序:  這篇文章是同時為基督徒和非基督徒而寫的，因為看到一些教會不是照聖經去教導，因此決定寫這篇文章。對非基督徒而言，不是勸他們立刻成為基督徒，因為我們深知這不是一篇文章能做到的，就像『亞基帕對保羅說：「你想少微一勸，便叫我作基督徒啊？」』(使徒行傳 26:28) 所以我們的動機是希望、按照聖經而有正確的認識後才做決定。這篇文章分為七個部分。第一，從「基督徒稱號的開始」中，我們看到了基督徒是有基督耶穌的生命的一群人(門徒)。第二，在「基督教不是人為的宗教」中，我們闡述了為什麼說基督教不是勸人為善的人為的宗教，看到了善行只是信心的自然結果，基督徒有從內到外的生命的改變，不要本末倒置。第三，在「人性本惡，每人都需要救恩」中，我們談到了人性本惡及其來由，看見了每一個人都需要救恩，也看到了聖經說的罪是指不順服神，不是像一些人以為只有不遵守法律像殺人放火等等的才是罪。第四，在「道成肉身是因神愛世人」中，看到耶穌(道)取代了我們釘上了十字架，受罪(死)的刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪，給了世人一個機會。我們每一個人都有自由意志，有機會決定信或不信，神也會因我們的決定而會作出相應的回應。第五，我們看到了「信而受洗進入耶穌的國度」，也就是天國。第六，在「信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活」中，我們談到了在信以後至終要過一個和世界「分別為聖(潔)」的生活，一個信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活，並描述了一個實際上可以達到的生活。第七，在「臨死前的真信絕對有效，但有機會時該受洗」中，我們由聖經的例子中看到，能真信不會有太晚的時候。

          因為一些名詞對基督徒而言是理所當然的，對非基督徒而言可能是新的，所以需要解釋。如果基督徒會在此時覺得過份的囉嗦，就請把這解釋當作為來確認這名詞是否這樣的意義吧！如非基徒能假設「聖經的話是對的」，應該可以看得懂這篇文章的涵意，因為邏輯上沒有問題。至於最終能不能接受這假設成為事實，就端看個人了！有些人只想快快的知道基督徒信些什麼，有些人想要知道信仰的背後是否有聖經的根據，因為基督徒相信新舊約『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書  3:16) [1]  為了兼顧個人的興趣不同，我們採取了折衷的寫法，就是在本文中儘可能的不引用經文，讓前者能一氣呵成，讀得順利，而將背後的經文放在參考中，使後者可以自由的選擇有興趣或有疑問的經文。除非像剛才引用的經文，提摩太後書 3:16 的經文正好可以溶入本文中，就不放在參考中了！對有些基督徒而言，有些參考已不屬於簡介了！因聖經有各種不同的譯本，我們都是引用通用的和合本。 

1. 基督徒稱號的開始

    經文說，『…門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。』(使徒行傳 11:26) 我們看到了那稱為「大使命」的，是耶穌親自命令我們的 [2]。 安提阿是一個外邦的城，不是猶太人的城，從大使命中可看出，『凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常(總是)與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音28:20)    他們顯然是遵行了教訓，連外邦人都覺得他們有基督的生命，稱他們為基督徒。所以基督徒是有基督耶穌的生命的一群人，信而受洗， 並有主總是與他們同在的應許。

 2.  基督教不是人為的宗教

               常常有人以為基督教是敬拜人創造的一位神，我們就討論這問題。首先，我們知道基督徒會查考聖經，我們就看到耶穌自己說查考聖經的目的是要得生命，生命只能從神來 [3]。在這點上，神是有絕對主權的，『因他對摩西說：「我要憐憫誰，就憐憫誰；要恩待誰，就恩待誰。」』(羅馬書 9:15)

           簡言之，基督徒有生命的改變。聖經明說，『我也知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。』(羅馬書 7:18) 所以老我(就是指肉體)只配一死，但基督徒深深相信：『聖經都是神所默示的，於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義，都是有益的，叫屬神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。』(提摩太後書 3:16-17) 有真信心自然會有信心的行為，更有得著更豐盛的生命的應許  [4]。這些信心的行為都是善的，所以說基督教不是勸人為善的人為的宗教，善行只是信心的自然結果，基督徒有從內到外的生命的改變，不要本末倒置。基督教是以神為本聚集的門徒，不論人相信或不相信，神總是存在那裏。

3.  人性本惡，每人都需要救恩

              關於人性本惡這一點，我們看小孩不必學就會撒謊就可以知道了，所以人性本善的教導是絕對錯誤的。簡言之，人出生時就天生有罪，是罪人，我們犯罪是因為我們本是罪人，不是我們有犯罪的行為才成為罪人。為什麼會是這樣呢？是因為人從亞當夏娃開始就有真正的自由意志，可以選擇不順服神。我們先看神給亞當的命令是很清楚的不淮吃分別善惡樹上的果子 [5]。我們也看到了夏娃在伊甸園中被那(古)蛇引誘的結果是，『…摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫(亞當)，她丈夫也吃了。』（創世記 3:6)  是夏娃先被引誘沒錯，但亞當顯然是明知故犯，不順服神的話，從此亞當被罪玷污了，因此經文說，『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。』(羅馬書 5:12) [6]

         經文說，『亞當活到一百三十歲，生了一個兒子，形像樣式和自己相似…』(創世記 5:3)    這就和遺傳類似，我們的子孫也是和我們相似，我們是從亞當被罪玷污後來到這世界的，是生來就帶有罪的，我們的子孫也是出生時就有罪的。所以人性本惡，每一個人都需要救恩。聖經說的罪是指不順神 [7]，神說不可殺人，殺人的就不順服神，犯了罪。神說不可說謊，說謊就是不順服神，犯了罪。諸如此類等等。

4. 道成肉身是因神愛世人

           約翰福音關於「道成肉身」說得很清楚，『神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。』(約翰福音 3:16-17)  人有自由意志，絕對可以選擇信或不信，但我們要知道信與不信的區別: 『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 在最後的啓示錄更說到，『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15)  這是指不信的非基督徒。 『惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。』(羅馬書 5:8) 所以是耶穌取代了我們釘上了十字架受(罪的)刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪  [8]。

5. 信而受洗進入耶穌的國度

             罪是從撒但來的，人被罪玷污後，原本出生時就已在撒但的國度裏。聖經說只有兩個國度，就是耶穌的國度和撒但的國度，所以一定要信而進入耶穌的國度。耶穌的國度就是天國 [9]，一開始信的時候，神就『…救了我們脫離黑暗的權勢，把我們遷到他愛子(耶穌)的國裏；我們在愛子裏得蒙救贖，罪過得以赦免。』(歌羅西書 1:13-14)  所以一定要在基督裏。我們再一次强調，要去那裏，是我們自由意志的選擇的結果。

6. 信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活

            「信」後至終要過一個和世界「分別為聖」的生活，一個「信望愛」並「禱告」及「讚美」的生活，走上成聖(潔)之路。譬如說，我們的價值觀和看見在這時會變得和以前不一樣了。「信」了以後會受聖靈和水的洗，會有內住的聖靈 [10]。大使命中的應許是真實的，三位一體的神的耶穌是以三位一體的神的聖靈的形式內住在我們裏面。

       我們一定要在基督裏，因為是耶穌取代了我們，我們要模成耶穌的形像(image) [11]。這就猶如有人用一張紙夾在書中的例子所說的一樣，書在那裏，那張紙就在那裏。神所看到的是無罪的基督，我們在基督裏，在神眼中也是無罪的，就是所謂的「地位上已成聖」，成聖之路是要在經歷中不要從基督裏滑出來，一直能在基督裏，『因為神本性一切的豐盛，都有形有體地居住在基督裏面。』(歌羅西書 2:9)

             信了以後可以「禱告」，其實信前也可以禱告，至少可以求能賜下一顆相信的心。保羅的禱告就是信後禱告的一個例子：『求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，將那賜人智慧和啓示的靈賞給你們，使你們真知道他。』(以弗所書 1:17)  信了以後有盼「望」，盼望耶穌再來的應許實現。 這應許就像經文所說的，『我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裏去；我在哪裏，叫你們也在那裏。』(約翰福音 14:3)  一般的禱告也盼望事情可以成就，但要知道神有絕對的主權，有沒有回應在祂，有沒有應許也在祂。即使應許，成就的時間也在祂手上，因凡事有定時。信了以後也有了神的「愛」，『…因為所賜給我們的聖靈將神的愛澆灌在我們心裏。』(羅馬書 5:5) 『如今常存的有信，有望，有愛；這三樣，其中最大的是愛。』(哥林多前書 13:13) 是三者都要有，只是愛最大 [12]。

            我們現在可以過的生活是，『要常常喜樂，不住地禱告，凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌裏向你們所定的旨意。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:16-18) 在基督裏，這是一定可以做到的。看到聖靈在我們身上今日做的，怎麼會不凡事謝恩呢？我們怎麼不會甘心情願的讚美神呢？關於讚美的經文，新舊約都有不少 [13]。讚美要甘心情願的，要從心發出，神看的是內心，不是看外表，聖經說得很清楚，『你要保守你心，勝過保守一切，因為一生的果效，是由心發出。』(箴言 4:23)  我們看看教會在五旬節誕生後的情景，知道早期的教會是在讚美中過的，我們也該如此行 [14]。 一個信望愛並禱告及讚美的生活，是每一個人都可以過的，即使是一個人中過風只能躺在床上，那一件事不可以做呢？

7. 臨死前的真信絕對有效，但有機會時該受洗

             在這最後一部份，我們討論一下常常在宣教時會遇到的一個問題，就是我只要信，死前受洗或不受洗有什麼關係？絕對是有關係的！第一，我們為什麼不有機會就受洗，早些享受更豐盛的生命呢？第二，我們不知何時會死，說不定還來不及受洗就死了呢？關於第二點，如果是真信，最後一分鐘也絕對有效，也跟本不必受水洗了，看犯人的例子就知道了。

       經文說，和耶穌同釘十字架的有兩個犯人，『那同釘的兩個犯人，其中一個『說：「耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你記念我！」耶穌對他說：「我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。」』(路加福音 23:39-43) 我們看到那犯人相信了耶穌是基督，並且有信心的行為去要求耶穌記念他，顯然的，他沒受水洗就去樂園了。所以到底該不該受洗，聖經說我們是該受洗，因為信而受洗，大使命也說的很清楚要受洗，且耶穌又作我們受洗的榜樣 [15]。雖然在特殊的情況下不受水洗是可以的，但我們不能用犯人的例子作藉口不受洗，該問的是，我們的情況是不是和真信的犯人的情況相似？這顯然包括了沒有機會受洗，且要知道他雖是基督徒，罪被赦免，仍然要付出人間的代價。

參考:

[1]  基督徒相信新舊約『…都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書 3:16) 有人可能會說，當保羅寫這書信時，只有新約的一部份存在，因如啓示錄跟本就還沒有寫，他那句話是指舊約，的確是這樣，但在信心中，基督徒相信新舊約都是神所默示的，所以基督徒是需要信心的。所以我們雖是人，不把聖經的話打折扣，仍可以從神(聖經)的角度看一些事情。反過來說是不對的，因為神是無限而聖經的字句有限，有限的不會等於無限的，所以讀聖經的時候不可隨便用等號，要不，人為的創造了一個非聖經所說的神，自己都會不知道！我們要特別強調的一點，就是我們引用經文，不是在斷章取義，而是從整本聖經裏看到的概念，引用的經文只是用來顯示，聖經的確是有這樣的說法，通常是的許多例子中的一個例子而已。舉個例子來說，聖經所說的神是「三位一體」的神，「三位一體」就是說只有一體神但有三位。聖經說得很清楚，聖父被稱為耶和華的是神，聖子耶穌基督是神，聖靈也是神，所以這三位是聖父、聖子、和聖靈。關於一體，經文說，『…耶和華(單數)我們神(複數)是獨一的主。』(申命記  6:4)  神用的是複數，因為三位都是神。我們看到「三位一體」是絕對可能的，在常壓下，「水」的溫度不同會存在三個不同的狀態，就是冰、水蒸氣、和普通講的水，但這些都只是一個「水」。當然這不能完全解釋三位一體的概念，因為神是三個位格而不是三個狀態，對人而言，「三位一體」是個奧秘，但基督徒相信神是「三位一體」的神。關於耶和華是神，『 摩西對神說：「我到以色列人那裏，對他們說：『你們祖宗的神打發我到你們這裏來。』他們若問我說：『他叫甚麼名字？』我要對他們說甚麼呢？」神對摩西說：「我是自有永有的。」又說：「你要對以色列人這樣說：『那自有的打發我到你們這裏來。』」』(出埃及記 3:13-14) 關於耶穌基督是神，經文說，『他們是以色列人，那兒子的名分、榮耀、諸約、律法、禮儀、應許，都是他們的。列祖就是他們的祖宗，按肉體說，基督也是從他們出來的，他是在萬有之上，永遠可稱頌的神。阿們！』(羅馬書 9:4-5) 關於聖靈是神，『彼得說：「亞拿尼亞，為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心，叫你欺哄聖靈，把田地的價銀私自留下幾分呢？田地還沒有賣，不是你自己的嗎？既賣了，價銀不是你作主嗎？你怎麼心裏起這意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄神了！」』(使徒行傳 5:3-4)

[2]  「大使命」是耶穌親自命令我們的，『耶穌進前來，對他們說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常(總是, always)與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」』(馬太福音 28:18-20)   我們看到了保羅在行大使命時，是非常的有效，因為經文說，『他(巴拿巴)又往大數去找掃羅(保羅)，找着了，就帶他到安提阿去。他們足有一年的工夫和教會一同聚集，教訓了許多人。門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。』(使徒行傳 11:25-26) 從神的角度看只有一個教會，不是指在地上的建築物的教堂所聚會的人，而是不論這群人中的每個人所在的物理位置在那裏 。關於只有一個教會這件事，這經文很清楚，『因為無論在哪裏，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裏就有我在他們中間。』(馬太福音 18:20)  這一點保羅非常清楚，經文說：『所以，你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。你們受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督了。』(加拉太書  3:26-27)  所以也要「信而受洗」。我們知道耶穌是父的獨生子，因經文說， 『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。』(約翰福音 1:14)  那麼信耶穌的人都是神的兒子到底是什麼意思呢？我們信耶穌後，都成為法律上有效的養子了，所以我們看到這些經文是沒有任何衝突的。從神的角度看和從人的角度看有時是很不相同的，譬如說，我們看到了有些教會沒有讓主耶穌居首位，猶如在啓示録第三章十七節中提到的老底嘉教會一樣，從人的角度看，『你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺。』但從神的角度看，『卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。』我們看到了兩者的看法是這麼的不同！猶有勝者，聖經明說，『看哪，我(耶穌)站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。』(啓示錄 3:20)  老底嘉的教會把耶穌關在了門外而不自知，還以為自己什麼都有！當不同的時候，我們應該『不要消滅聖靈的感動，』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19)  要相信，『耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念，我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路，我的意念高過你們的意念。』(以賽亞書 55:8-9) 

 [3] 耶穌自己說：『你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我(耶穌)作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。』(約翰福音 5:39-40)  我們也看到得生命的重要性，『…耶穌對門徒說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得着生命。人若賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿甚麼換生命呢？』(馬太福音 16:24-26)   在我們甘心情願的查考聖經，知道了神藉著聖經要告訴我們什麼後，就知道我們是可以得著生命的。經文說，『我(保羅)栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。』(哥林多前書 3:6-7)  所以生命只能從神來。

[4] 『這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。』(雅各書 2:17)  就如經文所應許的，基督徒會得到更豐盛的生命，『我(耶穌)就是門，凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。盜賊(就是撒但, 又叫魔鬼, 古蛇，參啓示錄 20:2)來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊(就是我們)得生命，並且得的更豐盛。』(約翰福音 10:9-10) 耶穌是唯一的門，經過耶穌這唯一的門得救的，雖然『…仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8) 在我們「謹守、警醒」下，「用堅固的信心抵擋牠」，就可以勝過牠。(參彼得前書 5:8-9)

[5] 『耶和華神吩咐他(亞當)說：「(伊甸)園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子(同一天)必定死。」』(創世記 2:16-17) 所以命令沒有直接給夏娃。因為那時只有亞當和夏娃兩人，所以從夏娃被蛇引誘的經文中看到，她是由亞當那兒不很清楚的知道這命令的。我們看經文就知道這點，『女人(夏娃)對蛇說：「園中樹上的果子，我們可以吃；惟有園當中那棵樹上的果子，神曾說：『你們不可吃，也不可摸，免得你們死。』」』(創世記 3:2-3)  神並沒有說，『也不可摸』。

[6]  所以亞當本是可永遠活著的，因為『耶和華神說：「…現在恐怕他伸手又摘生命樹的果子吃，就永遠活着。」』(創世記 3:22)  人被罪玷污一段時間後的情景是：『耶和華見人在地上罪惡很大，終日所思想的盡都是惡。』(創世記 6:5)  所以人被罪玷污而又不死是件很可怕的事情，這也就說明了雖然是神愛世人，仍是人人都有一死。

[7]  基於聖經的話和邏輯，我們說的罪的定義是不順神，這可以從下述的立論看出。也就是我們要証明罪等於不順服。首先從經文看， 『這就如罪是從一人(亞當)入了世界，…』，這是因為亞當的不順服，所以不順服意味著罪。要兩者相等，我們還需要反過來証明罪意味著不順服神，或著我們証明其邏輯上相等的敘述，就是順服神意味著沒有罪。神有絕對的主權，順服神絕對不是犯罪，所以這敍述是真的。邏輯上的結論，就是罪等於不順服神。我們再看其他的佐証，耶穌來地上的一個目的是在這經文中:『你們知道主曾顯現，是要除掉人的罪，在他並沒有罪。』(約翰一書 3:5) 祂怎麼除罪？就是順服，如經文所說，『…成為人的樣式。既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:7-8) 所以祂在客西馬尼園這樣的禱告，『…我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39) 祂一生都順服神，就像經文所說，『父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31) 祂的順服就除掉了罪，難道罪不是不順服嗎？這是一個爭議的話題，因此我們最後再看看罪是從那裏來的？首先罪不是神所創造的，因『各樣美善的恩賜和各樣全備的賞賜都是從上頭來的，從眾光之父那裏降下來的；在他並沒有改變，也沒有轉動的影兒。』(雅各書 1:17) 我們再看看一些和撒但相關的經文，『明亮之星，早晨之子啊！(撒但)你何竟從天墜落？你這攻敗列國的，何竟被砍倒在地上？你心裏曾說：「我要升到天上！我要高舉我的寶座在神眾星以上；我要坐在聚會的山上，在北方的極處；我要升到高雲之上，我要與至上者同等。」』(以賽亞書 14:12-14) 當初撒但被創造的時候的確是明亮之星，早晨之子。但你看後來牠是何等的驕傲啊！神創造了牠，牠本在神之下，牠卻想要與至上者同等。且牠因驕傲而有了行動，不順服神而變成了仇敵，這就是牠的罪，而罪也就藉著亞當的不順服進入了世界。簡言之，罪的起源是在不順服神。

[8]  真信不只是口中說相信，會從心裏真知道而行道，就像經文所說，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22)  耶穌道成肉身在地上的時候，是完全順服父藉著聖靈而帶領的，這點經文說得很清楚，『…父怎樣吩咐我，我就怎樣行。…』(約翰福音 14:31)  至於是藉著聖靈而帶領的這事，我們可從祂選擇十二使徒上看出來，『直到他藉着聖靈吩咐所揀選的使徒，以後被接上升的日子為止。』(使徒行傳 1:2) 如果我們真相信『聖經都是神所默示的，…』(提摩太後書  3:16)，就不會把聖經話打折扣，知道我們應該遵行。耶穌道成肉身在地上的時候，是完全順服父藉著聖靈而被帶領的。順服不是說一個命令一個動作，如果是這樣，當初神造人時選擇造一個機器人就可以了。我們看到了耶穌是『…成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7)，所以祂也和我們一樣有情感，有自由意志，等等。但就像祂在客西馬尼園的禱告一樣，當祂和父的意思不同時，祂會說，『…不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39)  祂預先就知道自己會上十字架， 因為在變化山上，耶穌的面貌改變了，衣服潔白放光。『他們(摩西、以利亞)在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事。』(路加福音 9:30-31)  作為一個人，祂仍是這樣的禱告是多麼的不容易！但『既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。』(腓立比書 2:8) 『…用自己的血，只一次進入聖所，成了永遠贖罪的事。』(希伯來書 9:12)  祂是甘心情願的順服，所以會說，『惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。』(羅馬書 5:8)  所以是耶穌取代了我們釘上了十字架受(罪的)刑罰，(寶)血洗淨了我們的罪，因而給了世人一個機會。『神使那無罪的(耶穌)，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裏面成為神的義。』(哥林多後書 5:21)  完成了神的公義。 我們也看到了神用的是回授的策略，對回授的策略不很清楚的人，我們可以用開車來解釋，在開車中，我們因眼睛回授的看見，能夠保持我們在該行的車道上。同樣的，我們每一個人都有自由意志，有機會決定信或不信，神也會因我們的決定而會作出相應的回應。 聖經有很多地方都談到回授的策略，一個回授策略的經文的例子可以在以西結書中找到：『「惡人若回頭離開所作的一切罪惡，謹守我一切的律例，行正直與合理的事，他必定存活，不至死亡。他所犯的一切罪過都不被記念，因所行的義，他必存活。主耶和華說，惡人死亡，豈是我喜悅的嗎？不是喜悅他回頭離開所行的道存活嗎？」「義人若轉離義行而作罪孽，照着惡人所行一切可憎的事而行，他豈能存活嗎？他所行的一切義都不被記念，他必因所犯的罪、所行的惡死亡。」』(以西結書 18:21-24)  將近啓示錄的末了時說，『我(約翰)又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的，從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。』(啓示錄 20:11)  這就是所謂的「白色大寶座的審判」，『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15)  基督徒的名字都在生命册上，但他們雖然因信稱義如經文所說，『所以我們看定了：人稱義是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。』(羅馬書 3:28)  但仍然要『…都照各人所行的(信心的行為)受審判。』(啓示錄 20:13)  不要忘記，神很公平，『…多給誰，就向誰多取；多託誰，就向誰多要。』(路加福音 12:48)

