The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

Overview The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price stands as one of Jesus's most penetrating teachings about the surpassing value of His kingdom. Recorded in Matthew 13:45-46, this brief but profound parable reveals a fundamental Gospel truth: that entering th…

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The Parable of the Persistent Widow Explained

Overview "And will not God bring about justice for his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?" — Luke 18:7 BSB The Parable of the Persistent Widow stands as one of Jesus's most powerful teachings on the necessity of persisten…

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The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Explained

Overview "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." Luke 18:10 BSB. Jesus taught the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector to reveal a fundamental spiritual truth about humility, self-awareness, and the nature …

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The Parable of the Pharisee: Self-Righteousness Condemned

Overview "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed thus: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'" — Luke 18:11-12 BSB The Parab…

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Elder Brother

Overview "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:…

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Father's Heart

Overview "Jesus said, 'A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, "Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me." So he divided his wealth between them.'" — Luke 15:11-12 BSB The Parable of the Prodigal Son stands as one of the …

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The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The Younger Son

Overview "And he said, 'A certain man had two sons. The younger one said to his father, "Father, give me my share of the inheritance."' And he divided his assets between them." — Luke 15:11-12 BSB The Parable of the Prodigal Son, recorded in Luke 15:11-32, …

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The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Explained

Overview "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. And a beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores." — Luke 16:19-20 BSB The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus stands as one of Jesus' most…

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The Parable of the Rich Man Who Tore Down His Barns

Overview "Someone in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' Jesus replied, 'Man, who appointed Me as your judge or arbiter over inheritances?'" — Luke 12:13-14 BSB The Parable of the Rich Man Who Tore Down His Bar…

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The Parable of the Salt That Has Lost Its Savor

Overview "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13 BSB The Parable of the Salt That Has Lost Its Savor is one…

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The Parable of the Sheep and Goats Explained

Overview "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne." — Matthew 25:31 BSB This parable, found exclusively in Matthew's Gospel, presents one of the most direct teachings Jesus gave about final judgm…

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The Parable of the Sower (The Four Soils)

Overview The Parable of the Sower, recorded in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, stands as one of Jesus Christ's most foundational teachings about the kingdom of heaven and the reception of God's Word. In this parable, Jesus describes a farmer sowing seed on f…

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The Parable of the Sower: The Four Soils Explained

Overview "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and it was trampled on, and the birds of the air devoured it." — Matthew 13:3-4 BSB The Parable of the Sower stands as one of the most comprehensive teachings Jesus…

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The Parable of the Talents: Five Talents

Overview "To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey." Matthew 25:15 BSB The Parable of the Talents, recorded in Matthew 25:14-30, presents one of Jesus' most…

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The Parable of the Talents: One Talent

Overview "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'" — Matthew 25:21 BSB The Parable of the Talents is one of Jesus'…

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The Parable of the Talents: Two Talents

Overview "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey." — Matthew 25:15 BSB The Parable of the Talents, recorded in Matthew 25:14-30, presents three servants entrusted wit…

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The Parable of the Tax Collector: Humility Exalted

Overview "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14 BSB The Parable of the Tax Collector, found in Luke 18:9-14, presents one of Jesus's most penetrating teachings on spiritual pride and genuine r…

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The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids Explained

Overview "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." — Matthew 24:42 BSB The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, recorded in Matthew 25:1-13, stands as one of Jesus' most compelling teachings about preparedness and faithfuln…

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins: The Foolish

Overview "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom." — Matthew 25:1 BSB The Parable of the Ten Virgins is one of Jesus's most piercing teachings about preparedness and watchfulness in antic…

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The Parable of the Ten Virgins: The Wise

Overview "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom." — Matthew 25:1 BSB The Parable of the Ten Virgins is one of Jesus Christ's most penetrating teachings about readiness and watchfulness i…

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The Parable of the Tower Builder

Overview "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" — Luke 14:28 BSB. The Parable of the Tower Builder, found in Luke 14:28-30, is a brief but profound teaching f…

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The Parable of the True Vine (John 15)

Overview "I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener." — John 15:1 BSB The Parable of the True Vine, found in John 15:1-8, is one of Jesus' most profound teachings about His relationship with His followers and the nature of spiritual fruitfulness. Un…

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The Parable of the Two Debtors

Overview "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants." Matthew 18:23 BSB The Parable of the Two Debtors, found in Luke 7:41-50, illustrates the transformative power of forgiveness and the appropriate resp…

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The Parable of the Two Sons: Obedience vs Lip Service

Overview "A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go work in the vineyard today.' The boy answered, 'I will not.' But later he changed his mind and went." Matthew 21:28-29 BSB The Parable of the Two Sons, recorded in Matthew 21:28-32, present…

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The Parable of the Unclean Spirit Returns

Overview "When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it arrives, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it …

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The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

This article explains the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, in which Jesus teaches about the necessity of forgiving others because God has forgiven us. A servant owes his master an enormous, unpayable debt. The master forgives the entire debt when the servant pleads for mercy. But that same servant refuses to forgive a fellow servant a tiny debt and throws him into prison. The master hears of this, revokes his forgiveness, and delivers the unforgiving servant to the torturers. Jesus concludes, "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

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The Parable of the Unjust Judge: God Answers Prayer

Overview "And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.'" — Luke 18:6…

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The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Explained

Overview "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" — Matthew 18:21-22 BSB The Parab…

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The Parable of the Wedding Garment

Overview "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding garment. And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And the man was speechless." — Matthew 22:11-12 BSB The Parable …

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The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

This article explains the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, in which Jesus teaches about the coexistence of true believers and false professors in the church until the final judgment. A sower sows good seed in his field, but an enemy comes and sows tares among the wheat. Both grow together until the harvest, when the tares are gathered and burned, and the wheat is gathered into the barn. Jesus explains that the field is the world, the good seed are the sons of the kingdom, the tares are the sons of the wicked one, and the harvest is the end of the age. This parable warns against premature judgment and gives assurance of final justice.

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