How Many Are There?
Biblical commentaries disagree as to how many parables of Jesus exist in the gospels. This is partly due to their varying definitions as to what qualifies as a parable as opposed to other figures of speech such as allegories, illustrations, contrasts and so on.
Trivia on Jesus' Parables - Part 2!
The four gospel accounts, based on our research, list 67 parables Jesus taught during his three- and one-half-year ministry. Including stories repeated by the other gospel writers, Matthew records 35 parables while Mark lists 17, Luke 39 and John 2. Of these, 12 are only found in Matthew, 2 in Mark, 18 in Luke and 2 in John making 34 that are unique during Jesus' ministry.
The First and Last
The first parable of Jesus recorded in Matthew is also the first one, chronologically, that Jesus taught. It is the salt of the earth teaching that was part of his Sermon on the Mount given between the fall of 27 A.D. and the end of the year.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, with what shall it be salted? For it no longer has any strength, but is to be thrown out and to be trampled upon by men." (Matthew 5:13).
Mark's first parable is a repeat of one given in the book of Matthew.
And after hearing this, Jesus said to them, "Those who are strong do not need a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17, see Matthew 9:12 - 13).
Luke's first parable is the blind leaders of the blind.
"Is a blind man able to lead a blind man? Will not both fall into the ditch?" (Luke 6:39).
The first of only two parables in John is the story of the good Shepherd (John 10:1 - 18).
"Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up some other way, that one is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out . . . " (John 10:1 - 3, see also verses 4 to 18).
The last known parable Jesus taught, chronologically, was offered while he and his disciples, after sunset on April 4 in 30 A.D., walked to Gethsemane to await his arrest.
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. He takes away every branch in Me that does not bear fruit; but He cleanses each one that bears fruit, in order that it may bear more fruit . . ." (John 15:1 - 2).
Repetition
Two of Jesus' parables are repeated at three separate times. The salt of the earth story was given as stated above (Matthew 5:13). It was then taught between Mid-November and December 18 in 29 A.D. while Christ was in Capernaum (Mark 9:50). It was finally offered between January and February in 30 A.D. after he left Capernaum for the last time (Luke 14:34 - 35).
The light of the world parable was first given during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:14). It was next taught between October 28 A.D. and early 29 A.D. while the Lord was preaching to a huge crowd gathered on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16). Its third appearance was between Mid-November and December 18 in 29 A.D. while Christ was in Capernaum (Luke 11:33).
Repetition, Part 2
Jesus gave five parables on two separate occasions. The first two are the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31 - 32 repeated in Mark 4:30 - 32, and Luke 13:18 - 19) and the hidden leaven (Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20 - 21).
He also gave the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12 - 14, Luke 15:3 - 7), the blind leading the blind (Luke 6:39, Matthew 15:14) and the wise and evil servants (Luke 12:42 - 48, Matthew 24:45 - 51) at two distinct times.
Parallel Mentions
None of Jesus' parables are written in all four gospel accounts. That said, eight of them are mentioned in three gospels for the same period. The first two, taught in early 28 A.D., are the good physician (Matthew 9:12 - 13, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31 - 32) and friends of the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19 - 20, Luke 5:34 - 35).
The next two parables, also given in early 28 A.D., are new cloth on old (Matthew 9:16, Mark 2:21, Luke 5:36) and new wine in old bottles (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37 - 39).
From October 28 A.D. to Early 29 A.D. the parable of the Sower was offered (Matthew 13:3 - 23, Mark 4:3 - 20, Luke 8:5 – 15). From mid-November to December 18 in 29 A.D. the Lord taught that we are to become like little children (Matthew 18:3 - 6, Mark 9:35 - 37, Luke 9:46 - 48).
The last two parables appearing in three gospels, this time on April 2 in 30 A.D., are evil servants who kill owner's servants and son (Matthew 21:33 - 46, Mark 12:1 - 11, Luke 20:9 - 19) and the fig tree that mimics prophecy (Matthew 24:32 - 35, Mark 13:28 - 31, Luke 21:29 - 33).
Another nine of the parables of Jesus are repeated in two gospels for the same period.