#64 Jesus Rejected Again at Nazareth

#64 Jesus Rejected Again at Nazareth

Please first read: Matthew 13:54-58 & Mark 6:1-6

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jesus returns to Nazareth and teaches in the synagogue; the people marvel at him, his preaching, his works, they refer to the fact that his mother, his brothers, and sisters are still among them; he tells them a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, but he can there do no great works; “he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them;” he marvels because of their unbelief.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “It will be remembered that, in the early days of His public ministry, Jesus had been rejected by the people of Nazareth, who thrust Him out from their synagog and tried to kill Him. It appears that subsequent to the events noted in our last chapter, He returned to the town of His youth, and again raised His voice in the synagog, thus mercifully affording the people another opportunity to learn and accept the truth. The Nazarenes, as they had done before, now again openly expressed their astonishment at the words He spoke, and at the many miraculous works He had wrought; never the less they rejected Him anew, for He came not as they expected the Messiah to come; and they refused to know Him save as “the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and Simon;” all of whom were common folk as were also His sisters. “And they were offended at him.” Jesus reminded them of the proverb then current among the people, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” Their unbelief was so dense as to cause Him to marvel; and because of their lack of faith He was unable to accomplish any great work except to heal a few exceptional believers upon whom He laid His hands. Leaving Nazareth, He entered upon His third tour of the Galilean towns and villages, preaching and teaching as He went.”

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            Mark 5 “He could there do no mighty work. According to the eternal laws which Jesus himself ordained in eternity, miracles are the fruit of faith. Where there is faith, there will be signs, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. Where there is no faith, these things cannot occur. (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 242-248, 459-461) The Master could not and would not violate his own law, and therefore most of his own townsmen were denied the blessings of his healing ministry. On the same basis men cannot be saved in their sins; (Alma 11:37) the Lord has ordained the laws by which salvation and all good things come, and until obedience prepares the way, the promised blessings are withheld. (D & C 88:21-24; 130:20-21; 132:5) Men can no more be saved without obedience than they can be healed without faith. All things operate by law; blessings result from obedience to law and are withheld when there is no obedience.”

A Companion to Your Study of the New Testament: The Four Gospels

Daniel H. Ludlow

            Matthew 13:54 “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” could have been translated, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these powerful works?”

            “By acknowledging that Jesus and his teachings and works were far beyond anything they had witnessed or imagined, the Nazarenes were witnesses against themselves when they failed to accept him as the Messiah and rejected his teachings.”

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Volume 1

Alfred Edersheim

            “It almost seems, as if the departure of Jesus from Capernaum marked a crisis in the history of that town. From henceforth it ceases to be the centre of His activity, and is only occasionally, and in passing, visited. Indeed, the concentration and growing power of Pharisaic opposition, and the proximity of Herod’s residence at Tiberias would have rendered a permanent stay there impossible at this stage of our Lord’s history. Henceforth, His Life is, indeed, not purely missionary, but He has no certain dwelling-place: in the sublime pathos of His own language, ‘He hath not where to lay His Head.’

            “The circumstances of the present visit, as well as the tone of His countrymen at this time, are entirely different from what is recorded of His former sojourn at Nazareth. (Luke 4:16-3) The tenacious narrowness, and the prejudices, so characteristic of such a town, with its cliques and petty family pride, all the more self-asserting that the gradation would be almost imperceptible to an outsider, are, of course, the same as on the former visit of Jesus. Nazareth would have ceased to be Nazareth, had its people felt or spoken otherwise than nine or ten months before. That His fame had so grown in the interval, would only stimulate the conceit of the village-town to try, as it were, to construct the great Prophet out of its own building materials, with this additional gratification that He was thoroughly their own, and they possessed even better materials in their Nazareth. All this is so quite according to life, that the substantial repetition of the former scene in the Synagogue, so far from surprising us, seems only natural. What surprises us is, what He marvelled at: the unbelief of Nazareth, which lay at the foundation of its estimate and treatment of Jesus. Upon their own showing their unbelief was most unwarrantable. If ever men had the means of testing the claims of Jesus, the Nazarenes possessed them.”

The One Bible Commentary

J.R. Dummelow

Mark 6:5 Faith was lacking on the part of the people involved. Their inability was moral. “He did not there many mighty works.” Only in a very few cases did Jesus waive this requirement.

