Parables and Accounts that Teach Eternal Truths (Luke 16-18)

Directions: Study the following parables and accounts along with the accompanying commentary from the institute student manual. Describe in writing what you feel is the major principle the Lord wants us to understand from each of the parables:

Luke 16:1-12, the parable of the unjust steward. “The Children of This World Are in Their Generation Wiser Than the Children of Light” (p. 124)

o   Elder Talmadge explains that this parable means, “Be diligent; for the day in which you can use your earthly riches will soon pass. Take a lesson from even the dishonest and the evil; if they are so prudent as to provide for the only future they think of, how much more should you, who believe in an eternal future, provide therefor! If you have not learned wisdom and prudence in the use of ‘unrighteous mammon,’ how can you be trusted with the more enduring riches?” (Jesus the Christ, 464).

o   Mormon 9:28 says, “Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanliness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.”

Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. “What Do We Learn About the Spirit World from the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus?” (P. 124-125)

o   “The Joseph Smith Translation expands upon Luke 16:16–18, making clear that in the parable Jesus taught to the Pharisees, he was comparing the rich man to them and teaching them what lay in their future if they continued to pervert the right way” (New Testament institute student manual).

o   “In the parable, the Savior did not say that the rich man was an evil man—only that with all the blessings he had been given, he did not give from his great wealth to someone in need” (New Testament institute student manual).

o   “In this parable, the Savior taught all of us to be wise in how we use the temporal and spiritual blessings given to us” (New Testament institute student manual).

o   “Abraham’s bosom” refers to paradise, and “hell” refers to the spirit prison. The division between these two places existed before Jesus Christ visited the spirit world between the time of His death and His Resurrection. Before Christ’s death, spirits from paradise could not visit those who were in spirit prison. His ministry in the spirit world bridged the gulf between paradise and the spirit prison, making it possible for the spirits in prison to receive the message of the gospel from authorized ministers sent from paradise” (New Testament institute student manual).

o   “In the parable, a rich man who had gone to hell pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers to convince them that they should repent. Abraham replied that if they would not hear the words of the prophets, “neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Such persuasion requires a changed heart—not changed messengers. Failing to hear the prophets is the same thing as failing to hear the Savior—the One who did rise from the dead. “He that receiveth my servants receiveth me” (D&C 84:36), the Lord declared. “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38)” (New Testament institute student manual).

§  With General Conference coming up on April 4-5, 2015 I would challenge everyone to watch all sessions of General Conference and use the BYU-Idaho Learning Model to gain more out of it.

·         Prepare- pray specifically about something, take notes if that helps you learn, get chores done before conference starts

·         Teach One Another- write down names of people that you know that need to hear that conference talk and then email it to them, use the conference talks as FHE lessons so you can teach one another

·         Ponder/Apply- decide one thing you can do better at to become more like the Savior and then plan out your action steps to do that, ask your family/friends what they learned and how they are going to apply that to their lives

Luke 17:11-19, the ten lepers. “Why Were the Ten Lepers to Show Themselves to the Priests?” and “Were There Not Ten Cleansed?” (P. 130) See also Bible Dictionary, “Leprosy” (p. 724).

o   Why did Jesus tell the ten lepers to “Go shew yourselves unto the priests” (Luke 17:14)?

§  According to the New Testament institute manual “for a leper the prescribed means of obtaining permission to reenter society required him to show himself to the priests of the people.”

§  Also I feel like the Savior was testing their faith. Would they believe that they would be cleansed and start going to the show themselves to the priests. As we find out in vs. 14 this is exactly what happened.

o   Bishop Merrill J. Bateman said, “In becoming a whole person, the grateful leper was healed inside as well as on the outside. That day nine lepers were healed skin deep, but only one had the faith to be made whole” (“The Power to Heal from Within,” Ensign, May 1995, 14).

Luke 18:1-8, the parable of the unjust judge. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Unjust Judge?” (p. 131).

o   In vs. 1 it says, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.

o   Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “When lonely, cold, hard times come, we have to endure, we have to continue, we have to persist. That was the Savior’s message in the parable of the importuning widow. … Keep knocking on that door. Keep pleading. In the meantime, know that God hears your cries and knows your distress. He is your Father, and you are His child” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 30).

