Lesson 16B – Matthew 5-7

The Spirit of Prophecy

2 Nephi 25

• v1 – “for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews”

• v4 – “nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy.”– What was the “Spirit of Prophecy”? (Rev 19:10)– A testimony of Jesus

• So how do we understand Isaiah?1. Through our testimony and faith in Christ2. Understanding the manner of prophesying

Parallelism• Christ often taught in poetry, and, like

Isaiah, His style was parallelism. Why?• How many copies of the scriptures

were around back then? Who had access to them?

• Then how would the people remember Christ’s words (and the teachers)?

• What’s easier to remember? A nursery rhyme or a paragraph? What is song, really?

• This was also a style they were accustomed to and knew from Old Testament prophets.

• Christ used their style to bring a new doctrine.

Victor Ludlow

“The ancient poets, prophets, writers, and scribes would assist their followers by organizing their material into an easily remembered form. Old Testament authors [and Christ] often used key phrases or words as verbal flags to alert the listener to important passages that would be coming up shortly in their presentation. They also used memory devices or patterns that made the poems easy to remember and still allowed the composer spontaneity of expression.”

Types of Parallelism

• Synonymous parallelism– The theme of the first line repeats in the second

line, but in different words– Matthew 5:38-40

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth

Types of Parallelism

• Antithetic parallelism– The theme of the first line contrasts with an

opposite thought in the second line– Matthew 7:17

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Types of Parallelism

• Emblematic parallelism– Two ideas are compared by means of a simile or

metaphor– Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Isaiah 1:18

• How are each of these first three types used?

Though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson,

they shall be as wool.

Types of Parallelism

• Synthetic parallelism– The second line completes or compliments the thought of

the first (question and answer, proposition, conclusion, etc)– Matthew 5:21-22

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill…

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the

judgment:

Types of Parallelism

• Composite parallelism– Three or more phrases develop a theme by

amplifying a concept or defining a term.– Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Types of Parallelism• Climactic parallelism

– Part of one line is repeated in the other lines until a theme is developed which then culminates in a main idea or statement.

– Matthew 5:3-12 (the Beatitudes)

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

…for great is your reward in heaven

Types of Parallelism• Inverted parallelism

– A pattern of words or ideas is stated, then repeated in a reverse order. Also called “chiasmus”.

– Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,

and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Chiasmus

• Why is it called Chiasmus?• From the Greek letter, chi (which looks like Χ)– Connect the similar thoughts in Psalms 124:7:

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:

The snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Chiasmus

• Try this one:• Psalms 3:7-8 (translating literally from

Hebrew)

Save me, O my God, for thou has smitten all my enemies on the cheek-bone;The teeth of the wicked thou has broken; to Jehovah, the salvation.

Chiasmus

• Also found in the Book of Mormon– Mosiah 3:18-19

• humble, children, atoning blood of Christ, natural man, God, has been

• will be, Holy Spirit, natural man, atonement of Christ, child, humble– Mosiah 5:10-12

• name, called, left hand of God, remember, blotted out, transgression• do not transgress, blotted out, remember, left hand of God, called,

name

• Do you think Joseph Smith new how to write complex Chiasmus as a teenager?

All right, now you try

• Using your reference sheet, turn to a random place in the Sermon on the Mount and see what types of parallelism you can find.

Notebook Ideas

• Where else in your life does poetry or song help you to remember important things?

• How can you use these techniques to help you remember the gospel principles in your life?