As they Savior traveled and ministered, two basic groups accompanied Him. Each group was composed of individuals, motivated by their own purposes. When Christ delivered the Sermon on the Mount, he addressed one portion to one group, and another to the other.
The first group was “the multitude,” and was composed of several different types of people. Some sought after the man from Galilee. Some saw the crowd and wandered in. Some sought to challenge and criticize. Some took the teachings they heard home with them and applied them to their lives. Some followed for several days, seeking to hear more. Some just wanted to see miracles performed. These people either thought Christ was a prophet or a charlatan.
The second group was “the disciples.” These were those who gave up the life they knew to follow their Lord. They left “straightway and immediately.” They knew He was more than a prophet, although they did not comprehend the fullness of His divine mission.
Matthew 5 was given to both the multitude and the disciples, but Matthew 6 and 7 were taught to the disciples alone. Here, they were instructed in what to teach and how to travel during their ministry. This should be of special comfort to us as we note the Savior taught them – the missionaries, essentially – to take no note of their food or clothing while preaching. As “lay” disciples, we still need to support and care for our families, though this should not be our primary, overarching concern.
Thus the principles we have studied this week are essential for those who seek to become disciples of Christ. We must make sure that we serve God and our fellow men (and women!) for the right reasons, not for prideful ones. We must offer sincere and loving prayer to a Heavenly Father who listens with concern. We must make sure that we do not seek to judge or neglect to forgive others in our lives. And we must actively seek to do the Lord’s will. As we do so, our discipleship will be strengthened, and we will seek intently to build up the kingdom of God.
Related Articles:
Gospel Doctrine: They Forsook All, and Followed Him
General Conference: “Discipleship”
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