The Parables of Jesus Trivia Quiz

Answer: a spiritual truth conveyed as a story or figurative expression

Jesus Christ used these "parables" to immense effect and success (note the way that they are still remembered). Jesus spoke to simple people such as farmers and fishermen and needed to put a picture in their minds that related to concepts and events that were part of their everyday lives. Jesus was a teacher (the finest ever) and was using one of the best teaching techniques known to convey information that would be remembered. Fables talk of worldly wisdom, while Jesus used parables to convey spiritual wisdom.

Answer: prepared, fertilized ground

Please see Matthew Ch. 13:3-9, also Mark Ch. 4:3-20 and Luke Ch. 8:5-15. The fourth type of ground mentioned was "the wayside". In this parable He was using vivid imagery that would live on in the community to show how the "word of God" would not be accepted by all the people that it was preached to and how only certain people would benefit in the correct way from the teachings of God. We can well imagine that there were many farmers listening carefully and identifying with this parable so real to their own experiences of farming. (Please note again that all references are taken from the Catholic Bible.)

Answer: hides it

Please see Matthew Ch. 13:44. Saint Matthew quotes Jesus as saying "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, he who finds it hides it, and in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field". Clearly the law of the time would have justified a "finder's keepers" principle if the land were bought in this way. Again, you can imagine farmers sitting there thinking how lovely it would be if this happened to them in the material world and then hopefully realizing the real spiritual message coming over for them.

Answer: sells all that he has and buys it

Please see Matthew Ch. 13:45-46. Saint Matthew quotes Jesus as saying " Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he finds a single pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it". Pearls were greatly prized at this time and you can imagine what went through the mind of a merchant discovering his dream come true. Nothing would stop him and so it is with the Kingdom of Heaven, says Jesus, if you knew the kingdom as He so clearly knew it.

Answer: the smallest of all the seeds (a grain)

Please see Matthew Ch. 13:31-33, also Mark Ch. 4:30-32 and Luke Ch. 13:18-21. Saint Matthew quotes Jesus as saying of the seed "... but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches". Thus Jesus describes the Kingdom to people well acquainted with such concepts.

Answer: Yes

This is Mark Ch. 4:26-9. Saint Mark quotes Jesus as saying " ...For of itself the earth bears the crop, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle because the harvest has come." Thus Jesus is quoted concerning the Kingdom of Heaven.

Answer: He was answering the question 'who is my neighbour?'

Please see Luke Ch.10:25-37. Before relating the parable of how the man had been fully helped by the Samaritan who found him beaten upon the road, Jesus had been asked by "a certain lawyer" "And who is my neighbour?". Jesus concluded by asking this lawyer "Which of these three (the Samaritan or a priest or a Levite who had passed the injured man by), in thy opinion, proved himself neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?".

At this time the Samartitan would by reason of his background have been the least likely (of the three persons who passed) to befriend this man. Clearly, very clearly from experience, this also tells us something of God's own love for each one of us.

Answer: goes and finds it

Please see Matthew Ch. 18:12-14 and also Luke Ch. 15:4-7. This is of course where the Jesus Christ gains the wonderful title of the "Good Shepherd", for He is first and foremost speaking of Himself here. Saint Luke quotes Jesus as saying, "I say to you that, even so, there will be joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine just who have no need of repentance".

Answer: reckless, wasteful or lavish

Please see Luke Ch. 15:11-32. This is one of the most famous parables and terms and concepts from it have moved into our daily vocabulary. The son who takes his share of the family fortune and squanders it and then returns home at last hoping for help. Saint Luke quotes Jesus as saying that the father told his other son "..but we were bound to make merry and rejoice, for this thy brother was dead, and has come to life; he was lost and is found".

Answer: he is cast out from the Master's presence

Please see Matthew Ch. 25:14-30. This is also a very famous parable. Jesus is talking about the correct use of that which is available to us. The Master says of this servant "But as for the unprofitable servant, cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". Jesus here is clearly alluding to hell as being a state away from His presence. Jesus also seems to be telling us to use our talents to the full use that they were given to us by God to use. Bearing in mind other scripture, we seem to be meant not to stop others from using their talents.

The figurative sense of the word talent (as opposed to the older meaning that referred to an amount of money) is thought to have developed in reference to this story, and was in use by the middle of the 15th century.