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CHAPTER 12Jesus calls and commissions the Twelve—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as he and his Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. [A.D. 34] |
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1 aAND it came to pass
that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been
called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and
authority to bbaptize, was ctwelve) and
behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the
multitudea, and cried unto them,
saying: dBlessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words
of these twelve whom I have echosen from among you to
minister unto youb, and to be your
servants; and unto them I have given power
that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with
water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost;
therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after
that ye have seen me and know that I am.
2 And again, more blessed are they who shall abelieve in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall bbelieve in your cwords, and dcome down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited ewith fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.
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1a he stretched forth his hand unto the
multitude It is of some importance to distinguish to whom the
Savior speaks during his sermon, for parts of the sermon are unto the
multitude and others particularly unto the 12 disciples.
1b Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you Here is the first beattitude which Christ gives unto the Nephites. And it basically is to 'follow the brethren'. And it establishes the order of heaven. For in the same manner in which the Savior chose the 12 'from among the people', so it was that the Father at one time had so chosen 'from among us' Jehovah to be our Ministering God of this Second Estate. This is the principle and order of the authority of heaven in the deligation of authority and power to administer unto those of this estate. And it sets forth that there is a hierarchy of operation through which it is established that the Kingdom of God is opperated upon. And when men attempt to circumvent this order, they are attempting to opperate against the principles of God. And it furter establishes that when the Father and the scriptures state that there is 'NO OTHER WAY', that there is 'NO OTHER WAY' but that way which is the proper way and order after the order of heaven given by God and his ministers unto men, even unto Jesus Christ himself, who is the same as Jehovah, the Son of God. |
1a
Matt. 5:1 (1-48) b Mark 16:16 (15-16); John 4:2 (1-2) c 3 Ne. 11:22; 3 Ne. 13:25 d TG Blessing e TG Called of God 2a TG Teachable b Mosiah 26:15-16; D&C 46:14 c 3 Ne. 11:23 d Ether 4:13 e 3 Ne. 11:35; 3 Ne. 19:13 (13-14)
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3 Yea, blessed are the apoor in
spirita
who bcome
unto meb,
for theirs is the kingdom of
heavenc.
4 And again, blessed are all they that amourn, for they shall be bcomforted. 5 And blessed are the ameek, for they shall inherit the bearth.
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3a blessed are the poor in
spirit This is a particular perspective which is healthy to have
that may be obtained from the for of this beatitude as preserve by an inspired
reading of the King James Verson of Matthew 5:3. There is to be found a
certain blessedness which pertains to those who understand that before God all
are poor in spirit. When such apostles and prophets as Paul and Nephi, in
their comparative advanced state of righteousness can veiw themselves as but
'wretched men' in the site of God, there is an element of understanding that
must prevail among men that we are all of a fallen nature who are of this
temporal mortality. We all are poor and spirit. We all qualify, if we so
recognize our position of wretchedness of our all being poor in spirit as we
stand before God, then that is the beginning position that we must all assume
in order to be blessed by God. Now those who exhibit pride and conceit in
themselves that they do consider themselves better than another, for we all
stand as beggars befor God, are then to whom this blessedness will not come.
Only to those who understand that they are found lacking before God, who feel
the need to be raised from this sinful state are those who can and may be
blessed by God. Even the richest and seeming most powerful of men can come to
understand and achieve this status of humbleness of a broken heart before God
and a contrite spirit, seeing themselves as they really are, but carnal and
wretched men before God. The New Testament speaks of an obvious comparison
between two such men, one who has recognized himself to be poor of spirit and
the other who has not, though the both are before the Lord. The Pharisee did
pray thanking the Lord that he was not like the publican but a 'spiritual
man' of high place before the Lord. Often we fall into this entrapment,
considering ourselves to be better and higher than another as practicing
members of the LDS Church. But it was the publicn who did possess the true
perspective, for he did pray unto the Lord, not placing himself above another,
but seeking for the Lord's help and forgiveness, stating himself to be a
lowly and unworthy sinner before the Lord. And thus we all are lowly, unworthy
sinners before the Lord, of wretched natural men that we are. And in this,
only those who understand themselves to be the 'poor in spirit', may be
blessed.
