St Matthew 9 Reflections

The Gospel According to St. Matthew: Matthew Chapter 9: Read Here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/9?lang=eng

When We Have Faith in Jesus Christ, He Can Heal Us Both Physically and Spiritually

When Jesus returned to His city, some people brought to Him a man who was sick with palsy. Jesus saw their faith—they carried the man across town looking for Jesus—and so He desired to give His blessing.

“Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt 9:2).

There were those who were angry that Jesus would say this, thinking that only God can forgive sins, and not acknowledging who Jesus really is!

“Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,” (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) “Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (vs. 4-7).

Further thought: The man stood up and walked home, healed from the effects of both physical and spiritual illness. Indeed the faith needed to procure a blessing of the Lord is the same, whether it is needed so that we can be forgiven of our sins or healed of spiritual ailment. And we should always return thanks to God for His mercy on us. I know that if someone has the faith to “rise up and walk” the Lord can lift him from his bed of affliction and, at the same time, forgive him of his sins.

Jesus, who has the power to heal those who have faith in Him and to raise us from the dead, can forgive us of our sins and make us clean. And those who have enough faith in Him to be healed, also have enough faith to be forgiven.

When Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him, Matthew left what he was doing and followed Jesus.

Further thought: Are we willing to put aside our immediate concerns, lucrative vocations, and the cares of the word to hearken to the Lord when He calls us?

The Pharisees judged both Jesus and His disciples for eating with commoners, publicans, and sinners. They thought if He were so great, He should know better with Him He sat at meat. Still they must have felt intimidated about asking Jesus directly, so they questioned His disciples:

“Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners” (vs. 11)?

Jesus heard and answered for Himself:

“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (vs. 12-13).

Further thought: We are all sinners, but those who cannot view themselves as such, deny themselves the process of repentance and the gift of the atonement.

John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus why his disciples didn’t fast. Jesus’s answer is simply and profound. We really do not fast when we are celebrating with company, a visitor that we looked forward to for many years. Jesus said,

“Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” (vs. 15).

A ruler, whose daughter was already dead, had faith that Jesus could lay His hand upon her and call her back to life. So Jesus and His disciples followed him to go to his daughter. On the way through a crowd, a woman who had a 12-year ailment touched the hem of his garment, having faith that she would be healed by so doing. Jesus spoke to her and said,

“Daughter, be of good comfort; they faith hath made thee whole.”

‘And the woman was made whole from that hour’ (vs. 22).

Further thought: According to the Law of Moses, anyone who had an issue of blood was considered unclean; and anyone who came into physical contact with such a person was to bathe, wash his clothing, and be unclean until the even. But whomsoever Jesus pronounces clean is clean indeed.

Upon reaching the ruler’s house, Jesus told the people,

“Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepth.”

‘And they laughed Him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all the land’ (vs. 24-26).

After leaving the ruler’s home, two blind men asked Jesus to show them mercy. They called Jesus the Son of David, signifying that they believed in Him as the promised Messiah. Still He asked them,

“Believe ye that I am able to do this?”

‘They responded to Him, “Yea, Lord.”

‘Then touched He their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it unto you.”

‘And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, “See that no man know it”’ (vs. 28-30).

Further thoughts: Again Jesus commissioned them not to tell. What could be the reason for this? Was it to protect Himself, or keep more crowds from thronging Him? Or was He teaching us to serve anonymously and to follow His example in giving the credit and glory to His Heavenly Father?

Why did the people still spread abroad the news of the miracles anyhow? Could the formerly blind men keep it quiet, when it was obvious that they could now see? Were they questioned? Were the grateful? Did they want others to know Him?

Next He cast a devil out of a dumb man, and then he could speak. Yet the Pharisees weren’t pleased. They said, “He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils” (vs 34). Did they really think Jesus was evil, or did they envy His power and authority?

Jesus continued to go to all the cities and villages.

‘And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples,

‘“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His Harvest”’ (vs. 35-38).

Even then Jesus was telling the disciples, and preparing them, that they would need to be missionaries and carry the gospel to all people.

St Matthew 5 Reflections

The Gospel According to St. Matthew: Matthew Chapter 5: Read Here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/5?lang=eng

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. It is so encouraging to seek the blessings that are available to those who are disciples. Indeed we are fortunate, blessed, and happy when we do those things which set us apart from the world as the children of God and the disciples of Jesus. 

The Blessings We Can Receive

The Beatitudes were given by the Lord to tell us the things that we can do in order to be fortunate, blessed, or happy. He listed attributes that different individuals possess and a direct correlation to a blessing that they will receive, such as a cause and effect flowchart.

1. Those who are poor in spirit, who come unto Jesus, will be given the kingdom of heaven.
2. Those who mourn will be comforted.
3. Those who are meek (gentle, forgiving, benevolent, and humble) will inherit the earth.
4. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled with the Holy Ghost.
5. Those who are merciful will obtain mercy.
6. Those who are pure in heart (chaste, clean) will see God.
7. Those who are peacemakers (who establish contentment not contention)
will be called the children of God.
8. Those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake will be given the kingdom of heaven.

Interesting thought: Both those who are poor in spirit and those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake will be given the kingdom of heaven. Is it the persecution that we endure for the Lord that makes us poor in spirit.

