Category Archives: Parables of Jesus

Render Right

Posted on May 15, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

(Matthew 22:15-17 KJV) Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. [16] And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. [17] Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Jesus Loved His Father, Loved His People,
and Hated Corruption

Our Lord Jesus has entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the cheers of the people. Jesus cleansed the Temple:

(Matthew 21:12-13 KJV) And JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and CAST OUT ALL THAT SOLD AND BOUGHT in the temple, and OVERTHREW THE TABLES OF THE MONEYCHANGERS, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, {here Jesus quoted Jeremiah 7:11 and Isaiah 56:7} My house shall be called the house of prayer; but YE HAVE MADE IT A DEN OF THIEVES.

The Pharisees and the Ruling Council of Israel, the Sanhedrin, had turned the Court of the Gentiles into a place for buying and selling. Of note were the moneychangers. When people came to worship God, Jewish men were expected to pay a Temple Tax. In effect, the Temple Tax was paid by the sons of Abraham, half a shekel going to the Kingdom of God. This was instituted in:

(Exodus 30:11-16 LSB) Yahweh also spoke to Moses, saying, [12] When YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO NUMBER THEM, then each one of them shall GIVE A PRICE OF ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF to Yahweh when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them. [13] This is what EVERYONE WHO IS NUMBERED SHALL GIVE: HALF A SHEKEL ACCORDING TO THE SHEKEL OF THE SANCTUARY (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel AS A CONTRIBUTION TO YAHWEH. [14] Everyone who is numbered, from TWENTY YEARS OLD AND OVER, shall give the contribution to Yahweh. [15] The RICH SHALL NOT PAY MORE AND THE POOR SHALL NOT PAY LESS THAN THE HALF SHEKEL when you give the contribution to Yahweh to make atonement for your souls. [16] And you shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall GIVE IT FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TENT OF MEETING, that it may be a remembrance for the sons of Israel before Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls…. Continue reading →

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Parable Of The Wheat And Tares

Posted on May 12, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

(Matthew 13:24-30 KJV) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: [25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. [26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. [27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? [28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? [29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

What did Jesus come to this earth to do? In Matthew chapter 12 Jesus had just been through a series of battles with the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the organized Church in Israel. They didn’t call it a “Church”. They called it a Synagogue (synagōgē), which meant “a formal gathering of Jews that offered prayers and listened to the exposition of the Old Testament Scriptures. Assemblies were held on the Sabbath, the last day of the week”. In other words, it was a Church – except they did not worship Jesus. The Pharisees criticized Jesus because:

He allowed His disciples to pick, shuck, and eat corn on the Sabbath
Jesus healed people on the Sabbath
The Pharisees claimed that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebub
Jesus chastised them for committing the unpardonable sin
Jesus claimed the Pharisees were a generation of evil vipers
Jesus refused to satisfy their demand for “a sign”
Jesus said they were wicked, demon possessed houses
And Jesus claimed only those who love Him were His family

Everything Jesus did, the Pharisees attacked. So as we come to this chapter, Jesus begins to speak in parables: Continue reading →

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Lazarus And The Rich Man

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells us a story about two men. One is rich, the other is poor. If this is a parable (some say it is, some say it’s not), then this is the only parable where Jesus uses a person’s name (Lazarus). Regardless as to whether it is a parable or a true story, this text tells us what Jesus believed about life and death.

Physical death is not the end of life, but the entrance into another life. Your next life can be a great life, or a miserable life. The decisions you make in this life will effect what happens in your next chapter!

Let’s read the parable:

(Luke 16:19-23 KJV) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Continue reading →

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The Journey Of Faith

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-32. Last Wednesday we started studying Jesus’ Parable of Two Sons:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And JESUS said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS

The younger son goes to his father and demands his inheritance. This son then begins to wander, gets in a bad situation because he has departed from his father, and begins to suffer and starve. I believe the younger son is a picture of a young Christian. And if I were to summarize this whole parable, I believe …

The Parable shows the faithfulness of God as well as the journey of faith that each believer must go through.

Salvation is not a “one and done”. I often hear of places in America where there are “great revivals”. In California’s 7,750 people were baptized in one day at Huntington Beach May 3, 2025. Called “The Largest Water Baptism In U.S. History”, the reporter wrote:

“The first person baptized Saturday was a 71-year-old woman, Joanne, who told organizers she had considered baptism for 40 years but kept procrastinating. “We now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Francey said as the woman entered the ocean. “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”

In another place in California called Pirates Cove some 2100 were baptized in one day at the “Third Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism” on August 17, 2025. The article said:

“Harvest Christian Fellowship’s Senior Pastor Greg Laurie reports, “We had an incredible day yesterday at the 3rd Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism. We baptized 2,100 people in a single day! Can you believe that? Add that number to the last two years, and in just three years we’ve baptized 8,600 people!” Continue reading →

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The Parable Of Two Sons (1)

Posted on May 2, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Every time I come to a parable of Jesus, I learn more things about Jesus AND MYSELF. Sunday night we studied the most difficult parable Jesus ever gave, the Parable of the Cheating Business Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Tonight we’re going to look at the LONGEST PARABLE Jesus ever told. It is often called The Parable Of The Prodigal (Wandering) Son. It’s found in Luke chapter 15. Please turn there. Read with me:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A certain man had TWO SONS:

Most Bibles have in the heading to this parable, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. As a result, most Pastors, myself included, have preached this parable as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (though no modern person knows what “Prodigal” means. Here’s what I learned when I studied it:

The word “Prodigal” is found in the Bible right next to the word “Purgatory”. It’s just not there.