Plutarch says, “You will find that few of the most prudent and wisest of mankind have been appreciated in their own country.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

June 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Your Companion Study of New Testament: The Four Gospels.”  Ludlow

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“One Volume Bible Commentary.” Dummelow     

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

#63 The Blind, Dumb, and Possessed are Healed

Please first read: Matthew 9:27-34; JST Matthew 9:36

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “Two other instances of miraculous healing are chronicled by Matthew as closely following the raising of the daughter of Jairus. As Jesus passed down the streets of Capernaum, presumably on His departure from the house of the ruler of the synagog, two blind men followed Him, crying out: “Thou son of David, have mercy on us.” This title of address was voiced by others at sundry times, and in no case do we find record of our Lord disclaiming it or objecting to its use. Jesus paused not to heed this call of the blind, and the two sightless men followed Him, even entering the house after Him. Then He spoke to them, asking: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” and they replied, “Yea, Lord.” Their persistency in following the Lord was evidence of their belief that in some way, though to them unknown and mysterious, He could help them; and they promptly and openly confessed that belief. Our Lord touched their eyes, saying: “According to your faith be it unto you.” The effect was immediate; their eyes were opened. They were explicitly instructed to say nothing of the matter to others; but, rejoicing in the inestimable blessing of sight, “they spread abroad his fame in all that country.” So far as we can unravel the uncertain threads of sequence in the works of Christ, this is the earliest instance, recorded with attendant details, of His giving sight to the blind. Many remarkable cases [will] follow.

            “It is worthy to note that in blessing the sightless by the exercise of His healing power, Jesus usually ministered by some physical contact in addition to uttering the authoritative words of command or assurance. In this instance, as also in that of two blind men who sat by the wayside, He touched the sightless eyes; in the giving of sight to the blind indigent in Jerusalem He anointed the man’s eyes with clay; to the eyes of another He applied saliva. An analogous circumstance is found in the healing of one who was deaf and defective of speech, in which instance the Lord put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue. In no case can such treatment be regarded as medicinal or therapeutic. Christ was not a physician who relied upon curative substances, nor a surgeon to perform physical operations; His healings were the natural results of the application of a power of His own. It is conceivable that confidence, which is a stepping-stone to belief, as that in turn is to faith, may have been encouraged by these physical ministrations, strengthened and advanced to a higher and more abiding trust in Christ, on the part of the afflicted who had not sight to look upon the Master’s face and derive inspiration therefrom, nor hearing to hear His uplifting words. There is apparent not alone an entire absence of formula and formalism in His ministration, but a lack of uniformity of procedure quite as impressive.

            “As the two men, once sightless but now seeing, departed, others came, bringing a dumb friend whose affliction seems to have been primarily due to the malignant influence of an evil spirit rather than to any organic defect. Jesus rebuked the wicked spirit – cast out the demon that had obsessed the afflicted one and held him in the tyranny of speechlessness. The man’s tongue was loosened, he was freed from the evil incubus and was no longer dumb.”

Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord

R.C. Trench

            “We have here the first of those many healings of the blind recorded (Matthew 12, 20, 21; John 9) or alluded to (Matthew 11) in the Gospels; each of them a literal fulfillment of that prophetic word of Isaiah concerning the days of Messiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened.” (Isaiah 35)

Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Alfred Edersheim

Several happenings occur here that should be noted.

1.      For the first time we observe the presence and murmuring of the scribes who will be bitter enemies of the Savior from now on.

2.      For the first time of record Jesus makes a “distinct declaration about the forgiveness of sins.” He does not claim power to do so, but a seed is planted.

3.      At a loss for a better reason Jesus’ opponents claim he is doing his works by the power of darkness, by satanic agency from the evil one. This is not new but is becoming more widespread. Some had already raised this against John the Baptist. Accusations against Jesus of working in league “through the ruler of the demons will intensify.” (Matthew 9:33-34)

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Volume 1

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Messianic prophecies foretold that Jesus would work mighty miracles, heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the lame to walk, “the blind to receive their sight,” and the deaf to hear, and that he would cure all manner of diseases. (Mosiah 3:5)

