Lesson 18: Matthew 15
Introduction
While in Galilee, Jesus explained
why His disciples did not follow the tradition of ritually purifying themselves
before they ate. He then traveled to the Mediterranean coast, where He healed
the daughter of a Gentile woman. Jesus then returned to Galilee, where He
healed many and miraculously fed more than four thousand people.
I.
Matthew 15:1–20
The scribes and Pharisees ask why Jesus’s disciples do not wash their
hands before they eat
---Invite three students to read the
following scenarios aloud. Ask the class to listen for what the scenarios have
in common.
- A young woman is encouraged by her friends to wear an inappropriate outfit to a school dance. The young woman knows that the outfit does not meet the Lord’s standards of modesty, even though it is generally accepted in her culture to wear outfits like it.
- A young man belongs to a Latter-day Saint family that loves sporting events. When popular sporting events are shown on television, the family routinely sets aside family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and Sunday Church meetings in order to watch the events.
- A young couple is preparing for marriage. They live in a place where it is widely accepted to participate in premarital sexual relations. Some people have told this couple that they are old-fashioned and odd because they are waiting to be married before engaging in sexual intimacy.
- What do these scenarios have in common? (Each scenario presents a conflict between obeying God’s commandments and acting according to traditions or customs.)
---Traditions or customs include the
beliefs and practices of a culture, community, family, or group of friends.
---Name one or more traditions or
customs that could prevent them from obeying God’s commandments.
---Look for truths in Matthew 15 that can help you when you must
choose between obeying God’s commandments and participating in traditions and
customs.
- What tradition were Jesus’s disciples not following?
---The washing of hands mentioned by
the scribes and Pharisees refers to a ceremonial washing for the sake of ritual
purity and does not refer to washing for sanitation.
- What did the Savior say the scribes and Pharisees were doing by participating in their traditions?
---In Matthew 15:4–6 Jesus identified an example of how
the scribes and Pharisees transgressed a commandment of God by participating in
their traditions. They taught that people “shall be free” (verse 6) of their obligation to take care of
their aging parents by declaring that their money was reserved as a gift to
God, or Corban (see Mark 7:10–12). However, Jesus taught that in
doing so, they violated the commandment to honor one’s father and mother.
---Read Matthew 15:7–9
and look for what the scribes and Pharisees had led people to do by using their
traditions as an excuse to not obey God’s commandments.
- What had the scribes and Pharisees led people to do?
- What principle can we learn from these verses about what we must do if we desire to draw near to God? (Students may use different words but should identify a principle similar to the following: If we desire to draw near to God, we must place His commandments above any traditions and customs we may have.)
--Reread aloud the scenarios from
the beginning of the lesson. After each scenario is read, ask:
- What could the individual or individuals in this scenario do to obey God’s commandments?
- How would doing this help the individual or individuals draw nearer to God?
---After you have discussed each
scenario, ask the class:
- When have you chosen to obey God’s commandments rather than participate in a commonly accepted tradition or custom? How did this help you draw nearer to Heavenly Father? (You may want to share an experience of your own as well.)
---Consider the traditions and
customs you named earlier. Remember to choose to obey God’s commandments rather
than follow these traditions or customs so you can draw nearer to God.
---Remember that the scribes and
Pharisees believed that eating with unwashed hands would defile a person, or
make that person spiritually unclean.
- What did the Savior say defiles us?
---Notice that the Savior said,
“That which cometh out of the mouth … defileth a man” (verse 11). After telling His disciples not
to concern themselves with the Pharisees, who were offended by His words (see Matthew 15:12–16), He explained further about
what truly defiles us.
---Read Matthew 15:17–20
looking for what the Savior meant when He said, “That which cometh out of the
mouth … defileth a man” (verse 11).
- What did the Savior mean when He said, “That which cometh out of the mouth … defileth a man”?
---Notcie that in the scriptures,
the heart often represents our thoughts and desires.
---Write the following statement on
the board:
If we choose to entertain evil
thoughts and desires, then …
- How would you complete this principle based on the Savior’s teachings recorded in verses 19–20? (Use students’ words to complete the principle so it conveys the following truth: If we choose to entertain evil or inappropriate thoughts and desires, then those thoughts and desires will defile us.)
- In what ways can we become defiled or spiritually unclean if we choose to entertain evil or inappropriate thoughts and desires?
- In what way do the words that come out of our mouths, as well as our actions, reflect the thoughts and desires of our hearts?
---Testify of this principle and
invite students to choose to maintain pure thoughts and desires.
