The Urantia Book -- Part IV. The Life And Teachings Of Jesus PAPER 167: Section 2.
P1835:1, 167:2.1 As Jesus finished speaking at the breakfast table of the Pharisee, one of the lawyers present, desiring to relieve the silence, thoughtlessly said: "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God" -- that being a common saying of those days. And then Jesus spoke a parable, which even his friendly host was compelled to take to heart. He said:
P1835:2, 167:2.2 "A certain ruler gave a great supper, and having bidden many guests, he dispatched his servants at suppertime to say to those who were invited, `Come, for everything is now ready.' And they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said, `I have just bought a farm, and I must needs to go prove it; I pray you have me excused.' Another said, `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to receive them; I pray you have me excused.' And another said, `I have just married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servants went back and reported this to their master. When the master of the house heard this, he was very angry, and turning to his servants, he said: `I have made ready this marriage feast; the fatlings are killed, and all is in readiness for my guests, but they have spurned my invitation; they have gone every man after his lands and his merchandise, and they even show disrespect to my servants who bid them come to my feast. Go out quickly, therefore, into the streets and lanes of the city, out into the highways and the byways, and bring hither the poor and the outcast, the blind and the lame, that the marriage feast may have guests.' And the servants did as their lord commanded, and even then there was room for more guests. Then said the lord to his servants: `Go now out into the roads and the countryside and constrain those who are there to come in that my house may be filled. I declare that none of those who were first bidden shall taste of my supper.' And the servants did as their master commanded, and the house was filled."
P1835:3, 167:2.3 And when they heard these words, they departed; every man went to his own place. At least one of the sneering Pharisees present that morning comprehended the meaning of this parable, for he was baptized that day and made public confession of his faith in the gospel of the kingdom. Abner preached on this parable that night at the general council of believers.
P1835:4, 167:2.4 The next day all of the apostles engaged in the philosophic exercise of endeavoring to interpret the meaning of this parable of the great supper. Though Jesus listened with interest to all of these differing interpretations, he steadfastly refused to offer them further help in understanding the parable. He would only say, "Let every man find out the meaning for himself and in his own soul."
The Urantia Book -- Part IV. The Life And Teachings Of Jesus PAPER 151: Section 4.
P1693:5, 151:4.1 The next day Jesus again taught the people from the boat, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and hastened away. And so when the young blades sprang up and later were about to bring forth fruit, there appeared also the weeds. Then the servants of this householder came and said to him: 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence then come these weeds?' And he replied to his servants, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants then asked their master, 'Would you have us go out and pluck up these weeds?' But he answered them and said: 'No, lest while you are gathering them up, you uproot the wheat also. Rather let them both grow together until the time of the harvest, when I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn and then gather up the wheat to be stored in my barn.'"
P1693:6, 151:4.2 After the people had asked a few questions, Jesus spoke another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man sowed in his field. Now a mustard seed is the least of seeds, but when it is full grown, it becomes the greatest of all herbs and is like a tree so that the birds of heaven are able to come and rest in the branches thereof."
P1694:1, 151:4.3 "The kingdom of heaven is also like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, and in this way it came about that all of the meal was leavened."
P1694:2, 151:4.4 "The kingdom of heaven is also like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man discovered. In his joy he went forth to sell all he had that he might have the money to buy the field."
P1694:3, 151:4.5 "The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking goodly pearls; and having found one pearl of great price, he went out and sold everything he possessed that he might be able to buy the extraordinary pearl."
P1694:4, 151:4.6 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a sweep net which was cast into the sea, and it gathered up every kind of fish. Now, when the net was filled, the fishermen drew it up on the beach, where they sat down and sorted out the fish, gathering the good into vessels while the bad they threw away."
P1694:5, 151:4.7 Many other parables spoke Jesus to the multitudes. In fact, from this time forward he seldom taught the masses except by this means. After speaking to a public audience in parables, he would, during the evening classes, more fully and explicitly expound his teachings to the apostles and the evangelists.
The Urantia Book-- Part IV. The Life And Teachings Of Jesus PAPER 151: Section 1.
P1688:3, 151:1.1 About this time Jesus first began to employ the parable method of teaching the multitudes that so frequently gathered about him. Since Jesus had talked with the apostles and others long into the night, on this Sunday morning very few of the group were up for breakfast; so he went out by the seaside and sat alone in the boat, the old fishing boat of Andrew and Peter, which was always kept at his disposal, and meditated on the next move to be made in the work of extending the kingdom. But the Master was not to be alone for long. Very soon the people from Capernaum and near-by villages began to arrive, and by ten o'clock that morning almost one thousand were assembled on shore near Jesus' boat and were clamoring for attention. Peter was now up and, making his way to the boat, said to Jesus, "Master, shall I talk to them?" But Jesus answered, "No, Peter, I will tell them a story." And then Jesus began the recital of the parable of the sower, one of the first of a long series of such parables which he taught the throngs that followed after him. This boat had an elevated seat on which he sat (for it was the custom to sit when teaching) while he talked to the crowd assembled along the shore. After Peter had spoken a few words, Jesus said:
P1688:4, 151:1.2 "A sower went forth to sow, and it came to pass as he sowed that some seed fell by the wayside to be trodden underfoot and devoured by the birds of heaven. Other seed fell upon the rocky places where there was little earth, and immediately it sprang up because there was no depth to the soil, but as soon as the sun shone, it withered because it had no root whereby to secure moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns, and as the thorns grew up, it was choked so that it yielded no grain. Still other seed fell upon good ground and, growing, yielded, some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold." And when he had finished speaking this parable, he said to the multitude, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
P1689:1, 151:1.3 The apostles and those who were with them, when they heard Jesus teach the people in this manner, were greatly perplexed; and after much talking among themselves, that evening in the Zebedee garden Matthew said to Jesus: "Master, what is the meaning of the dark sayings which you present to the multitude? Why do you speak in parables to those who seek the truth?" And Jesus answered:
P1689:2, 151:1.4 "In patience have I instructed you all this time. To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to the undiscerning multitudes and to those who seek our destruction, from now on, the mysteries of the kingdom shall be presented in parables. And this we will do so that those who really desire to enter the kingdom may discern the meaning of the teaching and thus find salvation, while those who listen only to ensnare us may be the more confounded in that they will see without seeing and will hear without hearing. My children, do you not perceive the law of the spirit which decrees that to him who has shall be given so that he shall have an abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even that which he has. Therefore will I henceforth speak to the people much in parables to the end that our friends and those who desire to know the truth may find that which they seek, while our enemies and those who love not the truth may hear without understanding. Many of these people follow not in the way of the truth. The prophet did, indeed, describe all such undiscerning souls when he said: `For this people's heart has waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed lest they should discern the truth and understand it in their hearts.'"
