1291. Chapter 4, New Testament, Matthew 8 - 12. Notes continued. Blog #1285 was on Chapter 3.

 For those of you who may be following my notes on the New Testament, this is Chapter 4.  #1279 was on Chapter 1, and #1282 was on Chapter 2.

Chapter 4, New Testament, Matthew 8 - 12.  (12)  after name indicates latter day apostles.

These chapters continue telling about Jesus teaching, preaching, and healing all manner of sickness in the area around the Sea of Galilee.  Capernaum was a prosperous town, located on the famous Roman road, the Via Maris, which linked ancient Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia.  It was the home of Peter, and his brother Andrew, who became Apostles.  More miracles are recorded at Capernaum than any other site. 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (12) tells us of Peter’s mother-in-law being healed by the Savior to teach that “Jesus’ specially selected disciples were married men with wives and children and families of their own, as his specially called servants should be in all ages.”

It appears that “Son of man” was the Savior’s preferred way of referring to Himself in the four Gospels, and used that title over 80 times about Himself.  Daniel 7:13 contains a prophecy of the coming of the “Son of Man”, and Jesus may have used this to show he was the one who would fulfill this prophecy.  In Moses 6:57 and 7:35 we learn that another name for God the Father is “Man of Holiness.”  So Jesus was the “Son” of “Man of Holiness.”

Elder James E. Talmage, (12) an Apostle wrote: “He knew His Father to be the one and only supremely exalted Man, whose Son Jesus was both in spirit and in body – the Firstborn among all the spirit-children of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh.  That was applicable to Himself alone.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! . . Adam was created in the very fashion, image and likeness of God.”

A man who had some sort of paralysis was brought before Jesus by four of his friends, and Jesus said something very significant: “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee”, and he was healed. Some Jewish leaders said that was blasphemous, as only God can forgive sins. Forgiveness can also come through bearing fervent testimony of the Savior–, taught in D&C 62:3, 84:61.  

The term publican refers to men who oversaw the collections of taxes in Israel, and those who worked for them and collected the tax money.  They were required to pay a fixed amount to Rome each year, but they were free to collect as much as they could from the public.  They were one of the most corrupt and detested groups of people among the Jewish populace and were often excommunicated from the Jewish faith.

One of the Lord’s original Apostles, Matthew, (known as Levi before his conversion) was a publican.  At Jesus’ invitation “Follow me,” Matthew left being a tax collector. When he hosted a dinner attended by many of his fellow publicans, Jesus gave a lesson on pride.  The Pharisees considered them (publicans) sinners.  Many publicans accepted the gospel, perhaps because they were humbled by their lowly social status.  

The disciples of John came to the Savior and asked Him why his disciples didn’t fast.  Jesus answered by comparing Himself to a bridegroom and His disciples to the bridegroom’s friends.  A marriage feast was a time of great rejoicing, and fasting then was normally associated with sorrow.  Jesus explained it would not be appropriate while He was with them, but when the time came He would not be with them, then it would be a time of fasting. 

 In explaining why you would put new wine in new goatskins, the point was that the old wasn’t compatible with the new.  The Joseph Smith Translation adds “For when that which is new is come, the old is ready to be put away.”  That also goes with the restoration of the Gospel as a new church, not a reformation of one that already existed.

The Savior taught in many cities and villages in Galilee, and He said “The labourers are few.”  In the next chapter the Twelve Apostles were called.  Elder M. Russell M. Ballard (12) taught that in our day the Church also needs more laborers.  He told of a faithful convert, Brother George McLaughlin, a humble man, driving a milk delivery truck for a living, who taught his members how to share the gospel.  In just one year there were 450 convert baptisms in the branch, and the next year there were an additional 200 converts, and soon a stake was organized.

