Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Twelve

The Gathering of Israel and the Establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Latter Days

The Parables of Jesus in Matthew 13

“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel” (Articles of Faith 1:10) – Because of wickedness and disbelief, ancient Israel was scattered throughout the earth. The Lord’s people since that time have looked forward, in great anticipation, to the gathering of Israel that will take place in the latter days.

Since President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as prophet, seer and revelator and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Solemn Assembly on April 6, 2018 he has emphasized the importance of the gathering of Israel as it is taking place in our very day.

In a world-wide youth devotional held June 3, 2018 President Nelson invited the youth of the Church “to enlist in the Lord’s youth battalion to help gather Israel on both sides of the veil.” He said that this gathering is “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today!”

In October 2018 General Conference he extended “a prophetic plea to you, the women of the Church, to shape the future by helping to gather scattered Israel” (Ensign, November 2018).

The parables in Matthew 13 teach about the establishment of the kingdom of heaven and the gathering of Israel in the latter days – The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the parables of the Savior in Matthew 13 “afford us as clear an understanding upon the important subject of the gathering, as anything recorded in the Bible” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 94).

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) – This parable “might more aptly be considered as the parable of the four kinds of soil. The growth of the seed depends upon the nature of the soil; it depends upon the hearts and minds and souls of the hearers of the word” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 2).

In the Book of Mormon, which was written and preserved specifically for our day, we read about Lehi’s dream (see 1 Nephi 8), which has been referred to as the Parable of the Path. In studying the Parable of the Sower and Lehi’s dream we see the same four categories of spiritual receptivity.

Lehi’s dream refers specifically to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who “did press forward through the midst of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed…And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:24-25, 28). Despite this warning, some members of the Church are overwhelmed by the cares of the world and choose not to be part of the greatest event of the latter days – the gathering of Israel.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) – “In this literary gem…we learn how the Son of Man and his servants sowed good seed throughout the world; how Lucifer and his servants over-sowed the wheat fields with tares; how and why the wheat and the tares were permitted to grow together until the day of burning; and how the wicked will then be thrust into a furnace of fire, while the righteous shall shine forth in celestial splendor in the kingdom of the Father” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 2).

The Lord, in a revelation to Joseph Smith, gave the latter day application of this parable:

“But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender.

“Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;

“But the Lord saith unto them pluck not up the tare while the blade is yet tender(for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.

“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” (D&C 86:4-7).

Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32) – “In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, we shall see how the kingdom of God on earth shall grow and increase, how it shall be displayed for all to see and how success shall attend its labors” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 2).

The Prophet Joseph Smith, after quoting the words of the parable, gave the most complete and best application and meaning of the parable: “Now we can discover plainly that this [parable] is given to represent the Church as it shall come forth in the last days. Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto it. Now, what is like unto it?

“Let us take the Book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field, securing 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 lowering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it, like the mustard seed, becomes the greatest of all herbs. And it is truth, and it has sprouted and come forth out to the earth, and righteousness begins to look down from heaven, and God is sending down His powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a mustard seed. Behold, then is not this the Kingdom of Heaven that is raising its head in the last days in the majesty of God, even the Church of the Latter-day Saints” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 98-99).

Parable of the Leaven (Matthew 13:33) – “Yet another portion of the eternal picture portrayed in parables is seen in the parable of the leaven. The mustard seed became a tree that displayed the kingdom of heaven on earth before the world, but the leaven worked silently, without observation, unknown to many among men, to establish the plans and purposes of Divine Providence…

“In this parable of the leaven we see the glory and triumph of the kingdom in the hearts of men. The Messianic kingdom comes not in martial splendor…The new kingdom, like leaven, is hidden in the hearts of men…Then its spreading, penetrating, life-giving effect enlarges the soul and ‘raises’ sinners to saints” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 2).

Parables of the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Gospel Net (Matthew 13:44-53) – After giving the Parable of the Leaven, Jesus sent the multitude away and went with His disciples into a house in Capernaum. There He interpreted the parable of the wheat and the tares and then He gave three parables to His disciples alone, each of which teaches of the “kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of heaven as used in these parables “means that the true church on the earth is the path to heaven and is the kingdom of heaven on earth” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God).

In the parable of the hidden treasure Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to “a treasure hid in a field. And when a man hath found a treasure which is hid he secureth it, and straightway for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (JST Matthew 13:44).

The Prophet Joseph Smith applied this parable to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who do whatever they must so they can be part of the gathering of Israel. (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 101).

In the parable of the pearl of great price the kingdom of heaven is compared to “a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). The Prophet Joseph Smith gave the latter day application of this parable: “The Saints again work after the example of this parable. See men traveling to find places for Zion, and her stakes, who, when they find the place for Zion, or the pearl of great price, straightway sell all that they have, and buy it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 102).

In the parable of the gospel net Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven “to 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, and the world is the children of the wicked: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them out into the world to be burned: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then Jesus said unto them , Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord” (JST Matthew 13:47-51).

In applying this parable to the latter days the Prophet Joseph exclaimed, to which we add our testimony: “And we say, yea, Lord…for these things are so plain and precious, that every Saint in the last days must respond with a hearty Amen to them” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 102).

Testimony – The parables in Matthew 13 about the gathering of Israel in the last days are precious. Fortunately, the Book of Mormon greatly expands our knowledge of this great gathering. Not only will the Book of Mormon convince all humble seekers “that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God” and it will remind latter day Israel of “what great things the Lord has done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever” (Book of Mormon Title Page).

If we want to understand and be part of the gathering of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom of heaven in the latter days, we will study, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon.