The Kingdom Parables

The Lord Often Taught in Parables

A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.

The word parable is from the Greek root word “parabole” Para means “to come along side or compare” and “ballo” means “to see” with.

Christ used parables to instruct or give principles.  Sometimes they were allegories and often included inanimate objects such as plants or they might use people in various societal positions. Often they serve as object lessons that use experiences from life to communicate a meaning in Christ’s teachings.

In many parables there is good and bad, evil and righteous and contrast between them.  Always it is used to teach a concept or truth.

Jesus gave parables to hide the meaning from those whose hearts were hardened and/or from those who choose to reject him and the message of God. If you do not have the Holy Spirit with you then you will not understand the parable and what Christ is trying to convey.

In Matthew 13 Christ taught several parables called “The Kingdom Parables”

The Parable of THE SOWER

 

Matthew 13: 3-8 (also Mark 4 & Luke 8)
 

Symbolizes those who are prepared for the word versus those who are not

“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

Meaning of the symbols:

The SEED = The Word of God

The SOWER = One who preaches the Word of God

The FIELD = The “World”

The FRUITS = The results or works which come forth in the lives of the hearers of the word

The SOILS = The varying hearts of the hearers of the Word.

1.   Seeds that fell by the wayside.  They are teachings that fall upon hardened hearts and do not want to see or believe.

2.   Stony Ground which did not have much earth.  The seeds immediately sprang up but once the sun was up they were scorched, they withered and died.  There are those that hear the word and immediately receive it with gladness but they did not do what was necessary to create deep roots in their testimony of Jesus Christ.  When trials came along they withered and died in their testimony of Christ and left the gospel.  Just like fertilizer and good dirt is needed to grow healthy plants – spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival.

3.   Seeds among the thorns.  These seeds grew up but the thorns around it choked them out and they did not yield fruit.  These represent those that hear the word but then the cares of the world, riches, honor, and lusts of worldly things choke out their testimonies.

4.   Seeds that fell onto good ground and brought forth fruit.  In Luke 8:15 Jesus says that the “good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”  We need to prioritize our life and make sure we are spiritually feeding our soul. Scripture study, prayer, church, and temple attendance are necessary in our lives to keep us strong and valiant in our testimonies in Jesus Christ.

A great talk:     https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-parable-of-the-sower?lang=eng

Parable of the Tares

Matthew 13:24-30

Symbolizes Spiritual Harvest or Final Judgement


 

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  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?  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  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.”

Meaning of the Symbols

1. The man sowing seed is the Son of Man (Jesus) with the Apostles being the sowers or the missionaries spreading the word of God.
2. The field is the world.
3. The good seed are the children of the kingdom (followers of Jesus).
4. Falling asleep implies the death of the original Apostles
5. The tares are children of the wicked one (those who follow the enticements of Satan) and also represent evil doctrine and those that spread it. Also members those that present themselves as faithful members but in reality or servants of Satan.  “Traditionally, tares have been identified with the darnel weed, a species of bearded rye-grass which closely resembles wheat in the early growth period and which is found in modern Palestine. This weed has a bitter taste; if eaten in any appreciable amount, either separately or when mixed with bread, it causes dizziness and often acts as a violent emetic.” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:296.)
6. The enemy is the devil, worldliness, devil’s power on this earth..
7. The harvest is the end of the world.
8. The reapers are the angels sent to reap the field.
9. The tares bound and burned are the evil ones separated out and cast into fire (punishment) at the Judgment.
10. The wheat gathered into the barn represents the righteous who are separated out and made to “shine forth” in the kingdom of the Father.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 13: 31 & 32

Symbolizes the Restoration of the Gospel

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.

Meaning of the Symbols

1. Mustard Seed – Kingdom of Heaven & Book of Mormon
2. Tree – The Gospel in the Last Days & spreading of the Book of Mormon
3. Birds – Angels that come down and combine together to gather the children of God.

From a tiny seed comes a large tree.  The gospel started small, the Book of Mormon small, but in time the gospel and the Book of Mormon has spread throughout the world becoming a large tree.  The tree provides safety and protection to the members who choice to live in it and partake of its fruit.  The gospel will provide for us spiritual food and shelter if we but just seek for it.  The larger it grows, the more fruit that it has until it can cover the earth.

