When You Don't Know What To Say ... Jesus Knows

Here are a few thoughts I had this morning as I read Matthew 22:15-46, where the Pharisees and Sadducees continue to try to trap Jesus with his own words ...

"Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (Verses 17-22)

The Gospel Doctrine teachers manual explains the attempted trap here.  "If Jesus said yes to the question, they could accuse him of supporting the hated Roman government.  If he said no, they could accuse him of rebellion against the government."

We know that Christ answered "Render therefore unto Casesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

The twelfth article of faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints continues to teach this same principle today, "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, and in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."  As a side note, I will always remember what I felt was a very unique experience as a young Boy Scout.  Both my scoutmaster and his assistant were World War II veterans.  That part was not unusual in the mid-1960s, my school teachers and most other men I knew in their 40s and 50s in those days served in that war.  In this case, one of my Scout leaders served in the American navy in the Pacific and had many experiences with suffering and with death of his colleagues in the very tough battles there.  The other was a sergeant in the German army.  He told of having been taught that article of faith, and how although it was difficult, he followed the law of his country and served in the army.  He had experiences meeting soldiers of various countries in towns on brief breaks from battle, and told of the goodness he saw in his fellow men at these times.  His story continues with his capture by the British followed by four years in their prisoner of war camp, from which he was not released until 1948, three years after the end of the war.  By that time, his parent's family was scattered with several dead, his home town was in the Russian sector, and he gratefully took an opportunity to emigrate, first to Canada and later to the United States.

It may be difficult to see at the time, but there are always blessings that eventually come from obeying, honoring, and sustaining the laws of the countries we live in ... perhaps even while we work diligently to change them.

Returning to verse 18, it is notable that Jesus "perceiving their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?"  We cannot hide from our Savior.  He knows our thoughts, he knows the intents of our hearts.  In addition, we should remember that the veil is thin.  Our memories of our life before this are blocked by that veil, but I believe it could be compared to a tinted mirror -- one where we can't see through it, but those on the other side can see through to us.  Jesus has many spirits serving to help Him help us ... if we will let Him.  They see us.  We cannot hide from them, but because we cannot see them, our life is a true test of our character.  H. Jackson Brown said it this way, "Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking."

Perhaps this knowledge will help us when we are in situations where we don't know what to say because we feel trapped between opposing forces.  When we are in a situation like this one that faced Jesus with this question "Is it lawful to give tribute to Casear, or not?" and we are likely to be in trouble no matter how we answer.  In that moment, if we will pray while pondering what Jesus would do in the situation we find ourselves in, He will help us.  He loves us.  He wants to help us if we will ask.  And He definitely knows the answer.

But the Pharisees and Sadducees continued trying to trap Jesus.  They asked Him the question of a woman whose husband died, and she married each of his brothers in turn as they died to honor the first brother and raise up seed to him.  This was a hypocritical question, because they professed to not believe in the resurrection.

They also asked Jesus "Which is the great commandment in the law?".

He responded to each of these without being trapped, and finally in verse 46 we are told "And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions."

At that point, it was Christ's turn to talk to them about hypocrisy in chapter 23.  That is what I will be reading next as I continue preparing for this lesson.  This preparation has been a wonderful experience for me.

The Stone

Continuing today with part 3 of preparation for the Gospel Doctrine lesson "Woe unto You, ... Hypocrites" ...

Jesus' Response to the Chief Priests and Elders Challenging His Authority (Matt. 21:23-46)

Jesus knew the pharisees were trying to trap Him into breaking Roman law with His words so they would have a chance to kill Him.  (Side note:  They never succeeded in the trap, but killed Him anyway.  So why did they bother?)

Knowing this, He gives them questions very uncomfortable for them to answer.  When they replied "We cannot tell", then He said "Neither tell I you [the answer to your question]." (verse 27)

Instead He gives them two parables and a scriptural reference to rejecting the cornerstone.

The parable of the two sons (verses 28-32) notes that those who say no to the Lord's commands, then repent and do are better than those who say they will and don't.  A clear message against hypocrisy ... and another missed opportunity by the Pharisees for self-reflection and repentance before making worse mistakes simply so that they can continue their hypocritical ways.

The parable of the householder (verses 33-41) is a direct comparison to the Lord sending prophets to the people of the world and their leaders through the ages and having them be not only rejected, but also horribly mistreated.  Finally, the Son is sent with the thought "They will reverence my son".  Instead they kill him.  The Pharisees agree that in the example the leaders should be removed and replaced with others who will do the will of the householder ... but in their pride refuse yet again to heed the message, repent, and make a new start.

Then Jesus follows up with a direct reference to them, using a prior scriptural reference to the significance of the cornerstone.

"Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner" (verse 42)

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (verses 43-44)

There are numerous references throughout the scripture to the word "stone".    The word is cross-referenced in verse 42 to the Topical Guide sections on Cornerstone; Jesus Christ, Prophecies about; and Rock.  (There is also a section on Jesus Christ, Rock).  The Institute Manual refers to Ephesians 2:20 and Acts 4:10-12 in what it refers to as the Parable of the Rejected Stone.  All of these lead back to Christ being the strength, the ultimate foundation, the cornerstone of His Church and His Kingdom.

The Pharisees, the Chief Priests and Elders finally get it at this point, realizing Christ was speaking of them.  But they feared the people there, who believed in Christ.   Instead, they found a way to capture Jesus to kill him a few days later at a quiet time and place ... through Judas.

It is stunning what we as people will do to justify ourselves and continue down whatever path we are on.  All the more reason to choose our path very carefully.

The Triumphal Entry!

This is part 2 in the series begun yesterday of notes taken while preparing to teach the Gospel Doctrine lesson "Woe unto You, ... Hypocrites" this coming Sunday.

Christ's Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11)

Jesus wanted to fulfill the prophecy made by Zechariah (9:9-11) and sent two disciples to a specific place to get an ass and a colt.

Jesus then rode humbly on the ass into Jerusalem where he was greeted by "a very great multitude" who put their clothes, straw, and anything else they could find to honor Him as he came.  I picture it as a very humble, sweet form of what we try to do with the red carpet to mark the entrance to a momentous occasion.

As He passed the multitude, they sang out great hosannas to Him.  They were very happy and excited to be there to greet Him.  I am sure each person there remembered this experience for the rest of their lives.  Yet, only days later, He would be mercilessly mocked by another large crowd.  It is remarkable how much difference there is in the two scenes -- and the two groups of people, the praising crowd and the mocking crowd, had to know each other. 

I can only imagine how they interacted with each other.

Would You Like To Help Me?

I was asked a couple days ago to substitute teach in the Gospel Doctrine class in Sunday School this coming week on the topic "Woe unto you ... Hypocrites".  The scriptures referred to in this lesson include:

John 12:1-8, 12:12-18

Matt 21:1-11, 21:23-46, 22:15-46, 23, 26:6-13

Mark 11-12, 14:3-9

Luke 11:37-51, 19:29-48, 20

The teacher's helps for the lesson encouraging reading each passage at least three times.  It encourages:  "The first time, read it [each passage] to comprehend what the passages contain.  Then study it more carefully, looking for principles, doctrines, and significant events.  Then read it again, determining which passages will best meet class members' needs and planning ways to discuss those passages.

I hope to write my notes as I do this here, sharing them with you.  Will you help me by reading, pondering, and praying about them too, then sharing insights you receive as a comment here?

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I have one to share now as a start.  John 12:1-8 tells the story of Jesus travelling to Bethany, where Martha served him supper.  Lazarus, whom Jesus previously had raised from the dead, sat at the table with him.  Mary then took a pound of ointment of spikenard and anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair as she did this.

The Bible Dictionary tells us that spikenard is a very aromatic liquid derived from the root of a tree.  I am thinking that a pound of it would probably fill a pint bottle, so Mary used it freely as she anointed Jesus' feet.  It was enough that the entire room was filled with the exotic odor of this expensive fragrance.

I am touched with Mary's use of her hair to wipe his feet rather than any type of cloth.  I imagine she had to wipe her tears in addition to the spikenard from his feet, so filled was she with gratitude for her Savior and the opportunity to give this service to Him.

Judas, the same who would soon betray Jesus, was also in the room and objected to what he viewed as an unnecessary extravagance.  We are told in verse 6 that "he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein".  A cross-reference here to John 13:29 indicates that Judas had this bag when at the Last Supper.  Judas appears to have been the money-keeper of the Twelve, using what was there for their needs and to give to the poor.  Judas, a hypocrite, would have rather had additional money in the bag than to have freely used the spikenard for Mary's anointing.

One other verse, the seventh, fascinates me here.  It seems clear that the Twelve had very little, if any, understanding of what was about to happen to Jesus, or its significance.  That understanding came later for them.  Yet Jesus in verse 7 says to Judas, "Let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this."  I believe this indicates Mary did know and understand. 

Mary was a remarkable woman.

Priorities and Onion Peeling

I deeply love my wife Willyne.  I have been married to her for thirty-three years.  Her smile that captivated me when I met her is a window into her soul.  As time passes, I become more and more appreciative of the depth and many layers of the goodness that her outer smile reflects.

One of the things that I admire about her is her urgent desire to truly follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.  To do this, she studies, she prays, and she tries to live each day according to the principles He taught and that she learns through her study and prayers.  She will be the first person to tell you she is not perfect. As she gradually gets closer to the Lord through reading the words of apostles and prophets, through prayer, and by striving to live consistently with that, she becomes more aware of things she could have done better and more desirous to make amends with anyone she might have offended. 

