The Parables

The parables are a characteristic feature of Jesus's teaching — simple images or comparisons that confront the hearer with a radical choice about God's invitation to enter the Kingdom. They are the primary vehicle by which Jesus reveals the nature of the Kingdom of God (CCC 546).

What a Parable Is

A parable is a short narrative or comparison drawn from everyday life that carries a deeper spiritual meaning. Jesus used parables precisely because they require the hearer to engage — to puzzle, to ask, to seek. Those who truly seek find the meaning; those who are content with the surface leave empty. "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables" (Luke 8:10; CCC 546).

The Major Parables

Among Jesus's most important parables are the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) — revealing the Father's infinite mercy; the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–37) — defining the love of neighbor; the Sower and the Seed (Matthew 13:1–23) — explaining how the Gospel is received; the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31–46) — on charity to the poor; and the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) — on God's unexpected generosity (CCC 546).

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the parables just moral lessons? No — they are first of all revelations about God and his Kingdom. The Prodigal Son is not primarily about how to treat wayward children; it is about who God is: a Father who runs to meet the returning sinner. Moral implications flow from this theological revelation (CCC 546).