I want to study more today about how Christ taught in parables and why.
In verse 10 of Matthew 13, the disciples ask him this very question:
Why speakest thou unto them in aparables?
Christ answers:
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the amysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 aFor whosoever hath, to him shall be bgiven, and he shall have more cabundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
What does this mean to me?
First, Christ new that his disciples were blessed with the Spirit and could therefore understand better the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. He also knew that the other people he talked with, the Jews, had a tendency to make things more difficult than they needed to be – they wanted the “deeper doctrine” I think.
Verse 12 is interesting in context – the JST is more clear:
JST Matt. 13:10–11 For whosoever receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
I think this is applicable to me:
If I am given direction by the Spirit and act on it to do good or to change the way I do things, I’ll be given more. But if I disregard it or put it off, the feelings I have of the Spirit can eventually be taken away.
I feel that I am getting direction on how to handle the kids lately. I feel that, for the most part, I’ve been responding and trying to be patient, soft, and kind with them. I want to do this. I especially want to help Caleb be the best he can be. He imitates how I act and treats his sisters how I treat him a lot of the time. I especially notice this when he’s treating them bad: he shames, blames, has no patience, self-pities, and feels entitled.
I want to be a better role model to him so he can see that this type of attitude will never bring happiness.
Christ goes on to explain more about why he’s teaching in parables:
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall ahear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s aheart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their beyes they have cclosed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should dheal them.
16 But blessed are your aeyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Like I said yesterday, my first inclination is to think about Mandy or Luke, but instead I want to think how this applies to ME.
I’ve been in this situation where I see but do not see, and hear but don’t hear, and my eyes and ears have been closed to the things of righteousness.
I remember feeling that way when I would go to group after I thought I was “healed.” I went but I didn’t really feel too much.
I don’t want to fall into that trap again. I want to always go with an open heart. I want to always go seeking humility and the desire to learn from others. My number of days in recovery is ONLY because of the Atonement – I can’t put myself on a pedestal and think, “I’ve got this all figured out,” because I don’t. At any day, at any time, I could choose to not submit my will to Him and I could easily fall back into addictive behaviors which would lead to addictive actions.
I have to be aware of this on a day to day, moment to moment basis.
I’m grateful to be sponsoring. I want to be the best I can be for my sponsee too. I want to think about his situation, pray for him, and pray for others in the group who may be struggling.
I’m grateful for Becky. I love her so much and never want to hurt her again. I want to cherish her and always be grateful for the fact that she is trying to forgive me for the terrible mistakes I’ve made that have caused her so much pain and suffering.
I love my kids too. I want to be the best example to them and teach them what I’ve learned so they don’t have to go through the same things.
As I look more at the lesson, it talks about an example of people riding in a bus. Will all the people see the same things? No, they will probably see different things. “…people in the same situation do not always observe the same things. Likewise, not all the people who heard Jesus teach in parables understood how the parables applied to them.”
I’m grateful to have gone over the lesson today. I look forward to participating in class on Sunday.
Hasta luego!
Nate
Recent Comments