            “Matthew 9:27-31 Frequently opening the eyes of the blind, Jesus, as here, coupled his spoken command with some physical act. On this and other occasions he touched the sightless eyes. (Matthew 20:30-34) In healing the man in Jerusalem who was blind from birth, he anointed the man’s eyes with clay made with spittle and then he had the man wash in the pool of Siloam. (John 9:6-7) The blind man of Bethsaida was healed by application of saliva to his eyes. (Mark 8:22-26) Similarly, in healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, Jesus both touched the man’s tongue and put his own fingers into the man’s ears. (Mark 7:32-37)

            “None of these unusual and dissimilar acts are essential to the exercise of healing power. Healing miracles are performed by the power of faith and in the authority of the priesthood. By doing these physical acts, however, the Master’s apparent purpose was to strengthen the faith of the blind or deaf person, persons who were denied the ability to gain increased assurance and resultant faith by seeing his countenance or hearing his words.”

Life and Words of Christ

Cunningham Geikie

Galilee was one of the most receptive areas for Jesus. Wherever he went multitudes sought after and followed him. He now returns to Peter’s house. Many greet him as the long-expected Messiah with “have mercy on us son of David.” Many lived under conditions that were deemed to be punishments from God against them for something done wrong. Destitute, uneducated, leprous, no family, childless, blind. Many of these were quick to profess faith that Jesus could heal and help them – and he did so. Many others considered them stricken of God, “dead,” by the hard Judaism of that day. Yet here is Jesus associating with them and healing all. “Either He or they must be totally wrong.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

June 2019

References

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord.” Trench

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

The scriptures for both #61 and #62 are woven together with each event having an influencing affect upon the other. Please first read the scriptures as a single unit to get the feeling of those who experienced both events. Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:22-43; and Luke 8:41-56.

#62 The Woman with an Issue of Blood

Our Lord of the Gospels

President J. Reuben Clark Jr.

            “Jesus going through the crowd is touched on the garment by a woman who for twelve years has had an issue of blood and had “suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse;” she has faith that if she touches only the garment of Jesus she will be healed; she touches his garment and is healed immediately; Jesus senses the touch for he says, “I perceive that virtue is gone out of me;” Jesus asks who touched him; the disciples saw no one, she then comes forward and falling down before him, tells all; he says “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Jesus the Christ

Apostle James E. Talmage

            “While Jesus was walking to the house of Jairus with a great crowd of people thronging about Him, the progress of the company was arrested by another case of suffering. In the throng was a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with a serious ailment involving frequent hemorrhage. She had spent in medical treatment all she had owned, and “had suffered many things of many physicians,” but had steadily grown worse. She worked her way through the crowds, and approaching Jesus from behind, touched His robe; “For she said, If I may touch but his clothes I shall be whole.” The effect was more than magical; immediately she felt the thrill of health throughout her body, and knew that she had been healed of her affliction. Her object attained, the blessing she sought being now secured, she tried to escape notice by hastily dropping back into the crowd. But her touch was not unheeded by the Lord. He turned to look over the throng and asked, “Who touched me?” As the people denied, the impetuous Peter speaking for himself and the others said: “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” But Jesus answered: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.”

            “The woman, finding that she could not escape identification, came tremblingly forward, and, kneeling before the Lord, confessed what she had done, her reason for so doing, and the beneficent result. If she had expected censure her fears were promptly set at rest, for Jesus, addressing her by a term of respect and kindness, said: “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace,” and as Mark adds, “be whole of thy plague.”

            “The woman’s faith was sincere and free from guile, nevertheless it was in a sense defective. She believed that the influence of Christ’s person, and even that attaching to His raiment, was a remedial agency, ample to cure her malady; but she did not realize that the power to heal was an inherent attribute to be exercised at His will, and as the influence of faith might call it forth. True, her faith had already been in part rewarded, but of greater worth to her than the physical cure of illness would be the assurance that the divine Healer had granted the desire of her heart, and that the faith she had manifested was accepted by Him. To correct her misapprehension and to confirm her faith, Jesus gently subjected her to the necessary ordeal of confession, which must have been made easier through her consciousness of the great relief already experienced. He confirmed the healing and let her depart with the comforting assurance that her recovery was permanent.

            “In contrast with the many cases of healing in connection with which the Lord charged the beneficiaries that they should tell none how or by whom they have been relieved, we see here that publicity was made sure by His own action, and that too, when secrecy was desired by the recipient of the blessing. The purposes and motives of Jesus may be but poorly understood by man; but in this woman’s case we see the possibility of stories strange and untrue getting afloat, and it appears to have been the wiser course to make plain the truth then and there. Moreover the spiritual worth of the miracle was greatly enhanced by the woman’s confession and by the Lord’s gracious assurance.

