The Parables of Jesus

Pick a category and a difficulty — every answer is in the text (ASV)

Seeds & Soil

In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, these came and devoured the seeds that fell by the way side.

In Matthew 13, the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of this seed — "less than all seeds" — which grows into a tree where the birds of the heaven lodge.

Mustard (a grain of mustard seed)

Mark and Luke tell it too (Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19): in Mark the plant "putteth out great branches" rather than becoming a tree, and Luke does not say "less than all seeds."

In the parable of the tares, an enemy sowed tares among the wheat while men slept. When Jesus explained the parable, who did he say that enemy is?

In the same explanation: the sower of good seed is the Son of man, the field is the world, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are angels (Matthew 13:37–39).

In Matthew's account of the sower, the seed on the good ground yielded fruit, "some a hundredfold, some sixty, some" … how much?

Mark gives the same three yields in rising order — thirtyfold, sixtyfold, a hundredfold (Mark 4:8); Luke mentions only a hundredfold (Luke 8:8).

In Mark's parable of the seed that grows while the sower sleeps, the earth bears fruit of herself: "first the blade, then the ___, then the full grain in the ___."

"First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." This parable is found only in Mark (4:26–29).

Lost & Found

In Luke 15, a man who has lost one of his hundred sheep leaves how many in the wilderness to go after the lost one?

In Luke 15, a woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house, seeking diligently for this one lost thing.

A piece of silver (one of her ten pieces)

Feeding swine in a far country during a mighty famine, the younger son "would fain have filled his belly" with these.

The husks that the swine did eat

When the younger son came home, the father told his servants to put three things on him. Name all three.

The best robe, a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet

Then: "bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry" (Luke 15:23).

The elder son complained that his father had never given him even this, "that I might make merry with my friends."

Money & Masters

In Matthew 25, a man going into another country gave his servants five, two and one of these.

Luke tells a similar parable with pounds instead (Luke 19:11–27).

In Luke 12, a rich man whose ground brought forth plentifully decided to do this with his barns.

Pull them down and build greater

But God said unto him, "Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee" (Luke 12:20).

In Luke 19, a nobleman going into a far country gave his ten servants these to trade with — and the first servant's one made ten more.

Compare Matthew 25:14–30, where the servants receive talents.

In Matthew 18, a servant forgiven a debt of ten thousand talents took a fellow-servant by the throat over a debt of how much?

In Luke 16, the unrighteous steward asked a debtor, "How much owest thou unto my lord?" He answered, "A hundred measures of oil." What did the steward tell him to write?

The next debtor owed a hundred measures of wheat and was told to write fourscore (Luke 16:7).

Weddings & Feasts

In Matthew 25, how many virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom?

The five foolish virgins took their lamps but failed to take this with them.

At the king's marriage feast for his son in Matthew 22, one guest was bound and cast out because he had not on one of these.

In Luke 14, the men bidden to a great supper all began to make excuse. Name the three excuses given.

"I have bought a field"; "I have bought five yoke of oxen"; "I have married a wife"

In Luke 14, the servant brought in the poor, maimed, blind and lame, "and yet there is room." Where did his lord send him next to constrain others to come in?

Into the highways and hedges

In Matthew's parable of the king's marriage feast, the servants go "unto the partings of the highways" (Matthew 22:9).

Kingdom Likenesses

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly" … these.

Having found one pearl of great price, he sold all that he had and bought it.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field. What did the man who found it do, "in his joy"?

Sold all that he had and bought that field

The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in how many measures of meal?

In Matthew 20, a householder hired laborers for his vineyard throughout the day. What did those hired about the eleventh hour receive?

A shilling — the same as those hired early in the morning

"So the last shall be first, and the first last" (Matthew 20:16).

Every scribe made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings forth out of his treasure things … what?

Who Said / Who Heard

In Luke 18, two men went up into the temple to pray: a Pharisee, and this man, who prayed, "God, be thou merciful to me a sinner."

In the parable of the good Samaritan, two men saw the wounded man and "passed by on the other side." Who were they?

A lawyer, "desiring to justify himself," asked Jesus a question that drew out the parable of the good Samaritan. What did he ask?

"And who is my neighbor?"

Jesus told a Pharisee the parable of two debtors — one owed five hundred shillings, the other fifty — while eating in that Pharisee's house. What was the Pharisee's name?

In the account of the rich man and Lazarus, who says, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them"?

The rich man, in Hades, had asked Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his five brethren (Luke 16:27–28).

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