Week #2 New Testament Class

Unit One Choice #2: Matthew 8-9; Mark 2. Miracles Are Evidence of Faith and God's Power 

​1.          Using the following references, fill in the chart below by writing in the second column a brief description of each miracle the Lord performed, then in the third column list those who exercised faith for the miracle to occur.

2.          Explain in writing how it affects your faith to know that God has this kind of power.
 

Reference	Miracles of the Lord	Who Demonstrated Faith
Matthew 8:1-4	He cleansed the Leper	The Leper
Matthew 8:5-13	He Healed a sick servant	The Centurion
Matthew 8:14-15	He healed Peter’s Mother in Law	The Mother-in-Law
Matthew 8:16	He cast out devils	The ones who brought them
Matthew 8:23-27	He calmed the sea	Disciples
Matthew 8:28-34	He cast out devils	Christ
Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34	He cured disease	The woman he cured.
Matthew 9:27-31	He let the blind see	The blind men who he healed.
Mark 2:1-12	He cured Palsy	The men who brought him there.

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Unit Two: Choice #2

Topic Choices (Choose One): 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.

“Most teachers, especially those in the Middle East, have used some form of parable in their instruction, but none so exclusively as Jesus at one period of His ministry. During part of the Galilean ministry the record states that “without a parable spake he not unto them” (Mark 4:34). From our Lord’s words (Matt. 13:13–15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10) we learn the reason for this method. It was to veil the meaning. 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.

The word parable is Greek in origin and means a setting side by side, a comparison. In parables divine truth is presented by comparison with material things. The Hebrew word, mashal, which parable is used to translate, has a wider significance, and is applied to the balanced metrical form in which teaching is conveyed in the poetical books of the Old Testament. See Matt. 13:35

Interpretation of parables. It is important to distinguish between the interpretation of a parable and the application of a parable. The only true interpretation is the meaning the parable conveyed, or was meant to convey, when first spoken. The application of a parable may vary in every age and circumstance. But if the original meaning is to be grasped, it is important to consider its context and setting. The thought to which it is linked, the connection in which it is placed, the persons to whom it is addressed, all give the clue to the right interpretation. Other rules of interpretation are: (a) Do not force a meaning on subordinate incidents. (b) Do not regard as parallel parables that are connected by superficial likeness of imagery. (c) Bear in mind that the same illustration does not always have the same significance—for example, leaven signifies a principle of good as well as a principle of evil. (d) Remember that the comparison in a parable is not complete, does not touch at every point. Thus, the characters of the unjust judge or the unjust steward or the nobleman who went into a far country—possibly referring to the infamous Archelaus—do not concern the interpretation of the parable. The parable draws a picture of life as it is, not as it ought to be, and compares certain points in this picture with heavenly doctrine. (e) Observe the proper proportions of a parable, and do not make the episode more prominent than the main line of teaching.”

·       Parable: I believe that a parable is a comparison that is made to teach us a lesson.  Through symbolism, the Lord is able to teach us lessons to the extent that we are ready to learn them. 

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.

·      What describes the future growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

o   All of them

·      Why does the Church send out so many missionaries?

o   Parable of the Tares

·        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?

o   Parable of the Tares

·      Why are some members of the Church willing to sacrifice so much worldly wealth and recognition in order to maintain membership in the Church?

o   Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price

·      Why do some Church members choose to leave the Church?

o   Parable of the Gospel Net

Parable of the Tares:

24 ¶Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

 27 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?

 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

 30 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.

Parable of the mustard Seed and Heaven:

31 ¶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:

 32 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.

 33 ¶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.

Parable of the Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price:

44 ¶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.

 45 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Parable of the gospel net:

47 ¶Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

3.    Write answers to the following questions:

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 reasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?

·      I would literally make any sacrifice necessary to obtain the treasure of the gospel.  I am in a place where I can change just about anything in my life if I knew exactly what the Lord wanted.  I would literally give up anything other than my family, which I know I would never be asked to give up. 

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).

·      The net represents the gospel and the teachings and the faith that we have.  It basically represents what is going to separate us from those who are being cast out with the thousands of other fish who did not live righteously.  It is trying to illustrate that we will be picked through just like the fish and we will be judged according to our works.