Survey of Jesus' Parables1
last revised: 7/19/00
Description:2 Explanation of text parallels Explanation of Gk-Eng parallel texts Source: Explanation of diagrams
Matthew:		 Mark: Luke:
III. Galilean Ministry
A. Phase One: To the choosing of the Twelve
 4:12-18:35
4:12-12:21
 1:14-9:50
1:15-3:19a
 4:14-9:56
4:14-7:50
1 Physician, Heal Thyself ----- ----- 4:23
2 Doctor and the Sick (9:12)  2:17 5:31
3 Wedding Guests (9:-15) 2:18-20  5:33-35 
4 Garment Patch (9:16) 2:21  5:36 
5 Wineskins (9:17) 2:22  5:37f. 
6 New Wine ----- ----- 5:39 
7 Savourless Salt  5:13 07 Mt. 5:13 (9:50) 41 Mk. 9:42-50 (14:34f.) 64-66 Lk. 14:25-35
8 City on a hill 5:14 ----- -----
9 Lamp and Bushel 5:15 Lamp and Bushel (4:21) Mk. 4:21-32 (8:16Lk. 8:16-18;11:33)Lk. 11:33-36
10 Defendant 5:25f ----- (12:58f.)
11 Lamp of the Body 6:22f. ----- (11:34-36)
12 Mote and Beam 7:3-5 ----- (6:41f.)
13 Asking Son 7:9-11 ----- (11:11-13)
14 Tree and Fruit 7:16-20 ----- (6:43f.)
15 Two Builders 7:24-27 ----- (6:47-49)
16 Blind Leading Blind (15:14) Mt. 15:1-20 ----- 6:39
17 Mote and Beam (7:3-5) ----- 6:41f.
18 Tree and Fruit (7:16-20) ----- 6:43f.
19 Two Builders (7:24-27) ----- 6:47-49
20 Doctor and the Sick 9:12 (2:17) (5:31)
21 Wedding Guests 9:15  (2:18-20) (5:33-35)
22 Garment Patch 9:16 (2:21) (5:36)
23 Wineskins  9:17  (2:22) (5:37f.)
24 Harvest and Laborers 9:37f. ----- (10:2)
25 Playing Children 11:16f ----- (7:31f.)
26 Two Debtors -----  ----- 7:41f.
B. Phase Two: To the Withdrawals from Galilee
12:22-14:12
3:19b-6:29
8:1-9:9
27 Divided Realms 12:25 3:24f. (11:17)
28 Strong Man 12:29 3:27 (11:21f.)
29 Empty House 12:43-45 ----- (11:24-26)
30 Sower 13:3-9, 18-23  4:3-9, 13-20  8:4-8, 11-15 
     Purpose of Parables 13:10-17, 34-35 4:10-12, 33-34 8:9-10
31 Lamp and Bushel (5:15) Lamp and Bushel 4:21 Mk. 4:21-32 8:16 Lk. 8:16-18(11:33)Lk. 11:33-36
32 Seed Growing Secretly -----  4:26-29 Mk. 4:21-32 -----
33 Tares 13:24-30, 36-43 33 Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43 ----- -----
34 Mustard Seed 13:31f. Mt. 13:31-33 4:30-32 Mk. 4:21-32 (13:18f.) Lk. 13:18-21
35 Leaven 13:33 Mt. 13:31-33 -----  (13:20f.) Lk. 13:18-21
36 Hidden Treasure/Pearl 13:44-46 Mt. 13:44-52 ----- -----
37 Net 13:47-50Mt. 13:44-52 ----- -----
38 Householder 13:51f.Mt. 13:44-52 ----- -----
C. Phase Three: To the Departure for Jerusalem
14:13-18:35
6:30-9:50
9:10-56
39 Blind Leading Blind 15:14 Mt. 15:1-20 ----- (6:39)
40 Weather Signs 16:2f ----- (12:54-56)
41 Savourless Salt (5:13) 07 Mt. 5:13 9:50 41 Mk. 9:42-50 (14:34f.) 64-66 Lk. 14:25-35
42 Lost Sheep 18:12-14 42 Mt. 18:10-14 ----- (15:3-7) 67-69 Lk. 15:1-32
43 Unmerciful Servant 18:23-35 ----- -----
IV. Later Judean-Perean Ministry
A. Early Judean Phase
 19:1-20:34
-----
 10:1-52
-----
 9:57-19:28
9:57-13:21
44 Harvest and Laborers (9:37f.) ----- 10:2
45 Good Samaritan ----- ----- 10:29-37
46 Friend at Midnight ----- ----- 11:5-8
47 Asking Son (7:9-11) ----- 11:11-13
48 Divided Realms (12:25) (3:24f.) 11:17
49 Strong Man (12:29) (3:27) 11:21f.
50 Empty House (12:43-45) ----- 11:24-26
51 Light and Bushel (5:15) Lamp and Bushel (4:21) Mk. 4:21-32 11:33Lk. 11:33-36(8:16) Lk. 8:16-18
52 Lamp of the Body (6:22f.) ----- 11:34-36
