Parables of the Wheat, Lost Sheep, Virgins, and Samaritan

The Wheat and the Tares

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left. But when the grass sprouted and produced grain, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the tares come from?' He told them, 'An enemy has done this.' And the servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you pull up the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First collect the tares and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn."

The Lost Sheep

At that time, Jesus told his disciples, "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you truly, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. So also it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

The Ten Virgins

The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them. The wise ones, however, took flasks of oil along with their lamps. The bridegroom was delayed, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Good Samaritan

A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'