            “Observe the significant assertion, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Faith is of itself a principle of power; and by its presence or absence, by its fullness of paucity, even the Lord was and is influenced, and in great measure controlled, in the bestowal or withholding of blessings; for He ministers according to law, and not with caprice or uncertainty. We read that at a certain time and place Jesus “could there do no mighty work” because of the people’s unbelief. Modern revelation specifies that faith to be healed is one of the gifts of the Spirit, analogous to the manifestations of the power of the Holy Priesthood.

            “Our Lord’s inquiry as to who had touched Him in the throng affords us another example of His asking questions in pursuance of a purpose, when He could readily have determined the facts directly and without aid from others. There was a special purpose in the question, as every teacher finds a means of instruction in questioning his pupils. But there is in Christ’s question, “Who touched me?” a deeper significance than could inhere in a simple inquiry as to the identity of an individual; and this is implied in the Lord’s further words: “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” The usual external act by which His miracles were wrought was a word or command, sometimes accompanied by the laying on of hands, or by some other physical ministration as anointing the eyes of the blind man. That there was an actual giving of His own strength to the afflicted who He healed is evident from the present instance. Passive belief on the part of a would-be recipient of blessing is insufficient; so also of one who ministers in the authority given of God, mental and spiritual energy must be operative if the service is to be effective.”

The Four Gospels

Daniel H. Ludlow

            “Jesus deliberately publicized this healing miracle. Rather than permit a story to go forth, from which spiritually illiterate persons might falsely suppose that the woman was healed by some virtue attaching to his clothing, or even his own person, Jesus required the woman to tell what she had done, to testify of the blessing received, and to receive from his lips the assurance that the healing grace had come to her because of her faith.”

The woman knew that her touching anyone would make them ceremonially unclean for the rest of the day, and doing so was forbidden by Jewish law. Would Jesus be angry with her? Jesus immediately raises the matter of “touching” for all to hear. (Luke 8:46-48).  He addresses any potential future speculation that it was by some satanic power that the healing occurred. He is the One responsible.

Other relevant thoughts:

History of the Church, Volume 4

In July of 1839, at Commerce (Nauvoo) Illinois, there was a large group of saints camped out with much sickness. Church leaders, including Joseph Smith, were also infected. No meetings were held on Sunday July 21. On July 22 the Prophet arose from his sick bed and began the work of healing. As other Brethren were healed they were commanded to administer to and heal others. “The sick were administered unto with great success, but many remained sick and many new cases are occurring daily.”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie

            “Joseph Smith, under date of March 14, 1843, wrote in his journal: “Elder Jedidiah M. Grant inquired of me the cause of my turning pale and losing strength last night while blessing children. I told him that I saw Lucifer would exert his influence to destroy the children that I was blessing, and I strove with all the faith and spirit that I had to seal upon them a blessing that would secure their lives upon the earth; and so much virtue went out of me in the children, that I became weak, from which I have not yet recovered; and I referred to the case of the woman touching the hem of the garment of Jesus. The virtue referred to is the [Spirit of Life;] and a man who exercises great faith in administering to the sick, blessing little children, or confirming, is liable to become weakened.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

May 2019

References

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Four Gospels.” Ludlow

“History of the Church.” Volume 4

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

           

#59 Stilling The Storm

#59 Stilling The Storm

Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

Apostle James E. Talmage:

It is at Jesus’ direction that he and his disciples launch the boat and head for the other side of the lake. “Jesus found a resting place near the stern of the ship and soon fell asleep. A great storm arose and still he slept. He was subject to fatigue and bodily exhaustion from other causes as are all men; without food he grew hungry; without drink he thirsted; by labor he became weary. He was in a good state of health. No where do we find record of Jesus having been ill. He lived according to the laws of health, yet never allowed the body to rule the spirit. Sleep after toil is necessary. The day’s work done, Jesus slept.

