Matt_05-07.ppt

blessed, happy = beatus (Latin) (footnote 3a) ?Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.? (Matthew 5:3) ?Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.? (JST Matt 5:5 & 3 Ne 12:3) *This JST change not in your footnote or appendix ?The poor in spirit are those who finally have come to a realization that Christ is their only hope.? Vaughn J. Featherstone, ?Purity of Heart,? New Era (Aug. 1973), p. 6. Vaughn J. Featherstone 1st Quorum of 70 1976-present Matt.5:5 Not ?wimpy,? but those who patiently endure without resentment. ?A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance.? Harold B. Lee, The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 607. Harold B. Lee Apostle: 1941-1973 Prophet: 1972-1973 Matt. 5:6 * Not: blessed are the righteous. ?Do what you can do, in the best way you know, and the Lord will accept of your effort.? Gordon B. Hinckley, ?Rise to the Stature of the Divine within You,? Ensign (Nov. 1989), p. 96. Gordon B. Hinckley Apostle: 1961-present Prophet: 1995-present ?Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.? (Matthew 5:6) ?Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.? (JST Matt 5:8 & 3 Ne. 12:6) *This JST change not in your footnote or appendix Matt. 5:7 * Law of the Boomerang. -- The Law of the Harvest -- -- The Law of Restoration -- -- The Law of Reciprocity -- Matt. 5:8 ?Blessed are the pure in heart.? (not ?Blessed are the pure.?) Matt. 5:10 ??and say all manner of evil against you falsely..? The only place where a good landowner would cast bad salt so that it doesn?t do any damage? Salt and Covenants -- Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19 When do we become salt? D&C 101:39, 103:10 Matt. 5:13 ?A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination? Please remember that men, like salt, lose their savor through contamination? I would offer these simple guidelines?as the means to preserve one?s savor: If it is not clean, do not think it; if it is not true, do not speak it; if it is not good, do not do it.? Carlos E. Asay, ?Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,? Ensign (May 1980), pp. 42-44. Carlos E. Asay 1st Quorum of 70 1976-1996 Matt. 5:14-16 *Later, in this same sermon, the Savior will teach the opposite: ?Do it in secret, in your closets.? *Why would the Savior teach contradictory teachings? (Matt 6:7) battalogein (Greek) = ?babble or repeat meaningless syllables? shav (Hebrew) = ?empty? ?Do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven? That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.? (Matt. 6:4) ?Let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.? (Matt. 5:16) ?Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up ? that which ye have seen me do.? (3 Nephi 18:24) Are we holding up Christ or ourselves? What transition is Christ trying to help the Jews make according to Matt. 5:17-20? The goal is Matt. 5:48 What is the difference between the spirit of the law & the letter of the law? Which is easier to follow? Why does Paul say that the letter of the law killeth? Matt. 5:17-18 The Law of Moses set a standard The Gospel of Christ raised that standard ?Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart.? (JST Matt 5:31 & 3 Nephi 12:29) *This JST change not in your footnote or appendix Matt. 5:48 (footnote 48b) Perfect = teleios (Greek) = ?whole or complete? (not: ?without flaw?) Matthew 5:48 How would an incorrect ?Law of Moses? understanding of this verse, actually separate us from Christ? How would a gospel understanding of Christ cause us to come unto Christ? Please use Matt. 11:28-30 and Moroni 10:32 to explain how we can fulfill Christ?s commandment to be perfect. understands what perfection really is. If the first passage I have quoted is not worded to our understanding, we can alter the phraseology of the sentence, and say, ?Be ye as perfect as ye can,? for that is all we can do? The sin that will cleave to all the posterity of Adam and Eve is, that they have not done as well as they knew how ?To be as perfect as we possibly can, according to our knowledge, is to be just as perfect as our Father in heaven is. He cannot be any more perfect than He knows how, any more than we. When we are doing as well as we know how in the sphere and station which we occupy here, we are justified.? Brigham Young, (18 Dec. 1853), Journal of Discourses 2:129-130. ?Those who do right, and seek the glory of their Father in heaven, whether their knowledge be little or much, or whether they can do little or much, if they do the very best they know how, they are perfect? It is written, ?Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect? [Matt. 5:48]? This is perfectly consistent to the person who ?Do just as well as you know how in all things? And if you live every day of your lives according to the best light and understanding you possess, glorifying God, our Heavenly Father, just as far as your knowledge extends, I will promise you eternal life in the kingdom of God? The grand difficulty with the people is they do not do quite as well as they know how; it is that which hinders us from accomplishing the work given us to do.? Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses (22 Apr 1877) 19:220. Brigham Young Apostle: 1835-1877 Prophet: 1844-1877 ?Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.? (Matthew 5:48) ?Ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.? (3 Nephi 12:48) Terrestrial & Celestial Law In each of the following, identify the terrestrial law which existed under the Law of Moses, then identify what Christ?s law (the celestial law) would be, and identify what the telestial law (Satan?s law) would be. 5:21-25 5:33-37 6:1-7,16-18 5:27-30 5:38-45 6:20-22,25,33 5:31-32 7:1-5 Following are some Law of Moses type of practices. What is the higher law/principle/ spirit of the law associated with them: Word of Wisdom Home teach once a month Only one earring Attend church meetings Read the scriptures Don?t shop on Sunday Matt. 5:21-22 ?Ye have heard that it has been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God.? (Matt. 5:21) ?But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.? (Matt. 5:22) Raca = Aramaic ?empty-head? ?Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.? (KJV Matthew 5:22) ?Whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment.? (JST Matt 5:24 & 3 Ne 12:22) *Phrase not in earliest NT mss. *This JST change only in newer footnotes ?As with nearly all strong emotions or passions, anger is manifest both in righteousness and in unrighteousness? Usually this is accompanied by a feeling of antagonism, excited by a sense of injury or insult. Righteous anger is an attribute of Deity. His anger is everlastingly kindled against the wicked. Similarly, an inspired man might speak or act in righteous anger? But where man is concerned there is peril in anger, and the fear is ever-present that the emotion and passion attending it will be exercised in unrighteousness.? Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 37. Bruce R. McConkie Apostle: 1972-1985 ?Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.? (James 1:19-20) ?Do not get so angry that you cannot pray; do not allow yourselves to become so angry that you cannot feed an enemy ? even your worst enemy, if an opportunity should present itself. There is a wicked anger, and there is a righteous anger. The Lord does not suffer wicked anger to be in his heart? Learn to control yourselves.? Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 5:228. Brigham Young Apostle: 1835-1877 Prophet: 1847-1877 ?A cunning part of Satan?s strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control. We hear, ?I lost my temper.? Losing one?s temper is an interesting choice of words that has become a widely used idiom. To ?lose something? implies ?not meaning to,? ?accidental,? ?involuntary,? ?not responsible??careless perhaps but ?not responsible.? ANGER ?He made me mad.? This is another phrase we hear, also implying lack of control or agency. This is a myth that must be debunked. No one makes us mad. Others don?t make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose! ?To those who say, ?But I can?t help myself,? author William Wilbanks responds, ?Nonsense.? ?Aggression, ? suppressing the anger, talking about it, screaming and yelling,? are all learned strategies in dealing with anger. ?We choose the one that has proved effective for us in the past. Ever notice how seldom we lose control when frustrated by our boss, but how often we do when annoyed by friends or family?? (?The New Obscenity,? Reader?s Digest, Dec. 1988, 24; italics added). ?In his sophomore year Wilbanks tried out for the high school basketball team and made it. On the first day of practice his coach had him play one-on-one while the team observed. When he missed an easy shot, he became angry and stomped and whined. The coach walked over to him and said, ?You pull a stunt like that again and you?ll never play for my team.? For the next three years he never lost control again. Years later, as he reflected back on this incident, he realized that the coach had taught him a life-changing principle that day: anger can be controlled. ?Understanding the connection between agency and anger is the first step in eliminating anger from our lives. We can choose not to become angry. And we can make that choice today, right now: ?I will never become angry again.? Ponder this resolution.? Elder Lynn G. Robbins, Marriage and Family Relations Participant?s Study Guide, 4: Responding to Challenges in Marriage, 16 Matt. 5:27-28 ?But I say unto you, that whosoever looks on a woman, to lust after her, has committed adultery already in his heart.? (Matt. 5:28) ?Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.? (Matt. 5:27) ?If they right hand offend thee?? What is the principle in 5:30a? Why do we sin? What purpose does it serve in your life? What benefits do we get from it that convinces us to continue sinning? ?It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.? (Matt. 5:31) ?When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.? (Deut 24:1) ?But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery; and whoso shall marry her that is divorced commits adultery.? (Matt. 5:32) ?It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.? (Matt. 5:31) ?Divorce is not part of the gospel plan no matter what kind of marriage is involved. But because men in practice do not always live in harmony with gospel standards, the Lord permits divorce for one reason or another, depending upon the spiritual stability of the people involved? In this day divorces are permitted in accordance with civil statutes, and the divorced persons are permitted by the Church to marry again without the stain of immorality which under a higher system would attend such a course.? [Note that to be sealed again in the temple requires 1st Presidency approval.] Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:547. Bruce R. McConkie Apostle: 1972-1985 ?There may be now and again a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us, which seems to be growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and peace and truth.? Gordon B. Hinckley, ?What God Hath Joined Together,? Ensign (May 1991), p. 74. Gordon B. Hinckley Apostle: 1961-present Prophet: 1995-present James E. Faust, ?Father, Come Home,? Ensign (May 1993), p. 36. should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship which is destructive of a person?s dignity as a human being. At the same time, I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply ?mental distress,? nor ?having grown apart,? nor having ?fallen out of love.? This is especially so where there are children.? ?Those marriages performed in our temples, meant to be eternal relationships, then, become the most sacred covenants we can make? What, then, might be ?just cause? for breaking the covenants of marriage?? In my opinion, ?just cause? James E. Faust Apostle: 1978-present ?And again ye have heard that it has been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.? (Matt. 5:33) ?But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God?s throne; Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou cannot make one hair black or white? ??But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these comes of evil.? (Matt. 5:34-37) ?And again ye have heard that it has been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.? (Matt. 5:33) ?Jesus called his followers to a greater accountability: ?Swear not at all? Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay? (Matt. 5:34,37). His was a call to his disciples to let their word be their bond in righteousness. ?Yes? ? as a part of a legal or interpersonal arrangement ? should mean ?yes,? and ?no? must mean ?no.? Personal honor and integrity are at stake.? Robert L. Millet, ?Honoring His Holy Name,? Ensign (Mar. 1994), pp. 9-10. Robert L. Millet Dean of Religion Dept. BYU: 1991-2000 ?Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:? (Matt. 5:38) ?But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.? (Matt. 5:39) How do you reconcile this advice from the Lord with the Nephite practice of defending themselves when attacked? Matt. 6:2,5,16 Hypocrite = ?one who wears a mask?/ ?an actor? How do we wear masks? ?Hypocrite is simply the Greek word for actor, a person who is playing a role which is not his real role, who is pretending to be somebody he isn?t? They do all these things simply for appearance.? Hugh Nibley BYU Professor emeritus Hugh Nibley, Ancient Documents and the Pearl of Great Price, p. 2. ?Public prayers should be short and ordinarily should contain no expressions except those which pertain to the needs and circumstances surrounding the particular meeting then involved. They are not sermons or occasions to disclose the oratorical or linguistic abilities of the one acting as mouth? One?s own secret prayers can be as long as the individual cares to make them.? Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 582. Bruce R. McConkie Apostle: 1972-1985 ?In the Lord?s Prayer, recorded in Matt 6:9-13, he teaches us how to pray and tells us to follow his model:? ?After this manner therefore pray ye,? the Lord instructed. Since he had just warned against ?vain repetitions? in prayers, we know that he meant for us to use his prayer as a model for our own. We do not need to use his words, but we do need to build his intent in our hearts.? Bernard P. Brockbank, ?After This Manner,? New Era (Dec. 1981), p. 4. Bernard P. Brockbank 1st Quorum of 70 1976-1980 (Matt 6:24) mammon (Aramaic) = ?riches or wealth? ?The possession of wealth or the acquisition of significant income is not a mark of heavenly favor, and their absence is not evidence of heavenly disfavor.? Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, p. 75. Dallin H. Oaks Apostle: 1984-present Matt. 7:1-2 judge (English) = condemn and/or discern krin? (Greek) = condemn (NOT discern) ?There are two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make, and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles? I believe that the scriptural command to ?judge not? refers most clearly to this final judgment. In contrast to forbidding mortals to make final judgments, the scriptures require mortals to make what I will call intermediate judgments? We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion.? Dallin H. Oaks, ? ?Judge Not? and Judging,? Ensign (Aug. 1999), pp. 7,9. Dallin H. Oaks Apostle: 1984-present Final Judgments (condemning) = NO! Intermediate Judgments (discerning) = YES! ?Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment. For with what judgment ye shall judge, ye shall be judged.? (JST Matt 7:1-2) *JST refers to ?discerning? (or ?intermediate judgments?) ?Judge not, that ye be not judged; for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged.? (KJV Matt 7:1-2) *KJV refers to ?condemning? (or ?final judgments) JUDGING When is it appropriate to judge? What judgment is it not appropriate for us to make? (Matt 7:7-8) *Just because it may be a ?good? thing to ask for, does that always make it the ?right? thing to ask for? ?Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.? (3 Nephi 18:20) ?Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.? (Moroni 7:26) *Remember, even if it seems ?good,? it may not be ?right.? Prayer Matt. 7:7-11 ? What principle is taught in this verse? Story of Ethan wanting drums Ask, Seek, Knock With this scriptural instruction, he has outlined the steps we should follow to draw near unto him. We seek him by studying the scriptures and listening to his prophets, through which we learn about him and his eternal plan for us. We ask through prayer and receive the guidance of his Spirit. And as we knock, the way is opened for us to gain eternal life and return to the Lord?s presence through obedience to his commandments. J. Thomas Fyans, ?Draw Near unto Me,? Ensign, Nov. 1985, 90 Joseph Smith on Prayer The best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching. (HC, 4:425) Speaking about praying to our Father in heaven, I once heard Joseph Smith remark, "Be plain and simple, and ask for what you want, just like you would go to a neighbor and say, I want to borrow your horse to go to the mill.? Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith?s Teachings, 496 Joseph Smith on Prayer In my early years I used to eat often at the table with Joseph the Prophet. At one time he was called to dinner. I was at play in the room with his son Joseph when he called us to him, and we stood one on each side of him. After he had looked over the table he said, "Lord, we thank Thee for this johnny cake, and ask Thee to send us something better. Amen.? Joseph Smith on Prayer The cornbread was cut and I received a piece from his hand. Before the bread was all eaten, a man came to the door and asked if the Prophet Joseph was at home. Joseph replied he was, whereupon the visitor said, "I have brought you some flour and a ham." Joseph arose and took the gift, and blessed the man in the name of the Lord. Turning to his wife, Emma, he said, "I knew the Lord would answer my prayer.? (Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith?s Teachings, 496)