Luke 17 and 18

Chapter 17

While there is much to learn in this chapter, there is one sentence that I think is among the most important in the New Testament. It is in verse 21, "The kingdom of God is within you." Everything we search for, the meaning of life, our purpose in life, is already within us. Knowing God, having a testimony of the gospel, knowing that Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son, knowing the Book of Mormon is scripture, all of these things we already knew before we came to this life. ALL spiritual knowledge is within us. Mortality and the veil buries this knowledge and how long it remains buried is up to us. We have the promise that all things can be revealed to us. The Savior says knock and he will open the spiritual doors for us. If we look without, in the world or in others, we won't find it because it is within us. Each day we live righteously, each day that we pray and read some scriptures, the door opens a little wider and a little more light is revealed. We just need to search deep and learn what is in our hearts. It's the most valuable thing in life there is. It's called the Pearl of Great Price (not the book) and because it is so valuable and personally sacred, it doesn't come without paying the price of sacrifice and effort. But it does come.

Chapter 18

I like the parable of the publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee is doing everything perfect and as a result knows he is more righteous than everyone else. It's the typical "look at me the spiritual giant." We've all seen them. In contrast, the publican is aware of his faults and failings and asks the Lord for his mercy. It's important to notice that the Lord does not justify our righteous acts if our hearts are not where they should be. When our hearts are where they should be, we recognize our imperfections, they bother us, and we try to do better. But the great message is, when our hearts are right, we can know the Lord extends his mercy and it covers our imperfections and in spite of them, He still justifies us, meaning he still accepts us. He has already paid the price of our imperfections for us. That is a very comforting thought to me.

The Joseph Smith Translation of verse 27 is important. Take a look at the footnote for that verse.

Verse 34 shows that the 12 are not able to understand what the Savior will be going through with the atonement and resurrection until after when they receive the Holy Ghost. It is kept from them for good reason.