NT Come Follow Me

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 8

Introduction:

“Blessed Are Ye”

Jesus presented His higher law with the Beatitudes. The Law of Moses would be fulfilled with His Atonement and resurrection. He came to fulfill the law and guide us back to heaven.

The two greatest commandments in the law—which the Lord pronounced when He said, “Hear, O Israel”, are that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and everything we have and can give, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Matthew 5:38, 43 The lesser law proclaimed an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; but we want to preserve and protect life and to love and forgive our enemies. Our own souls can be peaceful when we develop a forgiving heart.

3 Nephi 15:2–10 Jesus also taught His disciples in the Americas His higher law.

3 Nephi 15: 9-10 Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.

Matthew 5:48 Perfection is found in following Jesus, who can make us whole; even as Jesus followed His Father and became whole and complete. It is a principle of grace. He is perfect.

Personal Study: Lasting happiness comes from living the way Jesus Christ taught.

Where is true happiness found? Matthew 5:1–12 and Luke 6:20–26 and 3 Ne. 12

How does being a disciple of Jesus Christ bring you happiness? Luke 6:46–49

Beatitudes

Video “Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes”

Personal Study: “Ye are the salt of the earth.”

Leviticus 2:13 How important is salt in seasoning and in preserving?

Numbers 18:19 A covenant of salt! What can that mean to you today?

Matthew 5:13 How can we protect salt from losing its savor? How do we keep ourselves pure and useful? How can salt become contaminated? How can we contaminate our steadfastness, our purpose, and our testimonies?

“How will you keep your savor as a disciple of Jesus Christ? How will you fulfill your preserving and purifying work as the salt of the earth?”

Doctrine and Covenants 103:9–10

“9 For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men;

10 And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.”

Are you ministering? If not you are as salt that has lost its savor. Do better. Keep your covenant of salt.

Personal Study: The law of Christ supersedes the law of Moses.

Matthew 5:20 Why is it important that our righteousness go above the letter of the law or outward appearances? How have we fallen short if we are prideful of our position or possessions?

Matthew 5:21–48 and Luke 6:27–35 How is the Savior’s way a higher law?

Matthew 5:27–28 Who hold the responsibility for my thoughts and actions?

Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 Here the Lord tells us how we can gain better control of our own thoughts and actions. We need to cultivate charity, and we need to let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly.

Video: The Higher Law

Personal Study: Does Heavenly Father really expect me to be perfect?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

“The term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means ‘complete.’ … The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means ‘to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.’ Please note that the word does not imply ‘freedom from error’; it implies ‘achieving a distant objective.’ …

“… The Lord taught, ‘Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now … ; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected’ [Doctrine and Covenants 67:13].

“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments” (“Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86, 88).

 

2 Peter 1:3–11 “giving all diligence, add to” Since it is our goal to gain Eternal Life (which is perfection beyond compare), we should hearken to Peter’s words to work on improving ourselves, our situation, and helping those around us.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:69 Just men, women, and children will be made perfect through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a gift of grace.

Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually

Family Study: Make Your Home a Happier Place

Matthew 5:1–9 How can we build a happier home?

Matthew 5:21–25, 38–44 What goals can we set?

Family Study: How are We the Salt of the Earth?

 

Matthew 5:13: Ye are the salt 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.

 

 

How does salt work as a seasoning? How does it work as a preservative? What happens when we forget to use salt in foods we prepare? What happens when we use too much salt?

 

How are we like salt when we are teaching/living the gospel and ministering to our fellow men?

How are we like salt that has lost its savor when we are not serving? Or when we are only self-serving?

Family Study: How are We the Light of the World? (Remember, Jesus is Truly the Light of the World)

 

Matthew 5:14–16 What did Jesus mean when He said, “Ye are the light of the world”?

How can we be a light to others?

 

3 Nephi 18:16, 24–25 Whose light is it that we should hold up? Whose light makes our own shine brighter?

 

Family Study: Love (also) your enemies.

Matthew 5:43–45 Whom do you need to forgive? Who will benefit from your kindness? How can your prayers show love and bring healing to yourself and to others?

 

What examples do you have of when you did something kind for someone who was unkind to you? Did it change your relationship? Did it change your heart?

