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  Gospel Parables

Thirty three parables found in the synoptic gospels are listed below, with links to the NRSV translations. If the parable is discussed by Amy-Jill Levine in our course textbook, Short Stories by Jesus, you'll find a "√" in the Levine column; if the checkmark is red, that means we're reading it in class together.

  Parable Source Levine
The Cost of Discipleship The Cost of Discipleship Matt 10:34-39; Luke 14:25-33  
 
The Doorkeeper The Doorkeeper or the Waiting Servants Mark 13:32-37; Matt 25:13-15 + 24:42; Luke 19:12-13 + 12:40 (cf. 21:36 and 12:38)  
 
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants Matt 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-46  
  Harrington, Daniel J.  "Polemical Parables in Matthew 24-25."  Union Seminary Quarterly Review 44:3-4 (1991) 287-98.
 
Father Who Lost His Son The Father Who Lost His Son or the Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 √
 
Fig tree The Fig Tree Mark 13:28-29; Matt 24:32-33; Luke 21:29-31  
 
Friend at midnight The Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5-8  
 
Good Samaritan The Good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37 √
 
Great Supper The Great Supper or the Marriage Feast Matt 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24  
 
Hidden Treasure The Hidden Treasure Matt 13:44  
 
The Houses on Sand and Rock The Houses on Sand and Rock Matt 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49  
 
Workers in the Vineyard The Laborers in the Vineyard Matt 20:1-16 √
 
Lamp under a Bushel The Lamp under a Bushel Mark 4:21-23; Matt 5:14-16; Luke 11:33-36  
 
The Mustard Seed The Mustard Seed Mark 4:30-32; Matt 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19 √
 
The Net The Net Matt 13:47-50  
 
Pearl of Great Price The Pearl of Great Price Matt 13:45-46 √
 
Pharisee and Tax Collector The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14 √
 
The Rich Fool The Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21  
 
The Rich Man and Lazarus The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 √
  Bredenhof, Reuben.  Failure and Prospect: Lazarus and hte Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31) in the Context of Luke-Acts, The Library of New Testament Studies 603.  New York: T&T Clark, 2018.
 
Seed Growing Secretly The Seed Growing Secretly Mark 4:26-29  
 
The Sheep and the Goats The Sheep and the Goats Matt 25:31-46  
 
Man Who Lost His Sheep The Shepherd Who Lost His Sheep Matt 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7 √
 
Sower The Sower, and the Allegory of the Seeds Mark 4:3-20; Matt 13:3-23; Luke 8:5-15  
 
The Talents The Talents or the Pounds Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27  
  Harrington, Daniel J.  "Polemical Parables in Matthew 24-25."  Union Seminary Quarterly Review 44:3-4 (1991) 287-98.
 
The Two Debtors The Two Debtors Luke 7:41-43  
 
The Two Sons The Two Sons Matt 21:28-32  
 
The Unforgiving Servant The Unforgiving Servant Matt 18:23-35  
 
The Unjust Steward The Unjust Steward Luke 16:1-8  
 
The Wheat and the Weeds The Wheat and the Weeds Matt 13:24-30, 36-43  
 
The Wicked Tenants The Wicked Tenants Mark 12:1-11; Matt 21:33-45; Luke 20:9-18  
 
The Widow and the Judge The Widow and the Judge Luke 18:1-8 √
 
The Wise and Foolish Virgins The Wise and Foolish Virgins Matt 25:1-13  
  Harrington, Daniel J.  "Polemical Parables in Matthew 24-25."  Union Seminary Quarterly Review 44:3-4 (1991) 287-98.
 
Woman Who Lost Her Coin The Woman Who Lost Her Coin Luke 15:8-10 √
 
The Yeast Hidden in Dough The Yeast Hidden in Dough Matt 13:33; Luke 13:20-21 √
 


Further Bibliography
Gowler, David B.  The Parables of Jesus: Their Imaginative Receptions across Two Millennia.  Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017.
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