 

Luke 18:9-14, the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. “Why Did the Lord Give the Parable of the Pharisee and Publican?” (p. 131).

o   Jesus uses this parable to address those “which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). I feel that Jesus is warning those that are self-righteous and hypocritical. In fact in vs. 14 Jesus says, “for every one that exalted himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

o   “The parable probably surprised those who heard it, for Pharisees were generally admired and regarded as very obedient to the law, though Jesus had rebuked them for hypocrisy. Publicans, however, were tax collectors and were hated, shunned, and seen as corrupt. Though they were often grouped with harlots and sinners, many were receptive to Jesus’s teaching” (New Testament Institute Student Manual).

Becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ (Luke 10-14)

 

("The Better Part" by Simon Dewey)

     1. Read about the attributes of disciples of Christ

a.       Luke 10:38-42 (First things First)

                                                               i.      Mary and Martha teach me to always keep my priorities in order by doing the “needful” thing and choosing the “good part.”

                                                             ii.      In the talk “Good, Better, Best” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks he says, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

                                                            iii.      Elder Ballard counsels us that “A periodic review of the covenants we have made with the Lord will help us with our priorities and with balance in our lives. This review will help us see where we need to repent and change our lives to ensure that we are worthy of the promises that accompany our covenants and sacred ordinances.” (Keeping Life’s Demands in Balance)

b.      Luke 11:1-13

                                                               i.      Ask to be taught certain things, like prayer (vs. 1)

                                                             ii.      Submissive to the Father’s will (vs. 2)

                                                            iii.      Gratitude and Humility (vs. 3)

                                                           iv.      Forgiveness (vs. 4)

                                                             v.      Seek and have faith (vs. 9-10)

                                                           vi.      Ask for the guidance of the Spirit (vs. 13)

c.       Luke 12:13-40

                                                               i.      Eternal perspective (vs. 15, 21)

                                                             ii.      Work (vs. 19-20)

                                                            iii.      Faith (vs. 28)

                                                           iv.      Prepared (vs. 35)

                                                             v.      Be watching for the Second Coming (vs. 37-40)

d.      Luke 13: 23-24

                                                               i.      “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (vs. 24)

1.       I feel this means try to follow Christ’s example

e.      Luke 14: 16-33

                                                               i.      Accept the invitations of the Lord and don’t give excuses for not living the gospel

1.       Excuses given in the parable

a.       Need to see piece of land he just bought (vs. 18) = wealth

b.      Prove oxen (vs. 19) = work

c.       Married a wife (vs. 20 = relationships

                                                             ii.      Extend the gospel invitation to all (vs. 22-23)

                                                            iii.      Willing to lay down your life for Christ’s sake (vs. 26)

1.       I feel this means physically die but more importantly to let go of bad habits and anything else that would keep us from being like Christ.

                                                           iv.      Use the Spirit to hear and follow Christ (vs. 35)

f.        Luke 14:33

                                                               i.      “forsaketh all that he hath”

g.       Omni 1:26

                                                               i.      “…come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end…”

h.      Mosiah 2:34

                                                               i.      “…ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are…”

i.         Matthew 13:44-46

                                                               i.      “…sold all that he had…” to purchase the “pearl of great price” which represents the gospel and being a true disciple of Christ

     2. What does it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

a.       In the Bible Dictionary under the word “disciple” it defines a disciple as “a pupil or learner” and goes on to say it is “a name used to denote all followers of Jesus Christ”. So to me that means that in order for me to become a disciple of Christ I need to be a learner of Christ’s life and apply his teachings to the best of my ability.

     3. What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? 

a.       Being a disciple of Christ is often thought of being a great sacrifice but the truth is that having the opportunity to become like Christ is a huge blessing given to us by our Savior and our Heavenly Father. In Matthew 10:39 of the Joseph Smith Translation is says, “He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” We will become so much more in partnership with our Heavenly Father and Christ than we could ever become on our own.

4. Read the institute student manual commentary for Luke 11:5-13 “The Parable of the Friend at Midnight”

The parable of the friend at midnight in Luke 11: 5-13 is an analogy of how our Heavenly Father will answer our prayers when we ask with real intent and sincerity. Elder James E. Talmage clarifies this by saying, “The Lord’s lesson was, that if man, with all his selfishness and disinclination to give, will nevertheless grant what his neighbor with proper purpose asks and continues to ask in spite of objection and temporary refusal, with assured certainty will God grant what is persistently asked in faith and with righteous intent.” He goes on to say, “There must be a consciousness of real need for prayer, and real trust in God, to make prayer effective; and in mercy the Father sometimes delays the granting that the asking may be more fervent” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 435).

This gives me such peace knowing that my Heavenly Father truly does love me and is willing to answer my prayers if I am praying with real intent according to His will.