“The disciples were terror stricken; yet through it all Jesus rested peacefully. In their extremity of fear, the disciples awakened him, crying out, according to the several independent accounts, ‘Master, Master, we perish;’ ‘Lord save us: we perish’; and, ‘Master, carest thou not we perish?’ They were abjectly frightened, and at least partly forgetful that there was with them One whose voice even death had to obey. Their terrified appeal was not wholly devoid of hope nor barren of faith. ‘Lord save us’ they cried. Calmly he responded to their piteous call, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

“The Sea of Galilee is thirteen miles by seven miles wide. It is a lake of fresh, fish-filled water, 695 feet below sea level, at a base of rugged hills and mountains. This combination causes sudden atmospheric downdrafts and tempestuous winds resulting in sudden and violent storms on the lake. This storm was unusually fierce. Waters beating over the ship. The danger of sinking is very real.”

In Jesus’ chastising words is the feeling of an unspoken message, that if their faith had been strong enough they would have, could have, stilled the storm themselves. (Perhaps by praying in Jesus name.) Jesus was a God before coming to this earth. He was a God while on the earth and continues a God throughout all eternity. Notwithstanding this, he partook in full the experiences of mortality, and to a degree beyond our comprehension.     

The disciples knew Jesus had divine powers and could save them even from the raging tempest. Because of their fear they were themselves devoid of that confidence and assurance which could have enabled them to still the storm; yet, almost instinctively, they knew their Master would do what they hesitated to attempt.

            “As with almost all men in their divers walks, greater faith should have been evidenced by the disciples as their ship struggled in the surging waves of the Galilean sea. “O ye of little faith,” and “Where is your faith?” [the Master challenged.]

            “Implicit therein is the assurance that by faith they also could have commanded the elements and had them obey. By faith all things are possible, and when the Lord’s servants rise in the full majesty of their callings, they have “power to command the waters.”” (D&C 61:27)

                                          

Thoughts of Interest from Other Writers:

In spite of all the miracles of healing, including restoration of life itself, the disciples seem unable to accept the fact that Jesus has control of all the elements. They say, “What manner of man is this? For he commands even the winds and water and they obey him!” However, they still refer to him as ‘man.’ (Geikie)

There seems to be some connection between the miracle of healing, the teachings of that day and the miracle of rescue from the storms of that evening. Jesus has done much healing, has rebuked fever (Luke 4:39) and the paroxysm of the demonized (Mark 9:25) and now rebukes the winds of the sea as the Jehovah of old. (Psalms 106:9) Awake or asleep, Jesus is Master. (Edersheim)

Always after a storm and the winds die down there is a period of time before the sea swells become quiet. This time however they stop immediately. (Shepherd)

Travelers are often endangered by these sudden fierce storms that seem to spring up almost from nowhere. (Farrar)

In the common Greek language in use in that day, when Jesus told the elements, “Peace! Be Still!” It was a command to ‘muzzle,’ literally, “I Muzzle You.” (Farrar)

The Apostles reaction to these events testifies that they believed they did happen. The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John testify of their truth and agree on their description and details. (Howick)

Jesus and his disciples would be heading to the opposite (northeast) side of the lake. There would be a small town where they could get food and a place to rest. (Pentecost)

In the close circle around Jesus were those fishermen whose families made their living from the sea of Galilee. They would be well experienced in gauging the seriousness of a storm at sea and speak accordingly. Luke writes, “they were in grave danger.” (Luke 8:23) (Pentecost)

Dr. Thompson (The Land and the Book) gives a description founded on his personal experience on the shores of the lake: “I spent a night in that Wady Shukaiyif, some three miles up it, to the left of us. The sun had scarcely set when the wind began to rush down toward the lake, and it continued all night long with constantly increasing violence, so that when we reached the shore next morning the face of the lake was a huge boiling cauldron. The wind howled down every wady from the northeast to the east with such fury that no efforts of rowers could have brought a boat to shore at any point along that coast. . . . To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low – six hundred feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran, and upward to snowy Hermon; and the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges converging to the head of this lake, and that these act like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.”

Glenn R. McGettigan

March 2019

References

“Miracles of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 2. McConkie

“The Life of Christ.” Farrar

“The Words and Works of Jesus Christ.” Pentecost

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“The Christ of the Gospels.” Shephard

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“The Life and Words of Christ.” Geikie

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Scriptural Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.” Smith

                                                               

#52 Seeking Signs

#52 Seeking Signs

Please first read: Matthew 12:38-45

The activities of Jesus and his followers have now gained a high profile throughout much of all Palestine. Great crowds of both those who support, and those who oppose, are coming daily to listen and hear. As would be expected, tensions are in the air including those from the accusations involving Jesus being in league with Satan and doing his healings and miracles by the power of the devil. The Pharisees are taking the lead in asking for, demanding, a sign(s).

