New Testament Lesson 4

Prepare Ye The Way Of Prepare Ye The Way Of The LordThe Lord

Matthew 3-4; John 1:35-51Matthew 3-4; John 1:35-51

Objective:Objective:

• To inspire class members to draw near to the To inspire class members to draw near to the Savior by repenting of their sins, keeping their Savior by repenting of their sins, keeping their baptismal covenants, and withstanding baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.temptation.

John The Baptist from John The Baptist from the book, "Jesus The the book, "Jesus The

Christ"Christ"

Luke 1:76-79Luke 1:76-79• 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the

Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;to prepare his ways;

• 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,the remission of their sins,

• 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

• 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.peace.

Why was it important to Why was it important to have someone "prepare have someone "prepare

the way"?the way"?

What message did John What message did John preach? (Matt 3:1-2)preach? (Matt 3:1-2)

RepentanceRepentance

What does it mean to What does it mean to repent? What are the repent? What are the

steps?steps?• Feeling godly sorrow for sin (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).Feeling godly sorrow for sin (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).

• Confessing and forsaking sins (D&C 58:42–43).Confessing and forsaking sins (D&C 58:42–43).

• Making amends, where possible, for wrongs done Making amends, where possible, for wrongs done (Luke 19:8).(Luke 19:8).

• Obeying the commandments (D&C 1:31–32).Obeying the commandments (D&C 1:31–32).

• Turning to the Lord and serving him (Mosiah 7:33).Turning to the Lord and serving him (Mosiah 7:33).

The baptism of Jesus The baptism of Jesus ChristChrist

What covenants do we What covenants do we make at baptism?make at baptism?

• 37 And again, by way of commandment to the church 37 And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism--All those who concerning the manner of baptism--All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.shall be received by baptism into his church.

• D&C 20:37D&C 20:37

Satan tempts JesusSatan tempts Jesus

Matthew 4:2-11Matthew 4:2-11• 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

• 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.bread.

• 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.out of the mouth of God.

• 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

• 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.a stone.

• 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

• 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;world, and the glory of them;

• 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

• 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.and him only shalt thou serve.

• 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Three known Three known temptationstemptations

• Food - mortal appetitesFood - mortal appetites

• Divine Intervention - proof of God's love and planDivine Intervention - proof of God's love and plan

• Worldly Wealth - money, power, prestige among Worldly Wealth - money, power, prestige among menmen

From Jesus The ChristFrom Jesus The Christ• Hungry as Jesus was, there was a temptation in Satan’s words even Hungry as Jesus was, there was a temptation in Satan’s words even

greater than that embodied in the suggestion that He provide food for greater than that embodied in the suggestion that He provide food for His famishing body--the temptation to put to proof the possible doubt His famishing body--the temptation to put to proof the possible doubt implied in the tempter’s “If.” The Eternal Father had proclaimed Jesus as implied in the tempter’s “If.” The Eternal Father had proclaimed Jesus as His Son; the devil tried to make the Son doubt that divine relationship. His Son; the devil tried to make the Son doubt that divine relationship. Why not prove the Father’s interest in His Son at this moment of dire Why not prove the Father’s interest in His Son at this moment of dire necessity? Was it proper that the Son of God should go hungry? Had the necessity? Was it proper that the Son of God should go hungry? Had the Father so soon forgotten as to leave His Beloved Son thus to suffer? Was Father so soon forgotten as to leave His Beloved Son thus to suffer? Was it not reasonable that Jesus, faint from long abstinence, should provide it not reasonable that Jesus, faint from long abstinence, should provide for Himself, and particularly so since He could provide, and that by a for Himself, and particularly so since He could provide, and that by a word of command, if the voice heard at His baptism was that of the word of command, if the voice heard at His baptism was that of the Eternal Father. If thou be in reality the Son of God, demonstrate thy Eternal Father. If thou be in reality the Son of God, demonstrate thy power, and at the same time satisfy thy hunger--such was the purport of power, and at the same time satisfy thy hunger--such was the purport of the diabolical suggestion. To have yielded would have been to manifest the diabolical suggestion. To have yielded would have been to manifest positive doubt of the Father’s acknowledgment.positive doubt of the Father’s acknowledgment.

• Chapter 10: In the Wilderness of JudeaChapter 10: In the Wilderness of Judea

• Moreover, the superior power that Jesus possessed had not been Moreover, the superior power that Jesus possessed had not been given to Him for personal gratification, but for service to others. given to Him for personal gratification, but for service to others. He was to experience all the trials of mortality; another man, as He was to experience all the trials of mortality; another man, as hungry as He, could not provide for himself by a miracle; and hungry as He, could not provide for himself by a miracle; and though by miracle such a one might be fed, the miraculous supply though by miracle such a one might be fed, the miraculous supply would have to be given, not provided by himself. It was a would have to be given, not provided by himself. It was a necessary result of our Lord’s dual nature, comprizing the necessary result of our Lord’s dual nature, comprizing the attributes of both God and man, that He should endure and suffer attributes of both God and man, that He should endure and suffer as a mortal while possessing at all times the ability to invoke the as a mortal while possessing at all times the ability to invoke the power of His own Godhood by which all bodily needs could be power of His own Godhood by which all bodily needs could be supplied or overcome. His reply to the tempter was sublime and supplied or overcome. His reply to the tempter was sublime and positively final: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but positively final: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The word that had proceeded from the mouth of God, upon which word that had proceeded from the mouth of God, upon which Satan would have cast mistrust, was that Jesus was the Beloved Satan would have cast mistrust, was that Jesus was the Beloved Son with whom the Father was well pleased. The devil was foiled; Son with whom the Father was well pleased. The devil was foiled; Christ was triumphant.Christ was triumphant.


