Lesson 11: “He Spake Many Things unto Them in Parables” – Scriptures and Quotes
President Howard W. Hunter said of parables: “They are so simple a child can understand, yet profound enough for the sage and philosopher. … Each of the parables spoken by the Savior seems to teach a principle or give an admonition regarding the attributes necessary to qualify for exaltation.”
Reading 1 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “Parables are a call to investigate the truth; to learn more; to inquire into the spiritual realities, which, through them, are but dimly viewed. Parables start truth seekers out in the direction of further light and knowledge and understanding; they invite men to ponder such truths as they are able to bear in the hope of learning more. Parables are a call to come unto Christ, to believe his doctrines, to live his laws, and to be saved in his kingdom. They teach arithmetic to those who have the capacity to learn calculus in due course. They are the mild milk of the word that prepares our spiritual digestive processes to feast upon the doctrinal meat of the kingdom.” (The Mortal Messiah, Vol.2, p.245)
Reading 2 – Matthew 10-16
Elder James E. Talmage has suggested that the Lord taught in parables for three reasons:
“1. To avoid trouble with the scribes, Pharisees, and rabbis who “were alert in maintaining a close watch upon His movements and his works, ever ready to make Him an offender for a word.”
2. To show mercy to his hearers: “Had He always taught in explicit declaration, such as required no interpretation, many among His hearers would have come under condemnation, inasmuch as they were too weak in faith and unprepared in heart . . . to accept and obey the saving word.”
3. To help people to remember and reflect on his words: “Many a peasant who had heard the little incident of the sower . . . would be reminded by the recurring circumstances of his daily work; the gardener would recollect the story of the mustard seed whenever he planted afresh.” James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ.
Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "Yet parables, planted in the minds of truth seekers, help them remember the issues involved until such time as the full and plain knowledge parts the parabolic veil and stands revealed for all to see. And parables form a reservoir of knowledge about which even the saints can ponder and inquire as they seek to perfect and expand their limited views of gospel themes." (Mortal Messiah, 2:240)
D&C 82:3
Reading 3 – Matthew 13:3-9
The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “The multitude … received not His saying … because they were not willing to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears; not because they could not, and were not privileged to see and hear, but because their hearts were full of iniquity and abominations. … The very reason why the multitude … did not receive an explanation upon His parables, was because of unbelief” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 96–97)
Reading 4 – Matthew 13:16-23
Reading 5 – The First Presidency has said: “But listen to the explanation of the parable of the Sower: "When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away, that which was sown in his heart." Now mark the expression that which was sown in his heart. This is he which receiveth seed by the way side. Men who have no principle of righteousness in themselves, and whose hearts are full of iniquity, and have no desire for the principles of truth, do not understand the word of truth when they hear it. The devil taketh away the word of truth out of their hearts, because there is no desire for righteousness in them.
"But he that receiveth seed in stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon, with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by, he is offended.
He also that receiveth seed among the thorns, is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty." Thus the Savior Himself explains unto His disciples the parable which He put forth, and left no mystery or darkness upon the minds of those who firmly believe on His words” (James R. Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.1, p.63).
Joseph Smith said “The condemnation which rested upon the multitude that received not His saying, was because they were not willing to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears; not because they could not, and were not privileged to see and hear but because their hearts were full of iniquity and abominations; ‘as your fathers did, so do ye.’ The prophet, foreseeing that they would thus harden their hearts, plainly declared it; and herein is the condemnation of the world; that light hath come into the world, and men choose darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. This is so plainly taught by the Savior, that a wayfaring man need not mistake it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834B37, p.95).
D&C 29:7
Reading 6 – Matthew 13:24-30
Reading 7 - Doctrine and Covenants 86:1-7
Reading 8 – Elder Neal Maxwell said: “Years ago, I wondered over the scriptural imagery of angels waiting "day and night" for "the great command" to come down and reap the tares in a wicked and suffering world; it seemed rather eager to me (see D&C 38:12; 86:5). Given such massive, needless human suffering, I don't wonder anymore!
“Even so, the final reaping will occur only when the Father determines that the world is ‘fully ripe.’ Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, the challenge is surviving spiritually in a deteriorating ‘wheat and tares world’”
Joseph Smith taught: "Now we learn by this parable, not only the setting up of the Kingdom in the days of the Savior, which is represented by the good seed, which produced fruit, but also the corruptions of the Church, which are represented by the tares, which were sown by the enemy, which His disciples would fain have plucked up, or cleansed the Church of, if their views had been favored by the Savior. But He, knowing all things, says, Not so. As much as to say, your views are not correct, the Church is in its infancy, if you take this rash step, you will destroy the wheat, or the Church, with the tares; therefore it is better to let them grow together until the harvest, or the end of the world, which means the destruction of the wicked." (TPJS, p97)
Reading 9 – Matthew 13:31-33
For Joseph Smith, the leaven symbolizes the still inward voice of the Spirit that testified to the Three Witnesses and will testify of the Restoration until it fills the earth. “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.”