Apostle James E. Talmage:

“The Master’s lessons have (fallen) on ears that were practically deaf to spiritual truth, and found no place in hearts already stuffed with great stores of evil. To the profound wisdom and saving instruction of the word of God to which they had listened, they responded with a flippant request: ‘Master, we would see a sign from thee.’ Had they not already seen signs in profusion? Had not the blind and the deaf, the dumb and the infirm, the palsied and the dropsical, and people afflicted with all manner of diseases, been healed in their houses, on their streets, and in their synagogues; had not devils been cast out and their foul utterances been silenced by his word; and had not the dead been raised, and all by him whom they now importuned for a sign? They would have some surpassing wonder wrought, to satisfy curiosity, or perhaps to afford them further excuse for action against him—they wanted signs to waste on their lust. Small wonder that, `he sighed deeply in his spirit’ when such demands were made. To the scribes and Pharisees who had shown such inattention to his words, he replied, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” 

The sign of Jonas (Jonah) was that for three days he had been in the belly of the fish and then restored to liberty; so would the Son of Man be immured in the tomb, after which he would rise again. That was the only sign he would give them, and by that would they stand condemned.

Our Lord’s reply to those who clamored for a sign, that “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh for a sign” (Matthew 12:39; Matthew 16:4; and Mark 8:38) could only be interpreted by the Jews as a supreme reproof. That the descriptive designation ‘adulterous’ was literally applicable to the widespread immorality of the time, they all knew. Adam Clarke in his commentary on Matthew 12:39 states, “There is the utmost proof from their own writings that in the time of our Lord, they were most literally an adulterous race of people.”

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie:

A sign from heaven! What part do signs play in the eternal scheme of things? Why do these scripturally wise detractors of the Holy One feel they can rouse further ill feelings against him by demanding a sign? Should he give some sign that he has not yet given? Is there some great heavenly portent that will prove he is the Son of God?

Jesus came, it is true, to give signs and to work miracles. It was part of his ministerial assignment, and in so doing he was acting in the power and authority of his Father. Signs are for true saints, not the world. Signs follow those that believe; they are not designed to convert the wicked and ungodly. Faith precedes the miracle. “I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name, the Lord says.” (D&C 35:8) Those who seek signs – either to create faith or to feed their egos – whether in or out of the Church, shall fail in their search for divine approval. “He that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation…Faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.” (D&C 63:7-11)

Some sins cannot be separated; they are inseparably welded together. There never was a sign seeker who was not an adulterer, just as there never was an adulterer who was not also a liar. Once Lucifer gets a firm hold over one human weakness, he also applies his power to kindred weaknesses. (Matthew 12:39)

Sign of Jonas: Jonah’s burial in and coming forth from the ‘great fish’ (Jonah 1:15-17) symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ … By repenting and believing Jonah, wicked Nineveh was saved; by repenting and believing Christ, the wicked Jews could have freed themselves from sin. And the miracle of the resurrection, symbolized by the sign of Jonas, stands as a witness against them that they rejected their God.  

                                                                             

Albright:

Idolatry and Adultery: During Old Testament time and the Meridian of time when Jesus was here on the earth, these two terms were spiritually synonymous and interchangeable. Idol worship was a constant recurring problem and was always accompanied by sexual excess of all kinds.

Vine:

·         Adulterous: In Israel the breach of their relationship with God through their idolatry was described as adultery or harlotry. Believers who cultivate friendship with the world, thus breaking their spiritual union with Christ are spiritual adulteresses, having been spiritually united to Him as wife to husband.

·         Idolatry: The sin of the mind against God.

·         Immorality: The sins against the flesh.

Vincent: 

Adulterous: a very strong and graphic expression of the relation of God’s people to him under the figure of marriage. Hence idolatry and intercourse with Gentiles were described as adultery; and of moral unfaithfulness to God. (Matthew 12:39)

A final point of interest: The Gospels record Jesus being directly asked five times for a sign.

Nineveh was the capital of powerful Assyria and noted for its extreme wickedness.