[9]  耶穌的國度就是天國，如經文所說，『從那時候，耶穌就傳起道來，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 4:17)  我們也看到悔改的重要。事實上，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。』(約翰一書 1:9) 我們需要悔改。

[10] 施洗後會有內住的聖靈如這經文所說，『豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裏頭的；並且你們不是自己的人，因為你們是重價買來的，所以要在你們的身子上榮耀神。』(哥林多前書 6:19-20) 受洗時會受聖靈的洗，施洗約翰講得很清楚，『我(施洗約翰)是用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改；但那在我以後來的，能力比我更大，我就是給他提鞋也不配。他要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。』(馬太福音 3:11) 在耶穌和尼哥底母的對話中，祂說，『…我實實在在地告訴你：人若不重生，就不能見神的國。』(約翰福音 3:3) 祂又說，『…我實實在在地告訴你：人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進神的國。從肉身生的，就是肉身；從靈生的，就是靈。』(約翰福音 3:5-6) 沒有內住的聖靈怎麼會有生命？沒有聖靈的洗怎麼會有內住的聖靈？內住的聖靈從那裏來的？從上面來的。也就是說我們是靈生的，我們出生時是從肉身生的，信了以後真是重新從聖靈生了，這就是重生。

[11] 『因為他(神)預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成, be conformed to)他兒子的模樣(image)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』(羅馬書 8:29) 

[12] 因為『我們如今彷彿對着鏡子觀看，模糊不清，到那時，就要面對面了。…』(哥林多前書 13:12)  面對神的面的那時，我們看見了，怎麼會再需要信和望呢？所以能存到永遠的愛是最大的。

[13] 例如在舊約中說，『凡有氣息的，都要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華！』(詩篇 150:6)  我們看到大衞有詩歌的敬拜，因『大衞吩咐利未人的族長，派他們歌唱的弟兄用琴瑟和鈸作樂，歡歡喜喜地大聲歌頌。』(歷代志上 15:16)  詩歌敬拜很顯然的是讚美的一個方式。新約中的例子如，『有聲音從寶座出來說：「神的眾僕人哪，凡敬畏他的，無論大小，都要讚美我們的神。」』(啓示錄 19:5)

[14] 『五旬節到了，門徒都聚集在一處。忽然，從天上有響聲下來，好像一陣大風吹過，充滿了他們所坐的屋子；又有舌頭如火焰顯現出來，分開落在他們各人頭上。他們就都被聖靈充滿，按着聖靈所賜的口才說起別國的話來。我們…都聽見他們用我們的鄉談，講說神的大作為。』(使徒行傳 2:1-11)  『他們天天同心合意恆切地在殿裏，且在家中擘餅，存着歡喜、誠實的心用飯，讚美神，得眾民的喜愛。…』(使徒行傳 2:46-47)  基督徒不是有謝飯的習慣嗎？我們剛才不是分享過我們現在就可在基督裏過一個常常喜樂的生活嗎？有人不是做見証，即使在痛苦中也可勝過痛苦而喜樂嗎？不是在人前裝作的喜樂的模樣，而是真正看到了保羅說的，『我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。』(腓立比書 1:23) 

[15]  耶穌做了我們受洗的榜樣很清楚的記載在這裏，『當下，耶穌從加利利來到約旦河，見了約翰，要受他的洗。約翰想要攔住他，說：「我當受你的洗，你反倒上我這裏來嗎？」耶穌回答說：「你暫且許我，因為我們理當這樣盡諸般的義。」於是約翰許了他。耶穌受了洗，隨即從水裏上來。天忽然為他開了，他就看見神的靈彷彿鴿子降下，落在他身上。從天上有聲音說：「這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。」』(馬太福音 3:13-17)  也許這是一個好地方看看耶穌做的其他的一件事情，可以化解一件因一些教會的行為所引起的誤解，也就是一些非基督徒認為基督教是要強迫人信基督教。正好相反，我們看看耶穌怎麼做就知道不是這樣了！『耶穌出來行路的時候，有一個人跑來，跪在他面前，問他說：「良善的夫子，我當做甚麼事才可以承受永生？」…他對耶穌說：「夫子，這一切(誡命)我從小都遵守了。」耶穌看着他，就愛他，對他說：「你還缺少一件，去變賣你所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我。」他聽見這話，臉上就變了色，憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的產業很多。…門徒希奇他(耶穌)的話。耶穌又對他們說：「小子，倚靠錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！」』(馬可福音 10:17-24) 你看耶穌告訴了他，邀請了他，雖是愛他，祂更知道人有自由意志，沒有任何勉強的讓他自己去做最後的決定。我們試著使人對基督教有正確的瞭解，我們尊重個人的決定，即使有人堅持要在錯誤的瞭解中作決定，這也是自由意志。在過程中，我們學到了相當多，因為神是無限，而人是有限，我們只能看到祂讓我們看到的。是的，我們有大使命的命令，『所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。』(馬太福音 28:19) 怎麼樣「使」呢？有機會的時候一定要傳道，甚至於『務要傳道！無論得時不得時，總要專心，並用百般的忍耐，各樣的教訓，責備人，警戒人，勸勉人。』(提摩太後書 4:2) 但只是光說是沒有用的，一定要以身作則，「使」非信徒羨慕你的好行為而想去同樣行，你的好行為也自然的「使」他們想做門徒了！

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)  

Summary: This article is written for both Christians and non-Christians. I decided to write this article because I saw that some churches do not teach according to the Bible.  For non-Christians, it is not to persuade them to become Christians immediately, because we know that this cannot be done in one article, just like “Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.””(Acts 26:28) So our motivation is to hope, to have a correct understanding according to the Bible before making a decision.  This article is divided into seven parts. First, from “The beginning of the title of Christian”, we see that Christians are a group of people (disciples) who have the life of Christ Jesus.  Second, in “Christianity is not a man-made religion”, we explain why Christianity is not a man-made religion that persuades people to do good. We see that good deeds are only the natural result of faith. Christians have life changes from the inside out.   Do not put the cart before the horse.  Third, in “Human Nature is Evil, Everyone Needs Salvation”, we talk about the inherent evil of human nature and its origin, we see that everyone needs salvation, and see that the sin mentioned in the Bible refers to disobedience to God.  It’s not what some people think, that only non-compliance with the law, such as murder and arson, is a crime.  Fourth, in “The Word became flesh because God loved the world”, we saw that Jesus (the Word) was nailed to the cross instead of us, and suffered the penalty of sin (death). The (precious) blood washed away our sins and gave the world a chance.  Each of us has free will and the opportunity to decide whether to believe or not, and God will respond accordingly to our decision.  Fifth, we have seen “Believing and being baptized into the kingdom of Jesus”, which is the kingdom of heaven.  Sixth, in “A Life of Faith, Hope, Love, and Prayer, and Praise”, we talked about that after believing, we will eventually live a life that is “separated (holy) from the world”, a life of faith, hope, love, and prayer, and praise.  And describe a life that is actually attainable.  Seventh, in “True faith before death is absolutely effective, but you should be baptized when you have the opportunity”, we can see from the examples in the Bible that it is never too late to be able to truly believe.

      Some terms that are taken for granted by Christians may be new to non-Christians and they require explanation.  If Christians feel that it is too long-winded at this time, please take this explanation as a way to confirm whether this term has such a meaning!  If non-Christians can assume that “the words of the Bible are correct”, they should be able to understand the meaning of this article, because there is no logical problem.  As for whether you can finally accept this assumption as a fact, it depends on the individual! Some people just want to quickly know what Christians believe, and some people want to know whether there is a biblical basis behind their beliefs, because Christians believe that the Old and New Testaments are “…inspired by God …”(2 Timothy 3:16) [1] In order to take into account different personal interests, we have adopted a compromise in our writing method, that is, we try not to quote scriptures in the main text, so that the former can be completed in one go and be read smoothly, while the scriptures behind are placed in the references, so that the latter can freely select the texts of interest or doubt.  Unless, like the passage just quoted, the passage from 2 Timothy 3:16 fits right into the text, it should not be included in the references!  For some Christians, some references don’t belong in the introduction anymore. Because there are various translations of the Bible, we all refer to the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

1. The beginning of the Christian title

The scriptures say, “…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”(Acts 11:26) We see what is called the Great Commission, commanded by Jesus himself [2].  Antioch is a Gentile city, not a Jewish city. It can be seen from the Great Commission, “teaching them to observe all that I (Jesus) commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:20) They obviously obeyed the teaching, and even the Gentiles felt that they had the life of Christ and called them Christians.  So Christians are a group of people who have the life of Christ Jesus, believe and are baptized, and have the promise that the Lord will always be with them.

2. Christianity is not a man-made religion

Some people think that Christianity worships a God created by man, so let’s discuss this issue.  First of all, we know that Christians will study the Bible, and we see that Jesus Himself said that the purpose of studying the Bible is to have life, and life can only come from God [3].  In this regard, God is absolutely sovereign, “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.””(Romans 9:15)

In short, Christians are transformed in their lives.  The Bible clearly says, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”(Romans 7:18) So the old self (referring to the flesh) is only worthy of death, but Christians deeply believe: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17) If you have true faith, you will naturally have acts of faith, and you will have the promise of a more abundant life [4].  These acts of faith are all good, so Christianity is not a man-made religion that persuades people to do good. Good deeds are only the natural result of faith. Christians have life changes from the inside out, so don’t put the cart before the horse.  Christianity gathers disciples based on God. Whether people believe it or not, God always exists there.

3. Human nature is inherently evil, everyone needs salvation

Regarding the fact that human nature is inherently evil, we can see that children can tell lies without having to learn to do so, so teaching that human nature is inherently good is absolutely wrong.  In short, people are inherently sinful when they are born, and we are sinners. We sin because we are sinners. We do not become sinners because of our sinful behavior.  Why is this so?  It is because people have had free will since Adam and Eve, and they can choose not to obey God.  Let’s first look at God’s command to Adam, which is very clear not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil [5].  We also see the result of Eve being seduced by the (ancient) serpent in the Garden of Eden, “…she (Eve) took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband (Adam) with her, and he ate.”(Genesis 3:6) It is true that Eve was first tempted, but Adam obviously committed the crime knowingly and disobeyed the word of God. “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”(Romans 5:12) [6]

The scriptures say, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, …”(Genesis 5:3) This is similar to heredity, our descendants are also like us, we are those who came into this world after Adam was polluted by sin were born with sin, and our descendants are also born with sin.  Therefore, human nature is inherently evil, and everyone needs salvation.  The sin mentioned in the Bible refers to disobedience to God [7]. God says not to kill, and the murderer disobeys God and commits a sin.  God says not to lie, to lie is to disobey God and commit a sin and so on and so forth.

4. God became flesh because God loves the world

The Gospel of John says very clearly about the “incarnation”, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”(John 3:16-17) People have free will and can absolutely choose to believe or not to believe, but we must know the difference between believing and not believing: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) In the last book of Revelation, it is said, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15) This refers to unbelieving non-Christians. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) So it was Jesus who took our place on the cross and took the (sin) punishment, and the (precious) blood washed away our sins [8].

5. Believing and being baptized into the kingdom of Jesus

Sin comes from Satan. After being defiled by sin, man was originally born in the kingdom of Satan.  The Bible says that there are only two kingdoms, the kingdom of Jesus and the kingdom of Satan, so we must believe and enter the kingdom of Jesus.  The kingdom of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven [9]. When we first believed, God “…rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”(Colossians 1:13-14) So be sure to be in Christ.  We emphasize once again that going there is the result of our own free choice.

6. A life of faith, hope, love and prayer and praise

After “belief”, one must eventually live a life of “separation from the world”, a life of “faith, hope, love”, and “prayer” and “praise”, and embark on the road to holiness (sanctification).  For example, our values ​​and perceptions at this time will become different from before.  After you “believe”, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and water, and you will have the indwelling Holy Spirit [10].  The promise in the Great Commission is true, that Jesus of the Trinity always lives with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

We must be in Christ, because Jesus has replaced us, and we must be conformed to the image of Jesus [11].  This is just like someone said with the example of a piece of paper clipped into a book, where the book is, the paper is there.  What God sees is the sinless Christ, and we are sinless in the eyes of God in Christ, which is the so-called “positional sanctification”.  The way to sanctification is to stay in Christ, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.”(Colossians 2:9) You can “pray” after you believe. In fact, you can also pray before you believe. At least you can ask for a believing heart.  Paul’s prayer is an example of a post-letter prayer: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17) After believing, there is hope, hope that the promise of Jesus’ return will come true.  This promise is like what the scriptures say, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”(John 14:3) Ordinary prayers also hope that things can be accomplished, but you must know that God has absolute sovereignty. Whether there is a response depends on Him, and whether there is a promise depends on Him.  Even if it is promised, the time for its fulfillment is in His hands, because there is a time for everything.  After believing, we also have the “love” of God, “…because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”(Romans 5:5) “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(1 Corinthians 13:13) It is necessary to have all three, but love is the greatest [12].

The life we ​​can live now is, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In Christ, this is certainly possible.  Seeing what the Holy Spirit is doing to us today, how can we not give thanks in everything?  How can we not praise God willingly?  There are many scriptures about praise in both the Old and New Testaments [13].  Praise must be willing, and it must come from the heart. God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. The Bible clearly says, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23) We look at the scene of the church after Pentecost, and know that the early church lived in praise, and we should do the same [14].  A life of faith, hope, love, prayer, and praise is something everyone can live. Even if a person has a stroke and can only lie in bed, what can’t be done?

7. True faith before death is absolutely valid, but you should be baptized when you have the opportunity

In this last part, we discuss a problem that we often encounter in missionary work, that is, as long as I believe, why does it matter if I am baptized or not before I die?  It is definitely related!  First, why don’t we get baptized and enjoy a more abundant life earlier when we have the opportunity?  Second, we don’t know when we will die, maybe before we are baptized?  Regarding the second point, if it is a true belief, it will definitely be effective at the last minute, and there is no need to be baptized at all. Just look at the example of a criminal.

The scriptures say that there were two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. “One of the criminals …was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””(Luke 23:39-43) We see that the criminal believed that Jesus is the Christ, and had an act of faith to ask Jesus to remember him. Apparently he went to Paradise without being baptized.  So whether we should be baptized or not, the Bible says that we should be baptized because of faith, and the Great Commission also clearly states that we should be baptized, and Jesus is our model for baptism [15].  Although it is okay not to be baptized under special circumstances, we cannot use the criminal’s example as an excuse not to be baptized. What should be asked is whether our situation is similar to that of the criminal in true faith who did not have the opportunity to be baptized?  And you must know that although he is a Christian and his sins are forgiven, he still has to pay a human price.

References:

[1] Christians believe that the Old and New Testaments are “…inspired by God…”(2 Timothy 3:16) One could say that when Paul wrote this, only a part of the New Testament existed, since for example the book of Revelation hadn’t been written yet, and his words were referring to the Old Testament, which is true, but in faith, Christians believe that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God, so Christians need faith. Therefore, even though we are human beings, we can still see things in the aspect of God (the Bible) by without discounting the words of the Bible. The opposite is not true, because God is infinite and the words of the Bible are finite, and the finite is impossible to be equal to the infinite, so when reading the Bible, you should not use the equal sign casually, or you will artificially create a God that is not mentioned in the Bible, without knowing by yourself.  What we want to emphasize is that when we quote the scriptures, we are not taking them out of context, but from the concepts seen in the whole Bible. The scriptures quoted are only used to show that the Bible does have such sayings, usually an example out of many.  For example, the God mentioned in the Bible is a “Trinity” God, even such a word is never mentioned in the Bible. “Trinity” means that there is only one God but three persons.  The Bible clearly states that the Father, who is called Jehovah, is God, the Son, Jesus Christ, is God, and the Holy Spirit is also God, so these three are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Concerning oneness, the text says, “…The Lord (singular) is our God (plural), the Lord is one!”(Deuteronomy 6:4) God uses the plural because all three are God.  We have seen that the “Trinity” is absolutely possible. Under normal pressure, “water” will exist in three different states at different temperatures, namely ice, water vapor, and ordinary water, but these are just one “water”.  Of course, this cannot fully explain the concept of the Trinity, because God is three persons rather than three states. For humans, the “Trinity” is a mystery, but Christians believe that God is a “Trinity” God.  Concerning the fact that Yahweh is God, “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’””(Exodus 3:13-14) Concerning Jesus Christ as God, the text says, “who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”(Romans 9:4-5) Concerning the fact that the Holy Spirit is God, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.””(Acts 5:3-4)

[2] The “Great Commission” was commanded by Jesus Himself. “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””(Matthew 28:18-20) We have seen that Paul was very effective in carrying out the Great Commission, because the scriptures say, “And he (Barnabas) left for Tarsus to look for Saul (Paul); and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”(Acts 11:25-26) From God’s point of view there is only one Church, not referring to the people who gather in the church of buildings on the earth, but regardless where the physical location of each person in this group is. Concerning the fact that there is only one Church, the text is clear, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.””(Matthew 18:20) Paul is very clear in this point, as the scriptures say: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”(Galatians 3:26-27) So we must also “believe and be baptized”.  We know that Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father because the scriptures say, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14) So what does it mean that those who believe in Jesus are the sons of God?  After we believed in Jesus, we became legally valid adopted sons, so we see that there is no conflict in these scriptures.  From the perspective of God and from the perspective of man, sometimes it is very different. For example, we have seen that some churches did not put the Lord Jesus first, just like the church in Laodicea mentioned in Revelation 3.17.   From a human point of view, “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” In the viewpoint of God, “and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked ” We saw how different the two views are!  On top p of that, the church in Laodicea really shut Jesus out without realizing it, and thought they had everything! The Bible clearly says, “Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20) When these two views are different, we should “Do not quench the Spirit “(1 Thessalonians 5:19) and believe, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9)

[3] Jesus himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me (Jesus); and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40) We also see the importance of life, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”(Matthew 16:24-26) After we willingly search the Bible and know what God is telling us through the Bible, we know that we can have life. The scripture says, “I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7) Therefore Life can only come from God.

[4] “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”(James 2:17) As the scriptures promise, Christians will have a more abundant life, “I (Jesus) am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (that is, Satan, also called the devil, the ancient serpent, see Revelation 20:2) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:9-10) Jesus is the only door, through which Jesus is the only door to be saved, although “…Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8) We can overcome it if we “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert” and “resist him, firm in your faith”. (See 1 Peter 5:8-9)

[5] “The Lord God commanded the man (Adam), saying, “From any tree of the garden (of Eden) you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day (on the same day) that you eat from it you will surely die.”” (Genesis 2:16-17) So the command was not given directly to Eve.  Because there were only Adam and Eve at that time, we can see from the scriptures that Eve was tempted by a snake, she did not know this order clearly from Adam.  We know this by reading the scriptures, “The woman (Eve) said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’””(Genesis 3:2-3) God did not say, “You shall not touch either”.

[6] So Adam could have lived forever, because “Then the Lord God said, …and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”(Genesis 3:22) After a period of time when man was defiled by sin, the scene was: “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”(Genesis 6:5) Therefore, it is a terrible thing for people to be polluted by sin without dying. This also shows that although God loves the world, everyone is mortal.

