我們首先看看馬太的呼召，他並不諱言他是稅吏，說說為什麼聖經雖然沒有明講，我們仍知道他又叫利未。第二，我們看見了耶穌常常禁食，及禁食的果效。雖然不是每次禁食禱告都會被允許，但在我們身體允許的情況下是可以禁食的，但要記得是因信稱義，絕對不是因為禁食這個動作。第三，我們看看為禁食而講的新舊難合的比喻，要瞭解禁食的真義。第四，我們看看耶穌說人子是安息日的主。因祂是主，而且喜愛憐恤，知道安息日是為人設立的，並不是人為安息日設立的，所以祂的確遵守了安息日的精義，而不是安息日的時間，我們能不消滅聖靈的感動，就自然而然的完成了舊約的誡命。

1. 稅吏利未就是馬太的呼召

       聖經沒有明講利未就是馬太，但我們比較利未和馬太的呼召過程，描述是一樣的，就會知道利未和馬太只是有不同的名字的同一個人。那時的猶太人常有兩個不同的名字，譬如彼得原名叫西門，而耶穌賜名為彼得，如經文所說，『…耶穌看着他說：「你是約翰的兒子西門，你要稱為磯法。」（「磯法」翻出來就是「彼得」。）(約翰福音 1:42) 當然舊約中也有類似的情況，例如亞伯拉罕原先是叫亞伯蘭，又如神給了雅各兩次機會改名為以色列[1]。

       因路加福音直說是照著次序寫的，我們以前提到過這是指依照事件發生的次序。我們就照路加福音繼續看下去，先看稅吏利未的呼召，『這事以後，耶穌出去，看見一個稅吏，名叫利未，坐在稅關上，就對他說：「你跟從我來！」他就撇下所有的，起來，跟從了耶穌。利未在自己家裏為耶穌大擺筵席，有許多稅吏和別人與他們一同坐席。法利賽人和文士就向耶穌的門徒發怨言說：「你們為甚麼和稅吏並罪人一同吃喝呢？」耶穌對他們說：「無病的人用不着醫生，有病的人才用得着；我來本不是召義人悔改，乃是召罪人悔改。」』(路加福音 5:27-32) 

     我們看到利未撇下所有的接受了呼召，這也是我們該有的態度。顯然的，利未的朋友很多是稅吏，我們也看到了法利賽人和文士的自義，難道我們不都是從罪人開始嗎？『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀。』(羅馬書 3:23)   這在馬可福音 2:14-17 也有類似的描述，就不多談了。

       我們再看馬太福音稅吏馬太呼召的情況，『耶穌從那裏往前走，看見一個人名叫馬太，坐在稅關上，就對他說：「你跟從我來。」他就起來，跟從了耶穌。耶穌在屋裏坐席的時候，有好些稅吏和罪人來，與耶穌和他的門徒一同坐席。法利賽人看見，就對耶穌的門徒說：「你們的先生為甚麼和稅吏並罪人一同吃飯呢？」耶穌聽見，就說：「康健的人用不着醫生，有病的人才用得着。經上說：『我喜愛憐恤，不喜愛祭祀。』這句話的意思，你們且去揣摩。我來，本不是召義人，乃是召罪人。」』(馬太福音 9:9-13) 與路加福音比較，我們就知道這在敍述同一件事情，同一個人，所以我們看到了利未就是馬太，也看到了他的呼召。

2. 禁食的果效

       經文說，『他們說：「約翰的門徒屢次禁食祈禱，法利賽人的門徒也是這樣，惟獨你的門徒又吃又喝。」耶穌對他們說：「新郎和陪伴之人同在的時候，豈能叫陪伴之人禁食呢？但日子將到，新郎要離開他們，那日他們就要禁食了。」』(路加福音 5:33-35) 新郎是指主耶穌，祂的肉身已離開我們，的確我們可能的話就要禁食了！

