Abinadi gives but one verse of commentary:
And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people. [Mosiah 15:5]
Here Abinadi explains Isaiah’s prophecy of Christ’s ministry. Not only would Christ be rejected and humiliated, but he would also be tempted. However, he will not yield to temptation. This comment by Abinadi helps us better understand the Savior’s ministry and also the perfect example he set as part of the overall Atonement for humankind. As he commanded the Nephites, we are also to be the manner of beings that he was in his ministry (see 3 Nephi 27:27). We must be “willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us], even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19), or, as Abinadi says, submit our flesh to the Spirit as the Son did to the Father.
The writings of the New Testament Apostles also support Abinadi’s commentary. Matthew paraphrased Isaiah 53:4—”Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses”—to show its fulfillment in Jesus’ casting out devils and healing the sick in Capernaum (Matthew 8:16–17). Paul taught the Hebrews that Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). And Peter quotes or paraphrases parts of Isaiah 53:4–5 and equates it with Jesus’ being on the cross: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). While his mission culminated on the cross, his entire life and particularly his ministry was one of temptation: being mocked, scourged, cast out, and disowned by his people. Mark records that Jesus taught his disciples “that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed” (Mark 8:31). With the support of these scriptures, we may conclude that Abinadi gave us a briefer but very accurate commentary of the Savior’s ministry.