From Jesus The ChristFrom Jesus The Christ• Beside the provocation to sin by wantonly placing Himself in danger, so Beside the provocation to sin by wantonly placing Himself in danger, so

that the Father’s love might be manifested in a miraculous rescue, or by that the Father’s love might be manifested in a miraculous rescue, or by refusing so to challenge the Father’s interposition demonstrate that He refusing so to challenge the Father’s interposition demonstrate that He doubted His status as the Beloved Son, there lurked an appeal to the doubted His status as the Beloved Son, there lurked an appeal to the human side of Christ’s nature, in thought of the fame which an human side of Christ’s nature, in thought of the fame which an astounding exploit, such as that of leaping from the dizzy height of the astounding exploit, such as that of leaping from the dizzy height of the temple turrets and alighting unhurt, would surely bring. We cannot temple turrets and alighting unhurt, would surely bring. We cannot resist the thought, though we be not justified in saying that any such resist the thought, though we be not justified in saying that any such had even momentary place in the Savior’s mind, that to act upon had even momentary place in the Savior’s mind, that to act upon Satan’s suggestion, provided of course the outcome proved to be such Satan’s suggestion, provided of course the outcome proved to be such as he had indicated, would have been to insure public recognition of as he had indicated, would have been to insure public recognition of Jesus as a Being superior to mortals. It would have been a sign and a Jesus as a Being superior to mortals. It would have been a sign and a wonder indeed, the fame of which would have spread as fire in the dry wonder indeed, the fame of which would have spread as fire in the dry grass; and all Jewry would have been aflame with excitement and grass; and all Jewry would have been aflame with excitement and interest in the Christ.interest in the Christ.


• ...Satan tempted Jesus to tempt the Father. It is as ...Satan tempted Jesus to tempt the Father. It is as truly a blasphemous interference with the truly a blasphemous interference with the prerogatives of Deity to set limitations or make prerogatives of Deity to set limitations or make fixations of time or place at which the divine fixations of time or place at which the divine power shall be made manifest as it is to attempt power shall be made manifest as it is to attempt to usurp that power. God alone must decide when to usurp that power. God alone must decide when and how His wonders shall be wrought. Once more and how His wonders shall be wrought. Once more the purposes of Satan were thwarted and Christ the purposes of Satan were thwarted and Christ again was victor.again was victor.


From Jesus The ChristFrom Jesus The Christ

• ...Then saith Satan unto Him. “All these things will I give thee, if ...Then saith Satan unto Him. “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” So wrote Matthew; the more thou wilt fall down and worship me.” So wrote Matthew; the more extended version by Luke follows: “And the devil said unto him, All extended version by Luke follows: “And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” We need not concern therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.” We need not concern ourselves with conjecture as to whether Satan could have made ourselves with conjecture as to whether Satan could have made good his promise in the event of Christ’s doing him homage; good his promise in the event of Christ’s doing him homage; certain it is Christ could have reached out, and have gathered to certain it is Christ could have reached out, and have gathered to Himself the wealth and glory of the world had He willed so to do, Himself the wealth and glory of the world had He willed so to do, and thereby have failed in His Messianic mission. This fact Satan and thereby have failed in His Messianic mission. This fact Satan knew full well. Many men have sold themselves to the devil for a knew full well. Many men have sold themselves to the devil for a kingdom and for less, aye, even for a few paltry pence.kingdom and for less, aye, even for a few paltry pence.


• The effrontery of his offer was of itself diabolical. The effrontery of his offer was of itself diabolical. Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth, Christ, the Creator of heaven and earth, tabernacled as He then was in mortal flesh, may tabernacled as He then was in mortal flesh, may not have remembered His preexistent state, nor not have remembered His preexistent state, nor the part He had taken in the great council of the the part He had taken in the great council of the Gods; while Satan, an unembodied spirit--he the Gods; while Satan, an unembodied spirit--he the disinherited, the rebellious and rejected son--disinherited, the rebellious and rejected son--seeking to tempt the Being through whom the seeking to tempt the Being through whom the world was created by promising Him part of what world was created by promising Him part of what was wholly His, still may have had, as indeed he was wholly His, still may have had, as indeed he may yet have, a remembrance of those primeval may yet have, a remembrance of those primeval scenes.scenes.


Was this all from Satan?Was this all from Satan?

• 13 And when the devil had ended all the 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.temptation, he departed from him for a season.

• Luke 4:13Luke 4:13

Christ was the only earthly person Christ was the only earthly person to witness this. What can we learn to witness this. What can we learn

from what was revealed?from what was revealed?

• Keep our appetites in line with the will of God.Keep our appetites in line with the will of God.

• Don't just have faith in the Lord, trust His word Don't just have faith in the Lord, trust His word and His plan for you.and His plan for you.

• Seek after the eternal wealth that the Lord is Seek after the eternal wealth that the Lord is willing to share with us. The riches of this fallen willing to share with us. The riches of this fallen world will eventually die away.world will eventually die away.

Video: Fighting the Video: Fighting the Goliaths in your lifeGoliaths in your life

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New Testament Lesson 4