Book of Mormon Commentary - 3 Nephi 20

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]

Commentary & Explanation

Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

CHAPTER 20

Jesus provides bread and wine miraculously and again administers the sacrament unto them—The remnant of Jacob shall come to the knowledge of the Lord their God and shall inherit the Americas—
Jesus is the prophet like unto Moses, and the Nephites are children of the prophets—Others of the Lord's people shall be gathered to Jerusalem. [A.D. 34]

1 AND it came to pass that he commanded the multitude that they should ^acease to ^bpray, and also his disciples. And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts.
2 And he commanded them that they should arise and stand up upon their feet. And they arose up and stood upon their feet.
3 And it came to pass that he ^abrake ^bbread again and blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat.
4 And when they had eaten he commanded them that they should break bread, and give unto the multitude.

1^a 1 Sam. 7:8; 2 Ne. 32:9
^b Mosiah 24:12
3^a Mark 6:41 (36-44)
^b 3 Ne. 18:1; 3 Ne. 26:13

5 And when they had given unto the multitude he also gave them wine to drink, and commanded them that they should give unto the multitude.
6 Now, there had been no ^abread, neither wine, brought by the disciples, neither by the multitude;
7 But he truly ^agave unto them bread to eat, and also wine to drink.
8 And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of ^amy body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.

6^a Matt. 14:19-21
7^a John 6:14
8^a John 6:51 (50-58); 1 Cor. 11:24 (20-26);
3 Ne. 18:7; Moro. 4:3

9 Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard.
10 And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, he said unto them: Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.

11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the ^awords of ^bIsaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—
12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the ^acovenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel^a.
13 And then shall the ^aremnants, which shall be ^bscattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be ^cgathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the ^dknowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.

12^a fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel The Father, meaning God the Father of spirits, for it is Jesus who is speaking, raises the idea of when did the Father so covenant unto his people. Certainly through Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah the God of the Old Testament, the covenant was renewed or made a-new through him to many since the time of Adam. Enoch dealt with Jesus Christ and the covenant unto him resulted in he and his people obtaining heaven. Noah had the covenant made a-new with him as the everlasting covenant. Abraham who sought after these promises fo the fathers, the covenant of the Father to man, also had the covenant entered into by him with Jehovah the God of the Old Testament in the name of the Father, under whose direction Jesus ministers. From Abraham it was renewed or carried down through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and even Ephraim. This line of the fathers are by whom these promises remained in the world after the time of Noah (see D&C 27;10). Thus it is that the covenant of the Father does remain in the world through the people of God, the House of Israel, But certainly from the eternal perspective of God, all things are known from the beginning to the end. The concept of the covenant promise of the Father being given to his people, the House of Israel, does not preclude that the Father did not know of this even before the foundation of the World. Thus the fact that the covenant was to be with Israel does not preclude the covenant and promise being made from before the foundation of the world in the preexistent councels of heaven. That is where the covenant promise eminates from through out all time, He being the same yesterday, today and forever. Israel, and the House of Israel is infact those who prevail in or of the Lord. Jacob's name was changed to Israel, as he was one who prevailed with God. The name Israel was known well before Jacob and Jacob was so named signifying that he was the one who did prevail in obtaining the covenant. Israel was also the name bestowed upon Ephraim under the hand and by the voice of Jacob. Thus Ephraim was so denoted as he who prevailed with God. So it is that Israel, is not just linage, but it is those who have prevailed with God from the very foundation of the world until the end thereof. It is this eternal perspective which Jesus pronounces and is understood in the scriptures by those who carefully study them. As John the Baptist pointed out, even of these stones can God raise upon children unto Abraham (Luke 3:8; Matthew 3:9). Mormon 5:20 (see also 1 Nephi 14:1-2; 2 Nephi 10:17-19; 3 Nephi 16:13-15; 3 Nephi 21:4-6; 3 Nephi 30:2) It is not descendancy which guarantees inclusion in the House of Israel, it is acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

11^a 3 Ne. 16:17-20; 3 Ne. 23:3 (1-3)
     ^b 2 Ne. 25:5 (1-5); Morm. 8:23
12^a Gen. 17:11 (9-12); 3 Ne. 15:7
13^a 3 Ne. 16:13 (6-13); 3 Ne. 21:3 (2-7)
     ^b TG Israel, Scattering of
     ^c Jer. 46:27 (2-28); 3 Ne. 22:7 (6-17);
       TG Israel, Gathering of
     ^d Ezek. 20:42-44; 3 Ne. 16:4-5

14 And the Father hath ^acommanded me that I should give unto you this ^bland, for your inheritance^a.
15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not ^arepent after the ^bblessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people—
16 Then shall ye, who are a ^aremnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young ^blion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both ^ctreadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
17 Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

Micah 5 8 ¶ And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.

