3 Nephi 15:1-7

Chapter 15

Jesus announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled in Him—The Nephites are the other sheep of whom He spoke in Jerusalem—Because of iniquity, the Lord’s people in Jerusalem do not know of the scattered sheep of Israel. About A.D. 34.

The Savior has finished the Sermon at the Temple.

Looking at the multitude, he told them the things he taught the Nephites were taught to the Jews before his death and resurrection.

“The resurrected Jesus explicitly reenacts in the New World many of the teachings and performances he first presented in his mortal ministry (3 Nephi 15:1; 17:8), but the Nephite enactment is more than mere repetition. The faith he encounters there stands in sharp contrast to the Jews’ prior scorn (3 Nephi 9:16), enabling him to offer the Nephite community his surpassing favor.”[1]

He tells them blessings come through doing His will. 

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

“For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was” (James 1:22-24).

Those who do His word will be raised up at the last day.  “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39).

“And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be” (1^st Nephi 13:37).

“Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people” (Mosiah 23:22).

“And if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day. Amen” (D&C 5:35).

The Savior perceived some wondered about the law of Moses.  Should they continue to obey it.  They did not understand what was meant when He said old things had passed away. “Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

“Old things are done away, and all things have become new” (3 Nephi 12:46-47).

They should not be surprised when he said the old things had passed away and been replaced by new things. “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).

He declared the law of Moses is fulfilled.  Abinadi had taught king Noah and his priests about the law of Moses and its fulfillment.

“And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you,
“And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

“And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;

“Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.

“But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come” (Mosiah 13:27-31).[2]

The Savior tells the multitude He gave the Jews the law of Moses.  He covenanted with Israel.  He has fulfilled the law and it has come to an end. “Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away” (Alma 34:13).

He did not destroy the prophets.  “[F] or as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.”

He made sure they understood when He said old things passed away, He did not destroy what has been spoken and have not yet come.

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[1] “Saving Christianity”: The Nephite Fulfillment of Jesus’s Eschatological Prophecies, Heather Hardy, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 51.

[2] Even though the Nephites had the words of available to them, we don’t know how widespread his teachings were among the Nephites.