The Lord Often Taught with Parables: Matthew 13: 24-48

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.

      The word parable means to a setting side by side, or a comparison. Parables are a way to compare divine truth with material things. Although parables were a common form of instruction, no teacher used them as exclusively as Jesus at one point in his ministry. The reason Jesus taught in parables was to veil the meaning of what he was teaching. The Bible Dictionary says, “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, ‘seeing they see not,’ while to the instructed and spiritual it reveals the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Thus it is that the parable exhibits the condition of all true knowledge. Only he who seeks finds.”

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? Parable of the leaven

o       Why does the Church send out so many missionaries? 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?  Parable of the mustard seed

​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?  Parable of the treasure and pearl of great price

o       Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church? Parable of the tares

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 would hope that I would be willing to give up anything and everything for the gospel. I have not been faced with a real-life situation where I’d have to make this choice, but I think I would be willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary to obtain the treasure of the gospel. I’m definitely willing to sacrifice my time and talents and I’m willing to give up my sins and give them to the Lord. I know of people who have had to sacrifice relationships, jobs, and even their lives for the gospel. I think when we really know that the gospel is true, we should be willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary in order to obtain that treasure.

·   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 think the net represents missionary work, gathering people into the gospel. Being     gathered by the net is like accepting the gospel and being baptized. It says that it’s like the end of the   world where angels will come forth and separate the wicked people from the good.