II.
Matthew 15:21–28
The Savior heals the daughter of a Gentile woman
---Come to the board and list one or
more of their righteous desires.
---Look for principles in Matthew 15 that can help you understand what
you need to do to receive your righteous desires.
---Turn to Bible
Map no. 11, “The Holy Land in New Testament Times.” Locate
the cities of Tyre and Sidon on the map.
---As Jesus traveled from Galilee to
the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, He met a Canaanite woman. Like many other people
in that region, this woman was a Gentile—meaning she was not a Jew. At that
point in time, Jesus and His disciples proclaimed the gospel only to the Jews
and not yet to the Gentiles (see Matthew 10:5–6). The doors would be opened later
for the Gentiles to receive the message of salvation (see Acts 10).
---Read Matthew 15:21–27
with a partner and look for answers to the following questions (you may want to
write these questions on the board):
- What righteous desire did the Canaanite woman have?
- What did the woman do and say that demonstrated her faith in Jesus Christ?
---Report your answers.
- How did the woman’s response to this analogy further demonstrate her faith in Jesus Christ?
- What did the Savior do for this woman? Why?
- What principle can we learn from this account about what can happen as we exercise our faith in Jesus Christ? (Students may use different words but should identify a principle similar to the following: As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive blessings according to our righteous desires.)
- In addition to faithfully asking the Lord to bless us according to our righteous desires, what else can we do to exercise faith in Jesus Christ?
---Read aloud the following statement
by Elder Dallin H. Oaks:
“When we have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must have
trust in him. We must trust him enough that we are content to accept his will,
knowing that he knows what is best for us. …
“… Faith, no matter how strong it is, cannot produce a
result contrary to the will of him whose power it is. … We cannot have true
faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in
the Lord’s timing” (“Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May
1994, 99, 100).
- How can Elder Oaks’s explanation of what it means to exercise faith in Jesus Christ help us when the Lord does not immediately bless us according to our righteous desires?
---Review the list of righteous
desires on the board and explain what you can do to exercise faith in Jesus
Christ as you seek to obtain those desires.
- When have you (or someone you know) received your righteous desires (according to the Lord’s will and timing) as you exercised faith in Jesus Christ?
---Write in your class notebooks what
you will do to exercise faith in Jesus Christ as you seek to receive your
righteous desires from Him. Act on what you wrote.
III.
Matthew 15:29–39 Jesus feeds more than four
thousand followers from seven loaves and a few fishes
---In Matthew 15:29–39 Jesus returned to Galilee. While
He was there, over four thousand people gathered to Him, bringing with them
people who were suffering from various physical ailments and disabilities. The
Savior healed them, and after the people spent three days with Him, He
performed another miracle by feeding all of them with only seven loaves of
bread and a few small fishes. (Note: The miracle of the feeding of the four
thousand will be covered in greater detail in the lesson on Mark 8.)
---Testimony of the truths and
principles students identified in Matthew 15.
Commentary
and Background Information
Matthew
15:1–9. “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”
Elder Richard G. Scott of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the following counsel to those seeking to
break away from the traditions or customs preventing them from fully
worshipping the Lord:
“Changing a profoundly embedded
pattern of life can be very difficult. Former friends can ridicule, criticize,
and even persecute. Persistent faith in the Savior and obedience will see you
through such hardships to greater blessings. The scriptures illustrate how
conviction and faith can overcome traditions in conflict with God’s plan, bringing
blessings to individuals, and even generations of people. Abraham’s unwavering
determination to be loyal to truth and to reject false tradition blessed him
greatly. His loyalty will crown with rich rewards all of the obedient of the
house of Israel. Another dramatic example of discarding long-established
traditions is the change of warlike Lamanites into humble followers of Christ
willing to die before violating covenants made as members of His kingdom” (“Removing Barriers to Happiness,” Ensign, May
1998, 86).
Matthew
15:21–28. “The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”
The Lord’s analogy comparing
Gentiles to pet dogs was meant to teach that the gospel was at that time being
delivered only to the house of Israel. The Gentiles would receive the message
of salvation later, according to God’s divine timetable (see Acts 10).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that Jesus’s healing of the daughter of
the Canaanite woman was a test of the woman’s faith and an instructive example
for His disciples:
“The gospel (with all its healing
powers and graces) was to be offered to the Jews before it went to the
Gentiles. Jesus’ mortal ministry was with Israel, not with other nations. His
healing of this or any Gentile person came by special dispensation because of
great faith. Previously he had commanded the apostles to go only to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel and not to preach the message of salvation to the
Gentiles. (Matt. 10:5–6.) Certainly the course he followed
in this instance was instructive to his disciples, tested the faith of the
Gentile woman, taught that persistence and importunity in prayer will bring
reward, and showed that greater faith is sometimes found among heathens than in
the chosen lineage of Israel” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols.