[7] Based on the words and logic of the Bible, the definition of sin we are talking about is disobedience to God, which can be seen from the following arguments.  That is, we are to prove that sin equals disobedience.  First of all, from the scriptures, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, …”(Romans 5:12), this is because of Adam’s disobedience, so disobedience means sin.  For the two to be equal, we also need to prove the other way around that sin means disobedience to God, or we need to prove the logically equivalent statement that obedience to God means no sin.  God is absolutely sovereign, and obedience to God is absolutely not a sin, so this statement is true.  The logical conclusion is that sin equals disobedience to God.  Let’s look at other evidences. One of the purposes of Jesus’ coming to earth is in this scripture: “You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.”(1 John 3:5) How does He take away sin?  It is obedience, as the scriptures say, “…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:7-8) So He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”(Matthew 26:39) He obeyed God all his life, as the scriptures say, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) His obedience took away sin. Isn’t sin not disobedience?  This is a controversial topic, so let’s finally look at where does sin come from?  First, sin was not created by God, for “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”(James 1:17) Let’s look at some scriptures related to Satan again, ““How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:12-14) When Satan was created, he was indeed the star of the morning, the son of the dawn.  But look how proud it is afterwards!  God created it, it was under God, and it wanted to be equal with the Most High.  And it acted out of the pride, disobeyed God and became an enemy, this is its sin, and sin entered the world through Adam’s disobedience.  In short, the origin of sin is disobedience to God.

[8] True faith is not just saying you believe with your mouth, but you will truly know it from your heart and act on it, just like the scriptures say, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”(James 1:22) When Jesus was incarnated on the earth, He completely obeyed the Father as the scripture says, “…I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. …”(John 14:31) through the leading of the Holy Spirit. As for this leading by the Holy Spirit, we can see it from His choice of the Twelve, “until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.”(Acts 1:2) If we truly believe that “All Scripture is inspired by God …”(2 Timothy 3:16), we will not discount the words of the Bible, and know that we should obey them.  When Jesus was incarnated on earth, he indeed completely obeyed the Father and was led by the Holy Spirit.  Obedience does not mean an order and an action. If this is the case, God would choose to create a robot when He created man.  We see that Jesus was “…being made in the likeness of men,” (Philippians 2:7) so He also has emotions like us, free will, etc.  But like his prayer in Gethsemane, when He and the Father didn’t agree in a viewpoint, He would say, “…My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) He knew in advance that He would go to the cross, because on the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus’ face was changed and His clothes became white and shining. “…they (Moses and Elijah) were …appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31) As a human being, how difficult it is for Him to still pray like this!  But “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) “…through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”(Hebrews 9:12) He obeyed willingly, so it would say, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) So it was Jesus who took our place on the cross and took the (sin) punishment. The (precious) blood washed away our sins, thus giving the world a chance. “He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) By this way, it completed the justice of God.  We have also seen that God uses the strategy of feedback. For those who are not very clear about the strategy of feedback, we can explain it by driving a car. While driving, we can maintain our position in the road because of the feedback we see with our eyes. Similarly, each of us has free will and the opportunity to decide whether to believe or not, and God will respond accordingly to our decision.  There are many places in the Bible that talk about the strategy of feedback. An example of scriptures that use the strategy of feedback can be found in the book of Ezekiel: ““But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live? “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.”(Ezekiel 18:21-24) Near the end of the book of Revelation it says, “Then I (John) saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.”(Revelation 20:11) This is the so-called “Judgment of the Great White Throne”, “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15) The names of Christians are all written in the book of life, but although they are justified by faith as the scriptures say, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”(Romans 3:28) But still, “…and the dead were judged …according to their deeds (works out of faith).”(Revelation 20:12) Don’t forget that God is fair, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”(Luke 12:48)

[9] The kingdom of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven, as the scriptures say, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Matthew 4:17) We also see the importance of repentance.  In fact, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) We need to repent.

[10] After baptism, there will be the indwelling Holy Spirit. As this scripture says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) When you are baptized, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist made it very clear, “As for me, I (John the Baptist) baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”(Matthew 3:11) In the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””(John 3:3) He also said, “…“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”(John 3:5-6) How can there be life without the indwelling Holy Spirit?  How can there be the indwelling Holy Spirit without the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  Where does the indwelling Holy Spirit come from?  From above.  That is to say, we are born of the Spirit. We were born of the flesh when we were born. After we believe, we are really born again of the Holy Spirit. This is rebirth.

[11] “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”(Romans 8:29)

[12] Because “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;  …” (1 Corinthians 13:12) When we face the face of God, we see it, so why do we need faith and hope?  So the love that can last forever is the greatest.

[13] For example, in the Old Testament it is said, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”(Psalm 150:6) We see that David worshiped in song, for “Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.”(1 Chronicles 15:16) Song worship is obviously a form of praise.  Examples in the New Testament are, “And a voice came from the throne, saying,  “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.””(Revelation 19:5)

[14] “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. …we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.””(Acts 2:1-11) “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. …”(Acts 2:46-47) Don’t Christians have the habit of giving thanks for meals?  Didn’t we just share that we can live a life of constant joy in Christ right now?  Has anyone not testified that even in pain there is joy over pain?  It’s not a feigned joy in front of people, but one really saw what Paul said, “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.”(Philippians 1:23)

[15] It is clearly recorded here that Jesus set an example for our baptism, “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.””(Matthew 3:13-17) Perhaps this is a good place to look at one other thing Jesus did that would unravel an misunderstanding caused by the behavior of some churches, that is, some non-Christians think that Christianity is to force people to believe in Christian religion.  On the contrary, if we look at what Jesus did, we will know that this is not the case.  “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” … And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things (commandments) from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. …The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!”(Mark 10:17-24) You see, Jesus told him and invited him, although he loved him, He knows that man has free will, and is not to persuade him to make the final decision which was made by himself.  We are trying to make people have a correct understanding of Christianity, and we respect individual decisions, even if someone insists on making a decision in a wrong understanding, this is free will.  In the process, we learn quite a lot, because God is infinite and man is finite, and we can only see what He lets us see.  Yes, we have the command of the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”(Matthew 28:19) How do you “make” someone be a disciple?  When you have the opportunity, you must preach, and even “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”(2 Timothy 4:2) But it’s useless to just talk about it. You must set an example and “make” unbelievers envy your good deeds and want to do the same. Your good deeds will naturally “make” them ‘I want to be a disciple!’

(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

     首先，经文告诉我们要敬畏神，不要怕撒但，并举麻雀和头发为例，说到神的怜悯和恩典。第二，我们看到了圣灵会教导我们如何说话，强调不可亵渎圣灵。第三是要积财宝在天，不要把属灵和属世的事混在一起。第四，信心不是自信，是基于神的话和应许，神会成就我们需用的一切东西。我们用例子来说明要先求衪的国和衪的义，我们是要甘心情愿和神同工的。譬如，新约的奉献只要求要甘心情愿，爱主的人会量力而为，主动想要神家不要缺粮，不是再要遵行旧约的十分之一的律法。

1. 不要怕撒但，要敬畏神       

     「这时，有几万人聚集，甚至彼此践踏。耶稣开讲，先对门徒说：「你们要防备法利赛人的酵，就是假冒为善。掩盖的事，没有不露出来的；隐藏的事，没有不被人知道的。因此，你们在暗中所说的，将要在明处被人听见；在内室附耳所说的，将要在房上被人宣扬。「我的朋友，我对你们说：那杀身体以后不能再做甚么的，不要怕他们。我要指示你们当怕的是谁，当怕那杀了以后又有权柄丢在地狱里的。我实在告诉你们：正要怕他。五个麻雀不是卖二分银子吗？但在神面前，一个也不忘记；就是你们的头发，也都被数过了。不要惧怕，你们比许多麻雀还贵重！」」(路加福音 12:1-7)       

     我们已经讨论过灯和隐藏的事，就不多讨论了。简而言之，就是要防备法利赛人的教训，他们能说不能做，即使做也是做给人看的，不是从心中发出。不论是坏事或生命中发出的好事，都是不能隐藏的。我们就看第二段对我的朋友说的，我以前以为那杀身体的是说撒但，因此要怕撒但，但撒但只能杀身体，不能再做甚么如杀灵魂，只有神能做，所以应该是说要敬畏神，且接著就以头发和麻雀为例，说到神的怜悯和恩典。

2. 圣灵会教导我们如何说话       

     「「我又告诉你们：凡在人面前认我的，人子在神的使者面前也必认他；在人面前不认我的，人子在神的使者面前也必不认他。凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵的，总不得赦免。「人带你们到会堂，并官府和有权柄的人面前，不要思虑怎么分诉，说甚么话，因为正在那时候，圣灵要指教你们当说的话。」」(路加福音 12:8-12)        #####最前面基本是说，「信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。」(约翰福音 3:18) 中间是一致的强调说，「所以我告诉你们：人一切的罪和亵渎的话，都可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵，总不得赦免。凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独说话干犯圣灵的，今世、来世总不得赦免。」(马太福音 12:31-32) 绝对不要明知故犯的亵渎圣经。最后一段很清楚的说到，圣灵会教导我们如何说话。

3. 当积财宝在天       

     「众人中有一个人对耶稣说：「夫子，请你吩咐我的兄长和我分开家业。」耶稣说：「你这个人！谁立我作你们断事的官，给你们分家业呢？」于是对众人说：「你们要谨慎自守，免去一切的贪心，因为人的生命不在乎家道丰富。」就用比喻对他们说：「有一个财主田产丰盛，自己心里思想说：『我的出产没有地方收藏，怎么办呢？』「又说：『我要这么办：要把我的仓房拆了，另盖更大的，在那里好收藏我一切的粮食和财物，然后要对我的(灵)魂说：(灵)魂哪，你有许多财物积存，可作多年的费用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快乐吧！』「神却对他说：『无知的人哪，今夜必要你的(灵)魂，你所预备的要归谁呢？』「凡为自己积财，在神面前却不富足的，也是这样。」」(路加福音 12:13-21)       

     世人有断事的官，为什么要找耶稣呢！不要把属灵的事和属世的事混为一谈。「因为审判教外的人与我何干？教内的人岂不是你们审判的吗？」(哥林多前书 5:12) 「岂不知圣徒要审判世界吗？若世界为你们所审，难道你们不配审判这最小的事吗？岂不知我们要审判天使吗？何况今生的事呢！」(哥林多前书 6:2-3) 后者讲到要谨慎自守，很清楚的用比喻说要积财在天，「不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷；只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。」(马太福音 6:19-21) 请注意，这里说到为什么不要积财宝在地上的原因，是因为要我们的心顾念天上的事，我们会因此而生命改变的，价值观会改变的，生不带来，死不带去。有人说亚伯拉罕不是很富有吗？的确是的，但他不是积财宝在地上，他是有神的祝福。我们不能像成功哲学告诉别人一样，说只要信耶稣一定成功，这是不真实的，只有神有绝对的主权，我们不能这样骗人！       

     「你们这小群，不要惧怕，因为你们的父乐意把国赐给你们。你们要变卖所有的赒济人，为自己预备永不坏的钱囊，用不尽的财宝在天上，就是贼不能近、虫不能蛀的地方。因为，你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在那里。」(路加福音 12:32-34) 所以不要「…在这末世只知积攒钱财。」(雅各书 5:3) 基督徒的确是世上的小群。变卖所有的赒济人不是按照字面去做，像俄国文豪托尔斯泰般的想要把自己的财产分给穷人，其实杯水车薪也无济于事，但要由心发出，量力而为。有人做见证说，一位姊妹成为寡妇时，想处理掉手上一大笔的财产，在祷告中，她知道神没有叫她这么做，就把这笔财产留下，去支持了许多和福音有关的活动，她留下的财产所能做的，比当时如果处理掉财产能做的事更多！再举个实际的例子，如果我们在路上遇到衣衫褴褛的人要钱，到底我们是该给或是不该给呢？怎么确定这人是需要食物或是要买酒喝呢？有人就想出一个可行的方法，请那人去吃一顿饭再决定，至少也尽了力。真的要看我们如何使用地上的财宝，看我们的心如何。亚伯拉罕不是有许多地上的财富吗？我们要依智慧行事，不是遵行律法。

4. 要先求神的国和神的义       

     「耶稣又对门徒说：「所以我告诉你们：不要为生命忧虑吃甚么，为身体忧虑穿甚么；因为生命胜于饮食，身体胜于衣裳。你想，乌鸦也不种也不收，又没有仓又没有库，神尚且养活牠。你们比飞鸟是何等地贵重呢！你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢？这最小的事，你们尚且不能做，为甚么还忧虑其余的事呢？「你想，百合花怎么长起来？它也不劳苦，也不纺线。然而我告诉你们：就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢！你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，神还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢！你们不要求吃甚么，喝甚么，也不要挂心，这都是外邦人所求的。你们必须用这些东西，你们的父是知道的。你们只要求他的国，这些东西就必加给你们了。」」(路加福音 12:22-31)    

     不是说吃食物不重要，而要知道我们活著不是单靠食物，更重要的是生命，身体和衣裳的对比也是说到这点。所有的例子都告诉我们不要忧虑，实在是忧虑没有任何的好处！以百合花为例，假花总是不如真花，大自然是最美好的，即使人看为不起眼的小草，仍有这样的妆饰，何况人是这么贵重呢！真的，不要做小信的人，要先求神的国和神的义。天父不是不知道我们需要食物，主祷文不是教导我们求赐给我们今日日用的食粮吗？但不要如外邦人祈求般的还要挂心，要将一切交给神，知道祂必会供应。让神坐在宝座上安排一切事情，而不是让神在祷告中听我们的，自己想做神，本末倒置，而是要和神同工。       

     马太福音 6:24-34 基本上也说到同样的事情。「一个人不能事奉两个主。不是恶这个爱那个，就是重这个轻那个。你们不能又事奉神，又事奉玛门。…你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢？…你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的。你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。所以，不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑；一天的难处一天当就够了。」     #####真是每天都可能会有不同且不可控制的难处，即然是不能控制的到来，这样忧虑又能改变什么呢？只是说来容易做起来难，我们从下面的例子看到的确是可以做到的。信心不是自信，是基于神的话和应许，神会成就我们需用的一切东西。以乔治慕勒(George Miller)为例，在邦妮哈里(Bonnie Harrey)所写他的传记中，提到他所创立的孤儿院时，说到有一次吃晚餐前没有粮食，他没告诉同工只为这件事祷告，适时就有人捐来食物。我们强调，从这例子也可看到为神的国和神的义求是可以的，只是不要挂心。而且要知道，在耶稣受试探时，「耶稣却回答说：「经上记著说：『人活著，不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』」」(马太福音 4:4) 所以还是要吃东西，只是不是单靠食物。    

     旧约说得很清楚， 「你因敌人的缘故，从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。」(诗篇 8:2) ，从摩西建会幕时，就只收甘心情愿的奉献(参出埃及记 25:2)，所以在新约时代更是要甘心情愿和神同工的。举个例子来说，旧约订了至少要有十一奉献的律法(参玛拉基书 3:8)，如果在旧约时代每个人如此心甘情愿的遵行，神家不会缺粮。旧约是影子，新约是实体，论到奉献，在新约时代，受到耶稣称赞的只有寡妇甘心情愿的奉献两个小钱(参马可福音 12:41-44)，没有祂最恨法利赛人只行律法条文的律法。简言之，新约的奉献只是要求要甘心情愿，爱主的人会量力而为，主动想要神家不要缺粮，有不少这样的人会有超过十分之一的奉献，不是再要遵行旧约的十分之一的律法，因此我不太了解为什么有些教会今日还倡导十分之一的规定。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)

       首先，經文告訴我們要敬畏神，不要怕撒但，並舉麻雀和頭髮為例，說到神的憐憫和恩典。第二，我們看到了聖靈會教導我們如何說話，强調不可褻瀆聖靈。第三是要積財寶在天，不要把屬靈和屬世的事混在一起。第四，信心不是自信，是基於神的話和應許，神會成就我們需用的一切東西。我們用例子來說明要先求衪的國和衪的義，我們是要甘心情願和神同工的。譬如，新約的奉獻只要求要甘心情願，愛主的人會量力而為，主動想要神家不要缺糧，不是再要遵行舊約的十分之一的律法。

1. 不要怕撒但，要敬畏神

       「這時，有幾萬人聚集，甚至彼此踐踏。耶穌開講，先對門徒說：「你們要防備法利賽人的酵，就是假冒為善。掩蓋的事，沒有不露出來的；隱藏的事，沒有不被人知道的。因此，你們在暗中所說的，將要在明處被人聽見；在內室附耳所說的，將要在房上被人宣揚。「我的朋友，我對你們說：那殺身體以後不能再做甚麼的，不要怕他們。我要指示你們當怕的是誰，當怕那殺了以後又有權柄丟在地獄裏的。我實在告訴你們：正要怕他。五個麻雀不是賣二分銀子嗎？但在神面前，一個也不忘記；就是你們的頭髮，也都被數過了。不要懼怕，你們比許多麻雀還貴重！」」(路加福音 12:1-7)

       我們已經討論過燈和隱藏的事，就不多討論了。簡而言之，就是要防備法利賽人的教訓，他們能說不能做，即使做也是做給人看的，不是從心中發出。不論是壞事或生命中發出的好事，都是不能隱藏的。我們就看第二段對我的朋友說的，我以前以為那殺身體的是說撒但，因此要怕撒但，但撒但衹能殺身體，不能再做甚麼如殺靈魂，只有神能做，所以應該是說要敬畏神，且接著就以頭髮和麻雀為例，說到神的憐憫和恩典。

2. 聖靈會教導我們如何說話

       「「我又告訴你們：凡在人面前認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必認他；在人面前不認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必不認他。凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈的，總不得赦免。「人帶你們到會堂，並官府和有權柄的人面前，不要思慮怎麼分訴，說甚麼話，因為正在那時候，聖靈要指教你們當說的話。」」(路加福音 12:8-12)

       最前面基本是說，「信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。」(約翰福音 3:18) 中間是一致的強調說，「所以我告訴你們：人一切的罪和褻瀆的話，都可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈，總不得赦免。凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨說話干犯聖靈的，今世、來世總不得赦免。」(馬太福音 12:31-32) 絕對不要明知故犯的褻瀆聖經。最後一段很清楚的說到，聖靈會教導我們如何說話。

3. 當積財寶在天

       「眾人中有一個人對耶穌說：「夫子，請你吩咐我的兄長和我分開家業。」耶穌說：「你這個人！誰立我作你們斷事的官，給你們分家業呢？」於是對眾人說：「你們要謹慎自守，免去一切的貪心，因為人的生命不在乎家道豐富。」就用比喻對他們說：「有一個財主田產豐盛，自己心裏思想說：『我的出產沒有地方收藏，怎麼辦呢？』「又說：『我要這麼辦：要把我的倉房拆了，另蓋更大的，在那裏好收藏我一切的糧食和財物，然後要對我的(靈)魂說：(靈)魂哪，你有許多財物積存，可作多年的費用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快樂吧！』「神卻對他說：『無知的人哪，今夜必要你的(靈)魂，你所預備的要歸誰呢？』「凡為自己積財，在神面前卻不富足的，也是這樣。」」(路加福音 12:13-21)

       世人有斷事的官，為什麼要找耶穌呢！不要把屬靈的事和屬世的事混為一談。「因為審判教外的人與我何干？教內的人豈不是你們審判的嗎？」(哥林多前書 5:12) 「豈不知聖徒要審判世界嗎？若世界為你們所審，難道你們不配審判這最小的事嗎？豈不知我們要審判天使嗎？何況今生的事呢！」(哥林多前書 6:2-3) 後者講到要謹慎自守，很清楚的用比喻說要積財在天，「不要為自己積攢財寶在地上，地上有蟲子咬，能銹壞，也有賊挖窟窿來偷；只要積攢財寶在天上，天上沒有蟲子咬，不能銹壞，也沒有賊挖窟窿來偷。因為你的財寶在哪裏，你的心也在那裏。」(馬太福音 6:19-21) 請注意，這裏說到為什麼不要積財寶在地上的原因，是因為要我們的心顧念天上的事，我們會因此而生命改變的，價值觀會改變的，生不帶來，死不帶去。有人說亞伯拉罕不是很富有嗎？的確是的，但他不是積財寶在地上，他是有神的祝福。我們不能像成功哲學告訴別人一樣，說只要信耶穌一定成功，這是不真實的，只有神有絕對的主權，我們不能這樣騙人！

