He Taught with Parables

“Parables” “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.” - Bible Dictionary

My definition of a Parable: A story for the purpose of teaching a lesson. Similar to a metaphor, where there is an underlying meaning of truth but the story is not exactly as it seems.

 (Matthew 13:47-50) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. I interpret this as saying that in the last day, all shall be gathered in, but only the good will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 13:44-46 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. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Matthew 13: What do I cherish as a treasure or a pearl? My family is my greatest treasure. I was blessed to be placed in a loving eternal family. I am the richest girl alive because of my blessings. I have a home filled with laughter and love. My future goal is to add on to this chain of everlasting love, my links of an eternal posterity.

…The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 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? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 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. Matthew 13:24-30Matthew 13:24-30

what sacrifices would you be willing to make to obtain the treasure of the gospel? What sacrifices have you or those you know already made for the gospel?  I would hope that I would be willing to make any sacrifice God asked me to, even to the laying down of my life, in order to obtain the treasure of the gospel.  Because I believe the way I do, I chose to abstain from certain behaviors that will separate me from the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

What does the net represent in the parable of the net cast into the sea? 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? I believe the net represents the Abrahamic Covenant/ being part of Israel. Being gathered into the net is accepting the gospel and being adopted into the house of Jacob (Israel). The last days/ the judgment is represented by the action of “gathering in the good” and “casting away the bad.”