Jesus fulfilled the law in three ways: (1) by completing His mission, rendering the religious observances of the law of Moses obsolete, (2) by fulfilling scriptural prophecies, and (3) by clarifying the meaning and purpose of God's commandments.
Poor in Spirit
The Greek word ptóchos (πτωχός) means literally one who crouches or cowers. God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him. Are we spiritually poor but unaware of it? Have we not yet become ptóchos, crouching and seeking help from Him?
Salt
Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth." Here are three lessons from this analogy: (1) A little bit of goodness goes a long way" (2) Don't just fit in. Be true to your discipleship, even if it makes you stick out. (3) Keep focusing on eternity. It will help everyone around you be more resilient.
Peacemaking
Many of our efforts to make peace involve the people closest to us. We can work with confidence to calm anxieties and heal divisions within our families and among our friends. We can focus on the positive, love generously, and live mercifully.
Perfect
Mistakes are a feature of mortal life. That may be why Jesus reserved the designation of "perfect" for Himself until after His death and resurrection. We need to be patient with ourselves when we make mistakes, learn from them, and move on.
Bread
We all respond regularly to physical hunger, but we may not be as aware of our spiritual hunger. Moses taught that we don't live by bread alone, and Jesus quoted that teaching when Satan tempted Him. We need to nourish our spirits as we do our bodies.
Baptized with Fire
John the Baptist described the effect of the Holy Ghost with a striking metaphor: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Matthew 3:11; see also Luke 3:16 As far as I know, that is the only place... Continue Reading →
Taking up Our Cross
Many years before His crucifixion, Jesus used the imagery of the cross to describe the burden of discipleship: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24; see also Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 In Joseph Smith's revision of the Bible, the Savior adds the following explanation: "And now for a... Continue Reading →
These Wounds
Zechariah prophesied that someone would ask a prophet, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" He will answer, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zechariah 13:6). In an 1831 revelation, the Lord expanded on this prophecy. When Jesus Christ returns to the earth, people will ask Him, "What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?" He... Continue Reading →
The Ordinances of the Sun, Moon, and Stars
We all interact with unreliable people. We are disappointed at times when someone fails to follow through on something they have agreed to do. If we're honest with ourselves, we can't be too hard on them, because we aren't perfectly reliable ourselves. We're all imperfect, falling short even when we do the best we can.... Continue Reading →