[1965–73], 1:371).
Right margin
extras:
Ask
questions that help students understand doctrines and principles
After identifying doctrines and
principles, students must understand them before they can meaningfully apply
them. To help students understand a doctrine or principle, ask questions that
lead to a clearer understanding of its meaning, that encourage students to
think about it in a modern context, or that invite students to explain their
understanding of it.
Lesson 19: Matthew 16
Introduction
Jesus
Christ rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who sought a sign of His
divinity. Peter bore testimony that Jesus is the Christ and was promised the
keys of the kingdom. Jesus taught His disciples to take up their cross and
follow Him.
I.
Matthew 16:1–12
The Pharisees and the Sadducees seek a sign from the Savior
---Before class, write the following
phrases on the board:
Through the appearance of an
angel
Through the Holy Ghost
Through believing the words of a
friend or family member
Through witnessing a
miracle
---Choose the phrase on the board
that best describes how you would like to receive a testimony of the gospel.
---Who would like to share which
phrase you chose and explain why you chose it.
---As we study Matthew 16 look for truths concerning how the Lord helps
us to receive and strengthen our testimonies of the gospel.
- What did the Pharisees and Sadducees want from Jesus?
- What do you think it means that the Pharisees and Sadducees were “tempting” Jesus when they asked for a sign? (One meaning of the verb tempt is to try or to test.)
- What sign did the Lord say He would provide?
---Jesus was referring to the Old
Testament prophet Jonah, who had been swallowed by a “great fish” (Jonah 1:17). Jonah’s “burial” in and then coming
forth from the belly of the fish after three days symbolized the death, burial,
and Resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the tomb on the third day.
- What did the Savior do after He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees?
- What can we learn from this experience about the improper way to seek spiritual truth? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following truth: We do not receive spiritual truth by seeking for signs.)
---In Matthew 16:5–12 the Savior warned His disciples of the
Pharisees’ and Sadducees’ false teachings. (Note: This event will be addressed
in greater detail in the lesson on Mark 8.)
II.
Matthew 16:13–20
Peter testifies of Jesus Christ and is promised the keys of the
kingdom
---After Jesus rebuked the Pharisees
and Sadducees for seeking a sign, He taught His disciples how to receive a
testimony of the truth.
- What did the Savior ask His disciples? How did they answer? (You may need to explain that Elias and Jeremias are the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Jeremiah.)
- What can their response tell us about how well people understood who Jesus was at this point in His ministry?
- What was the second question the Savior asked? How did Peter respond?
- According to verse 17, how did Peter know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? (Point out that Heavenly Father had revealed this truth to him through the Holy Ghost.)
- What truth can we learn from these verses about how we can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ? (Students’ answers should reflect the truth that we gain a testimony of Jesus Christ through revelation from the Holy Ghost.)
- Why do you think it is important for us to receive a testimony through revelation from the Holy Ghost rather than by some other way?
---To help students further understand
the role of the Holy Ghost in helping us gain a testimony of the Savior, invite
a student to read aloud the following statement by President Joseph Fielding
Smith:
“The Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power
to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be
imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings. Through the Holy Ghost
the truth is woven into the very fibre and sinews of the body so that it cannot
be forgotten” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith
[2013], 183–84).
- What are some things we can do to prepare ourselves to receive revelation through the Holy Ghost?
- How did you come to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and your Savior? What did you do to prepare to receive that witness from the Holy Ghost?
---Ponder your testimonies of the
Savior. Record in your class notebooks how you might strengthen your
testimonies or what you may need to do to receive a testimony through the Holy
Ghost.
---Invite two students to come to
the front of the classroom and participate in a role play. Assign one student
to represent himself or herself and the other student to represent a friend who
is not a member of the Church. Give the student representing the nonmember
friend a piece of paper containing the two questions below. Invite the student
to read the questions aloud one at a time, and ask the other student to reply.
(You may want to encourage the class to suggest possible responses the student
answering the questions can give.)
- I heard that your church claims to be the only true church of Jesus Christ. Is that what you believe?
- My church also believes in Jesus Christ, so why do you think that your church is the only true one?
---Thank the students for
participating, and invite them to return to their seats.