53 Rich Fool ----- ----- 12:16-21
54 Waiting Servants  ----- ----- 12:35-38
55 Burglar (24:43) ----- 12:39f.
56 Servant in Authority (24:45-51) ----- 12:42-46
57 Weather Signs (16:2f.) ----- 12:54-56
58 Defendant (5:25f.) ----- 12:58f.
59 Barren Fig Tree ----- ----- 13:6-9
60 Mustard Seed (13:31f.) Mt. 13:31-33 (4:30-32) Mk. 4:21-32 13:18f. Lk. 13:18-21
61 Leaven (13:33) Mt. 13:31-33 ----- 13:20f. Lk. 13:18-21
B. Early Perean Phase
-----
-----
13:22-17:10
62 Places at Table ----- ----- 14:7-11 Lk 14:1-14 diagram
63 Great Supper  (22:1-14)  ----- 14:15-24 
64 Tower Builder ----- ----- 14:28-30 64-66 Lk. 14:25-35
65 Warring King ----- ----- 14:31f. 64-66 Lk. 14:25-35
66 Savourless Salt (5:13) 07 Mt. 5:13 (9:50) 41 Mk. 9:42-50 14:34f. 64-66 Lk. 14:25-35
67 Lost Sheep (18:12-14) 42 Mt. 18:10-14 ----- 15:3-7 67-69 Lk. 15:1-32
68 Lost Coin ----- ----- 15:8-10 67-69 Lk. 15:1-32
69 Prodigal Son ----- ----- 15:11-32 67-69 Lk. 15:1-32
70 Unjust Steward ----- ----- 16:1-8 70-71 Lk. 16:1-31
71 Dives and Lazarus ----- ----- 16:19-31 70-71 Lk. 16:1-31
72 Farmer and his Servant -----  -----  17:7-10
C. Later Judean Phase (Johannine Source only)
D. Later Perean Phase
19:20-34
10:1-52
17:11-19:28
73 Persistent Widow ----- ----- 18:1-8 73-74 Lk. 18:1-14
74 Pharisee and Publican -----  -----  18:9-14 73-74 Lk. 18:1-14
75 Pounds (25:14-30) ----- 19:11-27 
V. Final Week and Crucifixion 21:1-27:66  11:1-15:47 19:29-23:56
76 Two Sons 21:28-31 ----- -----
77 Wicked Winedresser 21:33-42 12:1-9 20:9-16
78 Great Supper 22:1-14  -----  (14:15-24) 
79 Budding Fig Tree 24:32 13:28 21:29f.
80 Burglar 24:43 ----- (12:39f.)
81 Servant in Authority 24:45-51 ----- (12:42-46)
82 Watchman ----- 13:34 -----
83 Ten Virgins 25:1-12 ----- -----
84 Pounds 25:14-30 ----- (19:11-27)
85 Sheep and Goats 25:31-46 -----  ----- 
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1Taken from Lorin L. Cranford, Study Manual of The Parables of Jesus, 1988, pp. 251-256. All rights reserved. This large list of parables is based upon A. M. Hunter's generalized definition of 'parable' to include similie and metaphor for purposes of inclusiveness. See Hunter, Interpreting the Parables. He concludes the existence of 60 individual parables apart from repetition in multiple sources. The sequential listing is based upon Kurt Aland's Synopsis of the Four Gospels. Some duplication exists based on the chronological structure in the double and triple tradition materials.

2The numbering of the parables is for reference purposes and does not indicate the total number of parables contained in the synoptic gospels. The scripture reference in (----) indicates an occurrence of the parable in another time sequence; these texts will be highlighted in blue in the hyperlinked text file.

Indicates a hyperlink containing the RSV translation of the scripture texts.

Indicates a hyperlink containing a side-by-side listing of the Greek and English texts of the scripture texts. Click on icon for access.

Indicates a hyperlink containing both a block and semantic diagram of the scripture text in English that is based on the grammar structure of the underlying Greek text.