REL A 211 Final Flashcards
Ways in which Matthew shares his unique testimony in these chapters
Matthew gives a “long and all-inclusive list” of the places the savior goes and the activities he participates in, by using phrases like, “all” and “and.” Shows the inclusivity and the universal nature of the Savior.
Categories of the Savior’s miracles
Power over: DISEASE, ELEMENTS, DEVILS, DEATH
Reasons why Jesus performed miracles:
To Witness he had power over all things
To reveal his character (love and compassion)
To motivate people to recognize and cast off their spiritual infirmities, even as he had cast off their physical infirmities
To create teaching opportunities for the presentation of sacred gospel truths
To prevent people in their ignorance from frustrating the purposes of God (escape crowd in Nazareth [Luke 4:28–30])
To reward and strengthen the faith of believers
To set an example for his apostles and followers
What leprosy is, how it was viewed, and the “law of the leper” from the Old Testament:
Leprosy (skin disease): Infectious disease (rarely fatal) which results in severe disfigurement of the feet/hands/face. Principal symptoms are skin lesions causing loss of sensation and swollen joint nerves causing severe pain.
- Leprosy (various skin diseases) was considered unclean.
- They are social outcasts.
- Leprosy a telltale sign that the victim had committed a hidden sin and was being punished by degrees.
- Quarantine likely due not to fear of contagion but due to their unclean state.
- Could only be healed by a priest.
Why the Centurion did not feel worthy for Jesus to come into his home:
He was a “gentile” and Jews believed going into Gentile’s homes would be defilement.
What Jesus taught regarding the relationship between the Gentiles and the covenant:
In Jesus’ day, he first appeared to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. In Latter days, He promised to appear to the Gentiles and then to the Jews. They will be grafted in and shall be numbered upon His people.
Specific insights gained from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ calming the sea when compared with the other synoptic gospels:
The Savior was subject to the same laws of health and physical contact as every other mortal (he slept).
The disciples were aware the Savior had divine powers that could calm the storm
The Savior freely exercised power over His creations
Deity intervenes in temporal things, even controlling/moderating the elements, for the faithful
Greater faith should have been demonstrated by the disciples
Jesus informs the disciples that if they had had faith, they could have commanded the elements, too.
The Savior’s commission to the twelve:
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Distinctions between the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes
Pharisees: religious party amongst the Jews, strict observance of the law, avoided contact with all things “gentile.”
Sadducees: Party/caste among the jews, Formed Jewish aristocracy, helped influence the spread of greek cultured, opposed to the Savior which lead to Him cleansing the temple. Opposed the teachings of resurrection
Essenes: Sect of the Jews, abstained from marriage, wine, and animal foods. Had their own priests and ministers and took no part in temple worship.
What fence laws are (and some of their inherent dangers)
Fence Laws are a protective measure around the “hole” or sin they keep us away from slipping into sin.
Challenges with fence laws:
-burdened with too many laws,
-start to focus on teaching the fence not the law,
-start judging others base don fence laws
The idea of an “inclusio” and how it is used in Matthew
“Inclusio”-“The intentional repetition of clearly recognizable elements at the beginning and end of a composition or one of its parts.”
Possible interpretations for “take my yoke upon you”
Pharisee’s fence laws were known as “yoke laws” meaning, “take my yoke upon you” could mean the Savior is asking us to take His laws, rather than the laws of man.
What a parable is
Parables are short stories in which “divine truth is presented by comparison with material things” (Bible Dictionary, “Parables”).
Lessons from Jesus on the Parable of the Sower
Seeds by the wayside: Hearing the word, but not understanding it
Fowls which come and devour: Understanding the word, but wickedness “taking it away” before it can grow
Seeds in stony places with no root: Hears the word and receives it, but it doesn’t grow
Sun which scorches seeds: Adversity rises because of hearing the word, and they are offended
Seeds among thorns: hearing the word, but getting caught up in the world so it can’t grow
Seeds in good ground: Hearing the word, understanding it, and allowing it to grow.