---As we continue to study Matthew 16 look for truths that can help us
understand and explain to others what distinguishes The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints as the Lord’s Church upon the earth.
Caesarea Philippi
---Remember that when Jesus asked
His disciples the questions about His identity, they were in a region called
Caesarea Philippi (see Matthew 16:13).
---If possible, display an image of
Caesarea Philippi (see Bible Photographs, no. 26, “Caesarea Philippi”).
---What is
behind the river and trees in this picture?
---The large rock formation at Caesarea
Philippi would have provided a meaningful setting as the Savior continued His
discussion with His disciples.
---Read Matthew 16:18–20
looking for how the Savior used the concept of a rock to describe the
foundation of His Church.
- What do you think the Savior meant when He said He would build His Church “upon this rock”? (verse 18).
---To help students understand this
phrase, invite a student to read aloud the following statements by the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“Jesus in His teachings says, ‘Upon this rock I will build
my Church. …’ [Matthew 16:18.] What rock? Revelation” (Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 195).
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded
upon direct revelation, as the true Church of God has ever been, according to
the Scriptures (Amos 3:7, and Acts 1:2)”
(Teachings:
Joseph Smith, 195).
- How would you summarize the Savior’s teaching about His Church recorded in verse 18? (Students should identify something similar to the following principle: Jesus Christ’s Church is built upon revelation from God. Write this truth on the board.)
- How can knowing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is built on revelation from God strengthen your testimony of the gospel?
- According to verse 19, what did the Savior promise to give Peter?
- What doctrine can we learn from the promise the Savior gave to Peter? (Make sure students identify the following truth: Jesus Christ entrusts the keys of His kingdom to His chosen prophets and apostles.)
- What are the keys of the kingdom? (The directing power, right, and authority necessary to preside over the kingdom of God on the earth, or the Church of Jesus Christ.)
---To help students understand what
priesthood keys are, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“‘Priesthood keys are the authority God has given to
priesthood [holders] to direct, control, and govern the use of His priesthood
on earth’ [Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 2.1.1]. Every act
or ordinance performed in the Church is done under the direct or indirect
authorization of one holding the keys for that function” (“The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,”
Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49).
- What did Jesus say that Peter would be able to do because of the keys he would be given?
---Among the keys the Savior
promised to Peter were the keys of the sealing power. This power allows the
ordinances performed under the authority of Church leaders to be valid in
heaven. It is also used to bind families together for eternity. In our day, the
sealing power is held by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles.
- How would you summarize why the Lord gives priesthood keys to His prophets and Apostles? (Students should identify a truth similar to the following: Priesthood keys are necessary to administer the Lord’s Church upon the earth.)
---Ask a student to read aloud the
questions from the role play. Invite the class to explain how they would
respond to these questions using the truths they have identified in Matthew 16:18–19. You may also want to invite
students to share their testimonies of these truths.
---Displaying a picture of the
current First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (see LDS.org [for example, Meet Today’s Prophets and Apostles] and
the general conference issues of the Ensign or Liahona) and testifying that the same keys given to Peter and the
other Apostles anciently are held and used today by the Lord’s living prophets
and Apostles.
III.
Matthew 16:21–28
Jesus teaches what it means to follow Him
---In Matthew 16:21–28 Jesus spoke of His atoning
sacrifice. He also taught His disciples that they must be willing to deny the
natural man (see Mosiah 3:19), be obedient, and sacrifice in order
to cheerfully follow Him.
Scripture Mastery—Matthew 16:15–19
Encourage students to share with their
families what they learned from Matthew 16. Consider choosing a portion of Matthew 16:15–19 to memorize as a class during
the coming days. You can find ideas for memorization in the appendix of this
manual.
Commentary
and Background Information
Matthew
16:1–4. The Pharisees and Sadducees seek a sign
Matthew 16:1–4 relates an exchange between Jesus
Christ and some sign-seeking Pharisees and Sadducees, who came
“tempting” the Savior to show them a sign (verse 1). (One meaning of the verb tempt is
to try or to test.) In response to their request, Jesus rebuked them for being
proud of their ability to recognize the signs of changing weather but failing to
recognize God’s signs (see verses 2–3). The Savior also taught that “a
wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (verse 4). When individuals persist in
serious sin, one consequence is that they no longer recognize the quiet and
gentle whisperings of the Spirit and they demand proof in the form of physical,
tangible, or sensational signs.
Matthew
16:4. “The sign of the prophet Jonas”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the sign of the prophet Jonas:
“Jonah’s burial in and coming forth
from the ‘great fish’ (Jonah 1:15–17; 2) symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966],
711–12).
