- Looking at Matthew 4 and Luke 4-5.
In Order to Better Understand the Scriptures, utilize the Bible Dictionary, especially the
“HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS,” Pages 684-696 in the Church’s KJV of the Bible’s addendum.
- It is critical to understand the Dual Nature of Jesus; Mortal and Divine. Jesus came to be mankind’s Great Example as a mortal in the flesh. Read Hebrews 2:16-18, 2 Nephi 31:7-10,16, 3 Nephi 18:16, Mormon 7:10. Jesus “marked the path, led the way and every point defined” as our mortal example. Jesus did not use his Divine power over death except to carry out the requirements of the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane, wherein he took upon himself the sins of the world, and again on the cross, and in the Resurrection from the Garden Tomb. All other events in the life of Jesus were performed by “FAITH.” Ether 12:18, “And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith.” Remember Jesus had a veil of forgetfulness over his mind whereby the entire memory of the premortal existence was erased. Elder James E. Talmage taught:
“In such simplicity is the normal, natural development of the Boy Jesus made clear. He came among men to experience all the natural conditions of mortality; He was born as truly a dependent, helpless babe as is any other child; His infancy was in all common features as the infancy of others; His boyhood was actual boyhood, His development was as necessary and as real as that of all children. Over His mind had followed the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth, by which the remembrance of primeval existence is shut off. The Child grew, and with growth there came to him expansion of mind, development of faculties, and progression in power and understanding. His advancement was from one grace to another, not from graceless notice to grace; from good to greater good, not from evil to good, from favor with God to greater favor, not from estrangement because of sin to reconciliation through repentance and propitiation.” Jesus the Christ, 2006 Edition, p. 108.
Understanding that Jesus did not mingle his Mortal and Divine powers gives us “Hope in Christ” that we can truly follow Jesus if we are willing. Jesus used his Mortal power to carry out his Mortal mission. The Savior use his Divine power to carry out his Divine mission. Regarding the use of his Divine power, Jesus said, “I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.” (D&C 19:16). Being without sin as a mortal is not a requirement for discipleship. Faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end of one’s mortal life seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost are necessary for those professing to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Looking at Matthew 4 and Luke 4, we will see that Lucifer attempted to entice Jesus to use his Divine power unrighteously. In overcoming the temptations of the devil, Jesus referred to the Scriptures.
- Knowing that Jesus had a Divine power, but chose not to use it, except for the purposes for which it was intended, allows us to love him even more as our great example in all things.
- To be clear, Jesus learned to study the Scriptures, he learned prayer at his mother’s knee. In his early years Jesus was guided by the same conscience each of us possess and by witnesses of the Holy Ghost. it was not until age 30, when Jesus was baptized, that the companionship of the Holy Ghost was given him as recorded in Luke 3: 21 and for the next 3 ½ years, approximately, Jesus was guided by the Holy Ghost. Praying for and receiving the Holy Ghost, in order to understand the will of our Heavenly Father, was the example Jesus set for each of us.
The Temptations of Jesus:
Matthew 4:1-11 Mark 1:12 Luke 4:1-13
It is important to remember that “Many plain and precious parts” of the Bible were changed by monks and scribes. (1 Nephi 13:26-29 and 1 Nephi 14:23). God does not lead people into temptation. The Lord’s prayer confirms that God does not lead people into temptation. The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit does not lead people into temptation as pointed out in the Joseph Smith Translation of the KJV of the Bible. The devil does not have the power to physically take Jesus or you and I anywhere. Nor does the devil know the thoughts and intents of our hearts. (D&C 6:16). The Holy Ghost led Jesus into the wilderness to commune with Heavenly Father in prayer after the forty days of fasting.
On more than one occasion Jesus was transfigured. In order to endure forty days of fasting Jesus would have been transfigured as was Moses, when Moses fasted for forty days on Mount Sinai, as recorded in Deut. 9:9, “I abode in the amount 40 days and 40 nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water.”
Using his Mortal nature how did Jesus deal with the temptations from the devil? He referred to the Scriptures he had studied during his whole life. Deut. 8:3, Deut. 6:16, Deut. 6:13.
Matthew and Luke chose not to include John’s testimony of Jesus as recorded in John 1:19-28, the calling of Andrew, Simon, Philip and Nathaniel in John 1:35-51, and the first miracle at the marriage in Cana in John 2:1-11. They also chose not to include the first cleansing of the Temple in John 2:13-22 and Nicodemus visiting Jesus at night in John 3:1-21.
Herod’s imprisonment of John the Baptist
Matthew 14:3-5 Mark 6:17-20 Luke 3:19-20
Jesus Returns to the Galilee
Matthew 4:12 Mark 1:14 Luke 4:14-15 John 4:1-45
John is the only one who expounds on the “Nobleman’s Son Being Healed.” John 4:46-54.
Jesus and the Journey to Capernaum
Matthew 4:13-17 Mark 1:15
Peter, Andrew, James and John as “Fishers of Men” Jeremiah 16:16
Matthew 4:18-22 Mark 1:16-20 Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Preaches and Heals in Galilee
Matthew 4:23-25 Mark 1:35 Luke 4:42-44
Discipleship to Jesus does not require perfection. Nephi asked the question, “Can we follow Jesus?” (2 Nephi 31:10). He answered that question, “save we shall be willing.” Discipleship to Jesus requires willingness to have faith in Christ, willingness to repentance, willingness to be baptized and willingness to seek to be Spirit guided and willingness to endure to the end of our mortal lives keeping the commandments of the Father to love as Jesus loved. In order to follow Jesus, we need to study the Scriptures as he did, learn to pray as Jesus did, and learn to love one another as Jesus did. We need to earnestly seek for the companionship of the Holy Ghost as Jesus did. The question is not one of mortal perfection. It is an issue of continuing to repent and improve from week to week and once again placing our feet on the footprints left by Jesus.