 Identify one of the teachings that you would like to apply more fully in your life. Write a paragraph about how you could apply that teaching and what difference you believe it would make in your life.

Honestly, I have a hard time going with the flow and dealing with changes in my life. I am a planner. I like to make lists of what I need to get done, follow my calendar of events or appointments to a tee, and get really stressed out if it doesn’t go according to my plans. I do have faith in my Heavenly Father but I have a hard time giving up total control of my life over to Him and trusting Him fully.

As I was pondering being a disciple of Christ and following his example I realized that this is a Christlike attribute I need to develop. If Christ is my example then I should look at his life for examples of him fully trusting the Father. One of the best examples that comes to mind is when Christ is suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and he says, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). Even though Christ was hurting and the weight he was called to bear seemed to overwhelming he never doubted that his Father loved him and that is Father’s will was the best for him. If I am to become a better disciple of Christ then I must learn to turn my whole life over to my Heavenly Father and trust that His plans for me are so much better than I could even dream of.

Now this sounds all great on paper but what action step am I going to take to truly apply this principle in my life? There are many things that we can do to help us learn to trust our Heavenly Father more, but one thing that I really need to work on is saying meaningful personal prayers. Yes, I go through the motions each day but my heart isn’t present in my prayers. I feel that if I truly prayed with real intent having faith that what my Heavenly Father has in store for me that day is the best I would be able to live a more peaceful life full of more joy and less worry. I would be able to forget myself and go to work each day helping others around me become disciple leaders like Christ. I feel that if I make personal prayers a priority in my life then my faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and Savior will grow.

To understand prayers a little better I decided to study about it in the Bible Dictionary. My favorite parts are when it says, “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part.” It goes on to say, “Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father, and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.” Now this to me is the key… “The object of prayer is not to change the will of God [or tell Him my plans], but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”

Wow, so not only do I need to remember the God is truly my Father but I also need to remember that for certain blessings it is a condition that I pray for them. This makes me sorrow thinking of how many blessings I and others have missed out on because I didn’t exercise my agency and ask in prayer for those blessings. Luckily, today is a new day and I can use the Atonement to repent and become better at saying my personal prayers. Of course, trying to become a better at my personal prayers is going to take time so I will have to be patient with myself and use the Atonement daily. What would we do without the Atonement? It truly is an amazing gift from our Savior and our Father.

“Become as Little Children” (Matthew 18:1–4)

(PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT by Greg Olsen)

In Matthew 18:1-4 the disciples has asked the Lord, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (vs. 1) to which the Lord “called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them” (vs. 2). Then the Lord says, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” I think it is interesting that the Lord doesn’t necessarily answer the disciples question but takes this opportunity to teach that we must all become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.

So how are we like little children?

In the New Testament Manual President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught: “To be like a child is not to be childish. It is to be like the Savior, who prayed to His Father for strength to be able to do His will and then did it. Our natures must be changed to become as a child” (“As a Child,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 15).

Also in Mosiah 3:19 we learn more about ways to become like little children. These are the childlike attributes this scripture lists:

1. Submissive
2. Meek
3. Humble
4. Patient
5. Full of love

 If we are supposed to develop these attributes I wanted to know more about them so here is what I found out about each attribute:

Submissive- “The submissive soul will be led aright, enduring some things well while being anxiously engaged in setting other things right—all the time discerning the difference.” (“Willing to Submit” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell)

Meek- “Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.” (“Be Meek and Lowly of Heart” by Elder Ulisses Soares)

Humble- “To be humble is to recognize gratefully our dependence on the Lord—to understand that we have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that our talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that we know where our true strength lies. We can be both humble and fearless. We can be both humble and courageous.” (www.lds.org/topics/humility?lang=eng)

Patient- Elder Neal A. Maxwell linked patience and faith together when he taught: “Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His” (“Patience,” Ensign,Oct. 1980, 28).

Full of Love- “Deep devotion and affection. Love for God includes devotion, adoration, reverence, tenderness, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, grace, service, gratitude, kindness. The greatest example of God’s love for his children is found in the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ.” (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/love?lang=eng)

After studying about the childlike attributes that I have to develop I felt very overwhelmed and discouraged, but again my Savior offers comfort. In D&C 78:17-18 he says, “I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.” I’m so grateful I have a Savior that was the perfect childlike example for me to follow and is willing to lead me along.

Peter Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-33)

 

Christ has just fed the 5,000+ people using only 5 loaves and 2 fishes and now has told his disciples to get in their ship and go ahead of him while he sends the multitudes away. In Matthew 14:23 we learn that Jesus “went up into a mountain apart to pray” and we learn that when the evening came he was alone.

