NT Come Follow Me 13
NT Come Follow Me 13
Introduction:
“Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let
Him Hear”
How can you “hear” the parables more fully, understanding them and applying them in your life? Will you ask for help and direction? Do you believe these tools are meant for you?
The parables contain profound truths about the kingdom of God, for those who are spiritually prepared to receive them.
Matthew 13:3–23 The Sower: Are you ready to receive the word of God? How can you prepare your soil and your heart? Self-examination and developing a desire is a good place to start. This takes humility and pray, and asking our Father for help.
“For whosoever
receiveth,” Jesus declared, “to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance” (JST Matt 13:10).
Matthew 13:8 Is the word falling on good ground? Do you prepare for revelation? Do you prepare for Sacrament meeting, Sunday school, Relief Society, the temple? Do you prepare for prayer? Is your soil fertile, so that the words that you hear can “grow, blossom, flourish, and produce fruit that will bless [you and your families] in abundance?”
Personal Study: My heart must be prepared to receive the word
of God.
The Parable of the Sower verses 3–8 of Matthew 13
Vs 3 The Sower goes out to sow seed. Who is the sower? Is it the Lord and His servants? Is it the Holy Ghost? Is it those who are called and who have chosen to be prepared to deliver the word of God? Are you sowing good seeds…seeds that can produce and enhance the gathering?
Interpretations provided in verses 18–23
Find in notes Matthew
13 below
What can you do to
cultivate “good ground” in yourself? What might be some “thorns” that keep you
from truly hearing and following God’s word? How can you overcome these
“thorns”?
Luke 13:6–9
From the Parable of the Fig Tree
Don’t cast things away too soon. You might not have all the faith and all the
answers right now; but, you can work on it every day. Follow the promptings of
the Spirit and give due time to the Lord. Your faith will grow, your ground
will become more fertile, your roots and plants will develop. You can and will
be fruitful, if you choose to be by following the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the “fruit”
that the Lord seeks from us? How do we nourish our ground so we will “bear
fruit”?
Mosiah 2:9
“…hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and
your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that
the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.”
Alma 12:10–11
Choose to not harden your heart, so that you can receive the greater portion.
Alma 32:28–43 Plant the seed and take care of it. Grow up unto everlasting life.
The Parable of the
Sower Watch this with Bob!
Personal Study: Jesus’s parables help me understand the growth and destiny of His Church.
Joseph Smith said
that the parables in Matthew 13 describe the growth and destiny of the church
in the last days.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 293–303
See notes in Matthew 13 section.
What will you do to be an active participant in this latter-day work and in
support of Christ’s church here on the earth?
Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven
“The kingdom of God
on earth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 65). The purpose of the Church is to prepare its
members to live forever in the celestial kingdom or kingdom of heaven. However,
the scriptures sometimes call the Church the kingdom of heaven, meaning that
the Church is the kingdom of heaven on earth.”
During the
Millennium, the kingdom of God will be both political and ecclesiastical.
- May the kingdom of God go forth that the
kingdom of heaven may come, D&C
65:5–6.
A simple story used
to illustrate and teach a spiritual truth or principle.
For a listing of
His key parables, see Harmony of the
Gospels in the
appendix.
Personal Study: The righteous must grow among the wicked
until the end of the world.
Look for interpretations in Matthew 13:36–43 and Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7
From the Doctrine and Covenants:
The field was the
world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed.
The enemy, even Satan, soweth the tares.
Tthe angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and
waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields.
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the
blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat
also.
7 Therefore,
let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully
ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after
the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and
the field remaineth to be burned.
Tares The
word denotes darnel grass, a poisonous weed, which, until it comes into ear, is
similar in appearance to wheat.
How will you remain
faithful in spite of the wickedness in the world around you?
Personal Study: In what ways
did “certain women” minister to the Savior?
Who were the women who ministered to Jesus? How did they receive him? How
did they serve Him?
Daughters in My Kingdom [2017], 4
Family Study: Can you think of
any parables to teach lessons?
Family Study: The Condition of
the Ground
How can we make sure our ground is
fertile, that are hearts are not stony or hardened, or that they choke the
word?
Family Study: Opening our eyes, ears, and hearts to the
word of God?
Write you own
parables.
Family Study: Valuing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Do you treasure your
testimony and discipleship? Have you found a treasure? Do you possess a pearl
of great price? How can you put the kingdom of God first in your life?
Family Study: Jesus Can Loose Us from our Infirmities
When we feel that we
cannot lift ourselves up, Jesus still call. We need to develop more faith in
him.
Elder Richard G.
Scott taught, “A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not
weakened with the passage of time” (“The Power of
Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2011, 6).
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/13?lang=eng
Vs 1-3 Jesus is the Sower. He is gathering and
teaching the children of Israel.
