Quotes to Share: "Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear"
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Share your thoughts on this week’s lesson, Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13 “Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear” when you share these quotes to download with your family and friends. You can even send a quote to your class before you teach to help them ponder on the things you’ll be discussing in class.
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This week we're heading back to the parable of the sower. Remember, reviewing this parable in our very first lesson? One of the things I've been pondering this time around is how good works can't happen when we are distracted! It reminds me of the thorns that spring up and choke the plants (don't you love the word spring here). That's what those distractions are doing! They choke out the good that we can be doing! My easiest distractions come when I'm already tired; I already did some good. Those are the times when I have to choose to continue to engage with my family, talk to the person next to me, or even share with you here. It's so easy to check out of life these days with all the distractions around us and sometimes they really do spring out in front of us. Choose to continue to engage in life and leave your heart open to new inspiration and impressions.
Find the quote from President Dallin H. Oaks in his talk, “The Parable of the Sower.”
What method do you use to understand the parables in greater clarity? The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable? … To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out of Jesus” (in History of the Church, 5:261). Did you know he shared some of his interpretations on the parables we are studying this week?
Concerning the parable of the mustard seed, Joseph Smith said, “‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed.’… This figure is given to represent the Church as it shall come forth in the last days. … Let us take the Book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field, securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time; let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth, yea, even towering with lofty branches and Godlike majesty, until it, like the mustard seed, becomes the greatest of all herbs. … God is sending down His powers, gifts, and angels to lodge in the branches thereof” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 301).
Such a great image of the Book of Mormon being planted and growing into a huge tree where others and more from God may now lodge. I love it! Find more of his commentary on these parables in the New Testament Institute Student Commentary Manual.
Remember, Christ used things from every day life to teach his principles. The mustard plant was very common. It’s interesting that the mustard plant spreads so widely and quickly. That is not something I had considered before. When we compare that to being like the kingdom of heaven as stated in Matthew 13:31-32, we can see how as we share the gospel with others, it too can spread throughout the whole earth. The key? Having the Holy Ghost present so he can witness to those we testify to and the seed can spread widely and quickly.
Find out more fun facts about the mustard plant in this article from the New Era back in 2013.
Christ says often as he teaches from parables, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” I came across this quote from Elder James E. Talmage in the Student Commentary for the New Testament Institute class. It makes me think of how we might approach General Conference. It’s coming up in only a few weeks. How will we listen? Think back to the parable of the sower as well. There are those who received the word of God with JOY but did not root themselves so they withered away. Then there are those that hear the word AND “understandeth and endureth” (see JST Matthew 13:21). Do we listen to General Conference, appreciate the words and good feelings of the weekend then forget? Or do we do as Elder Talmage points out and diligently do the things commended us straightway? Great things to ponder this week!
In Luke 8, we get a glimpse of some of the women that traveled with Jesus. They had testimonies of Jesus Christ and his gospel and ministered to him. CERTAIN woman (and men) center their lives on Jesus Christ. What does that look like? To me, it looks like choosing to serve one another even though we are struggling with personal or health problems. It means turning to the Lord in prayer when we have reached our max stress limit instead of turning on the TV. It means my daily actions are ones that will lead me back to Christ as well as help others see the way to him. What does it look like to you? Sister Linda K. Burton gave several more examples in her talk, “Certain Women.” Be sure to read it then define what a certain woman (or man) looks like to you.
Sister Linda K. Burton mentioned these synonyms of the word certain as she shared about certain women. They are great words to use as you think about how you can be a certain woman (or man). You can bear a confident testimony of Jesus Christ. You can be a dependable disciple of Jesus Christ. You can be a positive influence on others especially within your own family. Sister Burton also points out, that these certain women that we read about in the New Testament, though were imperfect women, just like us. Being certain doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. In Luke 8:2 it’s quite clear they were not perfect. It is through their imperfections and ours though, that we can gain our certain testimonies of Jesus Christ because he did come to earth to heal and save us.
Read more in Sister Linda K. Burton’s talk, “Certain Women.”
