Over the next several weeks, I’ll be taking a deeper journey through the parables found throughout the Gospels. I’m beginning with the parables recorded in the Book of Matthew, the first and fullest collection of Jesus’ teachings in story form.
My goal is to explore each parable thoughtfully—unpacking its context, meaning, and practical application—so that every reader can gain a clearer, richer understanding of the truth Jesus intended to reveal. As we walk through these teachings together, I hope they not only inform the mind but also encourage the heart and strengthen faith.
The Gospel of Matthew contains more parables than any other Gospel, emphasizing Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. Depending on how scholars classify shorter illustrations, the count ranges from 23 to 28, but most standard lists settle at 23 parables.
Below is a clear, organized breakdown of those parables with KJV references so you can explore them directly.
The 23 Parables in Matthew (KJV)
1. The Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:3–9, 18–23
2. The Wheat and the Tares
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
3. The Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31–32
4. The Leaven
Matthew 13:33
5. The Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
6. The Pearl of Great Price
Matthew 13:45–46
7. The Net (Dragnet)
Matthew 13:47–50
8. The Householder and His Treasure
Matthew 13:52
9. The Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:12–14
10. The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:23–35
11. The Laborers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20:1–16
12. The Two Sons
Matthew 21:28–32
13. The Wicked Husbandmen (Vineyard Tenants)
Matthew 21:33–46
14. The Marriage of the King’s Son
Matthew 22:1–14
15. The Fig Tree
Matthew 24:32–35
16. The Faithful and Evil Servants
Matthew 24:45–51
17. The Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1–13
18. The Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
19. The Sheep and the Goats
Matthew 25:31–46
20. The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7:24–27
21. The New Cloth on an Old Garment
Matthew 9:16
22. The New Wine in Old Bottles
Matthew 9:17
23. The Strong Man’s House
Matthew 12:29
Why Matthew Has So Many Parables
Matthew’s Gospel is structured to highlight Jesus as:
- The promised Messiah
- The authoritative teacher
- The revealer of the Kingdom of Heaven
Parables become His primary teaching method, fulfilling prophecy (Matthew 13:10–17) and inviting listeners to deeper spiritual understanding.
Next, I’m going to pull together the parables from the other Gospels so we can see the full picture of Jesus’ teaching across Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Once those lists are in place, I’ll start taking each parable one at a time and walk through it in its own post—looking at the setting, the message, and what it means for us today. It should make the whole journey feel a lot more approachable and easier to follow.
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