No unclean thing can enter into his kingdom – 3 Nephi 27:19 – Come, Follow Me Ponderize Commentary
And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
This is such an amazing scripture that I can’t wait to dive into some of it’s deeper meaning. The first thing to consider is what “his rest” means, because at first glance it is easy to agree that no unclean thing can enter into the celestial kingdom of God. Although that is true, we can’t just check out there. We must not think that we have time to repent of all our sins, learn to obey and be faithful, and one day, down the road before we die, become clean. Let’s follow the footnote for rest and see what D&C 84:24 can teach us about his rest. To more fully understand what is being taught in verse 24, we need to actually start in verse 19.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–25
19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
The Melchizedek priesthood holds the key to the mysteries of the kingdom. Notice that it doesn’t say keys in this case, which I find interesting, because in other scriptures it says “keys”. Plus, it says, “even the key,” which originally made me think that it was the same key that unlocks both the mysteries of the kingdom and the knowledge of God, but as I pondered, it dawned on me that in order to enter into or know the mysteries of any kingdom, you would first have to enter through the gate of that kingdom, and in order to enter through the gate, you would first have to have the key that opened that gate. Then, this scripture came to mind:
2 Nephi 9:41
O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
Isn’t that beautiful? In order to enter and know the mysteries of the kingdom, we must first meet and know the King of that kingdom, even Jesus Christ. Also, wouldn’t the King, Himself, be the greatest mystery of the kingdom anyway? I think of when I make or have something really special for my kids, I want to be the one to show it to them. I feel that our Savior, whose life, blood, and atonement made it possible for us to be able to enter His kingdom, would also want to be the one to show it to us, because He “employeth no servant there.” Therefore, once we use the key to unlock the mysteries of the kingdom, there, before our eyes, stands the King Himself with open arms.
Now let’s follow the footnote for mysteries:
Doctrine and Covenants 63:23
But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.
Doctrine and Covenants 107:18–19
18 The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—
19 To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
Notice how it says, “to have the heavens opened unto them,” and this is very important because this places these privileges being received here in this life. What an amazing list of privileges that are outlined here, including “enjoy[ing] the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.”
“Are we as priesthood holders living below our privileges when it comes to the sacred power, gifts, and blessings that are our opportunity and right as bearers of God’s priesthood?” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
And then a recent statement from our dear prophet, Russell M. Nelson:
“I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs. Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do.”
As I read these quotes, I feel both their excitement for those who are already enjoying these great privileges and also their sincere plea for those who should be enjoying them, but are not. We can do more and we must to do more, today.
Back to D&C 84:
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
This is really stressing the importance of the Melchizedek priesthood, for without it, we cannot “see the face of God, even the Father, and live.” We are also to magnify our priesthood and seek the face of God while in this life, we should not just reserve that for the next life, for if we do, we will be like unto the people of Moses.
23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
I don’t know about you, but as I read those words, tears fill my eyes and my heart aches for them. Oh what precious things they lost. They “hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence,” and the Lord took Moses and the Melchizedek priesthood from them. Moses was their prophet, teacher, and guide and to lose him was truly a great loss; but to lose the Melchizedek priesthood, was eternally tragic indeed. Can you see, that without the Melchizedek priesthood, they lacked the necessary key needed to unlock the mysteries of the kingdom, and the greatest mystery is to see the face of God, or in other words “to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” Also, the fact “that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness,” shows that they could have and should have enjoyed these great privileges while they were living. It also shows us that we too should enjoy these privileges while we are living, in this life.
This is such a great lesson for us. What was the big reason that this people lost their great prophet and the Melchizedek priesthood–they hardened their hearts and because of this hardening of their hearts, they “could not endure his presence.” I find this very revealing, because when someone hardens their heart, they stop repenting of their sins, they stop being a witness of Christ (baptism), and they stop hearing the Spirit of the Lord speaking in their hearts. Remember that, “no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom” or His rest. The next verse after the ponderize scripture, teaches us how to be spotless before Him, which is another way of saying clean before Him.
20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 3 Nephi 27:20
Do those sound familiar? Yes, that is right, the things that we must do to be spotless, clean, sanctified, and enter into His rest, are the very same things that hardening our hearts causes us not to do. Let us learn from the people of Moses, and not harden our hearts until it is too late; but, rather, let us soften our hearts, repent of all our sins, be a witness of Christ at all times, and hear and obey the Holy Ghost, thus becoming sanctified, spotless, clean, and prepared to enter into His rest.
Craig
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