Choice 2: Matthew 13: 24-48. The Lord Often Taught with Parables
1. In the Bible Dictionary read the first three paragraphs under the entry “Parables” (pp. 740-41). In your own words, write a definition of a parable:
An extended metaphor which conveys spiritual truths in proportion to the hearer’s faith and intelligence.
An extended metaphor which conveys spiritual truths in proportion to the hearer’s faith and intelligence.
2. Read the following parables: parable of the tares (Matthew 13:24-30); parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Matthew 13:47-50); 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.
o What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? - the parable of the tares
o Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? - The parable of the gospel net
o 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 and the leaven
o Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church? - The parables of the treasure and the pearl of great price
o Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church? - the parable of the gospel net?
3. Write answers to the following questions:
o 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?
I have not really had to make a lot of sacrifices for the gospel in my life (or no more than anyone else in the church has anyway). I sacrificed sleep during high school by going to early-morning seminary. I sacrifice time on Sundays to go to church, and time when I do service for others occasionally (though this is hardly a sacrifice because it makes me feel good!). I make sacrifices of not doing some of the things I want to do like drinking coffee and black tea or getting multiple ear piercings. I dress modestly, in a way that allows me to wear my temple garments, which can be a sacrifice of comfort and vanity. I sacrifice 10% of income for tithing, and two meals on fast Sundays. But those are all just a bunch of little things. Even though I guess I make sacrifices for the gospel, I definitely feel like I could sacrifice even more to follow the gospel even better than I do. I want to be more like the man who would sacrifice everything to obtain the treasure in the field, because right now I’m probably bartering with the person selling the field to see what price I can talk him down to ;-)
I have not really had to make a lot of sacrifices for the gospel in my life (or no more than anyone else in the church has anyway). I sacrificed sleep during high school by going to early-morning seminary. I sacrifice time on Sundays to go to church, and time when I do service for others occasionally (though this is hardly a sacrifice because it makes me feel good!). I make sacrifices of not doing some of the things I want to do like drinking coffee and black tea or getting multiple ear piercings. I dress modestly, in a way that allows me to wear my temple garments, which can be a sacrifice of comfort and vanity. I sacrifice 10% of income for tithing, and two meals on fast Sundays. But those are all just a bunch of little things. Even though I guess I make sacrifices for the gospel, I definitely feel like I could sacrifice even more to follow the gospel even better than I do. I want to be more like the man who would sacrifice everything to obtain the treasure in the field, because right now I’m probably bartering with the person selling the field to see what price I can talk him down to ;-)
o 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).
I couldn’t find an explanation of the parable of the net, but I said above that it had to do with the church sending out missionaries. I think that’s because nets are used to catch or gather things in, and when Christ said that he would make Peter and his brother “fishers of men” he meant that they would preach the gospel (cast their nets) and gather in men (instead of fish). So I guess the net is the gospel, because the fishers are missionaries/those who preach the gospel. I think being gathered into the net means hearing the gospel. The good are those who hear the gospel and accept it and are converted, and the bad are those who hear the gospel and reject it. The good are gathered into the kingdom of heaven while the bad are cast out into “the furnace of fire” in the last days.
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