Lesson 15A – Matthew 5–7
The ‘isms
Raise your hand when you know what
we’re talking about…
• President Joseph Fielding Smith called it the
“greatest [discourse] that was ever preached”
• It contains 2 Scripture Masteries
• It was recorded by a publican
• It was repeated to the Nephites
• There may have been a “Mount” involved…
The Sermon on the Mount
• The first of four major sermons
recorded in the gospel of
Matthew
• We’re going to get into the
content next week, but this
represents a shift in our study
• We’ve learned mostly events of
Christ’s life thus far (birth,
baptism, temptations, miracles,
calling of apostles)
• Now we are getting into the
teachings of Christ, through
sermons and parables
– We’ll get back to events
towards the end of His life
Let’s prepare by talking about some
“isms”
• Symbolism
• Why does the Lord use symbols in the
scriptures to teach us?
To crystallize in our minds the eternal verities
which we must accept and believe to be saved,
to dramatize their true meaning and import
with an impact never to be forgotten, to center
our attention on these saving truths, again and
again and again, the Lord uses similitudes.
Abstract principles may easily be forgotten or
their deep meaning overlooked, but visual
performances and actual experiences are
registered on the mind in such a way as never
to be lost.
-Elder Bruce R McConkie
Reason #1: Symbols have no language
limitations
• The olive tree often
represents the House of
Israel.
• One of the oldest plants
ever cultivated, at least
8000 years
• All cultures know what a
tree is, can understand
the significance
• What other symbols are
understood universally?
Reason #2: Often preserves truth
• 1 Ne 13:26: “for behold, they have taken away
from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which
are plain and most precious”
• It is much more difficult to change symbolism
than to change or remove a word in the
scriptures
• Ex: The Sermon on the Mount stays rather intact,
but the temptations of Christ have small changes
that allow them to be misinterpreted
Reason #3: No limitations of spiritual
maturity
• Matthew 13:10-15
– “should [they] understand with
their heart, and should be
converted… I should heal
them”
• Those who were spiritually
illiterate would only hear
stories.
• Those in tune would be
converted and healed
• Example: Baptism
– We teach it to the newest of
investigators
– We continue to study and
renew the associated covenant
throughout our life.
Reason #4: Symbols deeply affect
emotions and attitudes
• “A picture is worth a thousand words”
• What is a symbol worth?
• There is not only meaning associated, but also
experience.
• Examples?
– The flag
– Temple garments
– Wedding Ring
Reason #5: Symbols take time
• Dealing with words can be temporary, shortlived: reading a book or passage, listening to a
talk, watching a conference address
• Studying a symbol and finding out it’s
meaning takes time
• The more time you ponder it, the more you
may get out of it.
• The next time you see that symbol, all is
recollected in your minds
How do we interpret symbols in the
New Testament?
• Look for the intended meaning.
– Everything has a literal explanation.
Does it also have a spiritual meaning?
• Do the scriptures give the
interpretation themselves?
– Often the scriptures will explain the symbol explicitly
• Think about the nature of the object/place/event
– What are the natural characteristics of the thing?
– What else has those characteristics?
How do we interpret symbols in the
Old Testament?
• Look for the Savior in the symbols
– 2 Ne 11:4 – “all things which have been given of God from
the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of
him.”
• Symbols can be used multiple times, in multiple ways;
don’t limit your understanding.
– Christ is symbolized by the lamb, is that the only symbol
that means Christ?
• Study and understand the principles directly as well.
– If you don’t know what gospel truth is, how can you
recognize a symbol of it?
Notebook Ideas
• Find a symbol in the Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5-7)
• Pick any random verse in these 3 chapters,
chances are there is a symbol nearby
• Ponder
• Examples:
–
–
–
–
–
5:13 – Salt
5:14-16 – Light
6:19-20 – Treasures
6:28-29 – Lillies
7:3-4 – Mote/Beam (really all of chapter 7)