Jesus introduces this parable by saying, “A certain man had TWO SONS”. And the truth is, neither son is a prize winner. Jesus leaves the parable open to many applications. Where I’ve often seen the parable used (and I’ve preached it this way myself), the characters are:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is a lost person
The “ELDER SON” (vs 25) is a believer… Continue reading →

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A Question Of Power

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Mark 11:27-33 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, THERE COME TO HIM THE CHIEF PRIESTS, and THE SCRIBES, and THE ELDERS, 28 And say unto {Jesus}, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS? And WHO GAVE THEE THIS AUTHORITY TO DO THESE THINGS? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The BAPTISM OF JOHN, was [it] from heaven, or of men? Answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; THEY FEARED THE PEOPLE: for all [men] counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

A Rebuking Parable To A Foolish Question

When Jesus spoke a parable (Greek parabole), it was always in reaction to something someone said to Him. Parabole means to lay alongside. It taught a spiritual truth by comparing it to a physical story. In His parables, Jesus taught, but at other times rebuked or corrected. We’re going to look at a rebuking parable today.

You need to understand the background. Jesus has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people celebrate His coming in an event we call Palm Sunday. In a few days Jesus will be crucified on a cross between two thieves. Before His crucifixion Jesus will cast the moneychangers out of the Temple, something that made the scribes and chief priests angry (Mark 11:15-19). Why? Because they were making money off of selling sacrifices to pilgrims during the Feast of the Passover. The next day we see:… Continue reading →

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The Parable Of The Cheating Steward

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Tonight we’re going to look at one of the most difficult parables Jesus ever told. We’ll be in Luke 16:1-13. Most Bible texts will have at the head of this section, “The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward”. We read in verse:

(Luke 16:8 KJV) And the lord commended the UNJUST STEWARD, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Word Study: Jesus called the man the “UNJUST STEWARD”, the Greek
adikia oikonomos, which means “a manager or overseer who does evil or wickedness”. Jesus uses the word adikia four times in the Book of Luke. The first time is in:

(Luke 13:27 KJV) But {The Master of the House} shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all [ye] workers of INIQUITY (adikia).

Here He refers to those who were told to enter into the narrow gate, but refused to come for whatever reason. They made other things more important than coming when Jesus called to salvation because they did other things and made other things more important than salvation. Their works were not necessarily evil (like robbery, murder, rape, etc), but they made what they wanted more important than answering the call of the Master of the House (Jesus). You see, sin is not just a violation of the Ten Commandments, or doing something evil. Sin is to NOT DO WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO as well. Continue reading →

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The Bridegroom Comes

Posted on April 22, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Last Sunday night I started preaching on the Parables of Jesus. It is my intention to preach through the parables of our Lord Jesus. If you were not here last Sunday, to recap a parable is a story that illustrates a spiritual principle. About one third of Jesus’ preaching is found in parables.

Word Study: The word “parable” is the Greek parabole, which means “to place or cast alongside”. When Jesus wanted to teach a spiritual principle, He would cast it alongside a physical thing that people were familiar with.

If you were a follower of Christ, the parable REVEALED spiritual truth. But if you were not a follower, and had a heart hardened to God, the parable hid spiritual truth.

You weren’t ready for a parable (see Matthew 13:10-15) until you were willing to submit to and follow Jesus. Jesus always spoke parables in response to things that people were saying and doing around Him. The first two parables deal with old coats and old wineskins.

Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV) Then came to him the DISCIPLES OF JOHN, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved…. Continue reading →

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This Little Light Of Whose?

Posted on April 22, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

The word “PARABLE”, the Greek parabole, means “to lay alongside”. When Jesus used parables He would take a spiritual truth and lay it alongside a physical truth that one was familiar with. Many of the parables that Jesus spoke were full stories, with characters and a narrative. But some of Jesus’ parables were shorter and without a storyline. They used parabolic language – like a mini-parable.

Full parables had a story line. In mini parables,
YOU are the storyline!

That’s what we’re looking at tonight. A mini-parable, or a parabolic saying. This mini-parable comes at the first recorded Sermon Jesus ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount. This is the official beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and Jesus – bringing in a new creation through a new covenant – uses two things that were at the creation of the world. He uses salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV) YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

There are two things the world must have if it is to live. The world MUST have SALT and LIGHT. Continue reading →

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The Great Supper

Posted on April 14, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Tonight we’re going to start to study the Parables of Jesus. Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 14:15-24. While you’re turning there, I want to explain parables. A “parable” (Greek parabolē) is a teaching tool that Jesus often used. A parable will compare a spiritual truth by aligning it with a familiar physical event. The Bible says “Jesus spoke MANY THINGS to them in parables” (Matthew 13:3). Jesus’ disciples asked Him:

“Why do You speak to the crowd with parables?”
Matthew 13:10
Jesus told them:

Matthew 13:11-14 (LSB) {Jesus} said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 “For whoever has, to him [more] shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10) is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

Jesus spoke in parables for two reasons:

1 To teach Kingdom principles to those who were His followers, and
2 To hide Kingdom principles from those who lost, who were against the Kingdom

A parable was never given to help a lost person become saved. It was given to teach a saved person the things of God. It was given to perhaps chastise those who rejected what Jesus said. One pastor I heard explained it this way:… Continue reading →