     耶穌自己做了我們禁食的榜樣，且看見其禁食的功效。為什麼這樣說呢？我們來看看經文記載的一件事情，『耶穌和門徒到了眾人那裏，有一個人來見耶穌，跪下，說：「主啊，憐憫我的兒子！他害癲癇的病很苦，屢次跌在火裏，屢次跌在水裏。我帶他到你門徒那裏，他們卻不能醫治他。」』(馬太福音 17:14-16) 雖然門徒可以治病趕鬼，但這次是一點辦法也沒有，這人就在耶穌面前跪下，結果是，『耶穌斥責那鬼，鬼就出來，從此孩子就痊愈了。』(馬太福音 17:18) 但祂又加上了一句，『至於這一類的鬼，若不禱告禁食，他就不出來。』(馬太福音 17:21) 祂的確是趕出鬼了，所以我們可以看出祂在人的樣式中是常常禁食的。要不祂豈不是說謊嗎？而耶穌是不會說謊的，不會說善意的謊言的，因為善意的謊言也是謊言！祂做了我們禁食的榜樣。

       其實在新約時代的禁食是大有果效的，我們在經文中可以見到這。『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) 耶穌的肉身現在的確是離開我們了，但在大使命中有這樣的應許，『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，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」』(馬太福音 28:18-20) 請注意，大使命不僅僅是要傳道使不信主的人信主，更是要使人成為門徒，走上成聖的道路上。的確，祂的應許是真的，我們現在有三位一體的聖靈內住在我們心裏，就如經文所說，『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…』(哥林多前書 6:19) 所以主是以聖靈內住的方式總是與我們同在。

       很顯然禁食的需求是一般性原則，如果是神激動的禁食，今日許多人都見証了它的果效，自己要去禁食不見得有果效的，因神有絕對的主權。我們可以從舊約中看到禁食的確有不被應許的例子。例如，大衞已知道所得的孩子必定要死，『所以大衞為這孩子懇求神，而且禁食，進入內室，終夜躺在地上。』(撒母耳記下 12:16) 結果是孩子重病而『到第七日孩子死了。…』(撒母耳記下 12:18) 大家都知道不是每次禁食都會被應許的。在身體許可的情況下，是可以禁食的，但這不是在新約時代中作為律法的要求，有時身體的狀況跟本就不能夠禁食，怎麼可能禁食呢？這樣的人就不得救嗎？斷乎不是！『…人稱義是因着信，不在乎遵行律法。』(羅馬書 3:28) 而主要該瞭解的是，『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)

3. 新舊難合的比喻

       接著，『耶穌又設一個比喻，對他們說：「沒有人把新衣服撕下一塊來補在舊衣服上，若是這樣，就把新的撕破了，並且所撕下來的那塊新的和舊的也不相稱。也沒有人把新酒裝在舊皮袋裏，若是這樣，新酒必將皮袋裂開，酒便漏出來，皮袋也就壞了。但新酒必須裝在新皮袋裏。沒有人喝了陳酒又想喝新的，他總說陳的好。」』(路加福音 5:36-39) 這個比喻是為著禁食而講的，在新約的時代，禁食是不同的，不必再守律法，要甘心情願，雖然總是覺得陳酒比較好，但要喝新的福音。在馬太福音 9:14-17 和馬可福音 2:18-22 也說到了同樣的事情，只是在那裏加上了一個事實，『也沒有人把新酒裝在舊皮袋裏，若是這樣，皮袋就裂開，酒漏出來，連皮袋也壞了。惟獨把新酒裝在新皮袋裏，兩樣就都保全了。」』新酒是會發酵的，放在舊皮袋是有可能因發酵而裂開。我們要做新皮袋裝新酒，作個新人，『…這新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。』(以弗所書 4:24) 『穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。』(歌羅西書 3:10)