9. A continuation of number 8. We are blessed when we are reviled and persecuted and have false reports against us for Jesus’s sake. We are compared to the prophets (or teachers of the gospel) before us, and we can rejoice and be glad because our reward in heaven will be great.

Jesus then tells His disciples that they are the salt of the earth. As such, we need to keep our saltiness and not become tasteless. We cannot become like the rest of the world. We cannot give up hope; we cannot lose our savor.

His disciples are also the light of the world. That is because they hold up His light to the world. We need to be that city on the hill. We need to extend Jesus’s gift of salvation by holding up His light. We cannot hide or bury the light that we’ve been given. Disciples must keep their faith bright. We cannot let the darkness of the world dull our testimonies of Him. We must invite other people into the light so that they may be able to see His glory also and glorify Him.

When policies change, when new things are asked of us, our faith should not be diminished or destroyed. God’s purposes are never destroyed, but will all be fulfilled. The prophecies will unfold.

We are responsible and accountable if we break commandments and lead others to break them. In other words, we are not only accountable to God for ourselves, but also for how we treat His children. We don’t become great, but we become the least, in the kingdom of heaven if we break God’s commandments and lead others away from Him.

10. If we teach the commandments, both keeping them ourselves and helping others to do so, we will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

How can we guard ourselves from becoming like the scribes and Pharisees? We are told that such shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. The scribes and Pharisees appear to be the antithesis of the pure in heart.

How can we guard ourselves from being angry at our brothers and sister; our nieces and nephews; our fellowmen?

Jesus counsels us to reconcile ourselves quickly to those whom we’ve offended or who’ve offended us, or seek to be reconciled. We need to reconcile ourselves with God before we partake of the sacrament or go to the temple, or teach a class, or offer another gift. If reconciliation is not completely possible, reconcile your heart to God and do not think or speak evil to or about the person at odds with you. Pray for them. Love them. Hope for the best.

How can we be more agreeable? How can we remain friends even when we have huge differences of opinion and belief?

The Savior strictly commands us not to lust, saying that if we lust after someone, we’ve already committed adultery in our hearts. I think that this is particularly important to us today. We are left without excuse, whether we lust after someone before we are married or after, or whether we lust after someone of the opposite gender or the same. The Lord expects us to be in control of what we allow ourselves to experience even in our thoughts.

So if we have improper thoughts that could lead us to be lustful behavior or even to adultery, we need to push those away. In an earlier chapter, the Savior gave us a good example of how to do that. When Satan came to tempt him, Jesus appealed to the scriptures, staying true to His Heavenly Father’s will. He did not succumb to temptation, but rebuked the devil and received added strength from His father for doing so.

Are we an offense to our own selves, to our beliefs, to our God? To be at one with Him, we need to comply to His commandments; we need to do His will.

Jesus tells us not to use extremes in language, not to swear, but to say yes or no. Why is that?

An important teaching of Jesus is to turn the other cheek. How often do we want to strike back if we feel offended or attacked? That seems to be the most natural response. But the Savior provided a more controlled example throughout His life; one that takes extreme discipline. We should stop worrying about how we look to others, whether it is that one side of our face is red from being slapped, or we have been slighted and made to appear silly by being belittled; or whether we have some type of scar or disfigurement that we carry with us because of our past lives. Revenge will only serve to darken and destroy. The Spirit will beautify us and sustain us, even when we must bear persecution.

Jesus teaches us to give more than is taken. So many worry today that they are badly used by family and friends. If we give good gifts with pure and honest hearts, our Father in heaven will see and acknowledge and always repay us. We do not need to worry that are needs will not be met, that we will not be looked after. Our Father sees and knows our wants and our needs. And if we are loving and patient, even when others may take advantage of us, God will always provide. Be ready to love and to give to those who seek your assistance. Lend freely and forgive debts. Go the extra mile.

Love your enemies; return blessings for cursings; show kindness to those who purposefully hurt you; pray for those who use you to lift themselves up and push you down. By doing all these things, we will become the children of our Father in Heaven. Jesus certainly did these things.

God always gives us good gifts. We are commanded to be like Him.

St Matthew 3 Reflections

The Gospel According to St. Matthew: Matthew Chapter 3: Read Here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/3?lang=eng

The Father was Pleased that Jesus was Baptized

What was the purpose of the Pharisees and the Sadducees in coming to the baptism of John? John certainly questioned their sincerity; and in this chapter, he tells them the requirements for baptism. Although John baptized with water, it is God who will baptize us with fire and the Holy Ghost.

When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John felt inadequate to baptize His Lord; but, Jesus insisted and said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matt 3:15). When Jesus was baptized of John, a dove is seen as a witness from the Holy Ghost that John baptized the Messiah; and, God spoke from the heavens saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17)

Further thoughts:

When we follow the Spirit in doing our Heavenly Father’s will, we can also have a personal witness that Heavenly Father is pleased with us through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Not only does this chapter set forth the importance of baptism; because Jesus Christ, being completely holy, was baptized to comply with His Father’s will; it also shows that the Godhead is indeed three distinct persons, although One in unity and purpose.