P1689:3, 151:1.5 The apostles did not fully comprehend the significance of the Master's words. As Andrew and Thomas talked further with Jesus, Peter and the other apostles withdrew to another portion of the garden where they engaged in earnest and prolonged discussion.
"The divine Creator is also the Universal Disposer, the source and destiny of souls. He is the Supreme Soul, the Primal Mind, and the unlimited spirit of all creation." [2:1.2]
This is a composite quotation from the Hindu sacred books. In the version consulted, the passages are rendered:
"He is the Creator, He is the Disposer." (Atharva Veda, 13.4.3, 12, 20) "The last source of every soul." (Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad, 3.9.1, 10) "Verily, there is one Supreme Soul." (Bhagarata Purana, 11.18.32) "The Primal Lord of Heaven." (Bhagavad Gita, 10.12, 13, 15, 16) "He is the cause of the creation." (Vishnu Purana, 1.1.35)
"The great controller makes no mistakes. He is resplendent in magesty and glory." [2:1.2]
This quotation is derived from two sources: a. "Great Heaven makes no mistakes." (Shi King 3.3.3.12. 8-10), and, b. "But the face of the Lord shall abide, resplendent with majesty and glory." (Koran 57:3)
"The creator God is wholly devoid of fear and enmity. He is immortal, eternal, self-existent, divine, and bountiful." [2:1.2]
This is a passage from Sikhism: "There is but one God whose name is True, the Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent, great, and bountiful." (Jopji -- Preamble)
"How pure and beautiful, how deep and unfathomable is the supernal ancestor of all things." [2:1.2]
This is from Taoism. "How pure and still is the Supreme Being! How deep and unfathomable, as if the Honored Ancestor of all things." (Tao-Teh-King 4.2, 1)
"The Infinite is most excellent in that he imparts himself to men. He is the beginning and the end, the Father of every good and perfect purpose." [2:1.2]
This is also a quote of double origin; a. "It is only the Supreme that excels in imparting himself to men, and enabling them to achieve merit." (Tao-Teh-King 41.3), and, b. This section is from Zorastrianism; "As the beginning and the end, the Father of good purpose." (Yasna 31.8)
"With God all things are possible; the Eternal Creator is the Cause of Causes." [2:1.2]
This seems to be a double origin quote. a. "With God all things are possible." (Matt 19:26), and, b. A Hindu passage, "This universe has sprung from the Lord. In him it is established. He is the cause of creation." (Vishnu Purana 1.1.35)
"He is man's all-powerful benefactor." [2:1.2]
This seems to be taken from Sikhism and reads as follows: "He is omnipotent, our own Lord, and our benefactor." (Gauri and Sorath, 38)
"We know we dwell in him because he lives in us; he has given us his spirit. This gift from the Paradise Father is man's inseparable companion. He is the ever-present and all-pervading God. The spirit of the everlasting Father is concealed in the mind of every mortal child. Man goes forth searching for a friend while that very friend lives within his own heart. The true God is not afar off; he is part of us; his spirit speaks from within us. The Father lives in the child. God is always with us. He is the guiding spirit of eternal destiny." [3:1.4]
This passage -- a group of six quotations -- is from Sikhism.
a. "As I behold creation, I am amazed and astonished. God is contained in the hearts of men. In my heart I hold God, who filleth every place." (Hyms of Guru Nanak, Asa ashtapadi: Macauliffe, Sikh religion 1. 301) b. "God is concealed in every heart. His light is in every heart." (Hyms of Guru Nanak, Rag Sorath: Macauliffe, Sikh religion 1. 330.) c. "Many millions search for God and find him in their hearts." (Hymns of Guru Arjan, Sukhmani; Ashtapadi 10.6; Macauliffe, Sikh religion 3. 264.) d. "I go searching for the friend; but the friend is with me." (Sloks of Shaikh Farid 121, Macualiffe, Sikh religion 6. 413.) e. "Him whom I thought without me, I now find within me. When I found this secret, I recognized the Lord of the world.") (Kabir's Hymns, Acrostic 30; Macauliffe, Sikh religion, 6. 186.)
The last quotation I cannot locate: "The Father lives in the child. God is always with us. He is the guiding spirit of eternal destiny."
Xerpi