       「你們這小羣，不要懼怕，因為你們的父樂意把國賜給你們。你們要變賣所有的賙濟人，為自己預備永不壞的錢囊，用不盡的財寶在天上，就是賊不能近、蟲不能蛀的地方。因為，你們的財寶在哪裏，你們的心也在那裏。」(路加福音 12:32-34) 所以不要「…在這末世只知積攢錢財。」(雅各書 5:3) 基督徒的確是世上的小羣。變賣所有的賙濟人不是按照字面去做，像俄國文豪托爾斯泰般的想要把自己的財產分給窮人，其實杯水車薪也無濟於事，但要由心發出，量力而為。有人做見証說，一位姊妹成為寡婦時，想處理掉手上一大筆的財產，在禱告中，她知道神沒有叫她這麼做，就把這筆財產留下，去支持了許多和福音有關的活動，她留下的財產所能做的，比當時如果處理掉財產能做的事更多！再舉個實際的例子，如果我們在路上遇到衣衫襤褸的人要錢，到底我們是該給或是不該給呢？怎麼確定這人是需要食物或是要買酒喝呢？有人就想出一個可行的方法，請那人去吃一頓飯再決定，至少也儘了力。真的要看我們如何使用地上的財寶，看我們的心如何。亞伯拉罕不是有許多地上的財富嗎？我們要依智慧行事，不是遵行律法。

4. 要先求神的國和神的義

       「耶穌又對門徒說：「所以我告訴你們：不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，為身體憂慮穿甚麼；因為生命勝於飲食，身體勝於衣裳。你想，烏鴉也不種也不收，又沒有倉又沒有庫，神尚且養活牠。你們比飛鳥是何等地貴重呢！你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢？這最小的事，你們尚且不能做，為甚麼還憂慮其餘的事呢？「你想，百合花怎麼長起來？它也不勞苦，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們：就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！你們這小信的人哪，野地裏的草今天還在，明天就丟在爐裏，神還給它這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢！你們不要求吃甚麼，喝甚麼，也不要掛心，這都是外邦人所求的。你們必須用這些東西，你們的父是知道的。你們只要求他的國，這些東西就必加給你們了。」」(路加福音 12:22-31)

    不是說吃食物不重要，而要知道我們活著不是單靠食物，更重要的是生命，身體和衣裳的對比也是說到這點。所有的例子都告訴我們不要憂慮，實在是憂慮沒有任何的好處！以百合花為例，假花總是不如真花，大自然是最美好的，即使人看為不起眼的小草，仍有這樣的妝飾，何況人是這麼貴重呢！真的，不要做小信的人，要先求神的國和神的義。天父不是不知道我們需要食物，主禱文不是教導我們求賜給我們今日日用的食糧嗎？但不要如外邦人祈求般的還要掛心，要將一切交給神，知道祂必會供應。讓神坐在寶座上安排一切事情，而不是讓神在禱告中聽我們的，自己想做神，本末倒置，而是要和神同工。

       馬太福音 6:24-34 基本上也說到同樣的事情。「一個人不能事奉兩個主。不是惡這個愛那個，就是重這個輕那個。你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門。…你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢？…你們需用的這一切東西，你們的天父是知道的。你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。」

    真是每天都可能會有不同且不可控制的難處，即然是不能控制的到來，這樣憂慮又能改變什麼呢？只是說來容易做起來難，我們從下面的例子看到的確是可以做到的。信心不是自信，是基於神的話和應許，神會成就我們需用的一切東西。以喬治慕勒(George Miller)為例，在邦妮哈里(Bonnie Harrey)所寫他的傳記中，提到他所創立的孤兒院時，說到有一次吃晚餐前沒有糧食，他沒告訴同工只為這件事禱告，適時就有人捐來食物。我們強調，從這例子也可看到為神的國和神的義求是可以的，衹是不要掛心。而且要知道，在耶穌受試探時，「耶穌卻回答說：「經上記着說：『人活着，不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裏所出的一切話。』」」(馬太福音 4:4) 所以還是要吃東西，衹是不是單靠食物。 

    舊約說得很清楚， 「你因敵人的緣故，從嬰孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言。」(詩篇 8:2) ，從摩西建會幕時，就只收甘心情願的奉獻(參出埃及記 25:2)，所以在新約時代更是要甘心情願和神同工的。舉個例子來說，舊約訂了至少要有十一奉獻的律法(參瑪拉基書 3:8)，如果在舊約時代每個人如此心甘情願的遵行，神家不會缺糧。舊約是影子，新約是實體，論到奉獻，在新約時代，受到耶穌稱讚的只有寡婦甘心情願的奉獻兩個小錢(參馬可福音 12:41-44)，沒有祂最恨法利賽人只行律法條文的律法。簡言之，新約的奉獻只是要求要甘心情願，愛主的人會量力而為，主動想要神家不要缺糧，有不少這樣的人會有超過十分之一的奉獻，不是再要遵行舊約的十分之一的律法，因此我不太瞭解為什麼有些教會今日還倡導十分之一的規定。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)  

First of all, the scriptures tell us to fear God and not be afraid of Satan, and use sparrows and hair as examples to talk about God’s mercy and grace.  Second, we saw that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit should not be blasphemed.  The third is to store up treasures in heaven, and not to mix up spiritual and worldly matters.  Fourth, faith is not self-confidence. It is based on God’s words and promises. God will accomplish everything we need.  We use examples to illustrate that we need to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. And we must be willing to work together with God.  For example, the offerings in the New Testament era only require willingness, and those who love the Lord will give whatever they could afford, actively wanting that God’s house will not be short of food, and not limiting themselves to giving one-tenth as in the laws of the Old Testament.

1. Do not be afraid of Satan, but fear God

“Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops. “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”(Luke 12:1-7)

We have already discussed lights and hidden things, so we will not discuss more.  In short, it is to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees. They can say but can’t do it, and even if they do it, they do it for others to see, not truly from their hearts.  Neither the bad thing nor the good behavior that comes out of life can be hidden.  Let’s now look at the second paragraph regarding ‘I say to you.’ I used to think that the one who kills the body is talking about Satan, so be afraid of Satan. But Satan can only kill the body, and can’t do anything else like killing the soul. Only God can.  Thus, it should be said to fear God. Immediately, it uses the hairs and the sparrow as examples, talking about God’s mercy and grace.

2. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak

“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”(Luke 12:8-12)

The beginning basically says, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) In the middle, it is unanimously emphasized, “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”(Matthew 12:31-32) Never knowingly blaspheme the Holy Spirit since such a sin cannot be forgiven.  The last paragraph makes it clear that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to speak.

3. Store up treasures in heaven

“Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.””(Luke 12:13-21)

There are judges in the world, why should they look for Jesus!  Do not mix up spiritual things with worldly things.  “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?”(1 Corinthians 5:12) “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?”(1 Corinthians 6:2-3) Regarding what said to store up treasures in heaven, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Matthew 6:19-21) Please note that the reason for not storing up treasures on earth is because we need to keep our minds on the things in heaven. By this way, our lives will be changed and our values too.  No one would say that Abraham was not very rich on earth.  But he was not laying up treasures on earth. He had the blessing of God.  We can’t tell others things like the philosophy of success, saying that as long as you believe in Jesus, you will succeed. This is untrue. Only God has absolute authority. We can’t lie to people like this!

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”(Luke 12:32-34) Christians are indeed a small flock in the world.  “Sell your possessions and give to charity” is not a literal act, like the Russian literary giant Tolstoy who was considering to distribute his property to the poor.  Someone testified that when a sister became a widow, she wanted to dispose of a large amount of wealth in her hands. In prayer, she knew that God did not ask her to do so, so she kept them and use them to support many gospel related activities.  In relation to the activities, the wealth she kept did more than it could have done if it had been disposed of at the time!  To give another practical example, if we meet a ragged person asking for money on the road, should we give it or not?  How do you know if the person needs food or buys alcohol?  Someone came up with a feasible method, invited that person to have a meal before making a decision, at least he tried his best.  It really depends on how we use our earthly treasures and what our hearts are like.  Didn’t Abraham have much earthly riches?  We are to walk in wisdom, not in keeping the law.

4. Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

“And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”(Luke 12:22-31)

It’s not that having food is not important, but we must know that we live not only by food, but more importantly, life. The comparison between the body and clothes also refers to this point.  All the examples tell us not to worry, there is no good in worrying!  Take lilies as an example. Fake flowers are always inferior to real flowers. Nature is the most beautiful. Even grass that is considered inconspicuous by people still has such decorations, let alone people who are so precious!  Really, don’t be a person of little faith, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Our Heavenly Father is not ignorant of our need for food. Doesn’t the Lord’s Prayer teach us to ask for our daily bread?  But don’t worry about it like the Gentiles pray, and give everything to God, knowing that He will provide.  Let God sit on the throne and arrange everything, instead of hoping for God to listen to us in prayer, wanting to be God in a way. That is like putting the cart before the horse. We should work together with God instead.

Matthew 6:24-34 basically says the same thing. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

It is true that there may be different and uncontrollable difficulties every day. Since they are uncontrollable, what can be changed by worrying?  Although it’s easier said than done, we can see from the following example that it can actually be done. Faith is not self-confidence, it is based on God’s words and promises, and God will accomplish everything we need.  Take George Miller as an example. In his biography, written by Bonnie Harrey, when referring to the orphanage he founded, he said that once there was no food left before dinner time, he did not tell his co-workers of the problem, but just prayed for this, and someone donated food in due course.  We emphasize that from this example we can also see that it is okay to ask something for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but don’t worry about it after praying.  And know that when Jesus was tempted, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”(Matthew 4:4) So still have to eat, just not by food alone. 

The Old Testament says very clearly, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”(Psalm 8:2) Thus, only the willingly offerings were received. Actually, it was so from the time Moses built the Tabernacle (see Exodus 25:2), so in the New Testament era, you must be to work together with God willingly.  For example, the Old Testament stipulated that at least tithes should be given (see Malachi 3:8). If everyone obeyed so willingly in the Old Testament era, God’s house would not be short of food.  The Old Testament is a shadow, and the New Testament is the reality. When it comes to offerings, in the New Testament era, only the widow who willingly donated two small coins was praised by Jesus (see Mark 12:41-44). Jesus hated the Pharisees the most, who obeyed only the letter of the law.  In short, the offering in the New Testament era is only required to be willing. People who love the Lord will do whatever they could afford, and actively want God’s house not to be short of food. There are many such people who give more than one-tenth in their offering.  The law of tithes in the Old Testament era is not needed to be followed nowadays. So, I don’t quite understand why some churches still advocate tithes today.

(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

     我们首先看看约拿所遭遇的神迹，他是在这件事上预表耶稣，我们也看到了神用的是回授策略，看人的反应会相应的行。虽然祂那时已行了许多神迹，但法利赛人和撒都该人不能分辩和不信。第二，我们说到眼睛是身上的灯，眼睛能反应出一个人里面的光景。有了信心的生命自然会有信心的好行为，这好行为是因为信主，自然人会将荣耀归给在天上的父，而坏行为也是隐藏不住的。第三，我看到了法利赛人的一些祸。例如，他们的行为主要是做给别人看的，但他们却没有做该做和不可不做的事，就是公义和爱神的事。圣经警告我们法利赛人的祸很多。其中之一是要防备他们的教训。最后我们提到了律法师的祸，其中包括了从亚伯的血起，直到被杀在坛和殿中间的先知撒迦利亚，都问在这世代的人身上。我们也说明在这里，为什么是指先知撒迦利亚，而不是指在历代志下的撒迦利亚。

1. 约拿的神迹       

     『当众人聚集的时候，耶稣开讲说：「这世代是一个邪恶的世代。他们求看神迹，除了约拿的神迹以外，再没有神迹给他们看。约拿怎样为尼尼微人成了神迹，人子也要照样为这世代的人成了神迹。当审判的时候，南方的女王要起来定这世代的罪，因为她从地极而来，要听所罗门的智慧话。看哪！在这里有一人比所罗门更大。当审判的时候，尼尼微人要起来定这世代的罪，因为尼尼微人听了约拿所传的就悔改了。看哪！在这里有一人比约拿更大。」』(路加福音 11:29-32) 在这里，我们要注意的是、圣经明说耶稣是大过先知约拿的。马太福音 12:40 这样说，『约拿三日三夜在大鱼肚腹中，人子也要这样三日三夜在地里头。』(马太福音 12:40) 所以在这件事上，约拿是预表耶稣的。预表只是说在某一方面像耶稣，不是说在所有的方面。    

     关于显神迹这件事，耶稣那时已行了许多神迹，只是他们不信，不能分辩。马太福音  16:1-4  就说得相当清楚，『法利赛人和撒都该人来试探耶稣，请他从天上显个神迹给他们看。耶稣回答说：「晚上天发红，你们就说，『天必要晴』；早晨天发红，又发黑，你们就说，『今日必有风雨』。你们知道分辩天上的气色，倒不能分辩这时候的神迹。一个邪恶淫乱的世代求神迹，除了约拿的神迹以外，再没有神迹给他看。」耶稣就离开他们去了。』所以耶稣行神迹都有定时，有目的，不是应观众要求的。    

     这些记载在马太福音 12:38-42 中基本上是相同的，只是指出了『当时，有几个文士和法利赛人对耶稣说：「夫子，我们愿意你显个神迹给我们看。」』(马太福音 12:38) 约拿的神迹是记在约拿记，大约是这样：『耶和华的话临到亚米太的儿子约拿，说：「你起来往尼尼微大城去，向其中的居民呼喊，因为他们的恶达到我面前。」约拿却起来逃往他施去躲避耶和华。…然而耶和华使海中起大风，海就狂风大作，甚至船几乎破坏。』(约拿书 1:1-4) 所以约拿是非常不想做这事情，往反方向走去躲避。最后是同船的人应约拿的要求，『…遂将约拿抬起，抛在海中，海的狂浪就平息了。』(约拿书 1:15) 然后『耶和华安排一条大鱼吞了约拿，他在鱼腹中三日三夜。』(约拿书 1:17) 他在鱼肚中知罪了，且悔改祷告，『耶和华吩咐鱼，鱼就把约拿吐在旱地上。』(约拿书 2:10) 我们看到尼尼微人听了约拿所传的就悔改了，于是有怜悯有恩典的神，就没有在这外邦的城降灾。这就像祂对以色列的选民一样，『义人转离他的义而作罪孽，就必因此死亡。恶人转离他的恶，行正直与合理的事，就必因此存活。』(以西结书 33:18-19) 主的道是很公平的，是一致的，我们看到祂用的是回授策略，会随著人的反应不同而有不同的作为。我们举一个关于回授策略的简单例子，这就如开车一样，我们用眼睛看我们是否偏离了道路，我们如果没有偏离，继续前进，如果偏离了，就可以用方向盘，控制方向盘而回到该走的路上，这是回授。

2. 眼睛是身上的灯       

     『没有人点灯放在地窨子里或是斗底下，总是放在灯台上，使进来的人得见亮光。你眼睛就是身上的灯。你的眼睛若了亮，全身就光明；眼睛若昏花，全身就黑暗。所以，你要省察，恐怕你里头的光或者黑暗了。若是你全身光明，毫无黑暗，就必全然光明，如同灯的明光照亮你。』(路加福音 11:33-36)       

     马太福音 6:22-23 也说到眼睛就是身上的灯，如果你里头的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大呢！眼睛反应出一个人里面的光景。我们看到经文说得很清楚，『你们是世上的光。城造在山上，是不能隐藏的。人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。』(马太福音 5:14-16) 这不是指基督徒自以为有好行为而故意显给别人看，而是有著信心的生命会自然有信心的好行为流露出来，这好行为是因为信主，看到了自然将荣耀归给在天上的父。     

     在马可福音 4:21-22，『耶稣又对他们说：「人拿灯来，岂是要放在斗底下，床底下，不放在灯台上吗？因为掩藏的事，没有不显出来的；隐瞒的事，没有不露出来的。』这和路加福音 8:16-18 讲得是一致的，『没有人点灯用器皿盖上，或放在床底下，乃是放在灯台上，叫进来的人看见亮光。因为掩藏的事没有不显出来的；隐瞒的事没有不露出来被人知道的。所以，你们应当小心怎样听。因为凡有的，还要加给他；凡没有的，连他自以为有的，也要夺去。』(路加福音 8:16-18) 信心的好行为是藏不住的，坏行为也是隐藏不住的。在这里，我们也看到了一个天国作事一致的原则，因为在马太福音 13:11-12， 『耶稣回答说：「因为天国的奥秘，只叫你们知道，不叫他们知道。凡有的，还要加给他，叫他有余；凡没有的，连他所有的也要夺去。」』   

3. 法利赛人的祸       

     『说话的时候，有一个法利赛人请耶稣同他吃饭，耶稣就进去坐席。这法利赛人看见耶稣饭前不洗手便诧异。主对他说：「如今你们法利赛人洗净杯盘的外面，你们里面却满了勒索和邪恶。无知的人哪，造外面的，不也造里面吗？只要把里面的施舍(alms or a benefaction, G1654)给人，凡物于你们就都洁净了。「你们法利赛人有祸了！因为你们将薄荷、芸香并各样菜蔬献上十分之一，那公义和爱神的事反倒不行了。这原是你们当行的，那也是不可不行的。「你们法利赛人有祸了！因为你们喜爱会堂里的首位，又喜爱人在街市上问你们的安。「你们有祸了！因为你们如同不显露的坟墓，走在上面的人并不知道。」』(路加福音 11:37-44)      

     首先我们看到了施舍这字，在英文和原文都很清楚的说是为别人的益处而舍的。也清楚的说法利赛人的行为是守律法而做给人看的，背后做什么犹如不显露的坟墓般，是别人看不到的，反而是该做且不可不行的公义和爱神的事不行了。所以耶稣会说，『我告诉你们：你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人的义，断不能进天国。』(马太福音 5:20) 圣经讲法利赛人的祸很多，很清楚在这些经文中说要防备他们的教训，『门徒渡到那边去，忘了带饼。耶稣对他们说：「你们要谨慎，防备法利赛人和撒都该人的酵。」门徒彼此议论说：「这是因为我们没有带饼吧！」耶稣看出来，就说：「你们这小信的人，为甚么因为没有饼彼此议论呢？你们还不明白吗？不记得那五个饼分给五千人，又收拾了多少篮子的零碎吗？也不记得那七个饼分给四千人，又收拾了多少筐子的零碎吗？我对你们说：『要防备法利赛人和撒都该人的酵』，这话不是指著饼说的，你们怎么不明白呢？」门徒这才晓得他说的，不是叫他们防备饼的酵，乃是防备法利赛人和撒都该人的教训。』(马太福音 16:5-12)

4. 律法师的祸        

     『律法师中有一个回答耶稣说：「夫子，你这样说也把我们糟蹋了！」耶稣说：「你们律法师也有祸了！因为你们把难担的担子放在人身上，自己一个指头却不肯动。「你们有祸了！因为你们修造先知的坟墓，那先知正是你们的祖宗所杀的。可见你们祖宗所做的事，你们又证明又喜欢，因为他们杀了先知，你们修造先知的坟墓。所以神用智慧曾说：『我要差遣先知和使徒到他们那里去，有的他们要杀害，有的他们要逼迫』，使创世以来所流众先知血的罪，都要问在这世代的人身上，就是从亚伯的血起，直到被杀在坛和殿中间撒迦利亚的血为止。我实在告诉你们：这都要问在这世代的人身上。「你们律法师有祸了！因为你们把知识的钥匙夺了去，自己不进去，正要进去的人你们也阻挡他们。」耶稣从那里出来，文士和法利赛人就极力地催逼他，引动他多说话，私下窥听，要拿他的话柄。』(路加福音 11:45-54)    

     我们看到律法师的不服，但这些经文说到他们的问题很清楚。关于流众先知血的罪，在马太福音 23:35 说，『叫世上所流义人的血，都归到你们身上，从义人亚伯的血起，直到你们在殿和坛中间所杀的巴拉加的儿子(son of Berechiah)撒迦利亚的血为止。』(马太福音 23:35) 再看看撒迦利亚书 1:1，『大利乌王第二年八月，耶和华的话临到易多的孙子比利家的儿子(son of Berechiah) 先知撒迦利亚说：』(撒迦利亚书 1:1) 虽然中文的名字翻译不一样，但比较英文，就知道是指同一个人。也知道了不是在说历代志下 24:20-21 所说的撒迦利亚，『那时，神的灵感动祭司耶何耶大的儿子撒迦利亚，他就站在上面对民说：「神如此说：『你们为何干犯耶和华的诫命，以致不得亨通呢？因为你们离弃耶和华，所以他也离弃你们。』」众民同心谋害撒迦利亚，就照王的吩咐，在耶和华殿的院内，用石头打死他。』最后一段，他们以为言多必失，但耶稣不会这样，因为耶稣的生命，是以神的智慧说话行事。 

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)