       不要忘記舊約說的禁食的真義，『我(耶和華)所揀選的禁食，不是要鬆開兇惡的繩，解下軛上的索，使被欺壓的得自由，折斷一切的軛嗎？不是要把你的餅分給飢餓的人，將飄流的窮人接到你家中，見赤身的給他衣服遮體，顧恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏嗎？』(以賽亞書 58:6-7) 耶穌不是使那被欺壓的兒子得自由嗎？神是有恩典有憐憫的神。

4. 人子是安息日的主

       『有一個安息日，耶穌從麥地經過。他的門徒掐了麥穗，用手搓着吃。有幾個法利賽人說：「你們為甚麼做安息日不可做的事呢？」耶穌對他們說：「經上記着大衞和跟從他的人飢餓之時所做的事，連這個你們也沒有念過嗎？他怎麼進了神的殿，拿陳設餅吃，又給跟從的人吃？這餅除了祭司以外，別人都不可吃。」又對他們說：「人子是安息日的主。」』(路加福音 6:1-5) 

       有人看到了這經文，就以為是和下列經文講的是同一件事，『祭司就拿聖餅給他(大衞)，因為在那裏沒有別樣餅，只有更換新餅，從耶和華面前撤下來的陳設餅。』(撒母耳記上 21:6) 但顯然不是，因前述經文發生時，大衞是獨自一人，所以路加福音是說另一件發生的事。其實這點也可從馬可福音 2:23-28 記載的同一件事看出，這是在亞比亞他作大祭司發生的事，且『又對他們說：「安息日是為人設立的，人不是為安息日設立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。」』(馬可福音 2:27-28) 同樣的事在馬太福音 12:1-8 也有記載，現只把要分享的相關部份列出。『再者，律法上所記的，當安息日，祭司在殿裏犯了安息日，還是沒有罪，你們沒有念過嗎？但我告訴你們：在這裏有一人比殿更大。『我喜愛憐恤，不喜愛祭祀。』你們若明白這話的意思，就不將無罪的當作有罪的了。因為人子是安息日的主。」』(馬太福音 12:5-8)

     安息日本是為人設立的，而不是反過來，主耶穌顧念的是人，而不是律法。因祂是安息日的主，比殿更大，而祂喜愛憐恤，憐恤門徒需要吃的，這是他們當時唯一的選擇，猶如祭司那時給大衞陳設餅外別無選擇，和祭司必需在安息日工作一樣，何罪之有？

       我們再看看安息日的精意：『你若在安息日掉轉你的腳步，在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，稱安息日為可喜樂的，稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的，而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，不隨自己的私意，不說自己的私話，你就以耶和華為樂。…』(以賽亞書 58:13-14) 要掉轉腳步。 再看一看耶穌在安息日做的其他一件事情，『又有一個安息日，耶穌進了會堂教訓人，在那裏有一個人右手枯乾了。文士和法利賽人窺探耶穌，在安息日治病不治病，要得把柄去告他。耶穌卻知道他們的意念，就對那枯乾一隻手的人說：「起來！站在當中。」那人就起來，站着。耶穌對他們說：「我問你們，在安息日行善行惡，救命害命，哪樣是可以的呢？」他就周圍看着他們眾人，對那人說：「伸出手來。」他把手一伸，手就復了原。他們就滿心大怒，彼此商議怎樣處治耶穌。』(路加福音 6:6-11)   祂雖明明知道他們要找祂的麻煩，仍然做了！祂早就知道要為我們死，但仍是在客西馬尼園做了這樣的選擇。

    同樣的一件事情在馬可福音也有敍述，『耶穌又進了會堂，在那裏有一個人枯乾了一隻手。眾人窺探耶穌在安息日醫治不醫治，意思是要控告耶穌。耶穌對那枯乾一隻手的人說：「起來，站在當中。」又問眾人說：「在安息日行善行惡，救命害命，哪樣是可以的呢？」他們都不做聲。耶穌怒目周圍看他們，憂愁他們的心剛硬，就對那人說：「伸出手來。」他把手一伸，手就復了原。法利賽人出去，同希律一黨的人商議怎樣可以除滅耶穌。』(馬可福音 3:1-6) 耶穌雖一生跟隨聖靈的帶領，但祂在地上有感情和我們一樣，不是像一個命令一個動作的機器人。