Now what had happened to his disciples that went in the ship before him? Matthew 14: 24 says, “But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” We don’t know for sure but I imagine that the Lord knew that his disciples would run into a hard wind, just like we all have to deal with trials in our lives. So how long did he wait until he came to their aid and what did he do to help them?

We find that answer in Matthew 14:15, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” If we look at the footnotes we find out that the “fourth watch” means that it was “between three and six in the morning.” Why did the Lord wait so long until he came to them? I believe he knew the only way for his disciples, including us, to grow is to struggle a little bit.

In the New Testament Manual Sis. Tanner says, “I know that [the Lord’s] tender mercies and His miracles, large and small, are real. They come in His way and on His timetable. Sometimes it is not until we have reached our extremity. Jesus’s disciples on the Sea of Galilee had to toil in rowing against a contrary wind all through the night before Jesus finally came to their aid. He did not come until the ‘fourth watch,’ meaning near dawn. Yet He did come. (See Mark 6:45–51.) My testimony is that miracles do come, though sometimes not until the fourth watch” (“My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 83).

How did the disciples react when Jesus came walking on the water toward them? Matthew 14: 26 says, “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”

Again in the New Testament Manual Elder Holland says, “This scriptural account reminds us that the first step in coming to Christ—or his coming to us—may fill us with something very much like sheer terror. It shouldn’t, but it sometimes does. One of the grand ironies of the gospel is that the very source of help and safety being offered us is the thing from which we may, in our mortal shortsightedness, flee.” (“Come unto Me” [Brigham Young University fireside, Mar. 2, 1997], 8; speeches.byu.edu)

I have experienced this feeling in my own life when I have been going through a trial and instead of coming unto Christ for help I have become angry and turned away from the one thing that could truly bring me peace at a time when the “winds” were surely blowing contrary. Luckily, through the Atonement we can come unto him again & hear Jesus say like his disciples did, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Once Jesus have identified himself, immediately Peter, with great faith, says, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” (Matthew 14:28) To which the Lord says, “Come.” (Matthew 14:29) Now I don’t know about you but if I had just rowed all night I would be exhausted physically and want to stay in my safe ship and wait for Christ to come to me, but not Peter. “And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” Wow, what amazing faith Peter had to have to accomplish this great thing!

Unfortunately, like many of us, his faith wavered and fear set in “when he saw the wind boisterous” and he began to sink into the water. The word “boisterous” stood out to me so I looked up what it meant in the dictionary and not only does it mean stormy but it can also mean noisy. This made me start to think about our noisy world and how we might not be able to hear the Spirit whispering peace to us unless we eliminate unnecessary noise and tune our hearts to the Lord.

In the New Testament Manuel Sis. Pinegar says, “When [Peter] began to pay more attention to what was happening around him, ‘the wind boisterous,’ he began to sink. What are the winds boisterous in our lives? What are the things that distract us from the Savior, that turn our hearts and our minds away from Him? It may be thinking more about pleasing our friends or other people than we do about pleasing God (see John 5:44). 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 (see John 12:37). There will always be distractions, winds boisterous, but if we choose to turn to the Lord, to believe in Him, to follow Him, we can increase our faith.”

Then Sis. Pinegar goes on to describe what Peter did when he started to sink and what Jesus’s response was when Peter cried out for help, as we all do. She says, “When Peter began to sink, he turned to the Lord and cried out, ‘Lord, save me,’ and Jesus immediately ‘stretched forth his hand, and caught him.’ He will do that for you. He will do that for each one of us [Matthew 14:30–31]” (“Increase in Faith,” Ensign, May 1994, 95).

I think it is so tender that "immediately Jesus stretched for his hand, and caught him..." I feel that sometimes in my own personal life when my faith falters I feel ashamed so I don't reach out for help and therefore sink deeper into the abyss. Luckily, I have found that the moment I reach out for my Savior He does IMMEDIATELY take my hand and pull me out of the darkness. Then, just like he did for Peter, he brings me safely back into the ship.

In Doctrine and Covenants 88:67 it says, “And if your eye be single to my glory , your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.” I feel the principle that this and the story of Peter successfully walking on the water teaches is that if we are focused on the Savior then he can do miracles in our life and the storms of life will not overcome us. As storms come into our lives, great or small, we need to tune out the noise of the world, focus on the Savior, have faith that he will come and endure to the “fourth watch” until he does comes.