Post # 85 – Come, Follow Me week # 8 -- “Blessed Are Ye”

February 18–24

Matthew 5; Luke 6

Dear Family and Friends

As you know Matthew chapters 5 – 7 cover the very beginning of Jesus’s mortal ministry. this section of scripture is known as the Sermon on the Mount. President Joseph Fielding Smith said that the Sermon on the Mount is “the greatest [sermon] that was ever preached, so far as we know” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith [2013], 234).

In chapter 5 we will be covering those principles that Jesus taught us that will lead us to happiness in our lives. He told His disciples, in fact He commanded that they were to set a righteous example for others and He also taught about the higher law in this chapter. Lets learn together about how to live the higher way.

Jesus begins these verses called the Sermon on the Mount as He teaches us about the Beatitudes. Id someone were to pose the question to you: Are you happy? And then asked you to tell them why or why not, what would your answer be? President Deiter B, Uchtdorf taught us about happiness in his address entitled:  “Of Regrets and Resolutions,” found in the Nov. 2012 Ensign or Liahona magazine, page 23.

 “So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.

“… External circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness.” “We do matter. We determine our happiness”

As we study the Beatitudes, we notice one word repeated multiple times, it is the word ‘blessed.’ If we look at the footnote letter a in verse 3 for the word blessed we find the following definition: The Latin beatus is the basis of the English “beatitude,” meaning “to be fortunate,” “to be happy,” or “to be blessed.” TG Blessing. So if we are blessed we are “to be happy”😊 so because the word blessed comes from the Latin word beatus which is the basis of the English word ”beatitude” which means to be fortunate or to be happy, they have been called the “Beatitudes.” Lasting happiness comes from living the way Jesus Christ taught and lived.

In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi chapter 12 verses 1-12, there is a sermon given there when Jesus came to visit the Nephites and this sermon is very similar to that of the Beatitudes, found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus began His sermon to the Nephites by teaching them that the way to come unto Him was through baptism and the receiving of the Holy Ghost.

If you compare the teachings in both sermons you will find that Jesus has given us greater understanding of the verses found in the Sermon on the Mount through the sermon, He taught the Nephites on His visit to them. In studying both the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1–12 and 3 Nephi 12:1–12  we will see that they provide a roadmap for us to know just how we are  to come unto our Savior.

 

Each Beatitude teaches us that we will receive the specified blessing if we are living that Beatitude. If we look closely at the Beatitudes, we will find that each one teaches about some of the attributes of Jesus Christ. With this thought in mind I challenge you to choose one of these attributes found in these verses and work towards a foal that would help you develop this attribute in your life. As we are developing these Christlike attributes, we will find that we have increased happiness in our lives.

As we continue on in our study of chapter 5, beginning in verse 13, we find there that Jesus is teaching His disciples to live a righteous life. He wants them each to be a righteous example to the people they are teaching. In these verses He teaches using a common item – “salt.” Think about all the uses of salt in your daily life, what did you come up with? I will list a few for you, but these are not all first off, we cannot live without salt. Salt gives flavor to foods, you can use it for cleaning, they used and still use salt to preserve foods… and so much more.

Carlos E. Asay of the Seventy taught us about salt in his article titled :“Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men,”  found in the May 1980 Ensign magazine, page 42. “[Salt] is essential to health; body cells must have salt in order to live and work. It has antiseptic, or germ-killing, properties. It is a preservative. It is an ingredient in many foods and products. And it is estimated that there are more than fourteen thousand uses for salt. …

“… [Salt that] has savor … is clean, pure, uncontaminated, and useful. In this state or condition, salt will preserve, flavor, heal, and perform other useful functions” 

Lets look in Matthew chapter 5 verse 13 to find out who Jesus was referring to as salt? 13 Ye are the ^asalt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. So, if the Savior is referring to or likening the disciples to the salt, how can the disciples of Jesus Christ be like the salt? We need to know that the savor here means its flavor but also refers to the healing and cleansing properties within the salt. So how can disciples of Christ have healing and cleansing properties?

