Lesson 9

Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13 Lesson 11

Matthew 13:1-23.The Parable of the Sower is Taught and Explained.

1.        What overarching truths do the eight parables in Matthew 13 teach us?

a.       The kingdom of Heaven or the Church

b.      Apostasy

c.       Restoration

d.      Gathering

2.       What is the key to interpreting a parable? The only true interpretation is what it meant when first spoken.  The application will vary in every age and circumstance.  We must consider the context and setting when the parable was first given.  We bring to a parable our background, strengths, needs, and our experiences.

3.       Why did the Savior teach using parables?  It was to veil the meaning.  The listener would only hear the religious truth in exactly in proportion to their faith and intelligence.  They are a call to greater goodness and to point us to things that matter most in life.  The parables call all men regardless of their religious persuasion or lack thereof to raise the bar for ourselves—to make a difference for good in the world.

4.       Anciently, how were seeds sowed?  One method was to scatter handfuls of the grain against the wind.  This would cause widespread scattering.

5.       Why is this parable sometimes called the parable of the soils?  Mankind is the ground or soil upon which the gospel seed is planted.  The suitability of the soil depends upon the heart of the individual as the gospel is exposed to the heart.

6.       Why is it vital to receive gospel light and knowledge continually? If we stop the due diligence, the gospel light dims and will go out.

7.       Why was it merciful to teach with parables? If the hearers were too weak in faith and unprepared to break the bonds of traditionalism and the prejudice engendered by sin, they would be unable to accept and obey the word. Their inability to comprehend the requirements of the gospel would give Mercy some claim on them.  If they reject the truth with full understanding, Justice would demand condemnation.

8.       How is the parable of the sower relevant to each of us?  It stresses what can happen because of a lack of determination in serving God.  Each of us can find our particular category and evaluate his yield.

Matthew 13:24-30.  The Parable of the Wheat and Tares is Given

1.        Why does the enemy sow tares among the good seed?

The kingdom would be set up in the last days by the Savior, which is represented by the good seed.  This good seed produced fruit.  There would b corruptions in the Savior’s church, which is represented by the tares which were sown by Satan.  Christ’s disciples wanted to pluck them up or cleansed the Church of them.  But the Savior did not favor this approach.

2.       Why gather the tares before the wheat?  The order of the events in this parable is not translated correctly.  The wheat would be gathered first and the tares will be gathered, bundled and burned.  The righteous will be gathered and the wicked burned when Christ returns.

We participate in the gathering and we do that as we help to gather the elect of the Lord on both sides of the veil.  The Book of Mormon is central to this work as it declared the doctrine of the gathering.  Missionary work is crucial to this gathering of Israel.

Matthew 13:31-32.  Jesus gives the parable of the mustard seed.

1.        What does the parable of the mustard seed represent in the last days?  It represents the Church as it shall come forth in the last days and it reflects the dramatic growth that will occur.  The Church was very small in the beginning, but it is rapidly filling the world.

Elder James E. Talmage observed:  “The comparison ‘as small as a mustard seed’ was in every- day use among the Jews of the time.  The comparison employed by Jews on another occasion evidences h common usages, as when He said: ‘If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . nothing shall be impossible to you’.  It should be known that the mustard plant attains in Palestine a larger growth than in more northerly climes.  The lesson of the parable is easy to read.  The seed is a living entity.  When rightly planted it absorbs and assimilates the nutritive matters of soil and atmosphere, grows, and in time is capable of affording lodgment and food to the birds.  So the seed of truth is vital, living, and capable of such development as to furnish spiritual food and shelter to all who come seeking.  In both conceptions, the plant at maturity produces seed in abundance, and so from a single grain a whole field may be covered”  (Jesus the Christ, 2900-291)

Matthew 13:33-35.  The Parable of the Leaven.

1.        What does the leaven being hid in three measures of meal depict? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses.  From the three who first received it, the whole is “leavened.”  The leaven or yeast is a very small part of the recipe to make bread.  But it is that tiny bit of ingredient that makes the dough rise so that when it comes out of the oven it is several times its original size and is light and enjoyable to eat.   So from a small body of leaders or members, these men and women serve to strengthen the Church.

2.       When did the Lord reveal many of these secrets?  The Lord has always planned to reveal things which have not been made known to mankind.  Some are in the Book of Mormon and others are ordinances and covenants of the holy temple.  The Lord reveals things as they are ready to be received.

