“I Will Give unto Thee the Keys of the Kingdom”

New Testament Lesson 13: Matt 15-17

Introduction: 38 Definitions for the word “key”• How do each of these apply to the phrase “priesthood keys”?

• a small metal instrument specially cut to fit into a lock and move its bolt.

• something that affords a means of access: the key to happiness.

• something that secures or controls entrance to a place: Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean. something that affords a means of clarifying a problem.

• a book, pamphlet, or other text containing the solutions or translations of material given elsewhere, as testing exercises.

• the system, method, pattern, etc., used to decode or decipher a cryptogram, as a code book, machine setting, or key word.

• a small piece of steel fitting into matching slots of a hub of a wheel or the like and the shaft on which the wheel is mounted so that torque is transmitted from one to the other.

Lesson OverviewJesus heals the daughter of a Gentile woman

Jesus feeds the 4,000

Peter testifies and is promised the keys

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James & John

Jesus heads to Tyre & Sidon

John 5:16-18, Matt 15:21

Jews were seeking to kill him. He shifted his ministry to the coast (modern day Lebanon).

Takes place roughly 6 mo. before the crucifixion

At the time, the gospel was not yet offered to the Gentiles

Jesus heals the daughter of a Gentile

Matt 15:22, 4 strikes - from a Jewish perspective

She’s a woman.

She’s another race (Syro-phoenician).

She’s another religion (pagan, heathen).

Her daughter is possessed (sign of unworthiness).

Matt 15:23-25

What is his mission? Why didn’t he grant her request immediately? Why did she still ‘worship’ (vs 25).

Jesus heals the daughter of a Gentile

Matt 15:26-28

See Mark 7:27 JST. Who must be filled first? Why? Compare to the feeding of the 5,000 (He gives to the apostles, the apostles give to the people).

ATOT: Airplane instructions, put the oxygen on yourself first

Greek: Two forms of the word ‘dog’. This was the ‘household pet’ version (kunarion).

She wasn’t asking for everything, she wanted crumbs. She knew even the ‘crumbs’ could save. Persistent faith!

ATOT: Temple experience. I knew I didn’t need a sure knowledge of everything. I just needed my own small witness that I belonged there. The crumbs of understanding would be sufficient for me to build on.

Jesus feeds the 4,000

Jesus heads towards the Sea of Galilee, traveling through Decapolis (Mark 7:31) - Gentile area

Matt 15:29-32

They are healed and stay for three days (without food)

Matt 15:33-38

Feeding 5000: Given to Jewish men, laying the foundation for the ‘bread of life’ sermon

Feeding 4000: Given to Gentile men, women and children. He was symbolically teaching that soon the living bread would be available to all.

Jesus is the living waterJesus left Decapolis and went to Caesarea Philippi to teach his disciples.

ATOT: Million miles book. Go to a unique location to make a lasting memory.

Geologic conditions of Mt Hermon (one source of the Jordan River)

Russel M. Nelson“The modern-day scene in Caesarea Philippi is unique. There is a mountain at the base of which is a mighty rock from which water seems to be flowing. These cascades comprise one of the three major headwaters of the River Jordan, literally the liquid lifeline of this country. As Jesus was preparing to conclude His mortal ministry [His Crucifixion took place six months later], here He trained future leaders of His Church. Could it be that the Savior brought His disciples to this spot to teach the lesson that this majestic mountain symbolized the rock of Christ from whom revelation would flow?—revelation to bring light and life to them, just as that flowing water of the River Jordan nourishes Israel” (“Why This Holy Land?” Ensign, Dec. 1989, 15–16).

Just as Moses struck the rock with his staff and water flowed from it, saving the people of Israel from death in the wilderness, the Savior is the rock from which the saving doctrines and ordinances flow, empowering us to lay hold on eternal life.

Simon Peter testifiesMatt 16:13-15 (footnote 15a)

Think of all they have seen. They still don’t fully understand his mission.

Matt 16:16-17

He had witnessed hundreds of healings and walked with Jesus on the water. That was not the basis of his testimony. Where did his testimony come from?

Compare to Alma 5:44-46

What would you say was the basis of Alma’s testimony?

It didn’t come from seeing an angel. It came from prayer and fasting and the witness of the Holy Ghost

What witness are we waiting for? Do we consider the quiet witness of the Holy Ghost insufficient?

The rock of revelationMatt 16:18

Thou art Peter - GR for Rock or Bedrock

Joseph Smith: Rock = Revelation

How is revelation the foundation of the Lord’s Church?

How is that different than a foundation built on one man?

Matt 16:19

What are the keys? Who holds them today?

ATOT: Bank vault, safety deposit boxes. You need both keys to access the contents.

Joseph F. Smith“The Priesthood in general is the authority given to man to act for God. Every man ordained to any degree of the Priesthood, has this authority delegated to him.

“But it is necessary that every act performed under this authority shall be done at the proper time and place, in the proper way, and after the proper order. The power of directing these labors constitutes the keys of the Priesthood. In their fulness, the keys are held by only one person at a time, the prophet and president of the Church. He may delegate any portion of this power to another, in which case that person holds the keys of that particular labor” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 136).

ATOT: The dissenters at conference. Why is a testimony that the prophet holds these keys essential?

Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James & John

About one week after the promise was made to Peter, they witnessed the transfiguration

Why the delay? Why not give them the keys immediately? If you knew you would lead the church soon, would it change your focus?

Transfiguration: a temporary change in a person’s appearance and nature; a transformation to a more glorified state…brought about by the power of God.

They had only seen him as the carpenter’s son - the human side. Now they would see the divine.

This amazing witness came after Peter testified that he was the Son of God.

The transfiguration of Jesus

Matt 17:1-5

Jesus’ face and clothing shone

Moses and Elijah appeared (both were translated, still had physical bodies)

The hear the voice of the Father witness

They see a vision of the transfiguration of the Earth (D&C 63:20-21)

They were transfigured themselves (Teachings of the Prophet, J.S.)

They were taught about the Savior’s death and resurrection (JST Luke 9:31)

They received the keys from Jesus, Moses & Elijah (Teachings of the Prophet J.S., pg 158)

Why did they need this amazing witness? To strengthen their faith for the times to come.

David B. Haight"Perhaps Jesus felt not only a sense of the heavenly calm which that solitary opportunity for communion with His Father would bring, but even more, a sense that He would be supported in the coming hour by ministrations not of this earth.... He went up to prepare for His coming death. He took His three apostles with Him in the belief that they, after having seen his glory,...might be fortified." (Ensign, May 1977)

What can we learn from that strategy?

Conclusion: Gordon B. HinckleyThat priesthood line continues today…

"Three of these Apostles--Peter, James, and John--appeared to Joseph [Smith] and Oliver [Cowdery] somwhere 'in the wilderness' along the Susquehanna River (see D&C 128:20). They placed their hands upon their heads and conferred upon them this holy authority. We do not have the date, but evidence points to the fact that likely it was late May or sometime in June of...1829...

"Each of you brethren who hold this priesthood has also received it in a direct line from the bestowal made by Peter, James, and John. Its origin is not shrouded in the foggy mists of history.

"Endless are its powers, endless its authority. It is by this authority that we are empowered to lay hands upon the heads of those who have been baptized and bestow upon them the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost. It is by this same authority that we are empowered to bless the sick, to anoint them with oil, and to seal that anointing and call down the powers of heaven in their behalf. It is by this same authority that we are empowered to lay our hands upon the heads of our wives and children and give them special blessings in times of need. It is by this same authority that we are empowered to govern in the affairs of the Church and kingdom of God” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 410-412).