The Parable of the Leaven or the Three Measures of Meal

Matthew 13:33

Symbolizes the Growth of the Gospel in the Last Days

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.

Meaning of Symbols

1. Leaven - The 3 witnesses or anyone that helps the gospel to grow.
2. 3 Measures of Meal – undergoing the purifying touch by a revelation of Jesus Christ and the ministering of angels.

If you have ever baked break you know that just a couple of teaspoons of yeast will make the break rise dramatically.  Prophet Joseph Smith said  “It may be understood that the Church of the Latter-day Saints has taken its rise from a little leaven that was put into three witnesses. Behold, how much this is like the parable! It is fast leavening the lump, and will soon leaven the whole.” ²

The Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon were great blessings to the early saints as they bore testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.  Their testimonies helped the Book of Mormon to spread and grow.

You and I can also be ‘leaven’ for the gospel.  As we are strong and we bear testimony to those around us, we can help the church to strengthen and to grow.

A great video -   Mustard Seed Video

The Parable of the Treasure Hid in the Field & The Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:44-46
 

Symbolizes The Great Value of the Kingdom of Heaven

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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Meaning of the symbols

1. Treasure & the Pearl – The Gospel
2. Field – The world
3. Man – Found the treasure by accident
4. Merchant Man – He seeked for the treasure
5. All he had – the same price for everyone no matter how rich or poor

John Calvin, who broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530  wrote “The first two of these parables are intended to instruct believers to prefer the Kingdom of heaven to the whole world, and therefore to deny themselves and all the desires of the flesh, that nothing may prevent them from obtaining so valuable a possession. We are greatly in need of such a warning; for we are so captivated by the allurements of the world, that eternal life fades from our view; and in consequence of our carnality, the spiritual graces of God are far from being held by us in the estimation which they deserve.”

My mother is an example of the merchant man.  When she was 8 years old she knew there was a true church out there.  She would go between churches trying to find the right one.  When they taught something that did not seem right then she would attend a different church.  In her early 20’s she found the gospel and joined.

My husband’s great great grandfather Ole Hansen is an example of the man who found the gospel by accident. About 1864 the first Mormon missionaries came into his town. He did not take kindly to the new doctrine. He persuaded the parish priest to attend one of the meetings of the Mormon elders in order to expose them.  He went around and invited all the neighbors to come and witness the elders’ humiliation.  The priest could not say anything against the new doctrine.  Still, Ole was not satisfied so he got a member of the National Rickstag to come and refute the doctrine.  This attempt was not successful either.  Now he began to consider the matter very seriously. After pondering it for a while he found a quiet place to pray and he gained his testimony. This caused ill will with his neighbors.  After his baptism the neighbors flocked out to their gates to take a look at him to see if he looked the same.  As he passed there were all kinds of slur remarks.

One winter, the family was in destitute circumstances. He had been wealthy up to this point but the neighbors would not trade with him.  Usually when a family was destitute the town rallied around and helped them get through the winter.  This winter they would not help him because he was a Mormon.

The family lived through the winter and then prepared to come to America to gather with the saints.

His eldest son, Dave’s great grandfather would not come with him to America.  He told him he was crazy for joining the church and ran away.

In 1883 Ole went back to his native land as a missionary.  He saw his son Hans, taught him the gospel, baptized him and the family came to America.

His dying words to his oldest great-grandchild were, “Remember Grandfather and be a good Mormon.” He was buried in the Smithfield City Cemetery.

Watch this Video:

The Parable of the Gospel Net

Matthew 13: 47-48
 

Symbolizes the Final Judgement

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Meaning of Symbols

1. Net – Kingdom of Heaven
2. Fishermen – Seed of Joseph spreading forth the Gospel
3. Sea – World
4. Of Every Kind from the Sea – Children of God from all walks of life and all races who join the church.
5. Vessels – Kingdom of God

It is not good enough to just be baptized.  We must also endure to the end.  We must strive to stay on the path and never give up.  We must be steadfast in Christ “having a perfect brightness of hope.” (2 Nephi 31:20).  If we do this we will be numbered among the good and gathered into the good vessels.  If we do not stay true and endure we will be cast away.