3 Nephi 14

Chapter Overview

What happens in 3 Nephi 14

Christ concludes His sermon with teachings on judging righteously, the power of asking in prayer, the strait and narrow way, and the parable of the wise and foolish builders -- emphasizing that hearing His words must lead to doing them.

Scripture

Judging, motes, and beams

Study note

Christ teaches that the standard by which we judge others will be applied to us. The vivid imagery of the beam and the mote exposes the hypocrisy of criticizing others while ignoring our own greater faults. True discernment begins with self-examination.

1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Ask, seek, knock: the promise of prayer

Study note

Jesus gives one of the most sweeping promises in scripture: ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened. He compares God's generosity to that of a loving earthly father, assuring the people that the Father gives good things to those who ask Him.

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

12 Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

The strait gate, false prophets, and true discipleship

Study note

Christ warns that the way to eternal life is strait and narrow, and few find it. He teaches the people to discern false prophets by their fruits and warns that not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom -- only those who do the will of the Father. Profession of faith without obedience is empty.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat;

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The wise and foolish builders

Study note

The sermon concludes with the parable of the wise man who builds on rock and the foolish man who builds on sand. Those who hear Christ's words and do them will stand firm against every storm; those who hear but do not act will fall. This powerful conclusion frames the entire sermon as a call to action, not merely contemplation.

24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Key Themes

Themes in 3 Nephi 14

Righteous judgment beginning with self-examinationThe generosity of God to those who seek HimThe narrow path of true discipleshipDiscerning true prophets by their fruitsBuilding on the rock of Christ through obedience

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

3 Nephi 14:1-5 Matthew 7:1-5

The teaching on judging and the mote/beam imagery directly parallels Matthew's account.

3 Nephi 14:7-11 Matthew 7:7-11

The promise of 'ask, seek, knock' is given in the same language as in the Sermon on the Mount.

3 Nephi 14:24-27 Matthew 7:24-27

The parable of the wise and foolish builders concludes the sermon in both accounts, establishing Christ as the sure foundation.

Apply This Today

Living 3 Nephi 14

Christ's sermon ends where all true discipleship must: in doing. It is not enough to hear beautiful teachings, to feel inspired, or to say we believe. The wise builder is the one who takes the Savior's words and acts on them -- building a life on the rock that cannot be shaken when the storms come, as they inevitably will.

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