and absolute rebellion against God), when they experience the forgiveness that God brings, the greater they will love Him.
Jesus is also teaching that He loves sinners and enjoys being loved by them. He allowed the woman to touch Him… already knowing who she was. And due to her faith in Him, forgave her sins.
Simon, although open minded to learning more about Jesus, judged the woman for who she was as a sinner and expected Jesus to do the same.
The others at dinner started to ask themselves, who is Jesus… can He truly forgive sins?
Your Response: Like in many of Jesus stories, there are lessons to be learned in each character. This is a story about how you look at a sinner.
- Are you like Jesus and desire to love sinners and be loved by them as you share the love and forgiveness of God?
- Are you like the woman, understanding your great sin, and in feeling overwhelming loved by God’s forgiveness… live your life in complete abandoned love for Him.
- Are you like Simon, opened minded to spending time learning about who Jesus is… but still putting your yourself above others as you judge their sin? And, judge Jesus for his forgiving heart?
- Are you like the others at the dinner… and just wonder who is Jesus and can He truly forgive sins?
Your response should be that of the woman by expressing your poured out love for God, due to feeling His overwhelming love for you, felt because of His grace, mercy and forgiveness of your sin. And because you realize you are a sinner saved by grace, no better than anyone else, your response to other sinners should be that of Jesus. Love sinners, forgive sinners and share the good news of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ and trusting Him as Lord and Saviour. Praying that they will feel the same unconditional love of God as you do.
Teaching Phase Parables (Year 2)
5. The Sower
Matthew 13:3–9 | Mark 4:3–9 | Luke 8:5–8
Spiritual Truth: Jesus explains the meaning of this parable to the disciples. The seed is the Word of God, the gospel. The soil types are the responses of different people after hearing the gospel. Jesus breaks it down into these four different responses:
- They do not understand the gospel message and Satan easily takes the thought of the gospel away from their heart.
- They experience immediate joy in hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, but quickly turn away as soon as they experience persecution or dislike from other people, due to what it would take to be a follower of Jesus. They ‘have no roots”…. meaning they did not obey God’s word, study it, talk to God in prayer or get together with other Christians to learn together and worship God together.
- Some hear the word and believe, but they let worries, the world and the desire of material wealth to be more important than making God Lord of their life and end up falling away. They are “unfruitful” meaning they do not spread the gospel or bring other people to a saving knowledge and faith in Christ as Lord.
- True disciples of Jesus, receive the gospel, believe it and produce fruit. The fruit is the sowing of more seeds by sharing the gospel and leading others to Christ. Christ says the fruitful will yield 100, 60 or thirty times mores than what was sown. Meaning the seed grown in your heart as a disciple of Jesus Christ will result in you telling others about Jesus and seeing some get saved.
It is also a lesson that when you are doing the sowing of the gospel, you give it to everyone. It is their responsibility to believe in the truth of the gospel themselves and in turn share the good news of salvation with others. When you are sowing seeds… some people will become disciples and follow Jesus.
Your Response: Ask yourself of the four different types of responses to the Bible which are you…? The second and third examples, where people who believed in the gospel, but they did not repent and turn toward God by being a true disciple. Being a true disciple means following Christ’s example of telling others about their need for God and making disciples.
6. Lamp Under a Basket
Matthew 5:14–15 | Mark 4:21–25 | Luke 8:16–18
Spiritual Truth: When you have the truth of God’s word in your heart, you are a light to others by telling them about the gospel. A true believer will not “hide under the bed” and not tell others about Christ. It is a spiritual truth that as a Christian, your light will shine and others will take notice and see you are different.
Your Response: Let your life be a living testimony and speak the words of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will listen. Let your light shine!
7. Growing Seed
Mark 4:26–29
Spiritual Truth: Christians are responsible to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. God will work in there hearts to create the growth. (This truth is also given in the parable of Levain)
Your Response: How many seeds are you faithfully sowing? Are you sharing the good news of salvation through Christ?
8. The Weeds (Tares)
Matthew 13:24–30
Spiritual Truth: Jesus shared the meaning of this parable to the disciples. In this world, disciples of Jesus, God’s Kingdom, and the followers of Satan both exist together. There will come a time at the end of the age, that God will have His angels separate the followers of Satan and have them throne in the fire. Keeping His own unto Himself.
Your Response: This parable ends with a warning… “He who has ears let him hear”. You have a choice. Become a disciple of Jesus and part of God’s Kingdom or reject Jesus and serve the Devil. For now, both choices keep you here on earth to live out your life… but in the end, the results are much different. Who do you choose to serve?
9. Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31–32 | Mark 4:30–32 | Luke 13:18–19
Spiritual Truth: In the marketplace at the time of Jesus, the mustard seed was the smallest of the seeds. However, unlike many seeds that are larger, the mustard plant when full grown is large enough to hold a bird standing on a branch. Most herb plants do not grow large enough for a bird to perch on them.
The mustard seed is the gospel. And when the gospel is planted in the hearts of men, much spiritual growth can occur. This creates the fruits of more people coming to Christ. Although the seed of the gospel, may seem insignificant when shared with just one person… it can produce an incredible harvest of many souls being saved.
Your Response: Although at times, sharing the gospel may seem insignificant, continue to share the truths of Jesus Christ and when it takes hold in the heart of someone, great will be the growth and the followers of God’s Kingdom will mightily multiple.
10. Leaven
Matthew 13:33 | Luke 13:20–21
Spiritual Truth: Similar to the mustard seed, a small amount of levain will ferment a large amount of flour. It also contains within it the wisdom of the parable of Growing Seed where the sower only sows the gospel and God creates the increase.
The levain is the gospel and the flour the hearts of men. In this passage, the growth of multiplication is about souls turning toward God and becoming followers of Jesus. The belief in God can exponentially grow and eventually all of mankind will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and many will believe.
- A golden nugget of hidden (pun intended) truth in this parable is found in the word “hid”. The woman completed an action (Greek parsing of the word) and she did not have anything to do with the leaven spreading to the whole. When you share the gospel and a soul receives Christ, the Holy Spirt will work to save another soul through the new believer. Again, and again, and again… it cannot be stopped.
Your Response: You are part of the spiritual leavening process of the Kingdom of God. Although the amount of people who you bring to Christ may seem small in comparison to mankind, once the gospel takes hold it will continue to take hold until all have an opportunity to be saved and have eternal life with God.
The next two parables are about Treasures. They bring the Christ’s teaching that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” into a short stories.
11. Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
12. Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
Spiritual Truth: When you find something of more value than all that you own and are able to possess it in a straight trade, you will do it immediately. If someone offered you a $2,000,000 home in immaculate condition for the $10,000 or $100,000 in your bank account… where do I sign? Deal’s done!
When you realize that having control over your own life and living for selfish pleasure turns to brokenness, you’ll give up everything (meaning all) for the freedom from sin and being loved by God. You understand that the truth of the gospel is worth more than all the material wealth and power you possess.
- “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”
It is also true, that to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ you must repent. Repent, simply means to turn around. There is a cost to receiving heavenly “treasure” and it is to give up all your earthly “treasure” over to God and make Him the Lord of your life.
Your Response: Take up your cross and follow me. You must forsake all to be a disciple of Jesus. Are you willing to trade in all your earthly goods and relationships for a life of blessing as an adopted child of the almighty God? Brokenness verses God’s unconditional love… it’s your choice? It seems obvious what’s best, but what will you choose?
Coming Soon…
13. Dragnet
Matthew 13:47–50
Audience: Disciples
14. Householder (Old and New Treasures)
Matthew 13:52
Audience: Disciples
LATER GALILEAN / TRANSITION PERIOD
15. Unmerciful Servant
Matthew 18:23–35
Audience: Disciples (in response to Peter’s question)
16. Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:12–14 | Luke 15:3–7
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples listening)
17. Good Samaritan
Luke 10:30–37
Audience: A lawyer (expert in the Law)
18. Friend at Midnight
Luke 11:5–8
Audience: Disciples
19. Rich Fool
Luke 12:16–21
Audience: Crowds
(triggered by a man disputing inheritance)
20. Watchful Servants
Luke 12:35–40 | Matthew 24:42–44
Audience: Disciples
21. Faithful and Wise Steward
Matthew 24:45–51 | Luke 12:42–48
Audience: Disciples
(Peter specifically asks who this is for)
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JUDEAN & PEREAN MINISTRY (Year 3)
22. Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6–9
Audience: Crowds
23. Great Banquet
Luke 14:16–24
Audience: Pharisees and dinner guests
24. Tower Builder
Luke 14:28–30
Audience: Large crowds following Jesus
25. King Going to War
Luke 14:31–33
Audience: Large crowds
26. Lost Coin
Luke 15:8–10
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples present)
27. Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11–32
Audience: Pharisees and scribes
(with disciples listening)
28. Shrewd (Unjust) Manager
Luke 16:1–9
Audience: Disciples
(Pharisees overheard and mocked Him)
29. Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19–31
Audience: Pharisees
30. Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1–8
Audience: Disciples
31. Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9–14
Audience: Those confident in their own righteousness
(primarily Pharisees)
32. Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16
Audience: Disciples
(spoken after Peter’s question about reward)
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FINAL WEEK IN JERUSALEM (PASSION WEEK)
33. Two Sons
Matthew 21:28–32
Audience: Chief priests and elders
34. Wicked Tenants
Matthew 21:33–46 | Mark 12:1–12 | Luke 20:9–19
Audience: Chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees
35. Wedding Banquet
Matthew 22:1–14
Audience: Chief priests and Pharisees
36. Lesson of the Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32–35 | Mark 13:28–31 | Luke 21:29–33
Audience: Disciples (on the Mount of Olives)
37. Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1–13
Audience: Disciples
38. Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
Audience: Disciples
39. Minas
Luke 19:11–27
Audience: Disciples and followers traveling to Jerusalem
40. Sheep and the Goats (Parabolic Judgment Teaching)
Matthew 25:31–46
Audience: Disciples
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