    這事在馬太福音 12:10-13 也有記錄且加上了，『耶穌說：「你們中間誰有一隻羊，當安息日掉在坑裏，不把牠抓住拉上來呢？人比羊何等貴重呢！所以，在安息日做善事是可以的。」』(馬太福音 12:11-12) 耶穌是守了安息日真正的精意，而不是律法上安息日的時間。

參考

[1] 以色列原文的意思應是「他與神較力」，從這節經文而來，『那人說：「你的名不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列，因為你與神與人較力，都得了勝。」』(創世記 32:28) 雅各改名的確定時間在這節經文，『雅各從巴旦亞蘭回來，神又向他顯現，賜福與他，且對他說：「你的名原是雅各，從今以後不要再叫雅各，要叫以色列。」這樣，他就改名叫以色列。』(創世記 35:9-10) 有人認為「以色列」原文有「神的王子」這意思，但這不是基於聖經的話，好像沒有別的地方說以色列是神的王子。事實上，在新約中，每個信主的人都是神的養子，因此都是神的王子。『原來那為萬物所屬、為萬物所本的，要領許多的兒子進榮耀裏去，使救他們的元帥因受苦難得以完全，本是合宜的。』(希伯來書 2:10)

  (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』。)

We first take a look at the calling of Matthew, who didn’t hide that he was a tax collector. We explain why we know that Matthew is also named Levi even though the Bible doesn’t say so explicitly. Secondly, we often see Jesus fasting, and the effectiveness of fasting. Although the result of fasting is not necessary at every time up to what we expected, but we should fast if our health condition allows it. Remember that we are justified by faith, not according to the law just by fasting. Thirdly, we’ll look at the parable that new and old things cannot really match, which is for fasting. We must understand the true meaning of fasting. Fourthly, we’ll take a look at the statement that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Because He is the Lord and is full of compassion, He knew that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. He indeed did the true meaning of Sabbath, not according to the Law of the timing. As long as we don’t quench the Spirit, we naturally fulfill the commandments in the Old Testament.

1. The call of the tax collector Levi who is also named Matthew 

The Bible doesn’t say explicitly that Levi is also named Matthew. But if we compare the process of the call of Levi with that of Matthew, we know the descriptions are for the same person, but with different names. Jews at that time often had two names. For example, Peter was originally called Simon, and Jesus gave him the name Peter as described in John 1:42, “…Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” Of course, there were similar situations in the era of the Old Testament. For example, Abraham was named Abram. As another example, Jacob was given two chances to change his name to Israel by God [1].

The Gospel of Luke says explicitly that it was written according to order. As we discussed previously, we explain why it means the order of events, not necessarily the order of each occurrence in an event. Thus, we’ll continue to use the Gospel of Luke to look at the events. Let us look at the call of the tax collector Levi first. In Luke 5:27-32, it says, “After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””

We see that Levi left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. This should be our attitudes too. Apparently, the friends of Levi were many tax collectors. We also see that the Pharisees and their scribes were self-righteous. Don’t we all start from being sinners? It is said clearly in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” A similar statement is also given in Mark 2:14-17, which will not be discussed more.

Let us next see the call of Matthew described in Matthew 9:9-13, “As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”” Compared with the description of the Gospel of Luke, we know that they describe the same person but with different names. Thus, Levi is also named Matthew, and we also see the process of his call. 

2. The effectiveness of fasting 

In Luke 5:33-35, it says, “And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.””  The bridegroom is Jesus. His body left us now, and we indeed should fast if our health condition allows.