Okay so we have the salt, and how does salt loose its flavor? And how do you think that a disciple of Jesus Christ can lose its flavor? If the salt is mixed with dirt or other compounds it is then considered contaminated. What would then be the dirt of contamination that would cause a disciple of Jesus Christ to lose its flavor? If the contamination or dirt are the sins of the world. The disciples of Christ were there to bless the lives of those around them, right? To share with them the teachings of Christ.

If we are like the disciples as Jesus has taught – if we are likening the scriptures to ourselves – then if we are contaminated or dirtied by the sins of the world, we would then be unable to be an instrument in the Lord’s hands to bless the lives of others. This would definitely prevent us from blessing the lives of others☹ after you have read the counsel given below from Elder Asay. think about what you need to do to keep yourself from being contaminated by the sins of the world?

Elder Asay also gave counsel to help us avoid being contaminated by the sins of the world: “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” (“Salt of the Earth,” 42–43). I think we should remember that our Savior has provided us aa way that we can be cleansed from the sins of the world through our faith in Him and the repentance process through His Atonement – through our faith and the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of and sins we might have committed in our lives.

Now as we continue our study, we will find beginning in verse 14, that our Savior compares His disciples to candles. The Savior is teaching us to let our light shine, what does it mean for us to let our light shine? We shine our light be being a good righteous example to those around us😊in these verses 14-16 the Savior teaches us that we are to be a righteous example to those around us. The Savior’s disciples are to be the light of the world.

This being a commandment it is important for us to follow the example of our Savior and be obedient to His commandments. Our righteous example can help others come closer to our Heavenly Father. I am sure if you think about it, you will be able to remember someone in your life who was a righteous example and helped you to feel closer to your Heavenly Father. What can you each do in your life to be a better example to your friends and family and others around you?

Being a light.

Elder Robert D. Hales taught: “Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps you are the light sent by Heavenly Father to lead another safely home or to be a beacon from a distance to show the way back to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life? Your light is a beacon and should never stop burning or mislead those who are looking for a way home” (“That Ye May Be the Children of Light” [Brigham Young University fireside, Nov. 3, 1996], 9; speeches.byu.edu).

If we continue with our study of chapter 5 beginning in verse 17 we find that Jesus teaches His disciples how to be like their Heavenly Father. He taught them that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. He wasn’t there to do away with the truths found in the law of Moses but to restore the eternal truths – the fulness of the gospel that had been lost by wickedness and sin. He was there to correct false teachings and to fulfil the prophecies made by the Old Testament prophets. Jesus Christ taught a higher law that can lead us toward perfection.

Seeking perfection.

President Harold B. Lee taught: “Would you suppose the Savior was suggesting a goal that was not possible of attainment and thus mock us in our efforts to live to attain that perfectness? It is impossible for us here in mortality to come to that state of perfection of which the Master spoke, but in this life we lay the foundation on which we will build in eternity; therefore, we must make sure that our foundation is laid on truth, righteousness and faith” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 195).

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “[Perfection] will not come all at once, but line upon line and precept upon precept, example upon example, and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life. … But here we lay the foundation. Here is where we are taught these simple truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in this probationary state, to prepare us for that perfection. It is my duty, it is yours, to be better today than I was yesterday, and for you to be better today than you were yesterday, and better tomorrow than you were today” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith[2013], 234–35).

Jesus continues in the following verses to talk about those laws that the Jews had developed or added to under the law of Moses. In teaching a higher way to live those laws Jesus was explaining the laws and how we must live the higher law. The Jews were living the letter of the law and Jesus taught them to live in a higher way each law. Beginning in verses 21 – 48 let’s look for what Jesus teaches us about living a higher law.

Verses 21-26 we learn that we should love our enemy, in verses 27-30 we learn that we should not commit adultery in our heart by entertaining lustful thoughts. In verses 31-32 we learn that we shouldn’t get a divorce except for adultery. In verses 33-37 we learn that we should not need oaths; that our word should be good enough. In verses 38 – 42 we learn that we should turn the other cheek. Then in verses 43 – 47 we learn that we should also love our enemy.