14^a the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance It needs to be put forth just how involved the Father is in the going ons of this earth. While the Son had been given the position of the ministering God unto this estate, the Father is still its director. And what the Father commands, Jesus Christ, even Jehovah does do. The Father has not just anointed the Son by divine investiture to proceed alone. True, because of the nature of this second estate, it is the Son, Jehovah, even Jesus Chirst, who ministers and deals directly with man as their ministering God; but certainly all is according to the direction, mind and will of the Father, unto which will the Son does humbly and meekly submit. That is the true order of Heaven and the true relationship of the Father and the Son, of Elohim and Jehovah. And it was and is by the direction of the Father that the land of promise should be gie unto Joseph, that is his descendants, of whom Lehi and those who inhabited this land were, the descendants of Joseph under the name of Israel, as it is he who did prevail with the Lord..

14^a TG Jesus Christ, Authority of
     ^b TG Promised Lands
15^a 3 Ne. 16:10-14
     ^b 3 Ne. 20:27
16^a TG Israel, Remnant of
     ^b Gen. 49:9; Morm. 5:24; D&C 87:5 (4-5);
       D&C 109:65-67; TG Israel, Deliverance of
     ^c Micah 5:8-9; 3 Ne. 16:15 (14-15);
       3 Ne. 21:12 (11-21)

18 And I will ^agather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.
19 For I will^a make my ^apeople with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will^a make thy ^bhorn iron, and I will^a make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt ^cbeat in pieces many people; and I will^a consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it^b.

Micah 4 11 ¶ Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

19^a I will - I will - I will - I will When one understands the true relationship between the Father who dwells in that Celestial Heaven and the Son who does pertain to this second estate, being one of among us the spirit children of the Father; one begins to see and understand how it is that the Father directs and the Son acts. Here Jesus Christ clearly sets forth the it is He that will do the work of the Father in the Father's stead in all things, being our ministering God of this second estate by the divine investiture of the Father upon him.
19^b I am he who doeth it Just as Lehi set forth the command for his son Nephi to return to obtain the plates of brass, And it was stated by Nephi that he would so go and do, and he did obtain the plates of brass. It is the Father who commands the Son, Jesus Christ who is the same as Jehovah, directing Him as to what it is that should be done. And it is the Son that says 'I will do it'. And it is the Son that is the one who 'doeth it' all in the name of the Father as the consecrated Ministering God of this second estate. This is the patern which allows the Father who has obtained his Celestial state to so effect the Plan of Eternal Progression for the benefit of his spirit children so that they might become even AS HE IS, through and by the ministration of the Son who is also of this second estate, being as it were also a spirit child who pertains to this estate and one from amoung us as well as being one with us.

18^a Micah 4:12
19^a Lev. 26:12; D&C 63:1-6
^b TG Last Days
^c Micah 4:13

20 And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the ^asword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.
21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my ^apeople, O house of Israel.
22 And behold, this ^apeople will I establish in this land^a, unto the fulfilling of the ^bcovenant which I made with your father Jacob^b; and it shall be a ^cNew Jerusalem^c. And the ^dpowers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people^d; yea, even ^eI will be in the midst of you^e.

22^a this people will I establish in this land
22^b fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob
22^c it shall be a New Jerusalem
22^d the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people
22^e I will be in the midst of you

20^a 1 Ne. 14:17; 1 Ne. 22:16 (15-16); 3 Ne. 29:4
21^a 1 Kings 8:51; 3 Ne. 16:8-15;
       3 Ne. 21:23 (12-24)
22^a TG Israel, Joseph, People of
     ^b Gen. 49:26 (22-26)
     ^c Isa. 2:3 (2-5); 3 Ne. 21:23-24;
       Ether 13:3 (1-12); D&C 84:2-4;
       TG Jerusalem, New
     ^d 3 Ne. 21:25
     ^e Isa. 59:20-21; 3 Ne. 24:1

23 Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: ^aA prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
24 Verily I say unto you, yea, and ^aall the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me.

23^a Deut. 18:15-19; Acts 3:22-23;
1 Ne. 22:20-21; D&C 133:63
24^a Acts 3:24-26; 1 Ne. 10:5; Jacob 7:11

25 And behold, ye are the ^achildren of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the ^bcovenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And ^cin thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed^a.
26 The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to ^abless you in ^bturning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant—

Children of the Covenant Certainly those of the Book of Mormon were the children of the covenant being descended out of the house of Israel. But was this particular 'remnant of the house of Joseph even more and can there be more found in the words of Jesus particularly unto to those who are of the seed of Joseph? And what about the fact that the Lord states that he was raised up them 'first'. And also that he was sent to the turning every one from their iniquities. Just why was it so important for such a righteous generation be raised up of the seed of Joseph at this time, in this land? We have but one Book which speaks of this particular people and their righteousness, but they were righteous every one. Why was such a 'harvest' of the seed of Joseph brought forth at the same time that the great apostasy was occuring among the Jews and Gentiles of the eastern hemisphere. What in God's great design was met in so many of the seed of Joseph being raised up and harvested unto the Lord, unto the spirit world, was needful that Jesus was given specific charge to so administer unto this particular people? Is there a 'mission' for them to perform in bring about the fulfillment of the covenant of Abraham on the other side just as it is our particular mission today of the latter day to so perform our callings of the restoration upon this side today? And both being particularly of Joseph, of Ephraim as assisted by Manasseh to the fulfillment of the covenant? Just what is their role in bring forth the New Jerusalem which John the Revelator saw coming down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2)?

