PARALLELS IN PARABLES

Student Choice Assignment 

Choice 2: Matthew 13: 24-48. The Lord Often Taught with Parable

1. In the Bible Dictionary read the first three paragraphs under the entry “Parables” (pgs. 740-41). In your own words, write a definition of a parable. 

A parable is a story with symbolic meanings on many levels. “Divine truth (Bible Dictionary p. 741) is presented by comparison with material things. Activities, relationships, and tangible objects that are familiar to many people are the means of explaining more intangible concepts and ideas.

From the Bible Dictionary we learn the purpose “was to veil the meaning. The parable conveys to the hearer religious truth exactly in proportion to his faith and intelligence; to the dull and uninspired it is a mere story, . . . while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus . . . the parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds” (Matt. 13:13–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10).

President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) said: “They are so simple a child can understand, yet profound enough for the sage and philosopher”(The Pharisee and the Publican, Ensign, May 1984).

This aspect of parables is a blessing that shields the young or spiritually immature from being held accountable for principles they are not prepared to understand and apply. It is also a blessing (or condemnation) to those that are more experienced with deeper knowledge.  This causes parables to be very personal, each individual can receive inspiration uniquely according to their own needs and circumstances.

Elder Neil A Maxwell taught, “As the Master Teacher, Christ tailored His tutoring, depending upon the spiritual readiness of His pupils.”  (Irony: The Crust on the Bread of Adversity, Ensign, May 1989).

2. Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:31-34); parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46); parable of the gospel net (Matthew 13:47-50). Next to each of the following questions write the name of the parable that best answers that question.

• What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

The parables of the wheat and tares, mustard seed and the leaven can help me understand more about the future of the church.

In the parable of the wheat and tares I learn there is ‘an enemy’ and opposition to the growth of the church, and to my personal growth. In verse 30 I see that both the ‘wheat and the tares’ will “grow together until the harvest,” but that ‘wheat’ will then be gathered and preserved, and the ‘tares’ burned.

Matthew 13:24-30

“24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

He later explained more to his disciples:

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13: 31-34

     “¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.

• Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?The parables of the leaven can help me understand more why the Church sends out so many missionaries. (Matthew 13:33)

If I view the missionaries as “leaven” among the people, and compare that to what happens to dough that has yeast in it, I consider that missionaries can bless everyone around them. As they teach of Christ and encourage people to follow Him, they help them to increase and grow in good things, and “rise” to be more like the Savior.

• How do you explain the remarkable growth of the Church, considering that it is fairly new compared to most world religions and started small in the American frontier?

The parables of the mustard seed help me understand the exponential growth of the church. It began very small, but it is a good “seed” that has been planted, and is growing. As it grows and increases (because it is the ‘greatest among herbs’ – aside: herbs heal us just as coming to Christ heals us), people can find shelter and safety, a place to ‘lodge.’

I also notice that it “becometh a tree.” Jesus died on the cross so that I can ‘grow.’ It is through that ‘tree’ that all people can “come and lodge” in His ‘branches.’

Matthew 13:31-32
     “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

• Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?

In the parable of the treasure and pearl of great price, I see that when we find what is really most important and valuable, we do whatever is necessary to preserve and ‘treasure” those things.

Matthew 13:44-46

44 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

 45 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

• Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?

There are many reasons members choose to leave the Church, but a key underlying principle is that every person has agency and no one is compelled to be a member, or to follow Jesus. The parable of the wheat and the tares clearly teaches that there is ‘an enemy’ and opposition to all good things. 

President Packer teaches, “The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury” (April 2013, General Conference). The parable of the tares describes such an enemy.

President Uchtdorf addressed the question of why some Church members choose to leave the Church in October 2013 General Conference:

“There are some who leave the Church they once loved.

One might ask, “If the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave?”

Sometimes we assume it is because they have been offended or lazy or sinful. Actually, it is not that simple. In fact, there is not just one reason that applies to the variety of situations.

Some of our dear members struggle for years with the question whether they should separate themselves from the Church.

In this Church that honors personal agency so strongly, that was restored by a young man who asked questions and sought answers, we respect those who honestly search for truth. It may break our hearts when their journey takes them away from the Church we love and the truth we have found, but we honor their right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim that privilege for ourselves (Articles of Faith 1:11)

Some struggle with unanswered questions about things that have been done or said in the past. . . . Sometimes questions arise because we simply don’t have all the information and we just need a bit more patience. When the entire truth is eventually known, things that didn't make sense to us before will be resolved to our satisfaction.

Sometimes there is a difference of opinion as to what the “facts” really mean. A question that creates doubt in some can, after careful investigation, build faith in others.

And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.

. . . God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes. . . . This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth.

. . .. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed.

3. Write answers to the following questions:

• Considering the parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price (see Matthew 13:44-46), what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

We each are required to sacrifice for the gospel and it is proper for us to ask ourselves these questions. I have many ancestors who suffered extreme persecution and hardship to ‘treasure the gospel.’ I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint is a “Pearl of Great Price.” It is worth every sacrifice we may find necessary.

My sacrifices are not as difficult as being robbed, persecuted, or killed to affirm my beliefs, but I surely must ask what I sacrifice.

Am I willing to spend my time and money to serve in church calling, and serving others? Do I pay a full tithe, and contribute a generous fast offering? Am I willing to give funds to help missionaries, those with physical needs, and those that need to travel to the temples? Am I willing to forgive family and friends for ways they lack understanding or impose on me? Am I willing to avoid contention of all kinds? Am I kind? Am I always honest? The list or possible sacrifices may be endless. Am I willing?

• What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? (See Matthew 13:47). What does it mean to be gathered into the net? What is represented by the action of gathering the good into vessels and casting the bad away? (See Matthew 13:48-50).

The net of the gospel is all the ways we have the means to share with others the wonderful news that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and that through his sacrifices we can be ‘gathered’ to be with Him again.

When fishermen drag their nets through the water, everything that is larger than the holes in the net is captured and hauled in to their boat. They then must select what is desirable and sort out debris and fish that are not suitable to sell or eat. Everything that does not meet the standards they have for what is wanted is ‘cast away.’ The gathering represents missionary work, and the sorting represents the final judgment. When I hear this parable I ask myself if I can live my life so that I can be ‘gathered’ as ‘just’ by the angels.

Matthew 13:47-50

47 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.