1296. Chapter 5 of the New Testament series: Matthew 13-15: Parables, and teachings of Jesus Christ. My notes.
Chapter 5 – New Testament. Matthew 13 to 15.
These events took place at a time when Jesus Christ and His disciples were facing increasing opposition from many Pharisees. Jesus began using a teaching method called parables to teach truths about the kingdom of Heaven.
The word parable means “a comparison” or setting side by side. Each compares the “kingdom of heaven” to a physical object, and could reach listeners at their individual levels of spirituality. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I inquire what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable?” In some parables the Savior Himself gave the interpretation, such as the parable of the sower and the wheat and the tares.
Pres. Hugh B. Brown pointed out that the Savior’s parables most likely developed out of ordinary day-to-day experiences. They were word pictures of what he had observed as he lived among the people. He taught from the richness of his own life, and he taught because he loved the people.
The parables in Matthew 13 help us understanding the gathering of people into the Church during the New Testament times, and also during the latter days, and the marvelous growth and destiny of the kingdom of heaven.
Summaries of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s teachings – in Matthew chapter 13.
Sower (verses 3-23) – People who hear the preaching of the gospel respond in various ways, and the preaching of the word is accepted in different ways by people.
Wheat and tares (verses 24-30) – The righteous and wicked grew together in both New Testament times and will in the latter days. When the Church is in its infancy, you need to be careful to not destroy the wheat, with the tares. Let them grow together until the harvest, or the end of the world, which will be the destruction of the wicked.
Mustard seed (verses 31-32) – The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed to represent the Church in the latter days, until the end of the world. The seed hidden in the field is like the Book of Mormon.
Leaven and treasures new and old (verses 33, 52) – The leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened is like the Church of the Latter-day Saints, and the three witnesses in the latter days, which will help purify the world.
Hidden treasure (verse 44) refers to the gathering of the righteous unto places (stakes) that they may be together and bear each other’s afflictions in the day of calamity.
Net (verses 47-50) – All types of people will be gathered into the Church, and the good may be saved in vessels prepared for that purpose, and the angels will take care of the bad. These come from Teachings: Joseph Smith, 303.
In the parable of the sower, the field represents the world, and the sowers represent the Apostles. The different types of soil represent the conditions of people’s hearts. The seeds being dropped by the wayside, stony places, or ground, or with thorns shows ways people respond to the gospel word. The good ground was fertile soil with depth for the plants to grow.
Matthew 13:12 could be understood to mean, “For whosoever hath a capacity to receive, to him shall be given. Even an all-powerful God cannot give to someone who will not receive.” The Savior used parables to hide meaning from those who were spiritually unprepared, and to reveal great truths to those who were ready to receive them. They revealed mysteries or secrets of the kingdom, and helped invite those to seek further understanding of the truths they contained. Elder James E. Talmage (12) said “Two men may hear the same words; one of them listens in indolence and indifference, and the other with active mind intent on learning all the words can possibly convey. The one is wise and the other foolish.”
Pres. James E. Faust taught how we can increase our hearts to be more receptive. “To do this we need to plow the soil through daily humble prayer, asking for strength and forgiveness. We need to overcome our feelings of pride, and keep the commandments to the best of our ability.” Pres. Henry B. Eyring taught that studying the word of God can open our hearts to spiritual things, and open our minds to see spiritual things not visible to the natural eye.
The word tares denotes darnel grass, a poisonous weed, which, until it comes into ear, is similar in appearance to wheat. Pres. Marion G. Romney said “The gathering of the wheat is taking place in this dispensation, and the burning of the tares will occur at His triumphal return.”
Matthew wrote that the Savior’s parables fulfilled prophecy, truths that had been kept secret from the foundation of the world. These include revelations recorded in the Book of Mormon, and ordinances and covenants of the holy temple. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price give emphasis to the great value of the gospel of Jesus Christ and it is worth sacrificing everything we have to obtain it. The Savior had great compassion, and His entire ministry exemplified love of neighbor.
The Romans divided the night hours into four watches, as 6:00 - 9:00, 9 to 12, 12 to 3 a.m., and the fourth watch would have been 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., when He came walking on the water. Sister Susan W. Tanner counseled us to be patient: “I know that the Lord’s tender mercies and His miracles are real. They come in His way and on His timetable. Sometimes it is not until we have reached our extremity when miracles do come, sometimes not until the fourth watch.”
When the disciples saw the Savior walking on water in the fourth watch, they were fearful. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (12) said that too often too many of us run from the very things that will bless us and save us and soothe us. Peter walked on water when his eyes were fixed on the Savior. “At times when we feel the floods are threatening to drown us and the deep is going to swallow up our faith, I pray we may always hear amid the storm and the darkness that sweet utterance of the Savior of the world: 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.' It was the boisterous winds that caused Peter to turn his focus away from the Lord."
Sister Patricia P. Pinegar said: "Some of today’s distractions could be thinking more about pleasing our friends or other people than we do about pleasing God. It may be the loud and confusing voices we hear on TV, in videos, in music. Sometimes we just don’t care. Our hearts are hard."
In Matthew 15:8 the Savior quoted Isaiah 29:13, applying it to people in His day. Though they professed God with their mouths, their hearts were far from Him. Elder Dallin H . Oakes taught that in the Final Judgment it will not be enough for us to know and profess that the gospel is true. “Jesus’ challenge shows that the conversion He required for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven was far more than just being converted to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be ‘converted,’ which requires us to do and to become.”
When the gospel was being proclaimed to only the Jews and not yet to the Gentiles, a Gentile woman recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah. The Greek word translated “dogs” referred to small dogs that could be household pets. Such pets would eat morsels of food given to them from the table or carelessly dropped. She understood the Savior’s distinction between Israel and Gentiles, and she correctly pointed out that household pets were allowed to eat that which had been rejected. She did not take offense at Jesus’s words, but she humbly recognized that she was a beggar at Israel’s table. The Savior commended her expression of faith. When the time came for the disciples to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, they could expect to find many individuals who, like this woman, were ready to receive their message.
In the end of each chapter are given Points to Ponder. Here are some:
What can you do to cultivate the spiritual “soil” of your heart to eliminate impediments to spiritual growth and productivity? And How well are you keeping your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ rather than on the winds and waves of life? How does keeping Him in the forefront of your life help you overcome the challenges of daily living?
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