3 Nephi 12
People in this chapter
Readers who know Matthew 5 will recognize most of this chapter. The resurrected Lord gives the Nephites the sermon He gave in Galilee: the Beatitudes, salt and light, the higher law of the heart, love for enemies. But He does not simply repeat it. He gives it to people who have just seen Him and felt His wounds, and He fits it to them.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
3 Nephi 12:1-2Blessed Are Ye If Ye Shall Give Heed unto the Twelve
1And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am. 2And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.
Jesus has chosen twelve men. He tells the people they will be blessed if they listen to these twelve. Those who believe without seeing will be blessed even more.
3 Nephi 12:3-12The Beatitudes
3Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Several of these blessings in the Book of Mormon say "all": all who mourn, all the pure in heart, all the peacemakers. No one who fits is left out.
Jesus promises that those who truly hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled with the Holy Ghost.
7And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. 10And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake; 12For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
Those who are merciful will receive mercy. Those with pure hearts will see God. Peacemakers will be called children of God.
Jesus blesses those who are mistreated because they follow Him. The prophets before them were treated the same way.
3 Nephi 12:13-20In Me It Hath All Been Fulfilled
13Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; 16Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus tells His disciples they are to be salt and light for the people. Salt that has lost its flavor is useless. A light is meant to be seen, so that people will glorify Heavenly Father.
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil; 18For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. 19And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled. 20Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus says He did not come to destroy the law of Moses. Every part of it is fulfilled in Him. Now He asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and for His people to keep the commandments He is giving them.
3 Nephi 12:21-32Come unto Me with Full Purpose of Heart
21Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God; 22But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
The old law said not to kill. Jesus teaches that we must not even hold anger toward others.
23Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee— 24Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou shalt be cast into prison. 26Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine. And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? Verily, verily, I say unto you, Nay.
Before we come to Christ, Jesus asks us to make peace with anyone who has something against us. Then He will receive us.
Jesus warns that unresolved conflict can lead to a debt we cannot pay. He uses a Nephite coin, the senine, in His example.
27Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery; 28But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart. 29Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart; 30For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye should be cast into hell. 31It hath been written, that whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. 32Verily, verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whoso shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery.
Jesus teaches that sin begins in the heart. We should not let lustful thoughts enter our hearts. Denying ourselves is part of taking up our cross.
3 Nephi 12:33-48Perfect Even as I
33And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths; 34But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair black or white; 37But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil.
38And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; 39But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also; 40And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also; 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away. 43And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; 44But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.
Jesus teaches us not to take revenge, to go the extra mile, to give generously, and to love even our enemies, as Heavenly Father is kind to all people.
46Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. 47Old things are done away, and all things have become new. 48Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Jesus says the old law is fulfilled in Him. Old things are done away, and all things have become new.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- BeatitudesOverview of the blessings that open the sermon in Matthew 5 and 3 Nephi 12.
- Sermon on the MountThe sermon in Matthew 5-7, which the Savior taught again at the temple in Bountiful.
- Law of MosesBackground for the Savior's words in me it hath all been fulfilled (v. 18).
- PeacemakerScriptures on making peace, from verse 9 to the counsel on reconciliation in verses 23-25.
- PerfectExplains the meaning of being perfect, the command of verse 48.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Blessed Are Ye If Ye Shall Give Heed unto the Twelve
- John 20:29Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
- Matthew 3:11He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
- 3 Nephi 19:4Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy...The names of the twelve, given the next day.
- D&C 1:38Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
The Beatitudes
- Matthew 5:3-12Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.The Beatitudes as Matthew records them in Galilee.
- Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Mosiah 18:9Willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.
- Moroni 7:48When he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- 3 Nephi 19:9They desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.
In Me It Hath All Been Fulfilled
- 3 Nephi 18:24Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up.
- D&C 101:39-40They are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men.
- 3 Nephi 1:24-25One jot or tittle should not pass away till it should all be fulfilled.The Nephites were taught the law was not yet fulfilled.
- 3 Nephi 15:4-5I am he that gave the law... the law in me is fulfilled.
- Matthew 5:17-18I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Come unto Me with Full Purpose of Heart
- Matthew 5:23-24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother.
- Alma 11:3A senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver.The Nephite measure in verse 26.
- Alma 39:9Go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things.
- D&C 42:23He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit.
- Matthew 19:6What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Perfect Even as I
- Moroni 10:32Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him... that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.
- 3 Nephi 27:27What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
- Matthew 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
- 3 Nephi 15:2-5Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.