25^a in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed That this is to be fulfilled by the house of Israel is but one asspect. Further it is they who have been established in this land, the land of Joseph and they will be of the seed of Joseph, the children of the prophets as stated that those of Joseph were the descendants of Zenos and Zenock. Then Ephraim, the Firstborn of Israel (Jeremiah 31:9), will be through whom the covenant of Abraham, the covenant of the Fathers, will be fulfilled. And it is their feet upon the mountains who will stand as saviors on Mount Zion, as they perform the saving ordinances unto the blessing of all mankinds with salvation and exaltation that all might be judged of God and unto salvation.

25^a Rom. 4:23-24
     ^b TG Abrahamic Covenant
     ^c Gen. 12:3 (1-3); Gen. 22:18 (9, 18);
       TG Seed of Abraham
26^a TG Israel, Blessings of
     ^b Prov. 16:6; Alma 19:33

27 And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: ^aIn thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles^a, which ^bblessing upon the ^cGentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the ^dscattering of my people, O house of Israel.
28 And they shall be a ^ascourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel^a, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their ^biniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father.

27^a the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles All things come by way of the Messiah, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, as he is the only medium, way or path to and from the Father. There is none other. Thus even the Holy Ghost has right of passage by way of the Son, Jehovah, even Jesus Christ.
28^a they shall have received the fulness of my gospel

27 ^a Gen. 12:2 (1-3); Gal. 3:8 (7-29);
       2 Ne. 29:14; Abr. 2:9
     ^b 3 Ne. 20:15
     ^c 3 Ne. 16:6-7; Morm. 5:19
     ^d 3 Ne. 16:8-9; Morm. 5:9
28^a Josh. 23:13; 1 Ne. 2:24; 3 Ne. 16:8-10
     ^b Isa. 51:23

29 And I will ^aremember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would ^bgather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the ^cland of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father.
30 And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them;
31 And they shall ^abelieve in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.

29^a Isa. 44:21; 3 Ne. 16:11-12
     ^b TG Israel, Gathering of
     ^c Amos 9:15; Alma 7:10; D&C 133:24;
       TG Israel, Land of
31^a 3 Ne. 5:26 (21-26); 3 Ne. 21:26-29

32 Then shall their ^awatchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.
33 Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them ^aJerusalem for the ^bland of their inheritance.
34 Then shall they break forth into joy—Sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Father hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 52 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
9 ¶ Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

32^a Isa. 52:8-9; 3 Ne. 16:18-20; TG Watchmen
33^a Isa. 18:7; D&C 84:2; TG Jerusalem
^b Deut. 11:11; TG Israel, Land of;
TG Lands of Inheritance
34^a Isa. 54:1

~ J E R U S A L E M ~

What is the origin and the meaning of the name of the city of Jerusalem? Simply from the Hebrew, 'salam' is taken to be 'peace' or a state of high holiness and rest in God. 'Jeru' means 'teaching' or 'seting something forth'. In other languages of the day close cousins of 'Uru' simply means city. Perhaps collectively we might take 'Jerusalem' to mean 'established peace' or 'established holiness'. Without such historical data from the time before the flood, we do not know if the name 'Jerusalem' of a name equivilant to it was the name of any prior established city unto the Lord. But we do have various 'hints' that the concept of 'Jerusalem' is far more that a single city name. In the vision of the judgment of Jehovah and Satan before God the Father in the preexistance, when taken in the context of modern revelation concerning the events of the preexistance, 'Jerusalem' is used (See Commentary Zechariah 3:2) to reference all who were the 'people of the Lord' or those who were the followers of Jesus rather than those of Lucifer.

35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.
36 And then shall be brought to pass that which is written: ^aAwake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
37 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 52 1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

36^a Isa. 52:1-3; D&C 113:7-10;
TG Priesthood, Power of

38 For thus saith the Lord: Ye have sold yourselves for naught, and ye shall be redeemed without money.
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name; yea, in that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak.
40 And then shall they say: ^aHow beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that ^bpublisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!

Isaiah 52 7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

40^a Isa. 52:7; Nahum 1:15; Mosiah 15:18 (13-18);
D&C 128:19
^b Mark 13:10; 1 Ne. 13:37

41 And then shall a cry go forth: ^aDepart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is ^bunclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye ^cclean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
42 For ye shall ^anot go out with ^bhaste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward.

Isaiah 52 11 ¶ Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.
13 ¶ Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

41^a Isa. 52:11-15
     ^b TG Uncleanness
     ^c D&C 133:5; TG Cleanliness
42^a 3 Ne. 21:29
     ^b TG Haste; TG Rashness

43 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
44 As many were astonished at thee—his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—

45 So shall he ^asprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they ^bconsider.
46 Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall ^aJerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance.

45^a Lev. 1:5; Isa. 52:15; Ezek. 36:25
^b 3 Ne. 21:8; D&C 101:94
46^a Joel 2:18; Ether 13:5, 11