Ep 197 | Matthew 15-17; Mark 7-9, Come Follow Me 2023 (April 10-16)

[@uttoga08]

Thank you. I don't express my gratitude enough for what you bring to my study of Come Follow Me. Thank you for your diligence.

[@ServantofYahshuaHaMashiach]

I agree with you guys on so many topics, this is enjoyable! “Only one prophet” on earth and that’s Nelson. I think/feel things will change by April conference, if not before ❤ VANA

[@ClintK.]

Love your help sooooo good!

[@stacyhuss9454]

Your lessons mean so much to me. Thank you for your sincere sharing of your testimonies and the knowledge you have worked hard to gain. You are blessing many lives as you point us toward our Father in Heaven and our Savior.

[@talkingscripture]

Wow, thank you!

[@merlguth5736]

Excellent instruction as always, Gentlemen. Thank you for your service and perspectives on the New Testament. A true spiritual feast.

[@talkingscripture]

Thanks!!!

[@harmonywoodrome9911]

So good. Thank you very much 😍👏

[@talkingscripture]

You're welcome 😊

[@maricresdebarras6834]

Thank you ❤️

[@talkingscripture]

You’re welcome 😊

[@parkcityprimarychoosetheright]

Thank you, I really appreciate these podcasts.

[@talkingscripture]

Thanks for listening!

[@dinocollins720]

Another fantastic video! Thank you!

[@talkingscripture]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dinocollins720]

@@talkingscripture every week!!!

[@godwinidudu8649]

Thank you guys for a wonderful podcast as always.

[@talkingscripture]

Our pleasure!

[@marcusjames5239]

Such a good way to begin my work day! Thank you gentlemen🤘

[@talkingscripture]

Our pleasure!

[@fayereeves6568]

When a scripture has more than one meaning, all meanings being correct, is a hidden treasure. There are many scriptures that are hidden treasures. Too many of us get stuck in the first glance

[@kerrysiggard9285]

I have wondered a few times about the casting out the spirits who went into the pigs. If they want a body so bad, even a pig's body, why did they run into the sea and drown? Doesn't make sense to me.

[@talkingscripture]

I (Mike) like to see the multivalence of the whole story. They were “pigs” and they were named “Legion.” They were fit to be drowned. Could this be a polemic against the Roman occupation? Some scholars say it is. Your question provokes this response to this interpretation IMO. I didn’t mention it in the podcast, but you brought it out! Thanks for listening!

[@sagegallagher]

I love your podcast...but I have to ask that the Alma 32 comparison of what is planted in the heart be correct. This is a big pet peeve of mine. Yes, the chapter talks about faith. But the seed that grows in the heart is the WORD. Faith is used to help it grow up into a tree. Okay. I'm off my soap box. Back to listening.

[@cammielarsen9370]

Thanks for all you share! I have two questions...clarifying, are you saying the boy allowed the devils in? And also, I understand the modern-day analogies, but why do we not hear about casting out devils now? Thank you!

[@brycedunford5459]

There’s a whole lot more information we need to know about him. But the Scriptures are pretty clear. We have all power over devils unless we let them in. As far as evil spirits go, I cast to many of them out in the mission field. I think they are more common than you realize.

[@cammielarsen9370]

​@Bryce Dunford definitely agree they are everywhere! I wish we had more information too. I disagree about having all power over them, but that's ok.

[@lindaayre]

I love your lessons and am very grateful for all your efforts. I was disappointed however, in the comments about evil spirits. There are too many confirmed stories of possession (brethren when opening the work in England during the early days of the Church, for instance) to believe your statement that the adversary has no influence over us if we are faithful to our covenants. What about Job? Also, perhaps actual possession is rare for faithful members, but I believe we’re all susceptible to dark influences all the time in much more subtle ways. Depression, anger, discouragement, doubt, hypersensitivity, etc., etc., etc., can be exacerbated by the whisperings of the adversary. I would love to hear someone acknowledge that Jesus often cast out evil spirits before healing them. Is there a connection? The early brethren believed there is.

[@talkingscripture]

Linda, I will comment briefly about the text of Job. In this book, the Satan character is a member of the divine council. This individual later becomes incorporated into the idea of Satan in later Christianity, but in the time when Job was written, it did not mean what many in our day believe it to be. In fact, in the text, this character is ha-Satan, basically “The Satan,” a divine being in the heavenly court. See: Neil Forsyth, The Old Enemy, Satan and the Combat Myth, Princeton University Press, 1989. Reading this story from the perspective of the author’s time period is useful. I would simply say that this exchange between God and “The Satan” is a bit more complex and nuanced than what it appears at first sight.

[@lindaayre]

Thank you for your response. Ok, so Job isn’t a good example. But to say the adversary can have no influence over us if we keep our covenants is an over simplification, IMO.

[@talkingscripture]

I think “influence” and “power” would be a distinction that be important to note here in this discussion.