 

Be Observant: Be Salt

Look for and act upon teaching and serving opportunities

 

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/5?lang=eng

Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount—Its teachings replace and transcend some aspects of the law of Moses—All are commanded to be perfect like their Father in Heaven.                                       

Matthew 5:1–9 Look for principles that can lead you in building a happier environment for your home. Choose a couple of principles to work on.

Matthew 5:1–12  Where is true happiness found?

Vs 1-12 It seems like a way to be happier is to practice virtue and self-control. I love the beatitudes. The Lord wants is to develop charity and to become one with Him.

Vs 13 Remember the Lord has called us to be His disciples. We've made covenants with Him. The covenant of salt is that we minister to others as He ministers to all ofus. If we withdraw from teaching and living the gospel, if we refrain from serving and ministering, we are not fulling keeping our covenants (see Mosiah 18). If we aren't ministering, we are as salt that has lost its savor. Heidi, do better.

Vs 14-16 As we gain more light through the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, we are to let that light shine. We are to hold up Jesus Christ as the true Light and Life of the world and invite others to come unto Him. "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."

 Matthew 5:21–48 Compare the behaviors required in the law of Moses, and how Jesus taught us to elevate those behaviors. How is Jesus’s way a higher law?

Vs 21-26 Don’t kill vs. Don’t be angry without a cause. Live peaceably.

Vs 27-32 Don't commit the act of adultery or fornication vs. Don't allow yourself to engage in the desire of adulterous thoughts. If something causes you to think improper thoughts, removes it from your life, or remove yourself from that situation immediately.

Lustful appetites are self-consuming and the destroy are ability to progress. They also can take away the virtue of another person.

Vs 33-37 Don't swear in the name of the Lord vs. Don't sware by anything. Just do your best to live according to your words. Say yes or no and that seek to follow through.

Vs 38-48 An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life vs. taking wrongful abuse and returning good for evil.

Think more of heavenly things than earthly. Desire that your brother make it to heaven as well as yourself.

Love you neighbor and hate your enemy vs. Love your enemies. Do good to everyone. Pray for everyone.

You have made baptismal covenants adn taken upon you Christ's name. Become His children; be the children of your Heavenly Father, who loves all His children and showers blessings on everyone.

Be faithful and true, not for the reward of being seen by men, but because you love your Father.

Seek His Spirit, so that you can become one with Him and someday be like Him.

Matthew 5:21–25, 38–44 What goals can we set?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/6?lang=eng

Jesus heals on the Sabbath—He chooses the Twelve Apostles—He pronounces blessings upon the obedient and woes upon the wicked.

Vs 5-10 The Sabbath is not a day for pretended piety. It is a day of worship and healing. It is a day of reaching out to our family, friends, and loved ones the way Jesus reaches out to us. It is a day to do the work of the Lord and to follow His Spirit. It is a day to renew covenants to be more like Him. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. And the sabbath was made for man.

Vs 17-19 Jesus traveled with His apostles. The multitudes flocked to Him to be healed. He had power and virtue to heal them all.

Luke 6:20–26 Where is true happiness found? The Beatitudes are recorded here.

Vs 20-23 The humble, meek, poor, and wanting (who come unto the Lord) will be blessed.

Vs 24-26 Woes are pronouned upon the proud and the haughty; those who lift themselves up will be abased.

Luke 6:27–35 Compare the behaviors required in the law of Moses, and how Jesus taught us to elevate those behaviors. How is Jesus’s way a higher law?

Vs 27-31 The new law is to love your enemies and treat them the same way that you would treat your friends.

Vs 32-26 There is no particular righteousness in doing good just to those who do good to us. To be like Heavenly Father and Jesus, we should pray for our enemies, wish them well, and be merciful like our Father is merciful.

Vs 37-38 Be honest and fair in all your doings. If you need to judge, take assessment of yourself and work on those things in which you are found wanting. Look for the Lord's help. Counsel with Him. Become what He wants you to be.

Vs 39-46 Receive direction and counsel from the Lord. If you believe His doctrine, repent and live it. He wants you to work on your personal growth, while allowing others to do the same. Agency is paramount. Love is what is most important.

Vs 47-49 Be like the wise man who built His house upon a rock. Jesus is our sure foundation. Have faith in Him and build upon His doctrine.

 

Luke 6:46–49 How does being a disciple of Jesus Christ bring you happiness?