In a way she is on a journey that might be compared to peeling an onion.  It would have to be a sweet Vidalia onion to have any merit as a comparison.  As she peels one layer of the onion, it reveals another layer.  It is never ending, but because the journey is sweet, it is still very satisfying.

I love General Conference.  I love the way I feel all weekend.  I love the talks.  I love the music.  It ends way too quickly.

This year, Willyne, who serves as Relief Society president in our ward, has challenged each sister to read conference issue cover to cover.  As an additional incentive, she has invited them all to a breakfast at our home in June ... if they have completed this challenge.

I know I'm always welcome to these activities in our home.  I probably will say hello a few times, and quietly enjoy the breakfast from my study area.  I appreciate the hearty welcome, and I also know it blesses the sisters to be together.  Still, this has given me new incentive to read the conference issue myself.  I have also been listening to it, via the Mormon channel on my Android phone while driving.

In my reading I have reached "Desire" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the Saturday afternoon session.  In my listening I am at "Priesthood Power" by President Thomas S. Monson in the Priesthood session, this as last Saturday evening closed and as the Primary song encourages, I was getting ready for Sunday.  I have been especially touched by both of these talks.  As a side note, I always especially enjoy the choirs of young men that are assembled for Priesthood sessions.  Listening to them again in the past few days brought this sweet memory back to me.

The next day, Sunday, we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting taught by our Bishop, Lee Hogan.  He covered several topics, centered around building the desire to be closer to the Savior.  One of the tools he encouraged us to use was to read the conference issue cover to cover.  He has read it multiple times himself, and it showed in his presentation.

Willyne has been enjoying a daily devotional for some time now.  It has blessed her life in so many ways.  She is now increasing the time she is dedicating to her devotional by making several sacrifices, including getting up a little earlier each day than she already does.

It is remarkable to me how the blessings of good priorities can line up like this.  By being willing to peel one layer of the onion, in a manner of speaking, such as beginning to read the conference talks cover to cover, new gems are revealed that weren't noticed the first time.  This prepares you for what you don't realize is coming next, like the Bishop's talk, that builds on the previous layer.

Maybe I am like you in one way.  There are many good things that I do, and I have ideas for many more that I don't seem to get to.  I have some things pressing on me that I feel the need to do.  Which should I continue, which should I give up, so that I can do other things I realize are better (or best).

Deciding these priorities is a continuous process.  There is one thing I have just been reminded of.  A daily devotional is helpful in so many ways, one of which is to help see priorities more clearly.  Reading the conference talks helped more.  The most recent talk I have read was on our desires and priorities, and helped me focus further.

Thank you, Willyne, for quietly encouraging me to go to the next layer.  I love you.

Why Do We Need Such Resilient Faith?

In the words of Elder Russell M. Nelson in April 2011 General Conference,

"Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-Day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord 'shall suffer persecution.' (2 Timothy 3:12)

"That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives."

I have already seen much in my own experience to testify the truth of Elder Nelson's message.  I believe he is correct in encouraging us to continuously strengthen our faith to be ready as his words become increasingly true with every passing day.

Sweet Random Thoughts on Faith

I am reading a chapter a day in the Book of Mormon while focusing on the New Testament this year.  I am now at Alma 32 and 33, and between those verses and some inspired counsel from apostles and prophets compiled in the Institute manual, I had some sweet random thoughts the past couple days, including,

Alma 32:23 "And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell commented on this in the April 1996 General Conference,

“Children often have the ‘thoughts and [the] intents of [their] hearts’ focused on the Master. Though not full of years, such children are full of faith! Too young for formal Church callings, they have been ‘called to serve’ as exemplifiers, doing especially well when blessed with ‘goodly parents’ (1 Ne. 1:1).

“Just as the scriptures assure, ‘little children do have words given unto them many times’ (Alma 32:23). For example, the resurrected Jesus revealed things to the Nephite children, who then taught adults and their parents ‘even greater’ things than Jesus had taught. (3 Ne. 26:14)."

As I talk to, play with, and simply hold my grandchildren I feel their faith and their good spirits.  There is indeed much we can learn of Christ through them.  My heart is full just thinking about it.

Too soon, they will grow up and be subjected to the "firehose" of the world's experiences, for both good and ill.  One of the things they will be told again and again is that "seeing is believing", that tangible proof is essential to accept any truth.  I find it helpful to consider the words of Elder Boyd K. Packer in this regard,

“In a world filled with skepticism and doubt, the expression ‘seeing is believing’ promotes the attitude, 'You show me, and I will believe.’ We want all of the proof and all of the evidence first. It seems hard to take things on faith.

