The Parables of Jesus

"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since
the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:35)

The wisdom of Jesus Christ appears beautifully in the parables he

mentioned. Noble prize in literature is not sufficient to gratify this wisdom.
The parables (let aside the miracles) proves the divine nature of Jesus Christ.
Details of one parable are given below The Prodigal Son. Refer to the
Bible for the others. Copy of the bible is published in scribd by me
viviansteven.

Introduction: What Is a Parable? A parable is an earthly story

with a spiritual truth.

PARABLES FROM NATURE

 The Sower and the Seeds (Mark 4:3-9; Matt 13:3-9; Luke 8:5-8)
 The Grain of Wheat (John 12:24)

 The Weeds in the Grain or the Tares (Matt 13:24-30)

 The Net (Matthew 13:47-50)

 The Seed Growing Secretly (Spontaneously) or The Patient

Husbandman (Mark 4:26-29)

 The Mustard Seed (Matt13:31f.;Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18 f.)

 The Leaven (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20 f.)

 The Budding Fig Tree (Matt 24:32 f.; Mark 13:28 f.; Luke 21:19-31)
  The Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)

 The Birds of Heaven (Matthew 6:26; Luke 12:24)

 The Flowers of the Field (Matt 6:28-30; Luke 12:27f.)

 The Vultures & the Carcass (Matt 24:28; Luke 17:37)

 The Tree and its Fruits (Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43-49)

The Weather Signs (Luke 12:54-56; cf. Matthew 26:2 f.; Mark 8:11-
13)

WORK AND WAGES

 Master and Servant (Luke 17:7-10)

 The Servant Entrusted with Authority or The Faithful and Unfaithful
Servants (Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-46)

 The Waiting Servants (Luke 12:35-38; Mark 13:33-37)

 The Laborers in the Vineyard or The Generous Employer (Matthew

20:1-16)

 The Money in Trust or The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-

27)

 The Lamp (Matt 5:14-16; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16, 11:31) and The City
Set on a Hill (Matt. 5:14b)

 The Body's Lamp (Matthew 6:22 f.; Luke 11:34-36)

 The Discarded Salt (Matt 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34 f.)
  The Patch and the Wineskins (Matthew 9:16 f.; Mark 2:21 f.; Luke
5:36-39)

 The Householder's Treasure (Matthew 13:52)

 The Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1-12) Revised!

 The Defendant (Luke 12:58 f.; Matthew 5:25 f.)

 The Unforgiving Official or The Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:23-

35)

 The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21)

 The Wicked Vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke

20:9-16)

 The Two Builders (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49)

 The Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43)

 The Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)

The Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45 f.)

OPEN & CLOSED DOORS

 The Closed Door (Luke 13:24-30)

 The Doorkeeper (Mark 13:33-37; cf. Matt 24:42)

 The Thief in the Night and the Faithful Servants (Matthew 24:42-51.;
Luke 12:32-48.)

 The Strong Man Bound (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21 f.)

 The Divided Realm (Mark 3:24-26; Luke 11:17-20)

  The Unoccupied House or The Demon's Invasion (Matthew 12:43-45;
Luke 11:24-26)

 The Importunate Neighbor (Luke 11:5-8)

 The Son's Request (Matthew 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13)

 The Unjust Judge or The Importunate Widow (Luke 18:1-8)

The Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14)

WEDDINGS AND FEASTS

 The Sulking Children or The Children in the Marketplace (Matthew

11:16-19; Luke 7:31-35)
 The Arrogant Guest (Luke 14:7-11)

 The Bridegroom's Friend (John 3:28)

 The Bridegroom's Attendants (Matthew 9:15a; Mark 2:18 f.; Luke

5:34)

 The Bride's Girlfriends or Ten Virgins (Matt25:1-13)

 The Tower Builder and The Warring King (Luke 14:28-32)

 The Wedding Feast or The Unwilling Guests (Matt 22:1-10; Luke

14:16-24)

 The Wedding Garment (Matthew 22:11-14)

 The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

LOST AND FOUND, FATHER AND SON

  The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
 The Prodigal Son or The Loving Father (Luke 15:11-32)

 The Two Sons, The Apprentice Son, and The Slave and Son (Matthew
21:28-32; John 5:19-20a; John 3:35)

 The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

 The Lost Sheep (Matthew 28:12-14; Luke 15:4-7)

 The Shepherd, the Thief, and the Doorkeeper (John 10:1-18)

 The Doctor and the Sick (Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; Luke 5: 31 f.)
The Great Assize or The Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

| Words of Life | by Don Schwager

Source www.rc.net/wcc/parables.htm

The Prodigal Son

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

11 And he said, "There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of
them said to his father, `Father, give me the share of property that falls to
me.' And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the
younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and
there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent
everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want.
15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who
sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on
the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he
came to himself he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have
bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and
go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as
one of your hired servants."' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But
while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and
ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, `Father, I
have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be
called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, `Bring quickly the
best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his
feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry;
24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'
And they began to make merry. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and
as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And
he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to
him, `Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf,
because he has received him safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and
refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered
his father, `Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed
your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with
my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your
living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' 31 And he said to him,
`Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting
to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he
was lost, and is found.'"
Meditation: The parable of the father and his two sons is the longest one in
the gospels.  What is the main point of the story?  Is it the contrast between
an obedient and a disobedient son or is it between the reception given to a
spendthrift son by the father and the reception given by the eldest son? 
Jesus contrasts the father's merciful love with the eldest son's somewhat
harsh reaction to his errant brother and to the lavish party his joyful father
throws for his repentant son. While the errant son had wasted his father's
money, his father, nonetheless, maintained unbroken love for his son.  The
son, while he was away, learned a lot about himself. And he realized that his
father had given him love which he had not returned. He had yet to learn
about the depth of his father's love for him. His deep humiliation at finding
himself obliged to feed on the husks of pigs and his reflection on all he had
lost, led to his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his
father.  While he hoped for reconciliation with his father, he could not have
imagined a full restoration of relationship. The father did not need to speak
words of forgiveness to his son; his actions spoke more loudly and clearly!
The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet symbolize the new life
-- pure, worthy, and joyful -- of anyone who returns to God.  The prodigal
could not return to the garden of innocence, but he was welcomed and
reinstated as a son. The errant son's dramatic change from grief and guilt to
forgiveness and restoration express in picture-language the resurrection from
the dead, a rebirth to new life from spiritual death.  The parable also
contrasts mercy and its opposite -- unforgiveness.  The father who had been
wronged, was forgiving.  But the eldest son, who had not been wronged, was
unforgiving.  His unforgiveness turns into contempt and pride.  And his
resentment leads to his isolation and estrangement from the community of
forgiven sinners. In this parable Jesus gives a vivid picture of God and what
God is like. God is truly kinder than us. He does not lose hope or give up
when we stray. He rejoices in finding the lost and in leading them home. Do
you know the joy of repentance and restoration of sonship with your
heavenly Father?

"Lord, may I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have
shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as
you are merciful."

Posted in scribd by viviansteven