The Parable of the Sower verses 3–8 of Matthew 13
Vs 3 The Sower goes out to sow seed? Who is the sower? Is it the Lord and His servants? Is it the Holy Ghost? Is it those who are called and who have chosen to be prepared to deliver the word of God? Are you sowing good seeds…seeds that can produce and enhance the gathering?
Vs 4 Seeds that fall by the wayside are eaten by the birds. Bob and I
have watched our birds eat the seed that we throw out for them.
In a gospel setting, if our ground isn't prepared, if we don't
grab the seeds and cover them and protect them, the birds will surely enjoy
them.
Are there people out there who will peck at us if we have some
gospel truths on us but we haven't taken them into our hearts?
Vs 5-6 What happens with stony
places? You know that when the soil isn't prepared, when it's hard, when you don't
have sufficient topsoil and nutrients, the good seed will still spring up; but,
it's going to wither, because the roots won't be strong enough to support the
plant.
The sun helps
a healthy plant to grow, but it will dry up a plant that has no roots.
What can you do to help insure the your roots in the gospel of
Jesus Christ will be strong?
Vs 7 You know that when you don't clear the land of weeds and briars,
that your new plant is going to intertwine with the wild mess and be choked
out. It has no chance of thriving and surviving.
When we accept the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is
time to stop looking at the doctrines of men and the doctrines of the devil
that oppose the gospel of our Lord.
If our testimonies are precious to us, we need to protect them.
Vs 8-9 Make your ground good. Show forth good fruit and good works by
following the Savior and in yoking yourself to Him. You have to become a good
gardener of your own spiritual safety.
When you plant a garden, you need to care for it, water it, weed
it, prune it, fertilize it.
You can bring forth more and more fruit by being part of the
gathering. As you prepare your own soil, also help others to prepare. Invite
them to come unto Christ.
Don't just read and write, but do.
"Do it."
Words to His Disciples Matthew 13:10-17
Vs 10-15 Develop a believing heart. Prepare your soil. Trust in the Lord to
help you to grow and to help others to grow in the gospel. Put his words to the
test. Be humble, be obedient, love him with all your heart, love your neighbor
as yourself. Work on developing charity.
Use your ears to hear and your eyes to see the wonders that
Heavenly Father wants to share with you. Open your heart. Always remember Jesus
as you have covenanted to do, so that you can always have His Spirit to be with
you. Go to the Master Healer and be healed. Allow Him to be your Shepherd and
be willing to work with Him in gathering Israel.
Vs 16-17 We have truly been blessed to have the truth of
the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be members of His Church throughout
our lives. We have been blessed to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We are
blessed to have the words of the ancient prophets throughout the scriptures. We
are blessed to have modern day prophets that we can see and listen to. We have
seen many wonderful modern day miracles that assist in furthering and speeding
up the work of the Lord in our day. We will be blessed to know and feel all
these things as we cultivate our ground and stand firm in our testimonies.
Interpretations provided in verses 18–23
Vs 18 If you want to understand the parable of the
Sower more fully, the Lord has given those who will read and seek the
interpretation.
Vs 19 The seed received by the wayside. The person heard the word of the
kingdom and didn't understand it; so the devil hurries and catches away what
was sown in his heart.
It is up to us to learn how to seek understanding quickly, so that
we don't forfeit our spiritual growth.
Vs 20-21 There are some people, or at
times even ourselves, who hear the word and gladly receive it. But without
roots, we turn back to old ways.
How can we develop our own roots, so that we can withstand
opposition that will come?
Think of Lehi's dream. There were many people that went to the
tree of life, ate the fruit and felt the joy; but, when those in the great and
spacious building laughed and mocked at them they fell away.
As undershepherds or as sowers under the Master Sower, who can we
work on retention? How can we help others to develop roots in the gospel, the
Doctrine of Christ, and in His Church?
Vs 22 He that received the word among
thorns allowed the pursuits and riches of this world to take precedence over
the blessings and the riches of the kingdom.
This individual is all about gaining riches, but he's lost the
riches that matter. What does it mean to become unfruitful? His efforts are not
producing anything lasting.
How can tithes and
offering protect us from this?
Vs 23 The seeds that become productive!
Are you a productive plant of the Lord? Are you developing testimony and talent
and using it in His service? Are you helping to build the Kingdom of God and to
Gather Israel?
·
The wheat and the tares (13:24–30, 36–43)
Vs 24 Following is the parable of the sower.
Vs 30 It's interesting to note that the wheat will be
gathered to safety first, and then the tares will be burned.
·
The mustard seed (13:31–32)
Vs 31 Following
is the parable of the Mustard Seed.
Vs 32 The mustard seed is small, but the tree is large, where
birds can lodge. The spice is strong.