Matthew
16:18. “Upon this rock I will build my church”
“As the Savior taught Peter about
revelation, He used a wordplay on Peter’s name, declaring to Simon [Peter],
‘Thou art Peter [Petros], and upon this rock [petra] I will build my church’ (Matthew 16:18). The Greek word petros means an
isolated small rock or stone. The Greek word petra can also mean ‘a stone,’ but
in addition it can refer to stony soil, bedrock, or a large mass of rock. From
these words we learn that it was not upon Peter as a man that the Church would
be built, but upon the bedrock of revelation” (New Testament Student Manual
[Church Educational System manual, 2014], 53).
Matthew
16:18–19. “The keys of the kingdom”
President Russell M. Nelson of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how the Lord continues to lead His
Church and kingdom on the earth through prophets and sacred priesthood keys:
“The living Lord leads His living
Church [see D&C 1:30, 38]! The Lord reveals His will
for the Church to His prophet. Yesterday, after we were invited to sustain
Thomas S. Monson as President of the Church, we also had the privilege to
sustain him, the counselors in the First Presidency, and members of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. Think of that! We
sustain 15 men as prophets of God! They hold all the priesthood keys that have
ever been conferred upon man in this dispensation. …
“[President Gordon B. Hinckley
explained,] ‘The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles,
called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and
responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its
doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices’ [“God Is at the Helm,” Ensign, May 1994, 54]”
(“Sustaining the Prophets,” Ensign or Liahona,
Nov. 2014, 75–76).
Matthew
16:21–23. Jesus Christ rebukes Peter
“By focusing only on the Savior’s
coming death, Peter failed to understand Jesus Christ’s true mission—the
redemption of all mankind. When the Savior rebuked Peter and referred to him as
‘Satan’ [Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33], He was not implying that Peter was
Lucifer. The Hebrew word satan means ‘adversary or tempter.’ Thus, Christ
recognized that at that moment Peter had put himself in an adversarial role, in
opposition to the Savior’s ultimate saving mission.
“Peter probably meant well when he
objected to the teaching that Jesus Christ would have to suffer and be killed
(see Matthew 16:22; Mark 8:32). However, if Jesus had accommodated
Peter’s wishes by avoiding the suffering of the Atonement, there would have
been no redemption from sins and no Resurrection conquering death. All mankind
would unavoidably have perished (see Alma 34:9), and God’s work of bringing to pass
‘the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39) would not have been fulfilled. All
this would have served the destructive aims of Satan. In the moment of his
impulsive protest, Peter was unwittingly siding with the adversary” (New
Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 122).
Supplemental
Teaching Idea
Matthew
16:24–28. “Take up his cross, and follow me”
Write the following incomplete
statement on the board: To follow Jesus Christ, we must …
Invite a few students to take turns
reading aloud from Matthew 16:24–28. Ask the class to follow along,
looking for counsel the Savior gave to those who seek to follow Him.
- What counsel did the Savior give to those who seek to follow Him?
Invite a student to read the
following statement aloud:
“Even before the Savior’s
Crucifixion, the image of ‘taking up one’s cross’ (see Mark 8:34) would have been a familiar and perhaps
troubling one for the disciples. Crucifixion was a common means of execution in
the Roman Empire, and its victims were made to carry their own crossbeams to
the place of execution (see John 19:16–17). By using this imagery, the Savior
vividly taught His disciples what they must be ready for and called upon them
to follow His example by submitting to the will of the Father in their lives” (New
Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 122).
Invite a student to read Matthew 16:24, footnote e, aloud. Ask the
class to follow along, looking for how the Joseph
Smith Translation of this verse helps us further understand what it
means to take up our cross.
- Based on the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse, how would you complete the statement on the board? (After students respond, use their words to complete the statement so it reads something like the following: To follow Jesus Christ, we must deny ourselves of all ungodliness and every worldly lust and keep His commandments.)
Explain that the word ungodliness
refers to anything that is evil or unworthy and would prevent us from becoming
like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
- What are some ways we can seek to deny ourselves of all “ungodliness” and “worldly lusts”?
Right margin
extras:
Matthew 16:15–19 is a scripture mastery passage.
Studying scripture mastery passages will help students increase their
understanding of basic doctrines and be prepared to teach them to others. You
may want to suggest that students mark scripture mastery passages in a
distinctive way so they will be able to locate them easily. Refer to the
teaching idea at the end of the lesson to help students with their mastery of
this passage.