Matthew 13:36-43.  The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares Explained

3.       Who are the children of the wicked one?  Satan has been designated as the father of the wicked.  The good seed are the children of the kingdom and the tares are the children of the wicked one.  The Son of Man sows the good seed.  The field is the world and the good seed are the children of the kingdom.  But the tares are the children of the wicked one.  The enemy that sowed those seeds is the devil and the reapers are the angels.

4.       What does modern revelation teach about these reapers in verse 39?  The angels are the messengers sent of heaven.  These angels cry day and night and are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields.  Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth and there is a meaning to these things.

5.       How do the scriptures define the “end of this world”?  The end of the world is the destruction of the wicked.

6.       In what ways do the righteous “shine forth” in the last days?  (Verse 43)  We are rooted in our love of the Savior and humbly follow His teachings.

Matthew 13:44-53. The Parables of the treasure, the pearl, the gospel net and new and old things are given.

1.        How do these parables relate to the growth of the Church in the last days?  (Verses 44-46)  The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hid in a field.  The early saints of this church sold all they had and gathered themselves into one place.  They traveled to find places for Zion and they sold what they had to buy the land for it.  The merchant found the pearl of great price by seeking it, while another found the treasure by accident.  Each man sold all that they had to have it.  Each person sacrifices differently.  The price to be paid was all they had.  No one can become a citizen of the kingdom by partial surrender of his earlier allegiances.  He must renounce everything foreign to the kingdom of heaven or he can never be numbered as a member of that kingdom.  He must be willing to sacrifice all that he has and then he will find he has enough to purchase the hidden treasure and the pearl.  There is not a fixed amount.  It is simply all that you have.  That is the purchase price.  If you are poor or rich, it matters not.  All that you have must be sacrificed for it.

2.       What happens to those gathered by the gospel net?  (47-50)Not all who are caught by the gospel net will be saved in the celestial kingdom Church membership alone gives no unconditional guarantee of eternal life.  There will come a day of sorting and the wicked will be cast out of the Church.  The parable of the gospel net represents the preaching of the gospel and the Final Judgment.

Matthew 13:54-58.  People in His own country reject Jesus.  Matthew lists Names of Jesus’ Family

1.        Why was it difficult for some to accept Jesus? (Verse 55)  I think this is because the individual is familiar to them—or their family.  It is easier to listen to an “expert” when they are not familiar to us.  In some way their credentials stand out.

2.       How many children were in Jesus’ family?  (Verse 56)  At least 6.

3.       Why is it necessary for the Lord to work mighty miracles in our lives?  (Verse 58) He works to give blessings and miracles through faith.  Faith is of itself a principle of power, and by its presence or absence, by its fullness or paucity, even the Lord was and is influenced and in great measure controlled, in the bestowal or withholding of blessings; for He ministers according to law, and not with caprice or uncertainty.  In this verse we know Jesus could not do a mighty work because of the people’s unbelief. (Talmage)

Luke 8

Luke 8:1-21.  The Savior teaches with parables

1.        Who was Mary Magdalene?  (verse 2)  Talmage tells us this:  “Mary Magdalene, whose second name is probably derived from her home town, Magdala, had been healed through the ministrations of Jesus from both physical and mental maladies, the latter having been associated with possession by evil spirits.  Out of her we are told Christ had cast seven devils. . .  Mary Magdalene became of the closest friends Christ had among women; her devotion to Him as her Healer and as the One whom she adored as the Christ was unswerving.”

2.       Who was financially supporting the Savior? (verse 3) The women listed were probably helping to maintain Jesus and his 12 disciples from their own personal resources.  They likely had the support of their husbands and families and many if not all had already raised their family and could spend time away from home.

3.       How is a seed representative of the word of God? (verse 11)  The seed or word is the life and mission of Jesus Christ.  Alma tells us to plant this word in your hearts.  Thus the seed is the word.

4.       How can we develop a heart of good ground that is open to the word of God? (verse 15)  We have to do the planting by setting our priorities and doing those things that will help us to be firmly rooted and converted to the gospel.  How?  The standard instructions apply—praying, reading the scriptures, serving others, regularly partaking of the sacrament so we can always have His spirit to be with us.

5.       How can the Saints know the hidden truths of God (verse 17) Nothing is hidden from us if we are obedient.  It will be revealed to us if we desire to know.

Luke 8:22-25.  Jesus stills a tempest on the Sea of Galilee.

