Luke 7 and 8

Chapter 7

A centurion commands 50 to 100 men. His logic and faith seem to be perfect. He understands that his superiors have the power to command him and he does what was commanded, and he has the power to command men and it is done. Well, if this is the Lord of all, what he says will have the power to be done also.

Jesus asks the people if when they went to see John the Baptist they expected to see a reed blowing in the wind. But what they saw was someone who does not waver like a reed does in the wind. The Savior tells the people that there was no greater prophet than John the Baptist. Joseph Smith said this was for three reasons:

1. He was entrusted with the divine mission to prepare the way for the Savior. No man has ever had such a trust committed to him.

2. He had the mission to baptize the Savior. No other man has had the honor, privilege or glory, of seeing the Holy Ghost descend upon the Savior.

3. He was the only true and legal administrator of the affairs of God's kingdom on the earth at that time. He alone held all of the keys of authority.

We get an insight into the nature of the Savior when he heals the widow's only son. We don't know how much she has suffered in her life. How many other children she has lost in addition to her husband. But she was well known by those of the city because many were with her and carry her son for her to the Savior. It is obvious the people care about this woman. You can sense his tenderness when it says he has compassion on her and tells her to weep not. At some point, all those who believe, but suffer greatly, will hear and feel the same things in their life.

Chapter 8

The woman in Chapter 7 who anoints the Lord and his forgiven of her sins is not Mary Magdalene. She will anoint him later than when this occurs. In Jesus the Christ, Elder Talmadge says that Mary Magdalene was one of the most virtuous and righteous women ever to follow Jesus. Her faith was so great and her good works were so extensive that she was singled out to stand as the first mortal person to see the Lord after his resurrection.

The seed that is sown represents the types of people who hear the gospel. Notice what happens to each of the four:

1. The first group (fall by the wayside) are those who easily allow their belief to be taken from them by Satan who is the author of all doubt.

2. The second group (fall on the rocks) accepts the gospel and are excited, but they do nothing to nourish their belief and it soon withers and dies.

3. The third group (thorns) let the things of the world rob them of belief. They would rather have the things of the world than the gospel.

All three of these have to involve rationalization. All have to convince themselves for false reasons why the gospel isn't true and worth living.

4. The fourth group (good soil) hear the word and then do one simple thing, they keep it. They do what is necessary to maintain their belief and as a result, they bring forth many good works.

In every case, it is really up to the individual person. We cannot make excuses for our unbelief. We only have unbelief when we fail to do what would enable us to have belief and faith. If we do what we should, the belief will come and our faith will increase. Faster than we would think it would. It just takes that first step in the right direction and then we keep moving forward.