    我們首先看看約拿所遭遇的神蹟，他是在這件事上預表耶穌，我們也看到了神用的是回授策略，看人的反應會相應的行。雖然祂那時已行了許多神蹟，但法利賽人和撒都該人不能分辨和不信。第二，我們說到眼睛是身上的燈，眼睛能反應出一個人裏面的光景。有了信心的生命自然會有信心的好行為，這好行為是因為信主，自然人會將榮耀歸給在天上的父，而壞行為也是隱藏不住的。第三，我看到了法利賽人的一些禍。例如，他們的行為主要是做給別人看的，但他們卻沒有做該做和不可不做的事，就是公義和愛神的事。聖經警告我們法利賽人的禍很多。其中之一是要防備他們的教訓。最後我們提到了律法師的禍，其中包括了從亞伯的血起，直到被殺在壇和殿中間的先知撒迦利亞，都問在這世代的人身上。我們也說明在這裏，為什麼是指先知撒迦利亞，而不是指在歷代志下的撒迦利亞。

1. 約拿的神蹟

       『當眾人聚集的時候，耶穌開講說：「這世代是一個邪惡的世代。他們求看神蹟，除了約拿的神蹟以外，再沒有神蹟給他們看。約拿怎樣為尼尼微人成了神蹟，人子也要照樣為這世代的人成了神蹟。當審判的時候，南方的女王要起來定這世代的罪，因為她從地極而來，要聽所羅門的智慧話。看哪！在這裏有一人比所羅門更大。當審判的時候，尼尼微人要起來定這世代的罪，因為尼尼微人聽了約拿所傳的就悔改了。看哪！在這裏有一人比約拿更大。」』(路加福音 11:29-32) 在這裏，我們要注意的是、聖經明說耶穌是大過先知約拿的。馬太福音 12:40 這樣說，『約拿三日三夜在大魚肚腹中，人子也要這樣三日三夜在地裏頭。』(馬太福音 12:40) 所以在這件事上，約拿是預表耶穌的。預表只是說在某一方面像耶穌，不是說在所有的方面。

    關於顯神蹟這件事，耶穌那時已行了許多神蹟，只是他們不信，不能分辨。馬太福音  16:1-4  就說得相當清楚，『法利賽人和撒都該人來試探耶穌，請他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看。耶穌回答說：「晚上天發紅，你們就說，『天必要晴』；早晨天發紅，又發黑，你們就說，『今日必有風雨』。你們知道分辨天上的氣色，倒不能分辨這時候的神蹟。一個邪惡淫亂的世代求神蹟，除了約拿的神蹟以外，再沒有神蹟給他看。」耶穌就離開他們去了。』所以耶穌行神蹟都有定時，有目的，不是應觀眾要求的。

    這些記載在馬太福音 12:38-42 中基本上是相同的，只是指出了『當時，有幾個文士和法利賽人對耶穌說：「夫子，我們願意你顯個神蹟給我們看。」』(馬太福音 12:38) 約拿的神蹟是記在約拿記，大約是這樣：『耶和華的話臨到亞米太的兒子約拿，說：「你起來往尼尼微大城去，向其中的居民呼喊，因為他們的惡達到我面前。」約拿卻起來逃往他施去躲避耶和華。…然而耶和華使海中起大風，海就狂風大作，甚至船幾乎破壞。』(約拿書 1:1-4) 所以約拿是非常不想做這事情，往反方向走去躲避。最後是同船的人應約拿的要求，『…遂將約拿抬起，拋在海中，海的狂浪就平息了。』(約拿書 1:15) 然後『耶和華安排一條大魚吞了約拿，他在魚腹中三日三夜。』(約拿書 1:17) 他在魚肚中知罪了，且悔改禱告，『耶和華吩咐魚，魚就把約拿吐在旱地上。』(約拿書 2:10) 我們看到尼尼微人聽了約拿所傳的就悔改了，於是有憐憫有恩典的神，就沒有在這外邦的城降災。這就像祂對以色列的選民一樣，『義人轉離他的義而作罪孽，就必因此死亡。惡人轉離他的惡，行正直與合理的事，就必因此存活。』(以西結書 33:18-19) 主的道是很公平的，是一致的，我們看到祂用的是回授策略，會隨著人的反應不同而有不同的作為。我們舉一個關於回授策略的簡單例子，這就如開車一樣，我們用眼睛看我們是否偏離了道路，我們如果沒有偏離，繼續前進，如果偏離了，就可以用方向盤，控制方向盤而回到該走的路上，這是回授。

2. 眼睛是身上的燈

       『沒有人點燈放在地窨子裏或是斗底下，總是放在燈台上，使進來的人得見亮光。你眼睛就是身上的燈。你的眼睛若瞭亮，全身就光明；眼睛若昏花，全身就黑暗。所以，你要省察，恐怕你裏頭的光或者黑暗了。若是你全身光明，毫無黑暗，就必全然光明，如同燈的明光照亮你。』(路加福音 11:33-36)

       馬太福音 6:22-23 也說到眼睛就是身上的燈，如果你裏頭的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大呢！眼睛反應出一個人裏面的光景。我們看到經文說得很清楚，『你們是世上的光。城造在山上，是不能隱藏的。人點燈，不放在斗底下，是放在燈台上，就照亮一家的人。你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。』(馬太福音 5:14-16) 這不是指基督徒自以為有好行為而故意顯給別人看，而是有著信心的生命會自然有信心的好行為流露出來，這好行為是因為信主，看到了自然將榮耀歸給在天上的父。

     在馬可福音 4:21-22，『耶穌又對他們說：「人拿燈來，豈是要放在斗底下，牀底下，不放在燈台上嗎？因為掩藏的事，沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事，沒有不露出來的。』這和路加福音 8:16-18 講得是一致的，『沒有人點燈用器皿蓋上，或放在牀底下，乃是放在燈台上，叫進來的人看見亮光。因為掩藏的事沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事沒有不露出來被人知道的。所以，你們應當小心怎樣聽。因為凡有的，還要加給他；凡沒有的，連他自以為有的，也要奪去。』(路加福音 8:16-18) 信心的好行為是藏不住的，壞行為也是隱藏不住的。在這裏，我們也看到了一個天國作事一致的原則，因為在馬太福音 13:11-12， 『耶穌回答說：「因為天國的奧秘，只叫你們知道，不叫他們知道。凡有的，還要加給他，叫他有餘；凡沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。」』

3. 法利賽人的禍

       『說話的時候，有一個法利賽人請耶穌同他吃飯，耶穌就進去坐席。這法利賽人看見耶穌飯前不洗手便詫異。主對他說：「如今你們法利賽人洗淨杯盤的外面，你們裏面卻滿了勒索和邪惡。無知的人哪，造外面的，不也造裏面嗎？只要把裏面的施捨(alms or a benefaction, G1654)給人，凡物於你們就都潔淨了。「你們法利賽人有禍了！因為你們將薄荷、芸香並各樣菜蔬獻上十分之一，那公義和愛神的事反倒不行了。這原是你們當行的，那也是不可不行的。「你們法利賽人有禍了！因為你們喜愛會堂裏的首位，又喜愛人在街市上問你們的安。「你們有禍了！因為你們如同不顯露的墳墓，走在上面的人並不知道。」』(路加福音 11:37-44)

      首先我們看到了施捨這字，在英文和原文都很清楚的說是為別人的益處而捨的。也清楚的說法利賽人的行為是守律法而做給人看的，背後做什麼猶如不顯露的墳墓般，是別人看不到的，反而是該做且不可不行的公義和愛神的事不行了。所以耶穌會說，『我告訴你們：你們的義若不勝於文士和法利賽人的義，斷不能進天國。』(馬太福音 5:20) 聖經講法利賽人的禍很多，很清楚在這些經文中說要防備他們的教訓，『門徒渡到那邊去，忘了帶餅。耶穌對他們說：「你們要謹慎，防備法利賽人和撒都該人的酵。」門徒彼此議論說：「這是因為我們沒有帶餅吧！」耶穌看出來，就說：「你們這小信的人，為甚麼因為沒有餅彼此議論呢？你們還不明白嗎？不記得那五個餅分給五千人，又收拾了多少籃子的零碎嗎？也不記得那七個餅分給四千人，又收拾了多少筐子的零碎嗎？我對你們說：『要防備法利賽人和撒都該人的酵』，這話不是指着餅說的，你們怎麼不明白呢？」門徒這才曉得他說的，不是叫他們防備餅的酵，乃是防備法利賽人和撒都該人的教訓。』(馬太福音 16:5-12)

4. 律法師的禍

        『律法師中有一個回答耶穌說：「夫子，你這樣說也把我們糟蹋了！」耶穌說：「你們律法師也有禍了！因為你們把難擔的擔子放在人身上，自己一個指頭卻不肯動。「你們有禍了！因為你們修造先知的墳墓，那先知正是你們的祖宗所殺的。可見你們祖宗所做的事，你們又證明又喜歡，因為他們殺了先知，你們修造先知的墳墓。所以神用智慧曾說：『我要差遣先知和使徒到他們那裏去，有的他們要殺害，有的他們要逼迫』，使創世以來所流眾先知血的罪，都要問在這世代的人身上，就是從亞伯的血起，直到被殺在壇和殿中間撒迦利亞的血為止。我實在告訴你們：這都要問在這世代的人身上。「你們律法師有禍了！因為你們把知識的鑰匙奪了去，自己不進去，正要進去的人你們也阻擋他們。」耶穌從那裏出來，文士和法利賽人就極力地催逼他，引動他多說話，私下窺聽，要拿他的話柄。』(路加福音 11:45-54)

    我們看到律法師的不服，但這些經文說到他們的問題很清楚。關於流衆先知血的罪，在馬太福音 23:35 說，『叫世上所流義人的血，都歸到你們身上，從義人亞伯的血起，直到你們在殿和壇中間所殺的巴拉加的兒子(son of Berechiah)撒迦利亞的血為止。』(馬太福音 23:35) 再看看撒迦利亞書 1:1，『大利烏王第二年八月，耶和華的話臨到易多的孫子比利家的兒子(son of Berechiah) 先知撒迦利亞說：』(撒迦利亞書 1:1) 雖然中文的名字翻譯不一樣，但比較英文，就知道是指同一個人。也知道了不是在說歷代志下 24:20-21 所說的撒迦利亞，『那時，神的靈感動祭司耶何耶大的兒子撒迦利亞，他就站在上面對民說：「神如此說：『你們為何干犯耶和華的誡命，以致不得亨通呢？因為你們離棄耶和華，所以他也離棄你們。』」眾民同心謀害撒迦利亞，就照王的吩咐，在耶和華殿的院內，用石頭打死他。』最後一段，他們以為言多必失，但耶穌不會這樣，因為耶穌的生命，是以神的智慧說話行事。 

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)  

Let’s first look at the miracle that Jonah encountered, who was similar to Jesus in this matter. We also saw that God used the feedback strategy, whose response will be according to people’s reactions accordingly.  Although He had performed many miracles at that time, the Pharisees and Sadducees could not discern and did not believe.  Second, we said that the eyes are the lamps of the body, and that the eyes can reflect the inner condition of a person.  A life with faith will naturally have good deeds from faith. Such good deeds are due to believing in the Lord, and naturally people will give glory to the Father in heaven, and bad deeds cannot be hidden as well.  Thirdly, we see some woes to the Pharisees. For example, their behavior was mainly for others to see. But they didn’t do what must be done, which was the things of the righteousness and love for God. The Bible tells of many warnings about the Pharisees, one of which is to beware of their teachings.  Finally, we also mention the woes to the lawyers. Among them include all the blood shed by Abel to the prophet Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the temple. All of which shall be charged against this generation. We also mention the reason why the other Zachariah was not the one talking about here.

1. The miracle of Jonah

“As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”(Luke 11:29-32) Here, we must pay attention to the fact that the Bible clearly states that Jesus is greater than the prophet Jonah.  In Matthew 12:40, it says, “for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” So in this matter, Jonah is a type of Jesus.  A type only means being like Jesus in a certain way, not in all aspects.

Regarding the matter of performing miracles, Jesus had performed many miracles at that time, but the people did not believe and could not discern them.  Matthew 16:1-4 puts it quite clearly, “The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.”  Therefore, Jesus performed miracles at a fixed time and with a purpose, not at the request of the audience.

These records are basically the same in Matthew 12:38-42, except that “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.””(Matthew 12:38) The miracle of Jonah is recorded in the book of Jonah, and it goes something like this: “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, …The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.”(Jonah 1:1-4) So Jonah didn’t want to do this very much, so he walked in the opposite direction to avoid it.  In the end, the shipmates responded to Jonah’s request, “So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.”(Jonah 1:15) Then “And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”(Jonah 1:1) He was convicted in the belly of the fish, and he repented and prayed, “Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.”(Jonah 2:10) We saw that the people of Nineveh repented after hearing what Jonah preached, so God, who is merciful and gracious, did not bring disaster on this foreign city.  It is the same as he did to the elect, the Israelites, “When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, then he shall die in it. But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.”(Ezekiel 33:18-19) The way of the Lord is very fair and consistent. We see that He uses a feedback strategy, which will act differently according to people’s reactions.  Let’s give a simple example about the feedback strategy. This is like driving a car. We use our eyes to see if we have deviated from the road. If we do not deviate, we continue to move forward.  If we deviate, we use the driving wheel to correct the direction so that the car will drive on the road in the right direction. This is the so-called feedback.

2. The eyes are the lamps of the body

“No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.”(Luke 11:33-36)

Matthew 6:22-23 also says that the eyes are the lamp of the body. If the light within you is darkened, how great is the darkness!  The eyes reflect the inner condition of a person.  We see that the scriptures make it very clear, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16) This does not mean that Christians think they have good deeds and deliberately show them to others, but a life with faith will naturally reveal good deeds of faith.  People see that the good behaviors come from faith, and will naturally give glory to the Father in heaven.

In Mark 4:21-22, “And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light.” This is consistent with Luke 8:16-18, “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Good works of faith cannot be hidden, and bad works cannot be hidden too. Here we also see one consistent principle in heaven because in Matthew 13:11-12, “Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

3. Woe to the Pharisees

“Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity (alms or a benefaction, G1654), and then all things are clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.”(Luke 11:37-43)

First of all, we saw the word charity. It is very clear in the original text that it is for the benefit of others.  It is also clearly stated that the behavior of the Pharisees is to obey the law and to be seen by others. What they do behind their backs is like a hidden tomb, which cannot be seen by others. Instead, it is righteousness and love for God that should be done and must be done.  So Jesus would say, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:20) The Bible tells of many woes to the Pharisees, and it is very clear that in these verses it is said to beware of their teachings, “And the disciples came to the other side of the sea, but they had forgotten to bring any bread. And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets full you picked up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”(Matthew 16:5-12)

4. Woe to the lawyers

“One of the lawyers said to Him in reply, “Teacher, when You say this, You insult us too.” But He said, “Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’ Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects, plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.”(Luke 11:45-54)

We see the dissatisfaction of the teachers of the law, but these verses are clear about their problems.  Regarding the sin of shedding the blood of the prophets, in Matthew 23:35 it says, “so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.”(Matthew 23:35) Look too at Zechariah 1:1, “In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying,”(Zechariah 1:1) If you compare them, you know that they refer to the same person.  We also know that here isn’t talking about the Zechariah mentioned in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21, “Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God has said, ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.’” So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord.”(2 Chronicles 24:20-21) In the last paragraph, they thought that too much talk would lead to loss, but Jesus would not do this, because the life of Jesus spoke and acted according to the wisdom of God.

(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

     我们首先谈到马利亚选择了那上好的福份，听耶稣讲话，也提到了马大的信心。我们看到了拉撒路复活的过程，虽然他在圣经中没讲过一句话，但我们看到了他是活生生见证和他的影响。第二，我们以前详细讨论过主祷文，所以可以参考过去的讨论，这里只是强调宽恕的重要，和今日的粮是指属灵和属世的粮食两者，不只是为食物谢饭而已。第三，经文说我们求圣灵一定会得著，并圣经教导我们应有的态度，只是没有说时间，神有绝对的主权决定是何时。最后我们看看耶稣行了一个赶鬼的神迹，彰显了神的国降临。我们也看到神的能力绝对大过撒但。不要以为鬼被赶出来一切都好了，一定要留在基督里，才能永远的逐出污鬼。

1. 马大和马利亚及拉撒路的复活    

     『他们走路的时候，耶稣进了一个村庄。有一个女人，名叫马大，接他到自己家里。她有一个妹子，名叫马利亚，在耶稣脚前坐著听他的道。马大伺候的事多，心里忙乱，就进前来说：「主啊，我的妹子留下我一个人伺候，你不在意吗？请吩咐她来帮助我。」耶稣回答说：「马大！马大！你为许多的事思虑烦扰，但是不可少的只有一件，马利亚已经选择那上好的福分，是不能夺去的。」』(路加福音 10:38-42) 的确，伯大尼的马利亚选择了那不可缺少的上好福份，神的话。但总要有人事奉，马大选择了事奉，只是该分些心思在上好的福份上，不要只为世俗的事情烦恼。教会两者都不可或缺，如果没人事奉教会就不会存在。如果只有事奉而没有行出神的话，就会如老底嘉的教会一样，把主耶稣关在门外而不自知。    

     假如只能有一个选择的情况下，生命比事奉重要，但两者不可或缺，就像『撒母耳说：「耶和华喜悦燔祭和平安祭，岂如喜悦人听从他的话呢？听命胜于献祭，顺从胜于公羊的脂油。」』(撒母耳记上 15:22) 不是说内心的献祭不重要，只是强调要听命，因为罪就是由亚当的不顺服进入了这世界。 (参罗马书 5:12) 即使是新约时代，仍要『…将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此事奉，乃是理所当然的。』(罗马书 12:1) 有了生命，自然会想事奉。这就像有了信心，才会有和信心相称的行为，不要本末倒置。『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。因为听道而不行道的，就像人对著镜子看自己本来的面目，看见，走后，随即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各书 1:22-24)    

     拉撒路复活这件事是从他患病开始，『有一个患病的人，名叫拉撒路，住在伯大尼，就是马利亚和她姐姐马大的村庄。这马利亚就是那用香膏抹主，又用头发擦他脚的，患病的拉撒路是她的兄弟。』(约翰福音 11:1-2) 『耶稣素来爱马大和她妹子并拉撒路，听见拉撒路病了，就在所居之地仍住了两天。』(约翰福音 11:5-6) 祂爱拉撒路，但祂的反应和一般人很不相同。一般人会在拉撒路死前赶到，但祂反而多留了两天，所以耶稣是要众人真正知道，拉撒路是真正的死了以后，才行神迹。     

     从这件事上我们来看看马大的信心， 『马大听见耶稣来了，就出去迎接他；马利亚却仍然坐在家里。马大对耶稣说：「主啊，你若早在这里，我兄弟必不死！就是现在，我也知道，你无论向神求甚么，神也必赐给你。」耶稣说：「你兄弟必然复活。」马大说：「我知道在末日复活的时候，他必复活。」耶稣对她说：「复活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活。凡活著信我的人必永远不死。你信这话吗？」马大说：「主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是神的儿子，就是那要临到世界的。」』(约翰福音 11:20-27) 我们看到马大的信心是在未来，没有想到拉撒路今日就可复活。    

     『马大说了这话，就回去暗暗地叫她妹子马利亚说：「夫子来了，叫你。」马利亚听见了，就急忙起来，到耶稣那里去。那时，耶稣还没有进村子，仍在马大迎接他的地方。那些同马利亚在家里安慰她的犹太人，见她急忙起来出去，就跟著她，以为她要往坟墓那里去哭。马利亚到了耶稣那里，看见他，就俯伏在他脚前，说：「主啊，你若早在这里，我兄弟必不死。」耶稣看见她哭，并看见与她同来的犹太人也哭，就心里悲叹，又甚忧愁，便说：「你们把他安放在哪里？」 他们回答说：「请主来看。」』(约翰福音 11:28-34)    

     我们来看看拉撒路复活的过程，『耶稣哭了。犹太人就说：「你看他爱这人是何等恳切。」其中有人说：「他既然开了瞎子的眼睛，岂不能叫这人不死吗？」耶稣又心里悲叹，来到坟墓前。那坟墓是个洞，有一块石头挡著。耶稣说：「你们把石头挪开！」 那死人的姐姐马大对他说：「主啊，他现在必是臭了，因为他死了已经四天了。」耶稣说：「我不是对你说过，你若信，就必看见神的荣耀吗？」他们就把石头挪开。耶稣举目望天说：「父啊，我感谢你，因为你已经听我；我也知道你常听我。但我说这话，是为周围站著的众人，叫他们信是你差了我来。」说了这话，就大声呼叫说：「拉撒路出来！」那死人就出来了，手脚裹著布，脸上包著手巾。 耶稣对他们说：「解开，叫他走！」那些来看马利亚的犹太人，见了耶稣所做的事，就多有信他的。』(约翰福音 11:35-45)    