Connections between the parable of the sower and Lehi’s vision
- First group commenced on the path to the tree but strayed because they were blinded by them mists of darkness (1 Ne. 8:21–23) = Seeds in stony places with no root (Matthew 13:5)
- Second made it to the tree, but after they had partook they were ashamed because of mockery and fell away (1 Ne. 8: 24–28) = Seeds among thorns (Matthew 13:7)
3.Third group made it to the tree and gave no heed to those mocking them (1 Ne. 8:30, 33) =
Seeds in good ground (Matthew 13:8)
4.Fourth Group never sought the tree at all (1 Ne. 8:30–33) = Seeds by the way side (Matthew 13:4)
Key people in the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration
God, Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias/Elijah, Peter James John
What happened on the Mount of Transfiguration
“The Savior, Moses, and Elias, gave the keys [of the kingdom] to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him.”
Implications of the JST in Matthew 18:8-9
Translation for verse 9: And a man’s hand is his friend, and his foot, also; and a man’s eye, are they of his own household.
It isn’t literal, its a metaphor, what they really mean is that you need to remove those things that cause you to stumble or take you away from the Lord.
The key question the rich young ruler asked in his conversation with Jesus
Essentially the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he had to do in order to have eternal life-what good thing shall I do, that I may have aeternal life? But Jesus basically told him that it cannot be bought with money–you have to surrender your will to God’s and seek his kingdom
The parable of the unmerciful servant (differences in amount of money and the overarching lesson we discussed in class)
• 1 penny = 1 days wages = (for example) $100.00
• 1 talent = 6,000 pennies = $600,000
• 100 pence = $10,000
• 10,000 talents = $6,000,000,000
To pay off 1 Talent at day laborer’s wages 16.43 years, assuming one is working every single day
To pay off 10,000 Talents at day laborer’s wages 164,300 years, assuming one is working every single day
The parable of the laborers in the vineyard (insights from Elder Holland)
“We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin…So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live”
Elements of the triumphal entry that show Jesus is the King of Israel (The Messiah)
Laying down clothes and palm leaves, riding on a donkey, Shouting “hosanna,” Calling Jesus the “son of David”
The significance of Matthew’s placement of the story of Jesus healing the two blind men
Shows the Savior as the “Son of david” or the “messiah” (?)
The primary message of Jesus cursing the fig tree
The tree was a hypocrite because the leaves were budding before the figs appeared. Fig trees usually grow figs first.
The message and reaction to the “entrapment parables”
Entrapment Parable: Parable intended to make sense only to those who are truly paying attention and listening to the spirit
What Jesus meant when talking about: “Phylacteries,” “Enlarge the Borders of Their Garments,” Straining out gnats, but swallowing camels, tithing mint, dill, and cummim but neglecting the weightier matters
There was large emphasis on matters that held no real importance, and they were neglecting to obey laws such as loving each other, etc.
The name/significance of the discourse in these chapters (also understand the term eschatology)
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The two questions which structurally set up Matthew 24
When shall these things be (i.e., the destruction of the temple)?
What is the sign of Jesus’ coming and of the end of the world?
The major change between the KJV Matthew 24 and JS—M
most changes of any JST happened in matt 24–it reorders many of the verses into a more correct order
The emphasis on audience with the changes in the JST
speaking to the elect
Direction for preparing for the second coming from Matthew 24/JS—M 1
Be ready! You don’t know when it’ll be. It will be similar to Noah’s time when the people were caught off guard and were UNPREPARED(this is bold in the slide!) and it will take many by surprise. Keep your eye on the prophet-Ezra Taft Benson. Treasure up the word and you will be blessed.
Be able to explain the differences between the synoptic accounts and John’s account regarding the timing Passover meal
synoptics say it was a traditional passover meal, John said it happened the night before christmas
Who participated in the last supper
The twelve disciples were there but it is rumored that others, such as women and children, were there as well
Be able to explain the three parables in Matthew 25 (as well as key insights discussed in class)
Ten Virgins
Talents: talent = money, not ability
Given 5, 2, 9-sheep and goats