1.       How can we develop faith that can endure the storms of life?  (verses 23-25)  Faith comes as a gift from heaven ad comes to us as we choose to believe and as we seek it ad hold on to it.  It will grow stronger or it will grow weaker depending on what we choose.

Luke 8:26-40  Jesus casts a legion of devils into a heard of swine.

1.        Why did devils address Jesus as the Son of God?  (Verse 28)  The Lord is known even to evil spirits. They remember him from the pre-existence and know He was foreordained to be the Redeemer, that he was born into mortality as the literal offspring of the Father. They also know they that by opposing Him they are in open rebellion against Deity.

2.       Why would devils desire to possess the bodies of swine?  (verse 32)  A body is so desirable these devils would take any body they could get.

3.       What happens to the faith of others when we learn to recognize and share how God has blessed our lives? (verse 39)  They too desire to follow Christ.

Luke 8:41-56.  Jesus Heals a Woman with an Issue of Blood and Raises Jairus’s daughter from the dead.

1.        What can we learn from the timing of the healing of these two women?  (43-55) One had had the issue for 12 years while the other languished only a few days.  This is a reminder that blessings come on the Lord’s timetable.  They come to those who patiently wait.

2.       What was unique about this woman’s faith that allowed her to be made whole?  (43-48) The crowd came to see Jesus.  For her, she came to be healed.

3.       What is the virtue that went out of the Savior? (46)  It is His power or strength that left Him and He could feel that.

Luke 13

Luke 13:1-9.  Jesus teaches repentance and gives the parable of the barren fig tree.

1.        Why do bad things sometimes happen to good people?  (1-3) These “bad things” provide continuing challenges.  We are to pattern our lives after that of the Savior.  So we too must endure trials as He did. It is by obedience that we learn from the things which we suffer.

2.       How does the parable of the fig tree relate to the message “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”?  verses 6-9) God is represented by the “certain man.”  The fig tree represents the Jewish remnant of Israel.  The vineyard represents the world and the dresser of His vineyard represents Jesus Christ.  The parable underscores the Savior’s teaching that all must repent or perish just as the vineyard had to produce fruit or be removed from the vineyard.

Luke 13:10-17.  Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath day.

1.        Why did the Savior continue to perform miracles on the Sabbath day?  (Verse 13) It was a way to keep himself in the limelight. They were a testimony of divine mission and miraculous works.  By healing on Sunday more people would be made aware of His miraculous works.  They would be discussed in more synagogues, and investigated by more truth seekers.

2.       What should we do on the Lord’s holy day? (14-15) So worthy and holy things. It is not just abstinence from work and recreation.  It should be a day of constructive thoughts and actions. It is a day of prayer, study, meditating, visiting the ill, writing letters, attending church meetings.  Sing and play beautiful music and close the day with family prayer.

3.       What power does Satan have over the elements? (16)He has great power and great knowledge and can control the elements when some greater power does not intervene.

Luke 13:18-30.  Through Parables, Jesus explains the Kingdom of God.

1.        How many will be saved in the celestial kingdom?  It depends on who you are talking about.  A few of what group?  Are we speaking of all persons born into the world or a portion who grow to become accountable or members of the Church who have made covenants?  The Savior did not directly answer this question.  He instead gave two scenarios.  John saw two scenarios in which the number exceeded 100,000,000.  The other was so great that no man could number them.

Luke 13:24.

1.        What does it mean to enter the “strait gate”? This is a very narrow entrance or exit to or from a city—a tight door.  Gates and doors will allow access.  In this case it is access to a kingdom or to salvation, usually past a entry.

2.       Why is it important that the “master of the house’ decides who enters His house? (verse 25) As master of the house, he knows who has served him wholeheartedly and they are the ones admitted.

Luke 13:31-35.  Jesus mourns over Jerusalem.

1.        Why would the Pharisees warn Jesus of Herod’s plans? (31) Some may have honestly been concerned about the welfare of Jesus.  It could also be these men were feigning friendship and wanted to lure him back into Judea where Herod had no authority.

2.       Why did Jesus tell the Pharisees that “it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem”? (33) Jesus’ death would not be in Galilee which was out of Herod’s jurisdiction.

3.       How does the Savior’s anguished cry, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” express His feelings toward the house of Israel? (34)The people are following the false teachings and supporting the dark deeds of their rulers even though the Light of Life was before them.