This chapter is a continuation of the sermon on the mount, in this case, the sermon on the Nephite temple mount. You could write a book on what is in these chapters of the Savior's visit. I think I'll comment on two things. First, the Savior talks about his displeasure with those who do their alms (give donations) in such as a way as to show off how generous they are in front of others. I stretch this to any kind of religious show where we try to impress others with our spirituality, religious knowledge, or in any way try to put ourselves in a superior position over others. At the least, we may unintentionally offend others even though our attempts may be nothing more than to lead or show the way. At the extreme, it becomes priestcraft where one uses religion to get gain, in power, position and money.
None of us like it when someone wears their religion on their sleeve. It always comes across as "I'm better than you" even when done with good intentions, and more often than not, people are turned away rather than toward religion. (On the other side, we should be slow to judge those who do this for more often than not, their motivations may be right, but their tactics and timing may not always the best.) We are taught to bear our testimonies, but even then, timing and the mode of delivery is important when the recipient of our testimonies may be fragile in their own. The best thing, I think, is to live righteously and let the Spirit do the rest. Example will always accomplish far more than words. The conveyance of the Spirit does not require words. The Savior did this and the one thing more than anything else that we would do well to learn is that is he first loved and accepted those whom he taught and healed. When a person feels loved, accepted, and on equal footing regardless of religious strength or standing, is when we can most effectively (and gently) help them feel how much the Lord loves and accepts them. And in the end, isn't this what we want, to have them turn not to us, but to the Lord? If we are blessed to be at a crossroads, let it be a way station where in their travels they receive comfort and love in the process of their journey.
The second thing that impresses me in this chapter is the Lord's comment that the eye is our source of light. He bookends this statement with the sayings of where our treasure is indicates where our heart is, and, no man can serve two masters. I often have to look at my life and ask what my heart is really set on. What are my priorities? This can be misconstrued that we must give up all enjoyment and leisure. I think what the Lord is asking us is to put Him first. When it comes to choices, put Him first. He doesn't want to be a part-time God in our lives to be called on occasionally. Besides, whether we realize it or not, He is always there anyway, guiding prodding, urging, and inspiring. When let our heart be set on things that are contrary to what we know is right and in opposition to Him, we lose light. We lose understanding, wisdom and perspective. If we should fall into sin, then as He says in verse 23, the light is replaced by darkness. It is then that we lose our understanding of gospel and spiritual principles, of truth. We lose the sense of His presence in our life. The intellect replaces the Spirit and the intellect is incapable of comprehending spiritual truth. Paul said this:
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth... the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
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