·
The leaven (13:33)
Vs 33 The parable of the leaven
Vs 36 The disciples seek more understanding concerning the parable
of the tares.
Vs 37-43 Jesus explains the parable of the tares. Choose to be among
those who will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father! Make sure
you have ears to hear.
·
The hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (13:44–46)
Vs 44 The
kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hid in a field. The Book of Mormon
is a treasure that came out of the earth.
Many people have forsaken all because their love for the Lord and
their testimony of the Book of Frmon and the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Vs 45-46 The kingom of
heaven is like a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. Will you give up all
worldy things have the the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
·
The net (13:47–50)
V2 47-50 The kingdom of heaven is like a net. The good fish weill be
gathered, and the bad fish will be cast away.
·
The householder (13:52)
Vs 52 The parable of the householder.
Vs 52-58 Are you also offended by those who might have grown up in
the gospel among you and have been given authority over you?. Trust in whom the
Lord chooses to lead you. Don't be jealous and don't be offended.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/8?lang=eng
Jesus gives and interprets the parable of the
sower—He stills the tempest; casts out a legion of devils, who then enter the
swine; heals a woman of an issue of blood; and raises Jairus’s daughter from
death.
Vs 1-3 Jesus traveled everywhere he could. Many mean
and also many women traveled with him. The women ministered to him of their
substance. I imagine that the women cooked and cleaned and kept their
campgrounds nice.
Vs 4-8 The parable of the
sower
Vs 9-10 The disciples have
Jesus with them, and they want to learn and are ready to learn, so Jesus
answers their questions and gives them more knowledge.
Vs 11-15 The Savior's
interpretation of the parable of the sower.
Vs 16-17 Do works of
light. Follow after Jesus and set Him up as the example that others should
follow. This know, that whatever your works are, someday all will know them.
Make them good. Follow Jesus.
Vs 18 What are you doing with the things you are hearing
and receiving through your own study and through listening in Church and to the
prophet and apostles? What are you doing with what you know and believe to be
true. This is a gospel of application. If you don't do as the Lord asks you to
do, you will lose what you have and may also cause others to.
Vs 19-21 We are the family of Christ if we hear the word
of God and do it!
Vs 24-25 Jesus can calm
all the storms in our lives. He can calm the storms within us. We can rest
peacefully when He is with us.
Vs 33 Jesus saved a man
who had a legion of devils with him. Does this not tell us the worth of a soul?
The devils wanted to possess bodies, even if it were pigs. The pigs wouldn't
have it. They ran in confusion and were drowned.
Vs 38-39 What a joyous time
this man must have had with his own family and friends. Still there were those
who weren't ready to have such miracles. They feared.
Vs 40 Work on receiving
the Lord gladly every day, and wait for Him and wait on Him every day.
Vs 41-56 Jairus's daughter
is raised from the dead, and the woman who touched Jesus's closed was healed by
Jesus through her faith in Him.
Vs 46-48 This woman had
tried everything. We need to be grateful for those who help us. The Lord
inspires good physicians. But ultimately, it is the Lord that can heal us all.
Our faith should be in Him, His timing, and His will.
Vs 49-50 This is the same
man who spoke words of co[mfort to Mary and Martha, who commanded Lazarus to
come forth. He is the resurrection and the life. We should fear not and be
believing. Our love ones are not lost; they all shall be made whole; whether
now or in the resurrection, we will have them with us again. "Fear not,
believe only, and [they all] shall be made whole."
Vs 51-56 This is the same
man who spoke words of co[mfort to Mary and Martha, who commanded Lazarus to
come forth. He is the resurrection and the life. We should fear not and be
believing. Our love ones are not lost; they all shall be made whole; whether
now or in the resurrection, we will have them with us again. "Fear not,
believe only, and [they all] shall be made whole."
Vs 54-56 I stand all amazed. Even though I believe in
lives restored in the here and now, and I believe in the resurrection day, I
will still feel wonder and astonishment at the love Jesus offers me and by the
love that our Father has for each of us, so much so that He provided us with a
Savior, the Master Healer.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/13?lang=eng
Jesus
teaches, Repent or perish—He gives the parable of the barren fig tree, heals a
woman on the Sabbath, and likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed—He
discusses whether few or many are saved and laments over Jerusalem.
Vs 6-12 The parable of the
barren fig tree in the vineyard.
Vs 10-13 Jesus healed a
woman of her infirmity.
Vs 14-17 Healings and
loosing infirmities are the Lord's work and should be ours too on the Sabbath
days.
Vs 18-21 The Kindgdm fo Gd
is like a grain of mustard seed and like leaven.
Vs 28-30 Everyone will
have an opportunity to choose and to follow Jesus. What are you doing with
yours?
Vs 32-35 Jesus came to give His life for us. We are lost without Him. But
His arms are stretched out still.
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