The word apostle means “one sent forth”, and implies that the person has authority and a message to proclaim.  Elder L. Tom Perry (12) explained that modern Apostles have the same assignment as Apostles in New Testament times.  The conditions are different, but the assignment is the same: “go ye therefore, and teach all nations”.  President Gordon B. Hinckley said of the Apostles: “Their one chief concern must be the advancement of the work of God on the earth.  They must be concerned with the welfare of our Father’s children, both those within the Church and those out of the Church.  They must do all that they can to give comfort to those who mourn, to give strength to those who are weak, to give encouragement to those who falter, to befriend the friendless, to nurture the destitute, to bless the sick, to bear witness, not out of belief but out of a certain knowledge of the Son of God, their Friend and Master, whose servants they are.”

The Savior’s instruction to his Apostles was “to the Jew first,” and later, after His resurrection they were to take the gospel message to all nations, both Jewish and Gentile.

In the Savior’s time, a purse carried money, while a scrip was a larger bag used to carry food and other supplies.  When told to go without purse or script they were to rely on the Lord and the mercies of others for their needs.  Jesus later revoked that command to rely on the hospitality of the people, perhaps because the Apostles would soon carry the gospel to Gentile nations in which they would face opposition.  

Elder James E. Talmage (12) told us that the shaking off the dust of one’s feet should never be done except under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In telling his disciples to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” he taught that they should combine wisdom with innocence and purity.  In the Joseph Smith Translation, it reads, “Be ye therefore wise servants, and as harmless as doves.”

President Ezra Taft Benson in commenting about: “He that loveth father or mother more than me” noted that one of the most difficult choices a person might make is choosing between God and a family member. He mentioned that Nephi faced that test and handled it well when his good father temporarily murmured against the Lord, and Job maintaining his integrity with the Lord even though his wife told him to curse God and die.”

“He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it”, means overcoming selfishness and committing ourselves to the service of others, taught by Pres. James E. Faust.  The greatest fulfillment in life comes by rendering serviced to others, and not being obsessed with ‘what’s in it for me’. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (12) taught that losing our lives means submitting our will to God’s will, thereby finding our true identity.  Elder M. Russell Ballard (12) said that to receive a prophet in the name of a prophet means to accept him as a prophet and to recognize his words as coming from the Lord.  John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to inquire of Jesus, to reassure their faith, so that they themselves would at long last realize the truth of what John had been testifying.  Jesus began teaching the people about the greatness of John the Baptist, who was foreordained to be a forerunner to Jesus Christ, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy, in Isaiah 40:3, and Malachi 3:1.

In telling people “Come unto Me”, the Savior promised rest to all who come unto Him, no matter how difficult life’s trials.  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (12) said that faith came first, and then we must change anything we can change that may be part of the problem–to repent.  Third, in as many ways as possible we try to take upon us His identity, starting with baptism, and leading to Temple covenants.  In talking about “Take my yoke upon you,” it relates to the practice of yoking animals, so we can pull together with Him.  Each trial in life is tailored to each individual’s capacities and needs as known by a loving Father in Heaven.  

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (12) stated: “There is, in fact, no such thing as neutrality where the gospel is concerned.  On every issue it behooves us to determine what the Lord would have us do, and never take a stand that is in opposition to what the Lord has revealed to those who direct the affairs of his earthly kingdom.”  

Matthew 12:31-32, and 43-45, talks about blasphemy against the Holy Ghost , which is an unpardonable sin.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said that in order to commit that sin a man must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against him.  Pres. Spencer W. Kimball said there were few who defect to perdition after having known a fulness, and except for that offense, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness, (– following a complete repentance, and suffering consequences.)

Matthew said: “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”, and the Prophet Joseph Smith on this said: “He who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person; and that principle is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man.”

In Matthew 12:48-50, the Savior took the arrival of His family as an opportunity to teach that those who do the will of Heavenly Father belong to His eternal family.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie (12) said: “The blessings of heaven are available–without money, and without price–to all men.  In D&C 11:30 He taught: “ I say unto you, that as many as receive me, to them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name.”

Next installment will be on Matthew 13 -- 15.