“When will we learn that in spiritual things it works the other way about—that believing is seeing?  Spiritual belief precedes spiritual knowledge.  When we believe in things that are not seen but are nevertheless true, then we have faith”

In another quote, Elder Packer goes on to explain that just because it is difficult to express spiritual feelings in words does not negate their truth,

"President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared an experience that describes the difficulty of verbal expression. He bore his testimony to an atheist that there is a God. The man said he could not know such a thing. President Packer compared his testimony and knowledge with knowing what salt tastes like (see commentary for Alma 30:15–16 on p. 214 (of the Institute manual); see also “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 51–52).

I also find it noteworthy that patience is an important part of faith.  It is my personal experience that one can never have too much patience.  Patience is required to have faith, faith is required to have patience, and both faith and patience have to be consistently nourished ... or else the result is yet another case of "use it or lose it".

 

Allow me to quote President Packer another time,

 

“My experience has been that a testimony does not burst upon us suddenly. Rather, it grows, as Alma said, from a seed of faith. . . .

 

“Do not be disappointed if you have read and reread and yet have not received a powerful witness. You may be somewhat like the disciples spoken of in the Book of Mormon who were filled with the power of God in great glory ‘and they knew it not’ (3 Nephi 9:20).

“Do the best you can. Think of this verse: ‘See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order’ (Mosiah 4:27)” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 7; or Ensign, May 2005, 8).

President Uchtdorf has also spoken on the importance of patience and consistency in nurturing faith and testimony, in this instance in the April 2009 General Conference,

“A friend of mine recently wrote to me, confiding that he was having a difficult time keeping his testimony strong and vibrant. He asked for counsel.

“I wrote back to him and lovingly suggested a few specific things he could do that would align his life more closely with the teachings of the restored gospel.  To my surprise, I heard back from him only a week later. The essence of his letter was this: ‘I tried what you suggested. It didn’t work. What else have you got?’

“Brothers and sisters, we have to stay with it. We don’t acquire eternal life in a sprint—this is a race of endurance. We have to apply and reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to make them part of our normal life.

“Too often we approach the gospel like a farmer who places a seed in the ground in the morning and expects corn on the cob by the afternoon. When Alma compared the word of God to a seed, he explained that the seed grows into a fruit-bearing tree gradually, as a result of our ‘faith, and [our] diligence, and patience, and long-suffering’ [Alma 32:43]. It’s true that some blessings come right away: soon after we plant the seed in our hearts, it begins to swell and sprout and grow, and by this we know that the seed is good.  From the very moment we set foot upon the pathway of discipleship, seen and unseen blessings from God begin to attend us.

“But we cannot receive the fulness of those blessings if we 'neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment’ [v. 38].

I can hear President Uchtdorf in my mind in his humble, energetic German accent, as he continues,

"We cannot expect to experience the blessings of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes.  And yet for some, ‘spectator discipleship’ is a preferred

if not a primary way of worshipping.

“Ours is not a secondhand religion. We cannot receive the blessings of the gospel merely by observing the good that others do. We need to get off the sidelines and practice what we preach. . . .

“. . . Now is the time to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, become His disciples, and walk in His way”

(“The Way of the Disciple, Ensign, May 2009, 76–77).

Then I came to the encouraging words of President Eyring, as he explains (in October 2001 General Conference) that frequent prayer, even mighty prayer, is more about the feelings we express to the Lord than the number of words we use,

“When God has commanded us to pray, He has used words like ‘pray unceasingly’ and ‘pray always’ and ‘mighty prayer.’ 

“Those commands do not require using many words.  In fact, the Savior has told us that we need not multiply words when we pray. The diligence in prayer which God requires does not take flowery speech nor long hours of solitude. . . .

“Our hearts can be drawn out to God only when they are filled with love for Him and trust in His goodness”

(in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 17; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 16).

Indeed.

And Make The Best Of It

Some thoughts from reading Alma 29:6-9 this morning,

"Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?  Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?  For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.  I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

The Institute manual quotes Elder Henry D. Moyle from October 1952 General Conference talking about these verses,

"I believe that we, as fellow workers in the priesthood, might well take to heart the admonition of Alma and be content with that which God hath allotted us.  We might well be assured that we had something to do with our 'allotment' in our pre-existent state.  This would be an additional reason for us to accept our present condition and make the best of it.  It is what we agreed to do ....  We had our own free agency in our pre-mortax existence, and whatever we are today is likely the result of that which we willed to be heretofore"

I love how reading scriptures consistently through our lives can reveal different aspects of the same verses.  I have generally taken these to be missionary verses, Alma rejoicing in doing missionary work, then realizing he would be very happy bringing one soul to God.

That clearly is part of the message, but there is more.  We should not be blaming our current mistakes on our parents, how we were born, our circumstances, or anything else.  We should start where we are, and make the best of our lives from today forward.

"It is what we agreed to do."