Lesson 20: Matthew 17
Introduction
Jesus Christ, Moses,
and Elijah conferred priesthood keys upon Peter, James, and John on the Mount
of Transfiguration. After descending from the mount, Jesus cast a devil out of
a boy. In Capernaum, Jesus miraculously provided tribute money for Himself and
Peter.
I.
Matthew 17:1–13
Moses and Elias appear to Peter, James, and John
---Hold up a driver’s license, or
invite a student with a driver’s license to show it to the class.
- What does possessing a driver’s license authorize a person to do?
---Display or show a picture of car
keys.
- Why is it important to have access to car keys in addition to having a driver’s license?
- How might having a driver’s license and keys to drive a car be compared to the authority and keys of the priesthood necessary to direct God’s work? (Just as those who hold driver’s licenses are authorized to drive, many men hold the authority of the priesthood. But just as car keys enable a driver to operate only a particular vehicle, priesthood keys authorize an individual to operate or direct the work of God within a particular sphere. The President of the Church holds and uses priesthood keys to preside over and direct all of the Lord’s work upon the earth.)
---Remember that in Matthew 16:19 we read that the Lord promised to
give Peter the keys of the kingdom, or the authority to direct God’s work on
the earth. At that time, Peter and each of the other Apostles had already been
given priesthood authority, but they had not yet been given the keys of the
kingdom.
---As we study the scriptures today
look for how Peter received the keys of the kingdom and how these same keys
were later conferred upon Joseph Smith
and others in our day.
---Read Matthew 17:1–2
and identify where the Savior took Peter, James, and John to prepare them to
receive priesthood keys.
---The Savior may have selected
Peter, James, and John to go with Him because they would serve as the First
Presidency of the Church following the Savior’s Resurrection and
Ascension into heaven (see
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie,
3 vols. [1954–56], 3:152).
- Where did Jesus take Peter, James, and John?
- What happened to the Savior on the mount?
- What does it mean to be transfigured?
---Transfiguration refers to “the
condition of persons who are temporarily changed in appearance and nature—that
is, lifted to a higher spiritual level—so that they can endure the presence and
glory of heavenly beings” (Guide
to the Scriptures, “Transfiguration,” scriptures.lds.org). Peter, James, and John were also transfigured at this time (see D&C 67:11–12).
---Write the following heading on
the board:
Individuals who were present on the
Mount of Transfiguration.
---Under this heading write Jesus
Christ, Peter, James, and John.
- Who appeared on the mount? (Explain that Elias refers to Elijah, the Old Testament prophet [see Matthew 17:3, footnote b].)
---Add Moses and Elijah to the list
on the board.
---To help students understand why
Moses and Elijah appeared on the mount, invite a student to read aloud the following
statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“The Savior, Moses, and Elias [Elijah], gave the keys [of
the priesthood] to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when they were
transfigured before him” (Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 105).
- According to Joseph Smith, why did Elijah and Moses appear on the mount? (To give priesthood keys to Peter, James, and John.)
---Moses and Elijah appeared in the
Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836, to restore priesthood keys: Moses restored
the keys of the gathering of Israel [see D&C 110:11], and Elijah restored the keys
associated with the sealing power [see D&C 110:13–16]. These appearances in Kirtland
provide a pattern for understanding what took place on the Mount of
Transfiguration.
---The Joseph Smith Translation of the
Bible clarifies
that John the Baptist—whom Herod had killed—also appeared on the mount (see Joseph Smith Translation, Mark
9:3 [in Mark 9:4, footnote a]; see also Bible
Dictionary, “Elias”).
---Add John the Baptist to the list
on the board.
- Who else was present on the Mount of Transfiguration? (Add God the Father to the list on the board.)
---Remember that a gospel
dispensation is a period of time in which Heavenly Father dispenses priesthood
authority, ordinances, and knowledge of His plan of salvation to people on the
earth through His authorized servants.
---Invite a student to come to the
board and place a star next to each of the individuals listed on the board who
appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in our dispensation. (The student should
place a star next to each individual listed on the board.)
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ
appear to Joseph Smith
John the Baptist restores the
Aaronic Priesthood
Peter, James, and John restore the
Melchizedek Priesthood
Elijah restores sealing keys in the
Kirtland Temple
---Explain when each of these visits
occurred and their purpose. (As students explain, you may want to display the
following pictures: The First Vision; John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood;
Melchizedek Priesthood Restoration; and Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple [Gospel Art Book (2009),
nos. 90, 93, 94, 95; see also LDS.org].)