Glenn R. McGettigan

April 2016

References:

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark     

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 2. McConkie

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

“Mormon Doctrine.” McConkie

“Anchor Bible Gospel of Matthew.” Albright

“Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.” Vine

“Word Studies of the New Testament.” Vincent

#50 Anointed by a Woman Sinner

#50 Anointed by a Woman Sinner

Please first read: Luke 7:36-50

Simon, a Pharisee, has invited Jesus to be his guest at his home for dinner and Jesus has accepted. Jesus has previously been invited and accepted various such invitations from publicans, Rabbis and sinners so this s not unusual. Simon’s invite does not necessarily mean he is impressed by Jesus’ teaching … but the size of the crowds involved cannot be ignored.

It would be appropriate, possibly expected, that a leading Pharisee in the area would so host such an individual. Because of the strict rules of the Pharisees as to whom, and how they associate with others of lesser rank and station it would be deemed and honor for the one invited.

Simon has been influenced by curiosity and partly by wanting to receive a very popular and exciting Teacher into his home. As the event unfolds it may be that Simon expects Jesus to do honor to him. The hospitality is condescending and limited in its nature. The customary attentions expected for an invited guest are omitted. Such rudeness is a major violation and bad reflection on established Eastern virtues.

The guest should have been invited to refresh himself on arrival. There should have been a basin of water to wash his feet, (a slave would normally be the one attending here … a Jewish laborer could not be required to do this) a kiss of greeting, anointing of his head with oil … the lack of such things was an affront, a direct insult. Jesus has not been invited as a social or religious equal. Simon wants to prove and expose Jesus as an impostor, a fraud.

The meal:

• Homes and yards were open places in this society and a banquet or feast of this time would be somewhat of a public event. 
• Visitors and even strangers could come in and observe and engage in the conversations; especially was this done when there were popular figures attending. 
• Men were the ones who would usually do this; women were not forbidden, but rarely did so.
• If any poor came they would be given a meal.
• Eating was done while reclining on couches, head toward the table, bare feet facing away to the outside. This was also the style among the Greeks and Romans as well as the Jews.

Simon:

He is a wealthy man and understands Jesus choosing a story about debtors and creditors. The logic cannot be misunderstood.

·         Absent Jesus, this woman would have not been allowed on the premises. He would not have allowed the woman to get near or touch him and certainly none of her tears would move him.

I picture Simon smiling to himself and thinking, “I gotcha!” (Verse 39)    

 Simon has made two wrong judgments:

1.      Expecting Jesus to condemn the woman … instead he forgives her.

2.      She was a sinner but through repentance she is now a forgiven sinner.

The Woman:

• She comes specifically seeking Jesus and seems oblivious to everything else around her.
• She is definitely not invited. She has been ostracized from society for the sin of immorality.
• She is weeping and in a repentant and contrite state. Her demeanor and actions indicate a worshipful attitude.
• She is unveiled and her hair is loosed … a breach of public etiquette.
• She kneels at Jesus’ feet and with her tears and hair begins to wash and dry his feet as a slave would do for its master.
• With this accomplished she produces some expensive perfumed ointment (not the less costly oil) and anoints the Lord’s feet. Perfumes were much sought after and many were very expensive. A flask with perfume was worn around the neck by women and used to both sweeten the breath and perfume the person.
• Her sins are great and her love and repentance is great. Both she and Jesus know this, hence Jesus tells her, “Thy sins are forgiven,” and then later “Thy faith hath saved thee.” She has repented of her sins.

Jesus:

Addresses Simon and exposes him. Jesus not only knows who and what the woman is but also what thoughts and feelings Simon has in his heart. This is something that a prophet could be able to do … Simon might begin questioning his resolve that Jesus is a fraud. The Lord points out Simon’s breach of the required social graces.

“Seest thou this woman?” Jesus asks Simon, and obviously he is physically doing so. The implied answer is Simon does not truly “Seest” the woman as the Lord does. Do you know her situation? Do you have any idea of her problems and her disappointments? Why she is as she is? What her life has been like. Maybe she needs someone to help her. There is not sufficient here to know if Simon was in any way affected by his time with the Savior. We do know the woman was for the better.

Glenn R. McGettigan 

March 2016

References:

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Life of Christ.” Farrar    

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark     

“The Life of Christ.” Geike

“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah.” Volume 1. Edersheim

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie    

“Parables of Jesus the Messiah.” Howick

“The Complete Biblical Library – Luke.”

“The Communicators Commentary – Luke.”