Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
We all travel our own Jericho Road in life. Sometimes we are the ones who fall among thieves and need help. Other times we want to notice others in their time of need. As I study the parable of the Good Samaritan, I love seeing Christ as the one who is searching for someone to help, and as the one who "was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities." I look forward to spending time with you as we study this parable, about forgiveness and the Marys and Marthas in our lives.
Elder Bruce R. McKonkie: “Rabbinism . . . specified that forgiveness should not be extended more than three times to any offender. . .
“Peter asked a question that, as he must have then supposed, assumed a far more liberal rule than that imposed by the Rabbis.” (The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 3:91).
What is the context, or reasons why Peter might be asking this question?
How to treat others in Matthew 18
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recounted a class he attended in which the teacher proposed that 10,000 talents was equivalent to several billion dollars. (see “Students Need Teachers to Guide Them,” CES Satellite Broadcast, 20 June 1992, 3-4).
Scholars estimate that it would take a common laborer "about 33 years for him to be able to purchase one talent. And it would take over 300,000 years to earn 10,000 talents, the sum of the servant’s debt.” (Jay A. Parry and Donald W. Parry, Understanding the Parables of Jesus Christ [2006], 95).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive” (“The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 77).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Forgiveness heals terrible, tragic wounds, for it allows the love of God to purge your heart and mind of the poison of hate. It cleanses your consciousness of the desire for revenge. It makes place for the purifying, healing, restoring love of the Lord” (“Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse,” Ensign, May 1992, 33).
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “God is fully aware of those who are lost—and … He will find them, … He will reach out to them, and … He will rescue them. … He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears. It matters not how you became lost—whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control. What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children. Because He loves you, He will find you. He will place you upon His shoulders, rejoicing [or in this case His “beast,” symbol of His body].” (“He Will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home,” General Conference, April 2016)
President Thomas S. Monson:“Each of us, in the journey through mortality, will travel his own Jericho Road. What will be your experience? What will be mine? Will I fail to notice him who has fallen among thieves and requires my help? Will you? Will I be one who sees the injured and hears his plea, yet crosses to the other side? Will you? Or will I be one who sees, who hears, who pauses, and who helps? Will you?
“Jesus provided our watchword: ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’ When we obey that declaration, there opens to our view a vista of joy seldom equaled and never surpassed. …
“… When we walk in the steps of that good Samaritan, we walk the pathway that leads to perfection” (“Your Jericho Road,” Ensign, Feb. 1989, 2, 4).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with “good things” so there is no room for the essential ones.” (“First things First,” Ensign May 2001, 7)
Teaching Thoughts:
Elder Bruce R. McKonkie: “Rabbinism . . . specified that forgiveness should not be extended more than three times to any offender. . .
“Peter asked a question that, as he must have then supposed, assumed a far more liberal rule than that imposed by the Rabbis.” (The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 3:91).
What is the context, or reasons why Peter might be asking this question?
- Disciples are looking to be important or the “greatest in the kingdom of God”(Matt 18:1-4).
- Caused someone to stumble (Fee footnote Matt 18:6a).
- Sin (JST Matt 18:11).
- Offended by someone close to you (Matt 18:15, see also Matt 18:6-9).
- When someone is told of a fault “(between thee and him alone”), they are ignored.
- Not agreeable (Matt 18:19-20).
How to treat others in Matthew 18
- Forgive (Mat 18:22; Doctrine and Covenants 64:8-10).
- “Be Converted” (Matt 18:3).
- “Be Humble” (Matt 18:4).
- “Be as a little child” (Matt 18:4).
- “Receive a “little child in my name” (Matt 18:5).
- Seek the “lost sheep” (Matt 18:12).
- Tell someone of a fault “between thee and him alone”, (Mat 18:15).
- Be unified (Matt 18:19).
- Gather together in a way that Christ could be “in the midst” of you (Matt 18:20).
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles recounted a class he attended in which the teacher proposed that 10,000 talents was equivalent to several billion dollars. (see “Students Need Teachers to Guide Them,” CES Satellite Broadcast, 20 June 1992, 3-4).
Scholars estimate that it would take a common laborer "about 33 years for him to be able to purchase one talent. And it would take over 300,000 years to earn 10,000 talents, the sum of the servant’s debt.” (Jay A. Parry and Donald W. Parry, Understanding the Parables of Jesus Christ [2006], 95).
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive” (“The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 77).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Forgiveness heals terrible, tragic wounds, for it allows the love of God to purge your heart and mind of the poison of hate. It cleanses your consciousness of the desire for revenge. It makes place for the purifying, healing, restoring love of the Lord” (“Healing the Tragic Scars of Abuse,” Ensign, May 1992, 33).
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “God is fully aware of those who are lost—and … He will find them, … He will reach out to them, and … He will rescue them. … He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears. It matters not how you became lost—whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control. What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children. Because He loves you, He will find you. He will place you upon His shoulders, rejoicing [or in this case His “beast,” symbol of His body].” (“He Will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home,” General Conference, April 2016)
President Thomas S. Monson:“Each of us, in the journey through mortality, will travel his own Jericho Road. What will be your experience? What will be mine? Will I fail to notice him who has fallen among thieves and requires my help? Will you? Will I be one who sees the injured and hears his plea, yet crosses to the other side? Will you? Or will I be one who sees, who hears, who pauses, and who helps? Will you?
“Jesus provided our watchword: ‘Go, and do thou likewise.’ When we obey that declaration, there opens to our view a vista of joy seldom equaled and never surpassed. …
“… When we walk in the steps of that good Samaritan, we walk the pathway that leads to perfection” (“Your Jericho Road,” Ensign, Feb. 1989, 2, 4).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with “good things” so there is no room for the essential ones.” (“First things First,” Ensign May 2001, 7)
Teaching Thoughts:
- What have we learned about forgiveness? How can I apply it today?
- Seeing Christ in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
- What shall I do to inherit eternal life?
- Who is my neighbor?
- The Marys and Marthas among us.