- What truth can we learn from these events regarding the conferral of priesthood keys in each dispensation? (Students may use different words, but help them identify the following truth: In each dispensation, God confers priesthood keys upon His chosen servants so they can direct His work upon the earth.)
- Why is it important to know that the same pattern of conferring priesthood keys that occurred during the time of Jesus Christ was repeated in our day with the Prophet Joseph Smith?
- Do the current prophets and apostles hold the same keys Joseph Smith received? (Yes.) How did they receive those keys? (The keys were passed down from Joseph Smith through Brigham Young and subsequent prophets.)
---Consider inviting students to
share their feelings about priesthood authority and the blessing of having keys
conferred in our dispensation just as they were during Jesus Christ’s mortal
ministry.
II.
Matthew 17:14–23
Jesus casts a devil out of a boy
---Matthew 17:14–23 tells of when a father brought
his son to the Savior to be healed. After Jesus healed the child, He taught His
disciples that some blessings can be obtained only by prayer and fasting. He
also prophesied of His death and Resurrection. (Note: These events will be discussed in greater depth in the
teaching idea for Mark 9:14–29.)
III.
Matthew 17:24–27
Jesus miraculously provides tribute money for Himself and Peter
---As we study Matthew 17:24–27 look for a truth that can help us understand
how our examples influence others.
---Under the law of Moses all
Israelite males over the age of 20 were required to pay an annual temple
tax, called tribute (see Exodus 30:13–16). This money was used to support
costs associated with operating the temple. Some of the priests and rabbis
among the people were excluded by the ruling council from having to pay this
tax.
- What did the tax collectors ask Peter? What was Peter’s response?
- What did Jesus ask Peter? What was Peter’s response?
---The word strangers in this
passage refers to everyone in a kingdom who is not one of the king’s children.
The “strangers” must pay taxes, while the king’s children are exempt. Jesus was
teaching Peter that because He was the Son of God and the temple was His
Father’s house (see Matthew 17:25–26; John 2:16), He didn’t need to pay this tax and
could have chosen not to do so. However, the tax collectors expected Jesus to
pay the tax because they didn’t understand who He was.
- What did the Savior instruct Peter to do?
- Why did Jesus say He would pay the tax?
---Write the word offend on the
board
---In this context the phrase “lest
we should offend them” is likely referring to the fact that the Savior did not
want to do anything that could cause others to stumble spiritually. (If He had not paid the tax, some
Jews might have looked unfavorably upon Him and His followers and become less
receptive toward the gospel message.)
- What principle can we learn from the Savior’s example? (Although students may say it differently, they should identify the following principle: We can follow the Savior’s example by avoiding actions that may cause others to stumble spiritually. Write this principle on the board.)
- What are some other situations in which this principle could guide us to make correct choices?
- How have you been blessed as you have tried to follow the Savior’s example and avoid actions that could cause others to stumble spiritually?
---Write in your class notebooks something
you will do to better live the principle you identified above.
Scripture Mastery Review
When students can locate scripture
mastery passages easily, they will be able to more confidently study the
gospel, apply gospel principles in their lives, and teach from the scriptures.
Scripture mastery review activities
are placed throughout this manual to introduce a variety of methods for helping
students review scripture mastery verses regularly. Additional review
activities can be found in the appendix of this manual.
Quizzes can help students remember
what they have learned and measure their learning. Invite students to read the
three scripture mastery passages that have already been introduced in this
manual. You could also include a few new passages. (You may want to suggest
that students mark these passages in their scriptures.) After students have
read, quiz them by giving a key word from the passage or by reading a phrase
from the seminary bookmark. Then ask students to locate the correct passage in
their scriptures.
Commentary
and Background Information
Matthew
17:1–5. The Transfiguration and the Restoration of the gospel in the latter
days
“The persons present on the Mount of
Transfiguration [God the Father, Jesus
Christ, Peter, James, John, John the Baptist, Moses, and Elijah] played a prominent role in the
latter-day Restoration of the gospel. This helps us to see that the same
priesthood authority and keys held in previous dispensations were restored in
this final dispensation” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational
System manual, 2014], 56).
Elder David A. Bednar of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized this truth:
“I invite each of you to consider
how you would respond to the following question posed to the members of the
Church many years ago by President David O. McKay: ‘If at this moment each
one of you were asked to state in one sentence or phrase the most
distinguishing feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what
would be your answer?’ (“The Mission of the Church and Its Members,” Improvement
Era, Nov. 1956, 781).
