The Parables: JAMB Christian Religious Studies Questions, Answers & Notes

What The Parables covers in the JAMB Christian Religious Studies syllabus

A parable is an earthly/everyday story used to teach a spiritual or moral lesson; Jesus used parables to make truths clear and memorable, and many described the kingdom of God. Key parables and lessons: the prodigal (lost) son and the lost sheep show God's love and forgiveness for a returning sinner; the sower shows the word of God bearing fruit in good (receptive) hearts; the Good Samaritan teaches love for our neighbour — anyone in need, regardless of background (a despised Samaritan helped while the priest and Levite passed by); the talents teaches us to use our God-given gifts (the servant who buried his was called wicked and lazy); the rich fool warns against greed and trusting in wealth; the unforgiving servant teaches that the forgiven must forgive; the ten virgins teaches watchfulness and preparedness for Christ's coming; and the mustard seed shows the kingdom's small beginning and great growth. Parables call hearers to reflect, respond and change their lives.

For The Parables, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Define a parable and its purpose
• Recall key parables: prodigal son, sower, Good Samaritan, talents, ten virgins
• State the spiritual and moral lessons of each

Key facts & revision notes: The Parables

These are the recurring points our The Parables questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• A parable is an earthly/everyday story used to teach a spiritual or moral lesson.
• The parable of the prodigal (lost) son shows God's love and forgiveness for a returning sinner.
• In the parable of the sower, the seed represents the word of God sown in different hearts.
• The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us to love our neighbour, showing mercy to those in need.
• A Samaritan (despised by Jews) helped the wounded man, while the priest and Levite passed by.
• The parable of the talents teaches us to use and develop our God-given gifts and abilities.
• The servant who buried his talent was called a wicked and lazy servant.
• The parable of the rich fool warns against greed and trusting in earthly wealth instead of God.
• The parable of the lost sheep shows the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to seek the one lost sheep.
• Jesus used parables to make spiritual truths clear and memorable to His hearers.
• The parable of the unforgiving servant teaches that those forgiven must also forgive others.
• The parable of the ten virgins teaches watchfulness and being prepared for the coming of Christ.
• The five wise virgins had enough oil for their lamps, while the foolish ones did not.
• The mustard seed parable shows the kingdom of God's small beginning and great growth.
• Many of Jesus' parables described the kingdom of God/heaven.
• In the sower, the seed on good soil (receptive hearts) bears much fruit.
• The Good Samaritan showed that our neighbour is anyone in need, regardless of race or background.
• The prodigal son's father welcomed and forgave him warmly, celebrating his return.
• Parables call hearers to reflect, respond and change their lives.
• The main purpose of parables is to teach spiritual and moral truths through simple, everyday stories.

Worked examples

Three The Parables questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How The Parables is tested in JAMB Christian Religious Studies

Our The Parables bank holds 20 questions (11 medium, 9 hard). JAMB Christian Religious Studies typically returns to The Parables year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer The Parables questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on The Parables. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Christian Religious Studies item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at The Parables is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in The Parables

The errors that cost marks on The Parables are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise The Parables actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Parables part of the JAMB Christian Religious Studies syllabus?

Yes. The Parables is a recognised topic in the JAMB Christian Religious Studies syllabus, covering define a parable and its purpose. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many The Parables questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard The Parables questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about The Parables?

A parable is an earthly/everyday story used to teach a spiritual or moral lesson; Jesus used parables to make truths clear and memorable, and many described the kingdom of God. Key parables and lessons: the prodigal (lost) son and the lost sheep show God's love and forgiveness for a returning sinner…

How do I answer The Parables questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for The Parables. Practising timed The Parables questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Christian Religious Studies The Parables questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise The Parables questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start The Parables practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Christian Religious Studies syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.