     我们看到耶稣说这话是为周围站著的众人，这和父神有时会做的事相同。例如，约翰福音 12:28-30 说：『…当时就有声音从天上来说：「我已经荣耀了我的名，还要再荣耀。」…耶稣说：「这声音不是为我，是为你们来的。」』(约翰福音 12:28-30)    我们不知道耶稣为什么悲叹又忧愁以致于哭了，因为圣经没有明说。有人认为祂是因为见到人的结局都是一死，这是相当合理的猜测。也有人认为祂是取了人的样式是完全的人，人有感情，因而看见所爱的人死去会哭，但这会有逻辑的问题，因为经文明说：『…父啊，我感谢你，因为你已经听我；我也知道你常听我。但我说这话，是为周围站著的众人，叫他们信是你差了我来。』(约翰福音 11:41-42) 所以祂预先就知道拉撒路会复活，跟本不会死。众人也的确是看到了神的荣耀，因为拉撒路从死了已经四天中复活了。    

     『逾越节前六日，耶稣来到伯大尼，就是他叫拉撒路从死里复活之处。有人在那里给耶稣预备筵席，马大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶稣坐席的人中。马利亚就拿著一斤极贵的真哪哒香膏抹耶稣的脚，又用自己头发去擦，屋里就满了膏的香气。』(约翰福音 12:1-3) 『有许多犹太人知道耶稣在那里，就来了，不但是为耶稣的缘故，也是要看他从死里所复活的拉撒路。但祭司长商议连拉撒路也要杀了，因有好些犹太人为拉撒路的缘故，回去信了耶稣。』(约翰福音 12:9-11)    

     拉撒路在圣经里面一句话都没有说，但有许多人因他信了主，他不需要说话，他本身的生命就是见证。我们刚才说到，教会生命和事奉都是不可或缺的，自己不能以身作则，只说不练是没有用的。在教会中，生命是不可少的。不要让世界进入教会，虽说教会和世界不同，至少在教会中应都是信主的，而一次得救就永远得救，就如哥林多前书 3:15 所说，『人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损，自己却要得救；虽然得救，乃像从火里经过的一样。』非基徒的名字都不在生命册上，如果我们看到启示录起初都照著次序写，而相信整本启示录都是照著次序写，而那时『若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:15) 当新天新地时，新耶路撒冷从天而降，这时城外的可能是曾经信过的，这就说明了为什么『务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前书 5:8) 所以『城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言编造虚谎的。』(启示录 22:15) 这些都是被撒但引诱而堕落的基督徒。『那些洗净自己衣服的有福了！可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。』(启示录 22:15) 我们要做那能进城的。

2. 主祷文    

    『耶稣在一个地方祷告。祷告完了，有个门徒对他说：「求主教导我们祷告，像约翰教导他的门徒。」耶稣说：「你们祷告的时候，要说：『我们在天上的父：愿人都尊你的名为圣。愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我们日用的饮食，天天赐给我们。赦免我们的罪，因为我们也赦免凡亏欠我们的人。不叫我们遇见试探，救我们脱离凶恶。』」』(路加福音 11:1-4)    

     主祷文在马太福音是这样说，『所以，你们祷告要这样说：『我们在天上的父，愿人都尊你的名为圣。愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。不叫我们遇见试探，救我们脱离凶恶。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们！』你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯；你们不饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必不饶恕你们的过犯。』(马太福音 6:9-15)    

     我们以前曾讨论过主祷文 [1]，在这里我们就不多说。我们要强调是饶恕的重要，其实如果真能饶恕别人，对自己而言是卸下了一个重担。而日用的饮食是指属灵的粮食和一般属世的粮食两者，因耶稣说得很清楚，『…经上记著说：『人活著，不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』』(马太福音 4:4, 路加福音 4:4) 我们的确需要食物，没有食物，我们会饿死，我们还需要神口里所出的一切话。最后要提的是要奉主耶稣基督的名，因『你们奉我的名无论求甚么，我必成就，叫父因儿子得荣耀。你们若奉我的名求甚么，我必成就。』(约翰福音 14:13-14) 这不是给我们一张空白的支票，可以随便填，那究竟是什么意思呢？看上下文就知道，当我们和主在某件事上合一时，我们所求的就是主所愿的，祂有绝对的主权，怎么会不成就呢？

3. 求圣灵则得之    

     『耶稣又说：「你们中间谁有一个朋友半夜到他那里去，说：『朋友，请借给我三个饼。因为我有一个朋友行路，来到我这里，我没有甚么给他摆上。』「那人在里面回答说：『不要搅扰我，门已经关闭，孩子们也同我在床上了，我不能起来给你。』我告诉你们：虽不因他是朋友起来给他，但因他情词迫切地直求(persistence, NASB; importunity G335, KJV)，就必起来照他所需用的给他。「我又告诉你们：你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门。因为，凡祈求的，就得著；寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。「你们中间作父亲的，谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？求鱼，反拿蛇当鱼给他呢？求鸡蛋，反给他蝎子呢？你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况天父，岂不更将圣灵给求他的人吗？」』(路加福音 11:5-13) 我们可以很清楚的看见这是指求圣灵一定会得著而说，且告诉了我们求的时候应有的态度。请注意，这里是说我们一定得著，但没有说何时得著，在这点上，祂有绝对的主权。    

     在马太福音所记载类似，只是没有清楚的指出是要求得著圣灵，加上了清楚的说到律法和先知的道理。以下是其所讲的，『你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门。因为凡祈求的，就得著；寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。「你们中间谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？求鱼，反给他蛇呢？你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求他的人吗？所以，无论何事，你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人，因为这就是律法和先知的道理。』(马太福音 7:7-12)

4. 神的国降临的彰显        

     『耶稣赶出一个叫人哑巴的鬼。鬼出去了，哑巴就说出话来，众人都希奇。内中却有人说：「他是靠著鬼王别西卜赶鬼。」又有人试探耶稣，向他求从天上来的神迹。他晓得他们的意念，便对他们说：「凡一国自相纷争，就成为荒场；凡一家自相纷争，就必败落。若撒但自相纷争，他的国怎能站得住呢？因为你们说我是靠著别西卜赶鬼。我若靠著别西卜赶鬼，你们的子弟赶鬼又靠著谁呢？这样，他们就要断定你们的是非。我若靠著神的能力赶鬼，这就是神的国临到你们了。』(路加福音 11:14-20)    

     我们在这里也看到了法利赛人不只是一次诬蔑祂是靠鬼上赶鬼 (参马太福音 9:32-34, 12:22-24)，但却是神的国降临的彰显，平时就像法利赛人所问，神的国来到是看不见的。『法利赛人问：「神的国几时来到？」耶稣回答说：「神的国来到不是眼所能见的。人也不得说：『看哪，在这里！看哪，在那里！』因为神的国就在你们心里。」』(路加福音 17:20-21) 圣经明讲，不在神的国度就在撒但的国度里。当我们愈想靠近神时，撒但就愈不甘心，攻击也会愈多，没有神的保守，我们会站立不住的。        

     接著说，『壮士披挂整齐，看守自己的住宅，他所有的都平安无事；但有一个比他更壮的来，胜过他，就夺去他所倚靠的盔甲兵器，又分了他的赃。「不与我相合的，就是敌我的；不同我收聚的，就是分散的。』(路加福音 11:21-23) 前者的解释很清楚，我们也看到神的能力绝对大过撒但。在马太福音 12:24-29 和马可福音 3:22-27 也有这样的记载。我们知道，『「我(耶稣)实在告诉你们：世人一切的罪和一切亵渎的话都可得赦免；凡亵渎圣灵的，却永不得赦免，乃要担当永远的罪。」这话是因为他们说：「他是被污鬼附著的。」』(马可福音 3:28-30) 明明是圣灵的工作，却被文士诬亵了。后者是指我们以前所分享的，是要从神的角度看事情，『因为神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:17-18)        

     「污鬼离了人身，就在无水之地过来过去，寻求安歇之处。既寻不著，便说：『我要回到我所出来的屋里去。』到了，就看见里面打扫干净，修饰好了，便去另带了七个比自己更恶的鬼来，都进去住在那里。那人末后的景况比先前更不好了。」』(路加福音 11:24-26) 所以不要以为鬼被赶出来一切都好了，我们不只是要打扫干净，一定要留在基督里，才能永远的逐出污鬼。       

     最后我们看看耶稣说这话时发生的事情，作为结束，『耶稣正说这话的时候，众人中间有一个女人大声说：「怀你胎的和乳养你的有福了！」耶稣说：「是，却还不如听神之道而遵守的人有福。」』(路加福音 11:27-28) 就像我们以前分享的经文一样，『耶稣还对众人说话的时候，不料，他母亲和他弟兄站在外边，要与他说话。有人告诉他说：「看哪，你母亲和你弟兄站在外边，要与你说话。」他却回答那人说：「谁是我的母亲？谁是我的弟兄？」就伸手指著门徒说：「看哪，我的母亲，我的弟兄。凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母亲了。」』(马太福音 12:46-50) 耶稣不是不认祂的母亲和弟兄，而是从大我的角度看事情。

参考

[1] 在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『对属灵生命的了解』，按『2021 主祷文的看见』。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)

    我們首先談到馬利亞選擇了那上好的福份，聽耶穌講話，也提到了馬大的信心。我們看到了拉撒路復活的過程，雖然他在聖經中沒講過一句話，但我們看到了他是活生生見証和他的影響。第二，我們以前詳細討論過主禱文，所以可以參考過去的討論，這裏只是強調寬恕的重要，和今日的糧是指屬靈和屬世的糧食兩者，不只是為食物謝飯而已。第三，經文說我們求聖靈一定會得著，並聖經教導我們應有的態度，只是沒有說時間，神有絕對的主權決定是何時。最後我們看看耶穌行了一個趕鬼的神蹟，彰顯了神的國降臨。我們也看到神的能力絕對大過撒但。不要以為鬼被趕出來一切都好了，一定要留在基督裏，才能永遠的逐出污鬼。

1. 馬大和馬利亞及拉撒路的復活

    『他們走路的時候，耶穌進了一個村莊。有一個女人，名叫馬大，接他到自己家裏。她有一個妹子，名叫馬利亞，在耶穌腳前坐着聽他的道。馬大伺候的事多，心裏忙亂，就進前來說：「主啊，我的妹子留下我一個人伺候，你不在意嗎？請吩咐她來幫助我。」耶穌回答說：「馬大！馬大！你為許多的事思慮煩擾，但是不可少的只有一件，馬利亞已經選擇那上好的福分，是不能奪去的。」』(路加福音 10:38-42) 的確，伯大尼的馬利亞選擇了那不可缺少的上好福份，神的話。但總要有人事奉，馬大選擇了事奉，只是該分些心思在上好的福份上，不要只為世俗的事情煩惱。教會兩者都不可或缺，如果沒人事奉教會就不會存在。如果只有事奉而沒有行出神的話，就會如老底嘉的教會一樣，把主耶穌關在門外而不自知。

    假如只能有一個選擇的情況下，生命比事奉重要，但兩者不可或缺，就像『撒母耳說：「耶和華喜悅燔祭和平安祭，豈如喜悅人聽從他的話呢？聽命勝於獻祭，順從勝於公羊的脂油。」』(撒母耳記上 15:22) 不是說內心的獻祭不重要，只是強調要聽命，因為罪就是由亞當的不順服進入了這世界。 (參羅馬書 5:12) 即使是新約時代，仍要『…將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉，乃是理所當然的。』(羅馬書 12:1) 有了生命，自然會想事奉。這就像有了信心，才會有和信心相稱的行為，不要本末倒置。『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各書 1:22-24)

    拉撒路復活這件事是從他患病開始，『有一個患病的人，名叫拉撒路，住在伯大尼，就是馬利亞和她姐姐馬大的村莊。這馬利亞就是那用香膏抹主，又用頭髮擦他腳的，患病的拉撒路是她的兄弟。』(約翰福音 11:1-2) 『耶穌素來愛馬大和她妹子並拉撒路，聽見拉撒路病了，就在所居之地仍住了兩天。』(約翰福音 11:5-6) 祂愛拉撒路，但祂的反應和一般人很不相同。一般人會在拉撒路死前趕到，但祂反而多留了兩天，所以耶穌是要眾人真正知道，拉撒路是真正的死了以後，才行神蹟。

     從這件事上我們來看看馬大的信心， 『馬大聽見耶穌來了，就出去迎接他；馬利亞卻仍然坐在家裏。馬大對耶穌說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死！就是現在，我也知道，你無論向神求甚麼，神也必賜給你。」耶穌說：「你兄弟必然復活。」馬大說：「我知道在末日復活的時候，他必復活。」耶穌對她說：「復活在我，生命也在我！信我的人，雖然死了，也必復活。凡活着信我的人必永遠不死。你信這話嗎？」馬大說：「主啊，是的，我信你是基督，是神的兒子，就是那要臨到世界的。」』(約翰福音 11:20-27) 我們看到馬大的信心是在未來，沒有想到拉撒路今日就可復活。

    『馬大說了這話，就回去暗暗地叫她妹子馬利亞說：「夫子來了，叫你。」馬利亞聽見了，就急忙起來，到耶穌那裏去。那時，耶穌還沒有進村子，仍在馬大迎接他的地方。那些同馬利亞在家裏安慰她的猶太人，見她急忙起來出去，就跟着她，以為她要往墳墓那裏去哭。馬利亞到了耶穌那裏，看見他，就俯伏在他腳前，說：「主啊，你若早在這裏，我兄弟必不死。」耶穌看見她哭，並看見與她同來的猶太人也哭，就心裏悲歎，又甚憂愁，便說：「你們把他安放在哪裏？」 他們回答說：「請主來看。」』(約翰福音 11:28-34)

    我們來看看拉撒路復活的過程，『耶穌哭了。猶太人就說：「你看他愛這人是何等懇切。」其中有人說：「他既然開了瞎子的眼睛，豈不能叫這人不死嗎？」耶穌又心裏悲歎，來到墳墓前。那墳墓是個洞，有一塊石頭擋着。耶穌說：「你們把石頭挪開！」 那死人的姐姐馬大對他說：「主啊，他現在必是臭了，因為他死了已經四天了。」耶穌說：「我不是對你說過，你若信，就必看見神的榮耀嗎？」他們就把石頭挪開。耶穌舉目望天說：「父啊，我感謝你，因為你已經聽我；我也知道你常聽我。但我說這話，是為周圍站着的眾人，叫他們信是你差了我來。」說了這話，就大聲呼叫說：「拉撒路出來！」那死人就出來了，手腳裹着布，臉上包着手巾。 耶穌對他們說：「解開，叫他走！」那些來看馬利亞的猶太人，見了耶穌所做的事，就多有信他的。』(約翰福音 11:35-45)

    我們看到耶穌說這話是為周圍站着的眾人，這和父神有時會做的事相同。例如，約翰福音 12:28-30 說：『…當時就有聲音從天上來說：「我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。」…耶穌說：「這聲音不是為我，是為你們來的。」』(約翰福音 12:28-30)    我們不知道耶穌為什麼悲歎又憂愁以致於哭了，因為聖經沒有明說。有人認為祂是因為見到人的結局都是一死，這是相當合理的猜測。也有人認為祂是取了人的樣式是完全的人，人有感情，因而看見所愛的人死去會哭，但這會有邏輯的問題，因為經文明說：『…父啊，我感謝你，因為你已經聽我；我也知道你常聽我。但我說這話，是為周圍站着的眾人，叫他們信是你差了我來。』(約翰福音 11:41-42) 所以祂預先就知道拉撒路會復活，跟本不會死。衆人也的確是看到了神的榮耀，因為拉撒路從死了已經四天中復活了。 

    『逾越節前六日，耶穌來到伯大尼，就是他叫拉撒路從死裏復活之處。有人在那裏給耶穌預備筵席，馬大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。馬利亞就拿着一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏抹耶穌的腳，又用自己頭髮去擦，屋裏就滿了膏的香氣。』(約翰福音 12:1-3) 『有許多猶太人知道耶穌在那裏，就來了，不但是為耶穌的緣故，也是要看他從死裏所復活的拉撒路。但祭司長商議連拉撒路也要殺了，因有好些猶太人為拉撒路的緣故，回去信了耶穌。』(約翰福音 12:9-11)

    拉撒路在聖經裏面一句話都沒有說，但有許多人因他信了主，他不需要說話，他本身的生命就是見証。我們剛才說到，教會生命和事奉都是不可或缺的，自己不能以身作則，只說不練是沒有用的。在教會中，生命是不可少的。不要讓世界進入教會，雖說教會和世界不同，至少在教會中應都是信主的，而一次得救就永遠得救，就如哥林多前書 3:15 所說，『人的工程若被燒了，他就要受虧損，自己卻要得救；雖然得救，乃像從火裏經過的一樣。』非基徒的名字都不在生命册上，如果我們看到啓示錄起初都照著次序寫，而相信整本啓示錄都是照著次序寫，而那時『若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:15) 當新天新地時，新耶路撒冷從天而降，這時城外的可能是曾經信過的，這就說明了為什麼『務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。』(彼得前書 5:8) 所以『城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的，並一切喜好說謊言編造虛謊的。』(啓示錄 22:15) 這些都是被撒但引誘而墮落的基督徒。『那些洗淨自己衣服的有福了！可得權柄能到生命樹那裏，也能從門進城。』(啓示錄 22:15) 我們要做那能進城的。

2. 主禱文

    『耶穌在一個地方禱告。禱告完了，有個門徒對他說：「求主教導我們禱告，像約翰教導他的門徒。」耶穌說：「你們禱告的時候，要說：『我們在天上的父：願人都尊你的名為聖。願你的國降臨，願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我們日用的飲食，天天賜給我們。赦免我們的罪，因為我們也赦免凡虧欠我們的人。不叫我們遇見試探，救我們脫離兇惡。』」』(路加福音 11:1-4)

    主禱文在馬太福音是這樣說，『所以，你們禱告要這樣說：『我們在天上的父，願人都尊你的名為聖。願你的國降臨，願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我們日用的飲食，今日賜給我們。免我們的債，如同我們免了人的債。不叫我們遇見試探，救我們脫離兇惡。因為國度、權柄、榮耀，全是你的，直到永遠。阿們！』你們饒恕人的過犯，你們的天父也必饒恕你們的過犯；你們不饒恕人的過犯，你們的天父也必不饒恕你們的過犯。』(馬太福音 6:9-15)

    我們以前曾討論過主禱文 [1]，在這裏我們就不多說。我們要強調是饒恕的重要，其實如果真能饒恕別人，對自己而言是卸下了一個重擔。而日用的飲食是指屬靈的糧食和一般屬世的糧食兩者，因耶穌說得很清楚，『…經上記着說：『人活着，不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裏所出的一切話。』』(馬太福音 4:4, 路加福音 4:4) 我們的確需要食物，沒有食物，我們會餓死，我們還需要神口裏所出的一切話。最後要提的是要奉主耶穌基督的名，因『你們奉我的名無論求甚麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。』(約翰福音 14:13-14) 這不是給我們一張空白的支票，可以隨便填，那究竟是什麼意思呢？看上下文就知道，當我們和主在某件事上合一時，我們所求的就是主所願的，祂有絕對的主權，怎麼會不成就呢？

3. 求聖靈則得之

    『耶穌又說：「你們中間誰有一個朋友半夜到他那裏去，說：『朋友，請借給我三個餅。因為我有一個朋友行路，來到我這裏，我沒有甚麼給他擺上。』「那人在裏面回答說：『不要攪擾我，門已經關閉，孩子們也同我在牀上了，我不能起來給你。』我告訴你們：雖不因他是朋友起來給他，但因他情詞迫切地直求(persistence, NASB; importunity G335, KJV)，就必起來照他所需用的給他。「我又告訴你們：你們祈求，就給你們；尋找，就尋見；叩門，就給你們開門。因為，凡祈求的，就得着；尋找的，就尋見；叩門的，就給他開門。「你們中間作父親的，誰有兒子求餅，反給他石頭呢？求魚，反拿蛇當魚給他呢？求雞蛋，反給他蠍子呢？你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給兒女，何況天父，豈不更將聖靈給求他的人嗎？」』(路加福音 11:5-13) 我們可以很清楚的看見這是指求聖靈一定會得著而說，且告訴了我們求的時候應有的態度。請注意，這裏是說我們一定得著，但沒有說何時得著，在這點上，祂有絕對的主權。

    在馬太福音所記載類似，只是沒有清楚的指出是要求得著聖靈，加上了清楚的說到律法和先知的道理。以下是其所講的，『你們祈求，就給你們；尋找，就尋見；叩門，就給你們開門。因為凡祈求的，就得着；尋找的，就尋見；叩門的，就給他開門。「你們中間誰有兒子求餅，反給他石頭呢？求魚，反給他蛇呢？你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給兒女，何況你們在天上的父，豈不更把好東西給求他的人嗎？所以，無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人，因為這就是律法和先知的道理。』(馬太福音 7:7-12)