“The response President McKay gave
to his own question was the ‘divine authority’ of the priesthood. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands apart from other churches that claim
their authority is derived from historical succession, the scriptures, or
theological training. We make the distinctive declaration that priesthood
authority has been conferred by the laying on of hands directly from heavenly
messengers to the Prophet Joseph Smith” (“The Powers of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2012, 48).
Matthew
17:1–5. Priesthood keys
God gives priesthood authority to
worthy male members of the Church so they can act in His name for the salvation
of His children. The keys of the priesthood are the rights of presidency, or
the power God gives to man to govern and direct God’s kingdom on the earth (see
Matthew 16:15–19). Those who hold priesthood keys
can authorize priesthood holders to preach the gospel and administer the
ordinances of salvation. All who serve in the Church are called under the
direction of one who holds priesthood keys. Thus, they receive authority and
are entitled to the power needed to serve and fulfill the responsibilities of
their callings. (See Dallin H. Oaks, “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood,”
Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52.)
Matthew
17:1–13. The Mount of Transfiguration
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles summarized what we know took place on the Mount
of Transfiguration:
“(1) Jesus singled out Peter,
James, and John from the rest of the Twelve; took them upon an unnamed
mountain; there he was transfigured before them, and they beheld his glory. …
[Peter] said they ‘were eyewitnesses of his majesty.’ (2 Pet. 1:16.)
“(2) Peter, James, and John,
were themselves ‘transfigured before him’ [Teachings of Presidents of the
Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 105], … thus enabling them to entertain angels,
see visions and comprehend the things of God. …
“(3) Moses and Elijah—two
ancient prophets who were translated and taken to heaven without tasting death,
so they could return with tangible bodies on this very occasion, an occasion
preceding the day of resurrection—appeared on the mountain; and they
and Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter, James, and John [see Teachings:
Joseph Smith, 105].
“(4) John the Baptist,
previously beheaded by Herod, apparently was also present. …
“(5) Peter, James, and John saw
in vision the transfiguration of the earth, that is, they saw it renewed and
returned to its paradisiacal state—an event that is to take place at the Second
Coming when the millennial era is ushered in. [D&C 63:20–21.]
“(6) It appears that Peter,
James, and John received their own endowments while on the mountain. [See
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie,
3 vols. (1954–56), 2:165.] … It also appears that it was while on the
mount that they received the more sure word of prophecy, it then being revealed
to them that they were sealed up unto eternal life. (2 Pet. 1:16–19; D&C 131:5.)
“(7) Apparently Jesus himself
was strengthened and encouraged by Moses and Elijah so as to be prepared for
the infinite sufferings and agony ahead of him in connection with working out
the infinite and eternal atonement. [See James E. Talmage, Jesus the
Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 373.] …
“(8) Certainly the three chosen
apostles were taught in plainness ‘of his death, and also his resurrection’
[Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 9:31 (in Luke 9:31, footnote a)]. …
“(9) It should also have been
apparent to them that the old dispensations of the past had faded away, that
the law (of which Moses was the symbol) and the prophets (of whom Elijah was
the typifying representative) were subject to Him whom they were now commanded
to hear.
“(10) Apparently God the
Father, overshadowed and hidden by a cloud, was present on the mountain” (Doctrinal
New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:399–401).
Joseph Smith Translation, Mark 9:3
(in Mark 9:4, footnote a), indicates that John
the Baptist, who had been martyred but not yet resurrected, also appeared on
the Mount of Transfiguration. Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles suggested a reason why John the Baptist was present:
“It is not to be understood that
John the Baptist was the Elias who appeared with Moses to confer keys and
authority upon those who then held the Melchizedek Priesthood, which higher
priesthood already embraced and included all of the authority and power John
had held and exercised during his ministry. Rather, for some reason that
remains unknown—because of the partial record of the proceedings—John played
some other part in the glorious manifestations then vouchsafed to mortals.
Perhaps he was there, as the last legal administrator under the Old Covenant,
to symbolize that the law was fulfilled and all old things were done away, thus
contrasting his position with that of Peter, James, and John who were then
becoming the ‘first’ legal administrators of the New Kingdom” (Doctrinal New
Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:404).
Right margin
extras:
Ask
questions that invite feelings and testimony
After students understand a doctrine
or principle taught in the scriptures, ask questions that help students reflect
on past spiritual experiences related to that doctrine or principle. These
questions can help students feel more deeply the truthfulness and importance of
that gospel truth in their lives. Often those feelings will engender a stronger
desire to live a gospel principle more faithfully.
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