Now let’s move on to Luke chapter 6. In this chapter Jesus teaches us that it is important for us to do good to and for others, even if we are doing it on the Sabbath day. What if you were sitting in church and there came an announcement that there was going to be a service project for a family in need and they lived in your neighborhood.

after this announcement is made you are walking down the hall and overhear some of the talk of others in response to this announcement.

You find out that people have different reasons as to why they are willing to serve.  One is willing to serve because the family has been through a lot recently. Another will serve only one if there will be food served. another will serve because they themselves could use some help the following week. And the other will serve id their friend will be going. Why do you serve others? Is it out of the goodness of your heart or is it to gain something in some way?

In Luke chapter 6 we learn principles that will help us learn how we can serve in more meaningful ways.  Jesus taught the people in Galilee and while He was there, He healed a man with a withered hand, n verse 6-10– it was on the Sabbath day. In verses 12-13 we learn that He went to a mountain to pray and He spent the night in prayer to His Father in heaven. When it was day time, He then chose His Twelve Apostles. Then in verse 17 He began to teach them and the great multitude that was with them how the were to receive their heavenly rewards.

The Sermon in chapter 6 is referred to as the Sermon on the Plains. This sermon is very similar to the Sermon on the Mount. Beginning in verse 19 we learn that Jesus healed the people before He began to teach the people. Then in verse 31 we find Jesus’s counsel that He gave to His disciples. That we should treat others as we would have them treat us. If we always remember how we wish others would treat us, we will more than likely be willing to treat them in that same way. I always try to remember that they too are a child of God and how would He have me treat them. That has been very helpful to me😊

In verses 32-35 we find the counsel Jesus gave is disciples about living and serving others. He also taught us what we should expect in return for doing good to others. Did you notice what the Lord promised to those of us that do good for others without expecting anything in return? One principle that we learn from these verses is that if we do good to others without expecting anything in return, our reward will be great and we will be the children of the Highest.

With this said, think about how you feel when you serve others without expecting anything in return? Those who follow Christ’s example for service will fulfill their divine potential by becoming more like their Father in Heaven. In verse 35 it reads “ye shall be the children of the Highest” even though we are all children of our Heavenly Father those of us who serve without expecting anything in return are becoming more like Him as we do so.

In verses 36-38 we learn that we should be merciful; that we should not judge others; we should not condemn others; that we should forgive others so that we can be forgiven. We should give to others and that it will be give to us as we give to others. These are all ways that we can do good to others in our daily life. In these verses we are taught that if we show mercy to others, if we refrain from judging others unrighteously, and we forgive others freely we will receive God’s mercy. Now, I want you to think about a time when you were packing to go on a trip.

Have you ever tried to put too many things into your suit case? In verse 38 describes how much we will be given for the food that we do for others. Remember the phrase in this verse that says: “Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over.” This is how our Heavenly Father will reward us for giving to others. This truth we learn from this verse: as we generously give to others, Heavenly Father blesses us more generously.

One way we can be more generous to others is by giving more in our fast offerings. As we seek to be more generous this upcoming week let us each pray for the Lord’s help to serve as He would do if He were here right now. Think about opportunities you have had to serve and how you felt about serving. Think about how serving others without expecting anything in return can help a person be more Christlike.

Well my dear Family and Friends, we have come to the end of our lesson and today’s post. I hope you have all enjoyed studying the Beatitudes with me. I also hope that you have learned as much as I have in sharing it with each of you. It is important for each of us to remember to serve as Jesus Christ would serve if he were here. We are His hands upon the earth, and it is up to us to make a difference in this world.

Let’s all work hard to follow our Savior’s example and His counsel to love and serve one another without expecting anything in return. Let us each treat one another as we want to be treated. Let us each continue to read and study the New Testament throughout this year and the Book of Mormon as it will help clarify the things we find in the Bible. Until my next post, as always, make it a great week😊