4. 神的國降臨的彰顯 

        『耶穌趕出一個叫人啞巴的鬼。鬼出去了，啞巴就說出話來，眾人都希奇。內中卻有人說：「他是靠着鬼王別西卜趕鬼。」又有人試探耶穌，向他求從天上來的神蹟。他曉得他們的意念，便對他們說：「凡一國自相紛爭，就成為荒場；凡一家自相紛爭，就必敗落。若撒但自相紛爭，他的國怎能站得住呢？因為你們說我是靠着別西卜趕鬼。我若靠着別西卜趕鬼，你們的子弟趕鬼又靠着誰呢？這樣，他們就要斷定你們的是非。我若靠着神的能力趕鬼，這就是神的國臨到你們了。』(路加福音 11:14-20) 

    我們在這裏也看到了法利賽人不只是一次誣衊祂是靠鬼上趕鬼 (參馬太福音 9:32-34, 12:22-24)，但卻是神的國降臨的彰顯，平時就像法利賽人所問，神的國來到是看不見的。『法利賽人問：「神的國幾時來到？」耶穌回答說：「神的國來到不是眼所能見的。人也不得說：『看哪，在這裏！看哪，在那裏！』因為神的國就在你們心裏。」』(路加福音 17:20-21) 聖經明講，不在神的國度就在撒但的國度裏。當我們愈想靠近神時，撒但就愈不甘心，攻擊也會愈多，沒有神的保守，我們會站立不住的。

        接著說，『壯士披掛整齊，看守自己的住宅，他所有的都平安無事；但有一個比他更壯的來，勝過他，就奪去他所倚靠的盔甲兵器，又分了他的贓。「不與我相合的，就是敵我的；不同我收聚的，就是分散的。』(路加福音 11:21-23) 前者的解釋很清楚，我們也看到神的能力絕對大過撒但。在馬太福音 12:24-29 和馬可福音 3:22-27 也有這樣的記載。我們知道，『「我(耶穌)實在告訴你們：世人一切的罪和一切褻瀆的話都可得赦免；凡褻瀆聖靈的，卻永不得赦免，乃要擔當永遠的罪。」這話是因為他們說：「他是被污鬼附着的。」』(馬可福音 3:28-30) 明明是聖靈的工作，卻被文士誣褻了。後者是指我們以前所分享的，是要從神的角度看事情，『因為神差他的兒子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:17-18)

        「污鬼離了人身，就在無水之地過來過去，尋求安歇之處。既尋不着，便說：『我要回到我所出來的屋裏去。』到了，就看見裏面打掃乾淨，修飾好了，便去另帶了七個比自己更惡的鬼來，都進去住在那裏。那人末後的景況比先前更不好了。」』(路加福音 11:24-26) 所以不要以為鬼被趕出來一切都好了，我們不只是要打掃乾淨，一定要留在基督裏，才能永遠的逐出污鬼。

       最後我們看看耶穌說這話時發生的事情，作為結束，『耶穌正說這話的時候，眾人中間有一個女人大聲說：「懷你胎的和乳養你的有福了！」耶穌說：「是，卻還不如聽神之道而遵守的人有福。」』(路加福音 11:27-28) 就像我們以前分享的經文一樣，『耶穌還對眾人說話的時候，不料，他母親和他弟兄站在外邊，要與他說話。有人告訴他說：「看哪，你母親和你弟兄站在外邊，要與你說話。」他卻回答那人說：「誰是我的母親？誰是我的弟兄？」就伸手指着門徒說：「看哪，我的母親，我的弟兄。凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母親了。」』(馬太福音 12:46-50) 耶穌不是不認祂的母親和弟兄，而是從大我的角度看事情。

參考

[1] 在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，按『2021 主禱文的看見』。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, we talk about Mary. She chose only the good part of necessary things, which is God’s words. We also mention the faith of Martha. We see the process of the resurrection of Lazarus. Although the Bible doesn’t mention one word he said, he was the living witness himself. We also see the effect due to this. Secondly, we discussed the Lord’s prayer in detail before. Here, we just emphasize the importance of forgiveness, and “our daily bread” refers to both the spiritual and the worldly food, not only worldly bread. Thirdly, the verses tell us that if we pray for the Holy Spirit, we can get it for sure. And it also teaches us the attitude of such praying. However, it doesn’t say when we’ll get it. God has absolute authority to decide when. Lastly, we see that Jesus performed a miracle which cast out a demon, and manifested the coming of the Kingdom of God. We can see the power of God is absolutely greater than that of Satan. Don’t think that everything is alright if demons are cast out. We need to always stay in Christ to get rid of demons permanently.

1. Martha and Mary and the resurrection of Lazarus

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.””(Luke 10:38-42)

We can see the choices that Martha and Mary made were really different. Indeed, Mary of Bethany chose only the good part of necessary things: God’s words. But there needs to be someone serving and Martha selected serving. However, she should also pay some attention to the good part and not solely worry about the things of the world. The Church needs people who do both. If there is no one who serves, the Church cannot exist. If there is only service without being doers of God’s words, it will be like the church in Laodicea, shutting doors for Jesus but without knowing. 

If there is only one choice, life is more important than serving. But both are needed. It just like what “Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.”(1 Samuel 15:22) We aren’t saying that the sacrifice from the heart isn’t important, but emphasize that we need to obey, because sin came due to the disobedience of Adam (Ref. Romana 5:12). Even in the era of the New Testament, we still need “…to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”(Romans 12:1) Having life first, we naturally want to serve. It is important that we first have faith, then we have actions corresponding to our faith. Don’t turn it upside down. Just like what is said in James, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”(James 1:22-24)

The beginning of the event of the resurrection of Lazarus is his sickness. “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”(John 11:1-2)   “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.”(John 11:5-6) He loved Lazarus, but His reaction was very different from an ordinary person. The ordinary people would try to reach Lazarus before he was dead. Jesus did the opposite thing; He stayed for two more days. Thus, Jesus wanted people to make sure that Lazarus was really dead all the way through before He performed the miracle.

Let us take a look at the faith of Martha. “Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.””(John 11:20-27) We can see that the faith of Martha was great but regarding the future. She didn’t think that Jesus could give life for this world, and would see the resurrection of Lazarus at that day.

“When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.””(John 11:28-34)

Let take a look at the process of the resurrection of Lazarus. “Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”(John 11:35-45)

We can see that Jesus said what He said because of the people standing around. This is consistent with what God sometimes did. For example, in John 12:28-30, it says, “…Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sake.” Please notice that we cannot hear clearly if God doesn’t want us to hear, which is the same as the situation when Paul saw the big light. “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.”(Acts 22:9) God has absolute authority.

We don’t know for sure why He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled to the extent of weeping, because the Bible doesn’t say clearly. Someone thinks, “…just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men …”(Romans 5:12) As a result, the destiny of humans is death. Therefore, He behaved so.  This is a reasonable guess. Other people may think that He is completely man since He took the form of human. Humans have emotions. He saw that the man He loved was dead. Therefore, He wept. But such thinking leads to a logical problem, since the verses say clearly, “…Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”(John 11:41-42) So He knew in advance that Lazarus would not die for sure. The crowd indeed saw the glory of God since Lazarus was resurrected after dying for four days.

“Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”(John 12:1-3) “The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.”(John 12:9-11) 

In the verses, we see that Lazarus was only there. In the Bible, Lazarus didn’t say one word, but there were many of the Jews who believed in Jesus. He didn’t need to say any words. What happened to him was a witness to such a miracle. So, his life is indeed the witness itself. We just said that both life and serving were necessary to a church. If we cannot live our own life according to what we say, no one would believe it. In churches, life is indispensable. Don’t let the world enter the church. Churches and the world are different. At least, the members in churches believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And ‘once saved is forever saved’ is as said in 1 Corinthians 3:15, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Non- Christian’s names aren’t in the book of life. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:15) If we see that the Book of Revelation is written chronologically at the beginning for sure, then we should believe that the whole book is written chronologically. Then, when the new heaven and new earth come, new Jerusalem is descended from heaven. Outside the city, there should be fallen Christians since the non-Christians are already in the lake of fire. This is why Peter said, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(Peter 5:8) Satan is doing what supposed to do. Therefore, “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”(Revelation 22:15) Thus, these are fallen Christians seduced by Satan. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”(Revelation 22:14) Although outside the city is much better than going to the lake of fire, we really want to be the people who can enter the city.

2. Lord’s prayer

“It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. ‘Give us each day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’””(Luke 11:1-4)

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord’s prayer says in such a way. ““Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’] For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”(Matthew 6:9-15)

We discussed before in detail on the Lord’s prayer [1], and we’ll not repeat such discussions. What we want to emphasize is the importance of forgiveness. As a matter of fact, if one can genuinely forgive someone else, it will release his own burden to himself. The daily bread refers to both the spiritual food and the worldly one, because Jesus said clearly, “…“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’””(Matthew 4:4) We still need food since one will be hungry to death if without food, but we do need every word that proceeds out the mouth of God. We want to mention that we have to pray in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, since He said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:13-14) This is not given to us as an empty check so we can fill it out arbitrarily. What does it really mean? Looking at nearby verses, when we are united with the Lord in a particular thing, what we pray for will be the same as what the Lord desires. He has absolute authority, how can it not be achieved?

3. Getting for sure if praying for being filled by the Holy Spirit

“Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence (importunity G335, KJV) he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?””(Luke 11:5-13) We can see clearly that we’ll get it for sure if we pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It also tells us the attitude we should have. Please notice that the promise is that we’ll get it for sure, but didn’t say when. In this point, God has absolute authority.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the record is similar but without saying clearly that the statement is for praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It added the statement regarding the Law and the Prophets, which is clearly said. Below is what was said, ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”(Matthew 7:7-12)

4. The manifestation of the coming of the kingdom of God

“And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”(Luke 11:14-20)

We also saw here that the Pharisees not only slandered Him for exorcising demons (cf. Matthew 9:32-34, 12:22-24), but it was the manifestation of the coming of the kingdom of God.  As the Pharisees asked, the kingdom of God comes unseen. “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.””(Luke 17:20-21) The Bible clearly says that if you are not in the kingdom of God, you are in the kingdom of Satan.  The more we want to get closer to God, the more unwilling Satan will be, and the more attacks will occur. Without God’s protection, we will not be able to stand.

He went on to say, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.”(Luke 11:21-23) The explanation of the former is very clear, and we also see that the power of God is absolutely greater than that of Satan. It is also recorded in Matthew 12:24-29 and Mark 3:22-27. We know, ““Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”⁠— because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.””(Mark 3:28-30) Obviously it was the work of the Holy Spirit , but was slandered by the scribes.  The latter refers to what we have shared before, and it is to look at things in the aspect of God, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:17-18)

““When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.””(Luke 11:24-26) So don’t thinking about that everything will be fine after the demons are driven out, we not only need to clean up, but must stay in Christ, in order to drive out the evil spirits forever.

Finally, we look at what happened when Jesus said this to conclude this article, “While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.””(Luke 11:27-28) Just like the scriptures we shared before, “While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.””(Matthew 12:46-50) Jesus did not deny His mother and brother, but see things from the perspective of the higher self.

Reference

[1] In “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, click “On spiritual understanding about life”, click “1021 What seen in Lord’s prayer”. 

(Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)

     我们首先看到主耶稣差遣了七十个人出去宣教，都是两个两个的，这是宣教的原则。圣灵差保罗出去的时候如此，启示录有两个见证人，传道书也说明两个人比一个人强，所以出去传教至少要有两个人，这也是教会的原则。我们问、耶稣说到我们要做更大的事到底是指什么？也说到悔改的重要。第二，我们看到了耶稣被圣灵感动的欢乐，也知道三位一体的神所赐的喜乐是没有人能夺去的。第三，从一个律法师的试探，我们看到了圣经告诉我们的是多么的一致，要爱神，也要爱人。最后，我们看到了落在强盗手中的人的邻舍为什么是外邦人的撒马利亚人，这又是一个从人(律法师)角度看和从神(耶稣)角度看一致的例子。

1. 主耶稣差遣七十人       

     『这事以后，主又设立七十个人，差遣他们两个两个地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去，就对他们说：「要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。所以，你们当求，现庄稼的主打发工人出去收他的庄稼。你们去吧！我差你们出去，如同羊羔进入狼群。不要带钱囊，不要带口袋，不要带鞋，在路上也不要问人的安。「无论进哪一家，先要说：『愿这一家平安！』那里若有当得平安的人，你们所求的平安就必临到那家；不然，就归与你们了。你们要住在那家，吃喝他们所供给的，因为工人得工价是应当的。不要从这家搬到那家。「无论进哪一城，人若接待你们，给你们摆上甚么，你们就吃甚么。要医治那城里的病人，对他们说：『神的国临近你们了。』无论进哪一城，人若不接待你们，你们就到街上去，说：『就是你们城里的尘土粘在我们的脚上，我们也当著你们擦去。虽然如此，你们该知道神的国临近了。』我告诉你们：当审判的日子，所多玛所受的，比那城还容易受呢！「哥拉汛哪，你有祸了！伯赛大啊，你有祸了！因为在你们中间所行的异能若行在推罗、西顿，他们早已披麻蒙灰，坐在地上悔改了。当审判的日子，推罗、西顿所受的，比你们还容易受呢！迦百农啊！你已经升到天上，将来必推下阴间。」又对门徒说：「听从你们的就是听从我；弃绝你们的就是弃绝我；弃绝我的就是弃绝那差我来的。」』(路加福音 10:1-16)    

     我们看到宣教的原则至少是两个一起去，保罗(扫罗)第一次出去宣道时也是和巴拿巴两个人，如经文所说，『他们事奉主，禁食的时候，圣灵说：「要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗，去做我召他们所做的工。」于是禁食祷告，按手在他们头上，就打发他们去了。』(使徒行传 13:2-3) 在启示录也有两个见证人，『我要使我那两个见证人，穿著毛衣，传道一千二百六十天。』(启示录 11:3) 传道书基本上说了为什么要两个人的原因，『两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人独睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能敌挡他；三股合成的绳子不容易折断。』(传道书 4:9-12) 这里说明二人同睡的原因是为了取暖，倒不是在这里说夫妻关系。    

     这也是教会的原则，教会是一群人，绝不是一个人。耶稣说，『…若是你们中间有两个人在地上同心合意地求甚么事，我在天上的父必为他们成全。因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。』(马太福音 18:19-20) 当夫妻能同行时，不就已经满足两人的条件吗？请注意，这里没有提到成就的时间，凡事都有定时。不要不同心同行只是因为从人的角度看是耽延、就以为祷告的事情不被应许了！    

     讲到教会，耶稣又说，『我实实在在地告诉你们：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，并且要做比这更大的事，因为我往父那里去。』(约翰福音 14:12)   这更大的事是指什么呢？很显然不是指耶稣在天上的时候，我们还要祈求祂的怜悯，成全我们所求的事呢！所以这是指在地上教会的整体，这可由祂说的原因是『因为我往父那里去』看出来。祂去了，圣灵在五旬节来了，教会成立了。耶稣在道成肉身的时候受到肉身的限制，我们现在有内住的圣灵，而且有大使命这样说，『所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。』(马太福音 28:19)  现在教会的成员可以到各个地方去，祂不再有限制了，而祂说，『你们奉我的名无论求甚么，我必成就，叫父因儿子得荣耀。你们若奉我的名求甚么，我必成就。』(约翰福音 14:13-14)   我们再次强调神有绝对的主权, 祂决定祷告何时被成就。这不是教会比耶稣在地上因肉身的限制局限在一个小地方、做了更大的事吗？     

     我们在差遣十二使徒出去时谈过工人得工价是应当的，基本上这七十个人是什么都不带的，并讨论过，『…弃绝我(耶稣)的就是弃绝那差我来的。』(路加福音 10:16) 这是从神的角度看，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。』(约翰福音 3:18) 就不多讨论了。他们去时，遇到有值得平安的人，就把平安赐给他们，并在那城医治病人，且说天国近了。     

     这段也说到悔改的重要，  『从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：「天国近了，你们应当悔改！」』(马太福音 4:17) 请注意，这里所提到的哥拉汛、伯赛大、和迦百农都是在指神的子民，而推罗、和西顿的人是外邦人，但这经文说得很清楚，如果神迹行在那里，他们早已披麻蒙灰，坐在地上悔改了。反倒是神的子民死不悔改，虽行了许多神迹，却是少有信祂的，难怪耶稣会说，『我又告诉你们：从东从西，将有许多人来，在天国里与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各一同坐席；惟有本国的子民，竟被赶到外边黑暗里去，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。』(马太福音 8:11-12) 在新约的时代，我们有这样的应许，『我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义；我们若说自己没有犯过罪，便是以神为说谎的，他的道也不在我们心里了。』(约翰一书 1:9-10) 要真心悔改。       

     『那七十个人欢欢喜喜地回来，说：「主啊！因你的名，就是鬼也服了我们。」耶稣对他们说：「我曾看见撒但从天上坠落，像闪电一样。我已经给你们权柄可以践踏蛇和蝎子，又胜过仇敌一切的能力，断没有甚么能害你们。然而，不要因鬼服了你们就欢喜，要因你们的名记录在天上欢喜。」』(路加福音 10:17-20)     

     这段是和下列的经文是一致的，『大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。』(启示录 12:9) 圣经说，『我又看见一个白色的大宝座与坐在上面的，…若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。』(启示录 20:11-15) 我们看到了耶稣的著重点是很不一样的，一般人看到超自然的事情如鬼服了他就会如这七十个人般很高兴的，而耶稣更注重永恒的事情，所以耶稣会说要因记在生命册上而欢喜。我们要知道，每一个基督徒的名字，也都在生命册上的。

2. 耶稣被圣灵感动的欢乐       

     『正当那时，耶稣被圣灵感动就欢乐，说：「父啊，天地的主，我感谢你！因为你将这些事向聪明通达人就藏起来，向婴孩就显出来。父啊，是的，因为你的美意本是如此。「一切所有的都是我父交付我的。除了父，没有人知道子是谁；除了子和子所愿意指示的，没有人知道父是谁。」耶稣转身暗暗地对门徒说：「看见你们所看见的，那眼睛就有福了。我告诉你们：从前有许多先知和君王要看你们所看的，却没有看见；要听你们所听的，却没有听见。」』(路加福音 10:21-24)       

     这经文的后半段也是马太福音所说的，『但你们的眼睛是有福的，因为看见了；你们的耳朵也是有福的，因为听见了。我实在告诉你们：从前有许多先知和义人要看你们所看的，却没有看见；要听你们所听的，却没有听见。』(马太福音 13:16-17) 说到婴孩，『你因敌人的缘故，从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。』(诗篇 8:2) 我们真正的知道并承认我们是婴孩吗？在神面前我们可以，在人面前呢？我们常会说卧虎藏龙！『耶稣说：「外邦人有君王为主治理他们，那掌权管他们的称为恩主。但你们不可这样。你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服事人的。』(路加福音 22:25-26) 教会和世俗是不一样的.，不是只看能力，即使管理饭食的也要看是不是被圣灵充满。这就如经文所说，『十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：「我们撇下神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。所以，弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。但我们要专心以祈祷传道为事。」』(使徒行传 6:2-4)       

     讲到喜乐，圣经说：『…你们若爱我，因我到父那里去，就必喜乐，因为父是比我大的。』(约翰福音 14:28) 『父是比我大』，只是道成肉身的那段时间，因为父差遣子，平常是同尊同荣，三位一体的神。『你们现在也是忧愁，但我要再见你们，你们的心就喜乐了，这喜乐也没有人能夺去。』(约翰福音 16:22) 耶稣复活后，完成了『我要再见你们』的承诺，所以三位一体的神所赐的喜乐是没有人能夺去的。

3. 律法师的试探       

     『有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：「夫子，我该做甚么才可以承受永生？」耶稣对他说：「律法上写的是甚么？你念的是怎样呢？」他回答说：「你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的神；又要爱邻舍如同自己。」耶稣说：「你回答的是。你这样行，就必得永生。」』(路加福音 10:25-28) 要爱神和爱人如己是很明显的。但光知道没有用的，一定要照著行，才能得到永生，也就是说，要有雅各书所讲信心的行为，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22)       

     在马太福音的记载基本上是相同的，『内中有一个人是律法师，要试探耶稣，就问他说：「夫子，律法上的诫命，哪一条是最大的呢？」耶稣对他说：「你要尽心、尽性、尽意，爱主你的神。这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。」』(马太福音 22:35-40)   一个家能真正的在爱中让主居首位，是蒙祝福的。       

     在对观福音中的马可福音多谈了一些，『有一个文士来，听见他们辩论，晓得耶稣回答得好，就问他说：「诫命中哪是第一要紧的呢？」耶稣回答说：「第一要紧的就是说：『以色列啊，你要听！主我们神是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力爱主你的神。』其次就是说：『要爱人如己。』再没有比这两条诫命更大的了。」那文士对耶稣说：「夫子说，神是一位，实在不错！除了他以外，再没有别的神；并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他，又爱人如己，就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好得多。」耶稣见他回答得有智慧，就对他说：「你离神的国不远了。」从此以后，没有人敢再问他甚么。』(马可福音 12:28-34)       

