Chapter 12
Jesus calls and
commissions the Twelve—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the
Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take
precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as he and
his Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34
Christ had called twelve disciples. He had been teaching them His word. They would soon receive a command similar to
what the Lord gave during His mortal ministry. “And he said unto them, Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15 - 16).
Christ turned to the multitude and cried unto them. He told them they would be blessed if they
give heed to the words of the twelve. They
had been selected by Him and received power to baptize with water and then
baptize the people with fire and the Holy Ghost. “[B]lessed
are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me
and know that I am” (3 Nephi 12:1).
Christ gives them two new beatitudes. John Welch explains: “The discourse in 3 Nephi 12 begins with two
ecclesiastical beatitudes not found in the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Blessed are ye
if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen; … again,
more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall
testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am’ (3 Nephi 12:1–2).”[1]
The importance of faith and belief was emphasized by the
Lord to Alma1: “Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are
they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon.
Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my
servant Abinadi. And blessed are they
because of their exceeding faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto
them” (Mosiah 26:15 - 16).
Those who have faith “and
come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be
visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of
their sins” (3 Nephi 12:2).
Christ then preaches words similar to the Sermon on the
Mount. (John Welch calls this the Sermon
at the Temple).
As we read these words, it is essential to remember the
people are no longer hearing the words of Christ, the man. When Christ preaches to them, they are
hearing the word of God directly from God, making His words even more powerful.
I have a chart that compares the words of the Sermon on the
Mount with the Sermon at the Temple.
Christ begins by preaching the beatitudes. Differences in the two Sermons are
highlighted with bold and italics.
3 Nephi 12:3-12
|
Matthew 5:3-12
|
3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted.
5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the
earth.
6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after
righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy.
8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall
see God.
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the children of God.
10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my
name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and
persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for
great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the
prophets who were before you.
|
3 Blessed are
the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are
they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are
the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are
they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be
filled.
7 Blessed are
the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are
the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are
they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
|
[1] The
Sermon at the Temple and the Sermon on the Mount: The Differences, John
Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 11, 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment