Holy Week - Day Three

Tuesday (Parables and Teaching)

 

Prophecy: “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old” (Psalm 78:2).

 

Scripture Reading: (Spread these readings over the next two days) Matthew 21:19-26:16; Mark 11:20-14; Luke 20:1-22:6; John 12:37-50

The Prodigal Son

Specific Parables and Teachings:

• Question of Authority: Matthew 21:23-27
• Parable of the Two Sons: Matthew 21:28-32
• Parable of the Wicked Husbandman: Matthew 21:33-46
• Tribute to Caesar: Matthew 22:15-22
• The Great Commandment: Matthew 22:34-46
• Condemnation of Hypocrisy and Lament over Jerusalem: Matthew 23
• The Widow’s Mite: Mark 12: 41-44
• Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
• Parable of the Entrusted Talents: Matthew 25:1-13
• Parable of the Final Judgment: Matthew 25:31-46

Family Discussion: Discuss the definition of the word “parable” and why Jesus used parables as a teaching method (See Bible Dictionary, “Parables,” 740-41; Jesus the Christ, Chp 19, “He Spake Many Things Unto Them In Parables”).

Suggested Activities:

• Read “Sharing Time: The Atonement,” Friend, Mar. 1989, 39. By Laurel Rohlfing.  
  
• Read Stephen E. Robinson's "Parable of the Bicycle" Ensign, May 1992, 5-9.
• Act out a parable. Wear costumes, use props, and record it so the children can view it later.
• Make Oil Lamps to use when discussing the Parable of the Ten Virgins 

Instructions: Clay Lamps

1. Mold pottery clay or Sculpy into a shallow, watertight bowl with a solid, flat bottom. You can coil a thin "snake" of clay around itself several times to form the bowl shape; or you can use your fingers to flatten and pinch a ball of clay into the bowl shape.

2. Pinch together a small section of the bowl's upper lip to form a small spout, like that on a teapot, just wider than the wick you plan to use. This the wick channel

3. Dry the bowl in the sun or according to the package instructions.

4. After the lamp has thoroughly dried, wedge a string of candlewick into the wick channel so that about one inch of the wick sticks out above the bowl and the rest of it is coiled in the bottom of the bowl. (If using Sculpy, line the spout opening with a generous amount of tin foil before wedging the wick in place. This will prevent the clay from melting).

5. Fill the bowl with oil and wait for the oil to soak up the length of the wick.

6. Light the wick.

Instructions: Lamp Wicking

* Wicks can be made in a variety of ways. Use a 1/4 - 1/2 inch strip of cotton (a cut up terrycloth rag would work) or woolen cloth as the wick. Twisted cotton, wool fibers, and lengths of 100% jute twine make fine wicks. You can even make an adequate wick out of a twisted napkin. Candle wicking can also be purchased from craft stores.

Other Scriptures you may want to use:

Matt 21:18-22 On His way back to Jerusalem Jesus cursed the barren fig tree (BDp 674 Fig tree) Matt 21:23-46 Chief priests challenged Jesus’ authority.  He rebuked them.
Mattt 21:28-22:14 Parable of the two sons, the wicked husbandman, and the marriage of the king’s son.
Matt 22:15-16 Enemies tried to trap Jesus in His words.  He answered their questions about Roman taxes, marriage and the Resurrection, and the great commandment ( BD p 628 Caesar  p 701-2 Herodias p767 Sadducees)
Mark 12:41, 44 At the temple treasury Jesus notice a widow donating a mite (BDp 733-34 Mite) Matt 23:1-36 Jesus warned the multitude about hypocrisy (BD p 770 Scribe)
Matt 23:37-39 Jesus lamented over Jerusalem
Matt 24-25 Joseph Smith Matt 1 At the Mount of Olives Jesus taught His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of His Second Coming. (BD p 633 Christ p 648 Coming of Jesus Christ)
Matt 25 Parable of ten virgins, talents, and the sheep and the goats (BD p 788-89 Weights and Measures)

* Check out these links from sugardoodle.com for some different ideas for your Easter Week celebration (link one, link two, link three).