44 passages · Jesus and the church
Jesus compares those who hear and obey his words to a wise man building on rock, and those who hear and do not obey to a fool building on sand. When he finishes, the crowds are amazed because he teaches with authority, unlike their scribes.
Sitting in a boat, Jesus tells of a farmer whose seed falls on the path, rocky ground, thorns and good soil, with only the good soil producing a large crop. He ends by saying whoever has ears should hear.
Jesus says the secrets of the kingdom are given to the disciples but not to others, and quotes Isaiah about people who see and hear but do not understand. He calls his disciples blessed for seeing what many prophets longed to see.
Jesus explains that the seed is the message of the kingdom and the soils are different responses to it. Some hearers lose it, some fall away under trouble, some are choked by worry and wealth, and some bear fruit.
A man sows good seed but an enemy sows weeds among the wheat. The owner refuses to pull the weeds early, since that would uproot the wheat, and says both will grow together until harvest when they will be separated.
Jesus says the kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large plant, and like yeast a woman mixes into flour until it all rises. Matthew notes Jesus spoke only in parables to the crowds, fulfilling a psalm.
Jesus compares the kingdom to a hidden treasure and a fine pearl, each worth giving up everything to have, and to a net that catches good and bad fish to be sorted at the end. He closes by likening a trained scribe to a homeowner bringing out new and old treasures.
Jesus describes a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard at dawn for a denarius, then keeps hiring more at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours, promising to pay whatever is right.
At evening everyone receives the same denarius, and the all-day workers complain. The owner answers that he has been fair and is free to be generous, so the last will be first and the first last.
A father asks two sons to work in the vineyard. One refuses but later goes, the other agrees but does not. Jesus applies it: tax collectors and prostitutes believed John and enter God's kingdom ahead of the leaders.
A landowner's servants and then his son are killed by tenants of his vineyard. Jesus cites the rejected stone psalm and warns that the kingdom will be given to others; the leaders realize it is about them and want to arrest him but fear the crowds.
A king's invited guests refuse and mistreat his servants, so he destroys them and invites everyone from the streets. A guest without wedding clothes is thrown out, and Jesus closes by saying many are called but few chosen.
Ten young women wait for a bridegroom; five wise ones bring extra oil and five foolish ones do not. When he arrives at midnight the unready are shut out. Jesus ends with the call to keep watch.
A master entrusts money to three servants before traveling. Two double it and are praised, but the third buries his and is condemned as lazy and afraid. The master takes it away and casts him out.
Teaching a crowd from a boat, Jesus tells of a farmer whose seed falls on the path, rocky ground, thorns and good soil, with only the good soil producing a large crop.
Alone with the Twelve, Jesus says the mystery of God's kingdom is given to them while outsiders get parables, echoing Isaiah about seeing without perceiving. He asks why they do not grasp this parable.
Jesus explains that the seed is the word and the soils are different responses: some lose it at once, some fall away under trouble, some are choked by worries and wealth, and some bear much fruit.
Jesus uses the image of a lamp to say that what is hidden will come to light, and urges careful listening because the measure people use will be measured back to them.
The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed and then sleeps and rises while the seed grows by itself, until the harvest comes.
Jesus compares the kingdom to a tiny mustard seed that grows into the largest garden plant and shelters birds. Mark adds that Jesus spoke in parables to the crowd but explained everything privately to his disciples.
Jesus tells of tenants who beat and kill the owner's servants and finally his beloved son. He cites the rejected stone that became the cornerstone, and the leaders realize the parable is aimed at them.
Jesus tells of a farmer whose seed falls on the path, on rock, among thorns and on good soil, where it yields a hundredfold. He closes by calling those with ears to hear.
The disciples ask about the parable, and Jesus explains that the seed is God's word and the soils are different responses to it. Only some hearers keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Jesus says no one hides a lamp, hidden things will be made known, and he urges care in how they listen.
An expert in the law asks how to inherit eternal life, and they agree on loving God and neighbor. Asked who is his neighbor, Jesus tells of a Samaritan who cared for a wounded man ignored by a priest and a Levite, and says to go and do likewise.
Jesus tells of a friend who gets bread at midnight through persistence, then says to ask, seek and knock. He adds that a father gives good gifts, so the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
A man asks Jesus to make his brother share an inheritance, and Jesus warns against greed. He tells of a rich man who stores up crops for himself and dies that night, unprepared.
Jesus tells the disciples to stay alert like servants awaiting their master and like a homeowner watching for a thief. When Peter asks whom this is for, Jesus speaks of the faithful and unfaithful manager and greater responsibility for those given more.
A vineyard owner wants to cut down a fig tree that has borne no fruit in three years. The keeper asks for one more year of care before deciding.
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large tree and to leaven that works through a whole batch of flour. Both picture small beginnings with great results.