Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Matthew 12:22-37, Mark 3:22-30

To the Savior was brought -

"...one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed..." (New Testament Matthew 12:22 - 23)

Not understanding who he really was, they questioned -

"...Is not this the son of David?" (New Testament Matthew 12:23)

In other words, "is this not just a common person being the son of a carpenter?"

Naturally, those in power and authority -

"...the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (New Testament Matthew 12:24)

It is here that the Savior teaches a powerful truth -

"...Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (New Testament Matthew 12:25 - 26)

Mormon taught -

"...every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:16 - 17)

It's interesting that I have heard accusations that the Book of Mormon is false and is of the devil. If one sincerely read the Book of Mormon, they would find the entire book is a testimony of the divinity and mission of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Even the title page of the book declares -

"...And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations..." (Book of Mormon Preface Title Page:2)

"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (New Testament Matthew 12:30)