3b who come unto me Yet there is more, this additional perspective which the Book of Mormon and the JST of the Bible does establish. For it is not meant that men merely come to recognize there lowly and fallen state before God and remain in it, that is remain in there sins. They are expected, they are required to look to Christ and take the steps of life of the Doctrine of Christ which will begin to remove themselves from it. Thus both the Book of Mormon rendition of this sermon and the JST version both include the needed phrase and criteria, that the 'poor in spirit' need to take that next requisite step of coming unto Christ. Thus, 'blessed are the poor in spirit, who come unto me; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' One is not to remain forever in the lowly and fallen condition, but they are expected to come unto Christ and begin their personal claim along the strait and narrow path, that stairway to heaven, out of that wretched and fall state that we all find ourselves to be in. And we do this line upon line, principle upon principle, becoming more like unto Christ by following his example til we come to that final object of having taken upon us the very countenance of Christ and have become like HE and HIS FATHER ARE. 3c for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Some have supposed it to be an almost impossible task to obtain the kingdom of heaven because of the requirement of perfection. But what the scriptures teach is that if one is found in Christ along that path which leads to eternal life, that strait and narrow path of seeking unto God, then one is assured that they will obtain the kingdom of God. This is the part of enduring in Christ. One may not be perfect. Even Paul and Nephi still viewed themselves as wretched men before God even with all the advanced degree of righteousness of which an apostle or prophet has obtained. None are perfect except Christ in this life. But if one is in all sincerity persuing the course of following after and coming unto Christ, line upon line, principle upon principle, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; it they are found in that course toward God at death then their salvation in the kingdom of God is sure. They will eventually reach it. There is no falling off of the path beyond the grave if one is found in it at death. |
3a
Ps. 86:1;
Eccl. 4:13-14;
Matt. 5:3; D&C 56:18 (17-18); TG Poor in Spirit b Matt. 11:28-30 4a Morm. 2:11-14; TG Mourning b Matt. 5:4; Alma 28:6; TG Comfort 5a Zeph. 2:3 (1-3); Rom. 12:16; TG Meekness b TG Earth, Destinay of
When Jesus was describe as being the 'meek and lowly lamb', it was not in reference to his submitting to the mind of will of men, being timid before them. For he was always out spoken and a character of strength before them, declaring the word of God, cleansing the temple and pronouncing himself to be the Son of God. Christ was the 'meek and lowly lamb' before the Father, to whose mind and will he did submit himself to in all things, even unto the greatest challenge and suffer of all in fulfilling the atonement is taking upon himself the sins of all the world, being that divine and infinite sacrifice for sin. |
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6 And blessed are all they who do ahunger and
bthirst after crighteousness, for they
shall be dfilled with the Holy
Ghost.
7 And blessed are the amerciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 And blessed are all the apure in heart, for they shall bsee God. 9 And blessed are all the apeacemakers, for they shall be called the bchildren of God.
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6a
Matt. 5:6;
2 Ne. 9:51;
Enos 1:4 b Jer. 29:13 c Prov. 21:21 d TG Spirituality 7a TG Mercy 8a TG Purity b TG God, Privilege of Seeing 9a TG Peacemakers b TG Sons and Daughters of God
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10 And blessed are all they who are apersecuted for
my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall arevile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; 12 For aye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your breward in heaven; for so cpersecuted they the prophets who were before you.
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10a
Matt. 5:10;
D&C 122:5-9 11a TG Reviling 12a Matt. 5:12 b TG Reward c 2 Cor. 7:4; TG Prophets, Rejection of
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13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto
you to be the asalt of the earth; but if the
salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall
be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under
foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Behold, do men light a acandle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; 16 Therefore let your alight so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and bglorify your Father who is in heaven.
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13a
2 Chr. 13:5;
Matt. 5:13;
D&C 101:39-40; TG Mission of Early Saints; TG Salt 15a Luke 8:16 16a 3 Ne. 18:24; TG Example b John 11:4 (1-4); Ether 12:4
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17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.
I am not come to destroy but to fulfil;
18 For verily I say unto you, one jot nor tittle ahath not passed away from the blaw, but in me it hath all been fulfilled.
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18a
Matt. 5:18 b TG Law of Moses
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19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my
Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins,
and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite
spirita. Behold, ye have the
commandments before you, and the blaw is fulfilled.
20 Therefore acome unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my bcommandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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19a come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit Here again the Lord establishes as a part of the doctrine of his gospel that it is required of man to offer unto the Lord a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The broken heart from the sins and afflictions of this temporal mortality and a contrite spirit showing forth humility and meekness, a willingness to do all that the Lord would have one do according to the mind and the will of the Lord. |
19a
3 Ne. 9:20;
TG
Contrite Heart b 3 Ne. 9:17 20a Isa. 55:3 b 3 Ne. 15:10
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21 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it
is also written before you, that thou shalt not akill, and
whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God;
22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is aangry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the councila; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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22a shall be in danger of the council This 'council' is a ruling body called to review and judge on matters of question and acusation between one man and another. One such council was that wherein Jehovah that is Jesus and Lucifer that is Satan, was brought to stand before the Father to be judged before a judgment council as recorded by the vision of Zechariah (See Zechariah 3 Commentary). |
21a
Ex. 20:13-17;
Deut. 5:17-21;
Matt. 5:21; Mosiah 13:21-24; D&C 42:18; TG Life, Sanctity of 22a Matt. 5:22
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23 Therefore, aif ye shall come unto me, or shall
desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hast aught against
thee—
24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be areconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full bpurpose of heart, and I will receive you.
