Gospel Doctrine Lesson Ten

Take my yoke upon you

and learn of me

Purpose: To help
class members e
take the Saviors
yoke upon us and do
his will,, we will find
the peace and joy
that he has
promised.

Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me Three little words that are so easy to say
but so hard to achieve. I know youve been there. That place where youre
convinced that youve tried everything and gotten nothing in return. I can
hear you now, Ive read my scriptures, Ive attended the temple. Ive been
at all of my meetings. Nothing seems to make a difference. Could it be that
you went to church but didnt go to Christ? Could it be that you turned to
religion instead of turning to God?
What sorts of daily burdens bring the most weariness to your soul?

When have you experienced genuine rest of the soul? To what do you attribute
this?

I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how

deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Saviorwhen
he finds that his people do not feel confident in his
care or secure in his hands
Elder Jeffery R Holland

And he said unto

them, The Sabbath
was made for man,
and not man for
the Sabbath
Mark 2:27

Even a cursory study of the life

of the Savior demonstrates his
habit of spending quiet time
alone in prayer, in scripture
study and in seeking the will of
his Father in Heaven (Mark 1:35;
Luke 5:16). Let me ask the
obvious. If Jesus, the Son of
God, thought it worthwhile to
clear his calendar to pray,
wouldnt we be wise to do the
same? How can Jesus example
inspire you to change how you
deal with the pressures in your
life? What are some benefits of
extended times of prayer?

Throughout Jesus ministry he was

criticized for breaking the Jewish laws
regarding the Sabbath (See Matthew
12:1-13 and Luke 13:10-17). What was
Jesus response to these criticisms in
Matthew 12:7?

What does it mean that Jesus said, I will

have mercy and not sacrifice?

How can we apply this teaching to our

own lives and use it to guide our Sabbath
day activities?

Never let a
problem to be
solved become
more important
than a person
to be loved
Thomas S Monson

The 7:47 Principle By Max Lucado

Read Luke 7:40-47,

Could any two people be more different?

He makes a living promoting standards. Shes made a living breaking them.
Hes hosting the party. Shes crashing it.
Ask the other residents of Capernaum to point out the more pious of the two, and theyll
pick Simon. Why, after all, hes a student of theology, a man of the cloth. Anyone would
pick him. Anyone, that is, except Jesus.
Jesus knew them both. And Jesus would pick the woman. Jesus does pick the woman. And,
whats more, He tells Simon why.
Not that Simon wants to know. His mind is elsewhere. How did this whore get in my
house? He doesnt know whom to yell at first, the woman or the servant who let her in.
Simon is angry. Just look at her groveling at Jesus feet. Kissing them, no less! Why, if
Jesus were who he says he is, he would have nothing to do with this woman.
One of the lessons Simon learned that day was this: Dont think thoughts you dont want
Jesus to hear. For Jesus heard them, and when He did, He chose to share a few of His own.
Simon, he said to the Pharisee, I have a question for you. Then Jesus told him this
story: A man loaned money to two people five hundred pieces of silver to one and fifty
pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both,
canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?
Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.
Thats right, Jesus said.
When Jesus entered into Simons home he treated him like an unwanted stepchild. No
customary courtesies. No kiss of greeting, no washing his feet. No oil for his head. Or, to
make this more relatable to modern times, no one opened the door for him, took his coat, or
shook his hand. Simon did nothing to make Jesus feel welcome. The woman, however, does
everything that Simon didnt.
Her every move is measured and meaningful. Each gesture extravagant. She puts her
cheek to His feet, still dusty from the path. She has no water, but she has tears. She has
no towel, but she has her hair. She uses both to bathe the feet of Christ. She opens a vial
of perfume, perhaps her only possession of worth, and massages it into His skin. The
aroma is as inescapable as the irony.
Youd think Simon of all people would show such love. Is he not the reverend of the church,
the student of Scripture? But he is harsh, distant.
.

Youd think the woman would avoid Jesus. Is she not the woman of the night? A
woman without morals? But she cant resist Him
Simons love is calibrated and stingy. The womans love, on the other hand, is
extravagant and risky.
What one thing does the woman have that Simon doesnt? Simple. An understanding
of Gods love. We dont know when she received it. We arent told how she heard about
it Did she overhear Jesus teachings? Was she nearby when Jesus had compassion on
the widow of Nain? Did someone tell her how Jesus touched lepers and turned tax
collectors into disciples? We dontknow. But we do know this. She understood Gods love
and our Saviors grace.
People like Simon dont need grace; they analyze it. They dont request mercy; they
debate and prorate it. It wasnt that Simon couldnt be forgiven; he just never asks
to be. So, while the woman who was a sinner has ample love to give, Simon has no love
to offer.
Why? The 7:47 Principle.
Read Luke 7:47 again: Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little..

Thought Questions:
1. What principle did Jesus want Simon to learn from this encounter?

(We cant give what weve never received. We cant love if weve never been loved)
2. How does God show his love for you? What does Gods love look like?

3. How can you more fully begin to accept this love on a day to day basis?

4. Once you have received Gods love, how can you begin to more fully love others?
Write down three specific things you can do this week to manifest your love to the
people in your life.