If God says it three times, its probably important.
So I was reading some more of Matthew's writings in Matt 15:7-9. The more I read from here the more I realize I don't understand very well! What I'm finding is if I don't study consistently enough, I forget a lot about gospel study I once knew. Anyways, here Christ basically throws down on the Pharisees and scribes. "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Now if you know your scriptures at all, you've heard these words before. But where? Well the footnote takes us to Isaiah, where clearly Jesus is quoting from. Isaiah's words are almost identical. This is also in 3 Nephi 27, which is a chapter speaking of the apostasy. That's three times these words are repeated! Now I just realized I'm pretty sure this was said to Joseph Smith at the First Vision as well. And who knows, I don't know everything, it may be somewhere else in scripture! Now how many times does God need to say something for us to actually pay attention? Hopefully once, but here he is reiterating this point over three times!
What I find interesting is that Jesus says this to the Pharisees, who didn't really worship truly but frankly pretended like "hypocrites," or play actors. We tend to think to ourselves, "oh I am better than a Pharisee, so he ain't talking to me." Well newsflash, he says it to us in the Book of Mormon speaking of the apostasy, and if we say we are close to God, but don't do this in practice, we are having our own personal apostasy. In the Book of Mormon we read the near quote from Isaiah and after it says God will do a marvelous work, and the wisdom of the world will be nothing. I feel it is very important to not let our own perceived wisdom get in the way of what we know to be true, that Christ is our Savior, but also Lord and King over us. He should take precedence over our own pride. I aim to study more of His words, and this class is making realize how sacred His words are.
Now if you know your scriptures at all, you've heard these words before. But where? Well the footnote takes us to Isaiah, where clearly Jesus is quoting from. Isaiah's words are almost identical. This is also in 3 Nephi 27, which is a chapter speaking of the apostasy. That's three times these words are repeated! Now I just realized I'm pretty sure this was said to Joseph Smith at the First Vision as well. And who knows, I don't know everything, it may be somewhere else in scripture! Now how many times does God need to say something for us to actually pay attention? Hopefully once, but here he is reiterating this point over three times!
What I find interesting is that Jesus says this to the Pharisees, who didn't really worship truly but frankly pretended like "hypocrites," or play actors. We tend to think to ourselves, "oh I am better than a Pharisee, so he ain't talking to me." Well newsflash, he says it to us in the Book of Mormon speaking of the apostasy, and if we say we are close to God, but don't do this in practice, we are having our own personal apostasy. In the Book of Mormon we read the near quote from Isaiah and after it says God will do a marvelous work, and the wisdom of the world will be nothing. I feel it is very important to not let our own perceived wisdom get in the way of what we know to be true, that Christ is our Savior, but also Lord and King over us. He should take precedence over our own pride. I aim to study more of His words, and this class is making realize how sacred His words are.
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