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23a
Matt. 5:23 24a TG Forgiveness; TG Reconciliation b 3 Ne. 18:29 (28-33); D&C 46:4
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25 aAgree with thine adversary quickly while thou
art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt
be cast into prison.
26 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine. And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one asenine? Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay.
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25a
Matt. 5:25-26 26a Alma 11:3; Alma 30:33
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27 Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not
commit aadultery;
28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to alust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart.
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27a
Matt. 5:27;
2 Ne. 9:36;
D&C 59:6 28a TG Lust
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29 Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer
anone of these things to enter into your
bhearta;
30 For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these thingsa, wherein ye will take up your across, than that ye should be cast into hell.
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29a suffer none of these things to enter
into your heart God judges a man by what is in his heart, that is
what he truly is beyond any and all false pretenses. This removes any
tendancy of the hypocrate. Too often people put on 'false faces' before the
world, letting them see what will receive the benefit of the world while
still not being truly what one seems to be. It is in the private recesses of
the soul that God will come to judge a person. And there, even if a man has
not committed sin outwardly, if within his heart and soul there lies the
fault, God's judgment will determine it. Those who try to fool people into
thinking they are something which they are not will find no success at it
when they stand before the Lord. The Lord will judge what it is that a man
truly is, not what he seems to be.
30a deny yourselves of these things When Alma spoke unto his son Corianton, he told him to cross himself (Alma 39:9), meaning basically the same as to deny himself any association with such as would tempt him into the ways of sin. To one an item or a circumstance may produce not temptation whatsoever, but to another to be in the same situation it would become a great temptation unto him. Thus in those things wherein one is prone to weakness, one ought to 'deny himself' or 'cross himself' and not allow himself to be place in that situation of temptation. |
29a
D&C 42:23 b Acts 8:22 30a Matt. 10:38; Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; D&C 23:6
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31 It hath been written, that whosoever shall put away his wife, let
him give her a writing of adivorcement.
32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall aput away his wife, saving for the cause of bfornication, causeth her to commit cadultery; and whoso shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery.
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31a
TG
Divorce 32a Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18 b TG Fornication c TG Adultery
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33 And again it is written, thou shalt not
aforswear thyself, but shalt bperform
unto the Lord thine coaths;
34 But verily, verily, I say unto you, aswear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair black or white; 37 But let your acommunication be bYea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil.
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33a
TG
Swearing b TG Dependability c TG Oath 34a Lev. 5:4; Morm. 3:14; TG Profanity 37a TG Communication b TG Honesty
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38 And behold, it is written, an aeye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth;
39 But I say unto you, that ye shall not aresist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right bcheek, cturn to him the other also;
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38a
Lev. 24:20;
Matt. 5:38-42;
TG
Punishment 39a 3 Ne. 6:13; 4 Ne. 1:34; D&C 98:23-27; TG Submissiveness b Lam. 3:30 c TG Forbearance; TG Patience
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40 And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat,
alet him have thy cloak also;
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, ago with him twain. 42 aGive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would bborrow of thee turn not away.
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40a
TG
Charity;
TG
Initiative 41a TG Generosity 42a Jacob 2:19 (17-19); Mosiah 4:26 b TG Borrowing
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43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy
neighbor and hate thine enemy;
44 But I say unto you, love your aenemies, bless them that curse you, do bgood to them that hate you, and cpray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise aon the evil and on the good.
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44a
Prov. 24:17;
Prov. 25:21-22;
Alma 48:23; TG Enemies b TG Benevolence c Acts 7:60 (59-60); 2 Tim. 4:16 45a Matt. 5:45
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46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under
the law, in me are all afulfilled.
47 aOld things are done away, and all things have become bnew. 48 Therefore I would that ye should be aperfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
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46a
Heb. 8:13 47a 3 Ne. 9:17; 3 Ne. 15:2, 7; D&C 22:1 b Jer. 31:31-33; Ether 13:9 48a Matt. 5:48; 3 Ne. 19:29 (28-29); 3 Ne. 27:27; TG God, Perfection of; TG God, The Standard of Righteous; TG Jesus Christ, Exemplar; TG Man, New Spirituality, Reborn; TG Man, Potential to Become like Heavenly Father
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