Thoughts and stories, by Pal

  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 pre...

 Chapter 2, in New Testament Manual I really want to continue what I started last week, after our Prophet Russell M. Nelson counseled us to have a new normal, in which we turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, and always remember Him in our thoughts and actions. Today is Chapter 2, in the New Testament Manual, which I am studying.  We also are studying the Book of Mormon in “Come Follow Me.” Last week, I suggested that we could read Matthew, chapters 1 through 4.  This week I will write about those chapters, and what we can learn from them. Early Christian writers have all agreed that the book of Matthew in the New Testament was surely written by Matthew, the apostle of Jesus.  He may have used Mark’s Gospel, and Mark relied on Peter’s accounts of the Savior’s life.  It was written around 70 to 90 A.D.  Which means that it was about 35 to 45 years after Jesus died.  Matthew wrote a lot to the Jews, and many times he referred to previous prophecies of the com...