Friday, January 23, 2009

Matthew Chapter 1

Chapter 1 begins in verses 1-17 with a genealogy of Joseph. Even though Joseph was not the blood father of Jesus, in the sight of man he was raised as Joseph's son and was his heir. Most times rights came through the fathers, so it is imprtant to outline who he was from the world's point of view as he interacted with the world.

The New Testament Semeniary manual states, "Matthew began his testimony with an important family history to show that Jesus was a descendent of Abraham and a descendant of king David. To be a descendant of Abraham was important because God had promised Abraham that his descendants would bless and bring salvation to the whole world (see Genesis 12:2–3; Abraham 2:9–11). To be a descendant of King David was important because the Jews knew that the Messiah would be a literal descendant of David (see Isaiah 11:1–9)."

The book of Ruth gives us some o fthe genealogy as well, which gives a litle more dimension to the importance of these women that we might otherwise miss. “And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” ( Ruth 4:17.)

Verse 18 and 20 talk a little about the child being of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 1: 35. gives us a little more detail on this.
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The aHoly Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the bSon of God.

Verse 19 talks of the character of Joseph. He thought about the kindest way to resolve the matter with Mary and he was going to put her away privately and not make things public.

Verses 20-23 tell of the vision that he had. He is told that she has done nothing wrong and that it is in fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus would be born of a virgin.

He is commanded to take her to wife and is told what to name the child.

Verse 24 states that after his dream he immediately took Mary to wife.

Verse 25 states that they did not have sex until after the child was born, again fulfilling the prophecy of the virgin birth as well as the virgin conception.

Matthew (Author of the Gospel of Matthew)

Who was Matthew?

The New Testament seminary manual states, "Matthew was a publican, or tax collector, for the Roman government (see Matthew 9:9). He left his profession to follow the Savior and became one of the original Twelve Apostles. He was also known as Levi (see Mark 2:14)."

The seminary manual also details several things that are only covered by Matthew and not the other gospel writters:

  • Some of the details surrounding Jesus’ birth, such as the story of Joseph’s dream and decision to marry Mary (see Matthew 1:18–20), the visit of the wise men (see Matthew 2:1–13), and going to Egypt to avoid Herod and the killing of the children (see Matthew 2:14–18)

  • The complete Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5–7)

  • Ten parables not in the other Gospels

  • The resurrection and appearance of Saints after the Resurrection of the Savior (see Matthew 27:52–53)

  • Some often quoted and important sayings of Jesus, such as, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

The Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew changes the title from the Gospel According to St. Matthew to The Testimony of St Matthew.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Wisdom

Psalms 36:3
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and adeceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

Psalms 2:10
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Proverbs 6:6
6 ¶ Go to the aant, thou bsluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 8:33
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Ecclesiastes 7: 23
23 ¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

Jacob 6:12
12 O be awise; what can I say more?

Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness (Ch 4)
"Some men come to recognize their sins from introspection while others must be brought to their knees by outside forces."

Friday, January 2, 2009

Missionary Work

David A Bednar, Come and See, October 2014 General Conference
“Latter-day Saints take seriously this responsibility to teach all people in all nations about the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We believe the same Church founded by the Savior anciently has been reestablished on the earth by Him in the latter days. The doctrine, principles, priesthood authority, ordinances, and covenants of His gospel are found today in His Church.”

Jeremiah 16:15-16
15 But, The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
16 ¶Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.


Elder David F Evans, Was It Worth It?, General Conference April 2012

"The work of naturally and normally sharing the gospel with those we care about and love will be the work and joy of our lives."



Elder Bruce R McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:563–64
“The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast”


Luke 22:32
 32But I have aprayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art bconvertedcstrengthen thy brethren.


John 21:15-17

15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, aFeed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, aFeed my bsheep.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:81

81 Behold, I sent you out to atestify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to bwarn his neighbor.

2 Timothy 24-25

24 And the servant of the Lord must not astrive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to bteach, patient,

25 In ameekness binstructing those that oppose themselves; if God cperadventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

There will be those that want to Bible bash or ask inflammatory questions, but we are to respond with peace, kindness, patience, and meekness.


Doctrine and Covenants 31:9

9 Be apatient in bafflictions, crevile not against those that revile. Govern your dhouse in meekness, and be esteadfast.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:41

41 And let your apreaching be the bwarning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in cmeekness.

Doctrine and Covenants 60:14

14 And after thou hast come up unto the land of Zion, and hast proclaimed my word, thou shalt speedily return, proclaiming my word among the congregations of the wicked, not in ahaste, neither in bwrath nor with cstrife.

Work for the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:29
29 Else what shall they do which are abaptized bfor the dead, if the dead crise not at all? why are they then baptized for the ddead?




John 5:25
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the adead shall bhear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall clive.




1 Peter 3:18-20
18 For Christ also hath once asuffered for sins, the just for the bunjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to cdeath in the flesh, but quickened by the dSpirit:

19 By which also he went and apreached unto the bspirits in cprison;

20 aWhich sometime were bdisobedient, when once the clongsuffering of God waited in the days of dNoah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were esaved by fwater.


1 Peter 4:5-6
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to ajudge the bquick and the dead.

6 aFor for this cause was the bgospel cpreached also to them that are ddead, that they might be ejudged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


My Thoughts: Gospel preached to the dead, because they are judge as men in the flesh are. For example, men in the flesh are to be baptized. If they are to be judged like men in the flesh, then they must be provided the same opportunities as everyone else.




(David L. Paulsen and Brock M. Mason, "Baptism for the Dead in Early Christianity", Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture: Volume - 19, Issue - 2, Pages: 22-49 Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2010)
"Ultimately, every reader must ask: How can I reconcile the infinite mercy of a loving Heavenly Father with the Lord's declaration that one cannot enter heaven without baptism, in light of the fact that millions upon millions of good, honest individuals have lived their entire lives in various regions of the world without the opportunity to hear the good news of the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ?"