     我们看见了文士就是指律法师，也看见了圣经告诉我们要去做的两条诫命是一致的，我们应朝这一致性方向去想。并看见了我们要真正的了解圣经，而不只是行表面上的燔祭和各样祭祀。的确，这律法师离神的国不远了，所以前述的路加福音会说，『你这样行，就必得永生。』在新约时代，我们不必如旧约时献上死的祭物了，但要如保罗所说，『所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此事奉，乃是理所当然的。』(罗马书 12:1) 且要了解并要过一个分别为圣的生活，『不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。』(罗马书 12:2)

4. 谁是邻舍？       

     『那人要显明自己有理，就对耶稣说：「谁是我的邻舍呢？」耶稣回答说：「有一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在强盗手中。他们剥去他的衣裳，把他打个半死，就丢下他走了。偶然有一个祭司从这条路下来，看见他就从那边过去了。又有一个利未人来到这地方，看见他，也照样从那边过去了。惟有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里，看见他就动了慈心，上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处，包裹好了，扶他骑上自己的牲口，带到店里去照应他。第二天拿出二钱银子来，交给店主，说：『你且照应他，此外所费用的，我回来必还你。』「你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？」他说：「是怜悯他的。」 耶稣说：「你去照样行吧。」』(路加福音 10:29-37) 所以祭司和利未人不是落在强盗手中的人的邻舍，他们从那边过去了，邻舍的确是照顾他的撒马利亚人。    

     再一次强调要行，要像雅各书所说的，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。因为听道而不行道的，就像人对著镜子看自己本来的面目，看见，走后，随即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各书 1:22-24) 在这里，我又看到一个从人(律法师)角度看和从神(耶稣)角度看一致的例子。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到这网站后要按『对属灵生命的了解』。)

          我們首先看到主耶穌差遣了七十個人出去宣教，都是兩個兩個的，這是宣教的原則。聖靈差保羅出去的時候如此，啓示錄有兩個見証人，傳道書也說明兩個人比一個人强，所以出去傳教至少要有兩個人，這也是教會的原則。我們問、耶穌說到我們要做更大的事到底是指什麼？也說到悔改的重要。第二，我們看到了耶穌被聖靈感動的歡樂，也知道三位一體的神所賜的喜樂是沒有人能奪去的。第三，從一個律法師的試探，我們看到了聖經告訴我們的是多麼的一致，要愛神，也要愛人。最後，我們看到了落在強盜手中的人的鄰舍為什麼是外邦人的撒馬利亞人，這又是一個從人(律法師)角度看和從神(耶穌)角度看一致的例子。

1. 主耶穌差遣七十人

       『這事以後，主又設立七十個人，差遣他們兩個兩個地在他前面，往自己所要到的各城、各地方去，就對他們說：「要收的莊稼多，做工的人少。所以，你們當求，現莊稼的主打發工人出去收他的莊稼。你們去吧！我差你們出去，如同羊羔進入狼羣。不要帶錢囊，不要帶口袋，不要帶鞋，在路上也不要問人的安。「無論進哪一家，先要說：『願這一家平安！』那裏若有當得平安的人，你們所求的平安就必臨到那家；不然，就歸與你們了。你們要住在那家，吃喝他們所供給的，因為工人得工價是應當的。不要從這家搬到那家。「無論進哪一城，人若接待你們，給你們擺上甚麼，你們就吃甚麼。要醫治那城裏的病人，對他們說：『神的國臨近你們了。』無論進哪一城，人若不接待你們，你們就到街上去，說：『就是你們城裏的塵土粘在我們的腳上，我們也當着你們擦去。雖然如此，你們該知道神的國臨近了。』我告訴你們：當審判的日子，所多瑪所受的，比那城還容易受呢！「哥拉汛哪，你有禍了！伯賽大啊，你有禍了！因為在你們中間所行的異能若行在推羅、西頓，他們早已披麻蒙灰，坐在地上悔改了。當審判的日子，推羅、西頓所受的，比你們還容易受呢！迦百農啊！你已經升到天上，將來必推下陰間。」又對門徒說：「聽從你們的就是聽從我；棄絕你們的就是棄絕我；棄絕我的就是棄絕那差我來的。」』(路加福音 10:1-16)

    我們看到宣教的原則至少是兩個一起去，保羅(掃羅)第一次出去宣道時也是和巴拿巴兩個人，如經文所說，『他們事奉主，禁食的時候，聖靈說：「要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅，去做我召他們所做的工。」於是禁食禱告，按手在他們頭上，就打發他們去了。』(使徒行傳 13:2-3) 在啓示錄也有兩個見證人，『我要使我那兩個見證人，穿着毛衣，傳道一千二百六十天。』(啓示錄 11:3) 傳道書基本上說了為什麼要兩個人的原因，『兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。若是跌倒，這人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，沒有別人扶起他來，這人就有禍了！再者，二人同睡，就都暖和；一人獨睡，怎能暖和呢？有人攻勝孤身一人，若有二人便能敵擋他；三股合成的繩子不容易折斷。』(傳道書 4:9-12) 這裏說明二人同睡的原因是為了取暖，倒不是在這裏說夫妻關係。

    這也是教會的原則，教會是一群人，絕不是一個人。耶穌說，『…若是你們中間有兩個人在地上同心合意地求甚麼事，我在天上的父必為他們成全。因為無論在哪裏，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裏就有我在他們中間。』(馬太福音 18:19-20) 當夫妻能同行時，不就已經滿足兩人的條件嗎？請注意，這裏沒有提到成就的時間，凡事都有定時。不要不同心同行只是因為從人的角度看是耽延、就以為禱告的事情不被應許了！

    講到教會，耶穌又說，『我實實在在地告訴你們：我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事，因為我往父那裏去。』(約翰福音 14:12)   這更大的事是指什麼呢？很顯然不是指耶穌在天上的時候，我們還要祈求祂的憐憫，成全我們所求的事呢！所以這是指在地上教會的整體，這可由祂說的原因是『因為我往父那裏去』看出來。祂去了，聖靈在五旬節來了，教會成立了。耶穌在道成肉身的時候受到肉身的限制，我們現在有內住的聖靈，而且有大使命這樣說，『所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗。』(馬太福音 28:19)  現在教會的成員可以到各個地方去，祂不再有限制了，而祂說，『你們奉我的名無論求甚麼，我必成就，叫父因兒子得榮耀。你們若奉我的名求甚麼，我必成就。』(約翰福音 14:13-14)   我們再次強調神有絕對的主權, 祂決定禱告何時被成就。這不是教會比耶穌在地上因肉身的限制侷限在一個小地方、做了更大的事嗎？

     我們在差遣十二使徒出去時談過工人得工價是應當的，基本上這七十個人是什麼都不帶的，並討論過，『…棄絕我(耶穌)的就是棄絕那差我來的。』(路加福音 10:16) 這是從神的角度看，『信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已經定了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。』(約翰福音 3:18) 就不多討論了。他們去時，遇到有值得平安的人，就把平安賜給他們，並在那城醫治病人，且說天國近了。

     這段也說到悔改的重要，  『從那時候，耶穌就傳起道來，說：「天國近了，你們應當悔改！」』(馬太福音 4:17) 請注意，這裏所提到的哥拉汛、伯賽大、和迦百農都是在指神的子民，而推羅、和西頓的人是外邦人，但這經文說得很清楚，如果神蹟行在那裏，他們早已披麻蒙灰，坐在地上悔改了。反倒是神的子民死不悔改，雖行了許多神蹟，卻是少有信祂的，難怪耶穌會說，『我又告訴你們：從東從西，將有許多人來，在天國裏與亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各一同坐席；惟有本國的子民，竟被趕到外邊黑暗裏去，在那裏必要哀哭切齒了。』(馬太福音 8:11-12) 在新約的時代，我們有這樣的應許，『我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義；我們若說自己沒有犯過罪，便是以神為說謊的，他的道也不在我們心裏了。』(約翰一書 1:9-10) 要真心悔改。

       『那七十個人歡歡喜喜地回來，說：「主啊！因你的名，就是鬼也服了我們。」耶穌對他們說：「我曾看見撒但從天上墜落，像閃電一樣。我已經給你們權柄可以踐踏蛇和蠍子，又勝過仇敵一切的能力，斷沒有甚麼能害你們。然而，不要因鬼服了你們就歡喜，要因你們的名記錄在天上歡喜。」』(路加福音 10:17-20) 

     這段是和下列的經文是一致的，『大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。』(啓示錄 12:9) 聖經說，『我又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的，…若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。』(啓示錄 20:11-15) 我們看到了耶穌的著重點是很不一樣的，一般人看到超自然的事情如鬼服了他就會如這七十個人般很高興的，而耶穌更注重永恆的事情，所以耶穌會說要因記在生命册上而歡喜。我們要知道，每一個基督徒的名字，也都在生命册上的。

2. 耶穌被聖靈感動的歡樂

       『正當那時，耶穌被聖靈感動就歡樂，說：「父啊，天地的主，我感謝你！因為你將這些事向聰明通達人就藏起來，向嬰孩就顯出來。父啊，是的，因為你的美意本是如此。「一切所有的都是我父交付我的。除了父，沒有人知道子是誰；除了子和子所願意指示的，沒有人知道父是誰。」耶穌轉身暗暗地對門徒說：「看見你們所看見的，那眼睛就有福了。我告訴你們：從前有許多先知和君王要看你們所看的，卻沒有看見；要聽你們所聽的，卻沒有聽見。」』(路加福音 10:21-24)

       這經文的後半段也是馬太福音所說的，『但你們的眼睛是有福的，因為看見了；你們的耳朵也是有福的，因為聽見了。我實在告訴你們：從前有許多先知和義人要看你們所看的，卻沒有看見；要聽你們所聽的，卻沒有聽見。』(馬太福音 13:16-17) 說到嬰孩，『你因敵人的緣故，從嬰孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言。』(詩篇 8:2) 我們真正的知道並承認我們是嬰孩嗎？在神面前我們可以，在人面前呢？我們常會說臥虎藏龍！『耶穌說：「外邦人有君王為主治理他們，那掌權管他們的稱為恩主。但你們不可這樣。你們裏頭為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。』(路加福音 22:25-26) 教會和世俗是不一樣的.，不是只看能力，即使管理飯食的也要看是不是被聖靈充滿。這就如經文所說，『十二使徒叫眾門徒來，對他們說：「我們撇下神的道去管理飯食，原是不合宜的。所以，弟兄們，當從你們中間選出七個有好名聲、被聖靈充滿、智慧充足的人，我們就派他們管理這事。但我們要專心以祈禱傳道為事。」』(使徒行傳 6:2-4)

       講到喜樂，聖經說：『…你們若愛我，因我到父那裏去，就必喜樂，因為父是比我大的。』(約翰福音 14:28) 『父是比我大』，只是道成肉身的那段時間，因為父差遣子，平常是同尊同榮，三位一體的神。『你們現在也是憂愁，但我要再見你們，你們的心就喜樂了，這喜樂也沒有人能奪去。』(約翰福音 16:22) 耶穌復活後，完成了『我要再見你們』的承諾，所以三位一體的神所賜的喜樂是沒有人能奪去的。

3. 律法師的試探

       『有一個律法師起來試探耶穌，說：「夫子，我該做甚麼才可以承受永生？」耶穌對他說：「律法上寫的是甚麼？你念的是怎樣呢？」他回答說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡力、盡意愛主你的神；又要愛鄰舍如同自己。」耶穌說：「你回答的是。你這樣行，就必得永生。」』(路加福音 10:25-28) 要愛神和愛人如己是很明顯的。但光知道沒有用的，一定要照著行，才能得到永生，也就是說，要有雅各書所講信心的行為，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22)

       在馬太福音的記載基本上是相同的，『內中有一個人是律法師，要試探耶穌，就問他說：「夫子，律法上的誡命，哪一條是最大的呢？」耶穌對他說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意，愛主你的神。這是誡命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要愛人如己。這兩條誡命是律法和先知一切道理的總綱。」』(馬太福音 22:35-40)   一個家能真正的在愛中讓主居首位，是蒙祝福的。

       在對觀福音中的馬可福音多談了一些，『有一個文士來，聽見他們辯論，曉得耶穌回答得好，就問他說：「誡命中哪是第一要緊的呢？」耶穌回答說：「第一要緊的就是說：『以色列啊，你要聽！主我們神是獨一的主。你要盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛主你的神。』其次就是說：『要愛人如己。』再沒有比這兩條誡命更大的了。」那文士對耶穌說：「夫子說，神是一位，實在不錯！除了他以外，再沒有別的神；並且盡心、盡智、盡力愛他，又愛人如己，就比一切燔祭和各樣祭祀好得多。」耶穌見他回答得有智慧，就對他說：「你離神的國不遠了。」從此以後，沒有人敢再問他甚麼。』(馬可福音 12:28-34)

       我們看見了文士就是指律法師，也看見了聖經告訴我們要去做的兩條誡命是一致的，我們應朝這一致性方向去想。並看見了我們要真正的瞭解聖經，而不只是行表面上的燔祭和各樣祭祀。的確，這律法師離神的國不遠了，所以前述的路加福音會說，『你這樣行，就必得永生。』在新約時代，我們不必如舊約時獻上死的祭物了，但要如保羅所說，『所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉，乃是理所當然的。』(羅馬書 12:1) 且要瞭解並要過一個分別為聖的生活，『不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。』(羅馬書 12:2)

4. 誰是鄰舍？

       『那人要顯明自己有理，就對耶穌說：「誰是我的鄰舍呢？」耶穌回答說：「有一個人從耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在強盜手中。他們剝去他的衣裳，把他打個半死，就丟下他走了。偶然有一個祭司從這條路下來，看見他就從那邊過去了。又有一個利未人來到這地方，看見他，也照樣從那邊過去了。惟有一個撒馬利亞人行路來到那裏，看見他就動了慈心，上前用油和酒倒在他的傷處，包裹好了，扶他騎上自己的牲口，帶到店裏去照應他。第二天拿出二錢銀子來，交給店主，說：『你且照應他，此外所費用的，我回來必還你。』「你想，這三個人哪一個是落在強盜手中的鄰舍呢？」他說：「是憐憫他的。」 耶穌說：「你去照樣行吧。」』(路加福音 10:29-37) 所以祭司和利未人不是落在強盜手中的人的鄰舍，他們從那邊過去了，鄰舍的確是照顧他的撒馬利亞人。

    再一次強調要行，要像雅各書所說的，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。因為聽道而不行道的，就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。』(雅各書 1:22-24) 在這裏，我又看到一個從人(律法師)角度看和從神(耶穌)角度看一致的例子。

(你可以在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』看到所有的文章，到這網站後要按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。)

First, Jesus was sending the seventy to preach Gospel in groups of two, which is the principle of preaching.  The Holy Spirit sent Apostle Paul to preach the Gospel by the same way. In the Book of Revelation, there are two witnesses.  The Book of Ecclesiastes sort of explains why two people in a group is better than one person. So, there’re at least two in a group when preaching. It is also the principle used in churches. We then ask what are the greater things we can do, which Jesus talked about. And we also mention the importance of repentance. Secondly, we see that joy of Jesus is due to the Holy Spirit, and also know that there is no one who can take the joy from the Holy Trinity away from you. Thirdly, we discuss a certain test from a lawyer.  We see what the Bible tells us is consistent – loving God and your neighbor as yourself. Finally, we can see the neighbor of the person who fell among robbers is a gentile Samaritan.  This is another example, which tells us that to see things in the aspect of human (the lawyer) and in the aspect of God is consistent. 

1. Lord Jesus sending the seventy

In Luke 10:1-16, it says, “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.””

We can see the principle of sending people in pairs. During Paul’s first missionary journey, he was with Barnabas, as the verses in Acts 13:2-3 says, “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” In Revelation 11:3, there are two witnesses, “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, it gives sort of reasons why it takes two, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Here it tells that two lie down together for the reason of keeping warm, not the relationship of husband and wife.

This is also the principle of the church, which consists of a group of people, definitely not a single person. Jesus said, “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”(Matthew 18:19-20) When husband and wife can walk together, are there two already? Please notice that timing isn’t mentioned in these verses. Everything has its appointed time. Don’t think that just because a prayer is not answered immediately it means it is not being granted.

Talking about the Church, Jesus also said in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” How can we do greater works than Jesus can do? Aren’t we have to pray in His name and hope to be granted? Therefore, this was talking about the works in the period of Word becoming flesh. What Church as a whole can do what He did during that period? This can be seen from the reason He said, “because I go to the Father.” He went to Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended in Pentecost, then the Church established. During the period Jesus was on earth, He was restricted by His flesh. Now we have the Holy Spirit residing in us, and also have the great mission which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”(Matthew 28:19)   Nowadays, the members of a church can go anywhere with the Holy Spirit. He is no longer restricted. He said in John 14:13-14, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” We emphasize again that timing isn’t mentioned here. God has absolute authority and He decides when a prayer would be accomplished. 

When we discussed the sent twelve, we had already talked about ” the laborer is worthy of his wages.” Basically, the seventy didn’t bring anything with them.  And we also discussed about “…the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”(Luke 10:16) This is to see things in the aspect of God: “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”(John 3:18) Here, we don’t repeat the discussions.  When they met people, who were worthy of peace, the peace would rest on them. They would heal the sick at that city, and proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven was coming.

These verses have also mentioned the importance of repentance. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””(Matthew 4:17) Please notice that people at Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were God’s people, but Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities. The verses say clearly that they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes if miracles were done among them. On the opposite side, God’s peoples didn’t repent. Although He did many miracles, they seldom believed Him. No wonder Jesus said, “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.””(Matthew 8:11-12) In the era of the New Testament, we have a promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”(1 John 1:9-10) We need to really repent in our hearts. 

“The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”'(Luke 10:17-20)

These verses are consistent with the verses,  “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”(Revelation 12:9) The Bible also says, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, …And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”(Revelation 20:11-15) We can see what Jesus emphasized was very different. Ordinary peoples see supernatural things such as “the demons are subject to us in Your name,” they would be very happy just like the seventy. But what Jesus emphasized was forever things since He said, “but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” We must understand that the names for Christians are in the book of life. 

2. Jesus rejoicing greatly in the Holy Spirit

“At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.””(Luke 10:21-24)

The second half of the verses is the same as what was told in the Gospel of Matthew, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”(Matthew 13:16-17) Talking about infants, it is said in Psalm 8:2, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.” Do we genuinely know and recognize that we’re infants? In front of God, maybe we can. How about before others? We often think that we are talented just like ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.’ It is said in Luke 22:25-26, “And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.” The standard between the Church and the world is very different. In the Church, being talented is not the most important thing. Even serving tables, one of the criteria is to be full of the Spirit as the verses said, “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.””(Acts 6:2-4)

Speaking about the joy, the Bible says, “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”(John 14:28) “The Father is greater than I” is just for the period of Word becoming flesh since the Father sent the Son. In ordinary time, they’re with equal respect and honor, the Holy Trinity.  “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”(John 16:22) After Jesus resurrected, He fulfilled His promise, “I will come to you.” Therefore, the joy from the Holy Trinity no one can take away from you.

3. The test of a lawyer 

In Luke 10:25-28, it says, “And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”” Loving God and neighbors as ourselves are apparently necessary.  But merely talking is useless, we need to do this in our life. In other words, we need to have action out of faith as described in James 1:22, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

The record in Matthew 22:35-40 is basically the same, “One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”” A family which can make the Lord the first priority is really a blessed one.

In Synopses, the Gospel of Luke tells more. “One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.”(Mark 12:28-34)

We can see a scribe is a lawyer.  And we also see that what the Bible tells us is consistent regarding the two commands we should do. We really have to think along such a consistent direction. We need to really understand the Bible, and not just do things on the surface all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Indeed, the lawyer wasn’t far away from the kingdom of God.  Therefore, the previous words said in the Gospel of Luke is “do this and you will live.” In the era of the New Testament, we no longer need to offer the dead sacrifices. But we need to do what Paul said, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”(Romans 12:1) Meanwhile,  we need to have a life to separate us from the world and lead us to sanctification as said in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

4. Who is a neighbor?

It says in Luke 10:29-37, “But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.””

The priest and the Levite weren’t a neighbor for the person who fell among robbers. Both of them passed by on the other side. A neighbor was indeed the Samaritan, who took care of him. Let us emphasize again, we need to have the action out of faith like what said in the Book of James, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”(James 1:22-24) Here, we see another example, where viewing things in the aspect of human (lawyer) and in the aspect of God (Jesus) were the same.    

 (Verses refer to those in NASB unless otherwise specified.)

(You can get all articles in “https://a-christian-voice.com/” under “On spiritual understanding about life.”)