Why do we say that Jesus is the example of fasting and we see His effectiveness too? Let us take a look at the event described in Matthew 17:14-16, “When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and is very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”” Although the disciples could heal and cast out demons, they couldn’t do anything this time. The person fell on his knees before Him, “And Jesus rebuked him (his son), and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.” He then stated in Matthew 17:21, “[But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]” He indeed casted out the demon. Thus, we can see that He fasted often during the period of His becoming flesh. Otherwise, He lied. And we all know that Jesus cannot lie, not even a white lie since that is still a lie. What He did is indeed an example for us in fasting.

In fact, fasting is very effective in the era of the New Testament. This can be seen in Acts 13:2-3, “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.” The body of Jesus indeed left us nowadays, but the great mission has such a promise that Jesus will be with us always.  It is said in Matthew 28:18-20, “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.””  Please notice that the great mission not only preaches the Gospel to others to make them believe but also makes them disciples to walk the way of sanctification. Indeed, His promise is true since it is said in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, …” We have the abiding Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Lord is always with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Apparently, the requirement of fasting is the general principle. If fasting is moved by God, it’ll be definitely effective. Many witness this nowadays. Fasting motivated by oneself will not necessarily result in what one expects. God has the absolute authority to result in the final decision. One example is given in the Old Testament. David knew his baby born out of adultery was doomed to die, “David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.”(2 Samuel 12:16) Despite this, the result was in 2 Samuel 12:18, “Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. …” We all know that fasting is not necessary to have results according to what we wish. Under the condition of our health permitted, it is ok to have fasting. Sometimes our health doesn’t allow us to fast, how can such a person fast? Will the person not be saved? Absolutely not true. As said clearly in Romans 3:28, “…a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” What we have to understand is “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23)

3. A parable of old and new things that cannot match

In Luke 5:36-39, it says, “And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough. ‘””

This parable was given for fasting. In the era of the New Testament, the requirement of fasting is different. We don’t have to obey the Law, but have to be willing.  Although the old wine might be better tasted, we must drink the new Gospel. Matthew 9:14-17 and Mark 2:18-22 also mentioned the same event by adding one fact, “Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.””(Matthew 9:17) New wine can cause fermentation, and fermentation can result in the burst. We want to be the new wineskin, and to become a new self “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”(Ephesians 4:24) “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.”(Colossians 3:10)

Don’t forget the true meaning of fasting in the Old Testament, “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”(Isaiah 58:6-7) Doesn’t Jesus let the son go free and break every yoke? God is The God Who has mercy and grace.

4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

In Luke 6:1-5, it says, “Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him, how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?” And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.””

Someone may see these verses and think that it is the same event described in 1 Samuel 21:6, “So the priest gave him (David) consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the Lord, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.” But apparently not. What happened in 1 Samuel 21:6 was when David was alone. The event recorded in the Book of Luke happened in what was recorded in Mark 2:23-28 in the time of Abiathar as the high priest. There, it also said, “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””(Mark 2:27-28) The same event is also recorded in Matthew 12:1-8. Now we only described what is relevant to our discussion. “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.””(Matthew 12:5-8)

The Sabbath was made for man, not reverse. What Jesus was concerned for was man, not the Law. He is Lord of the Sabbath, greater than the temple, and is full of compassion. He concerned more that the disciples needed something to eat, and what did was their only choice at that time. It is just like that the priest had no other choice but to give David and his followers the consecrated bread. And it is also like that the priest has to work on Sabbath. All are under the same principle. How can they be sinful?

We now look at the true meaning of Sabbath in Isaiah 58:13-14, “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” You must turn your foot. 

Let us take a look at another thing Jesus did in Luke 6:6-11, “On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?” After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored. But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” He knew that the scribes and the Pharisees were looking for trouble for Him, but He did what was needed anyway. He knew ahead of time that He would die for us, but He still made the same choice in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The same event is also recorded in Mark 3:1-6, “He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.” Although Jesus followed the leading of the Holy Spirit in His whole life, but He on earth is same as us in a way, who have emotions, not like a robot which only follows instructions, one action due to one instruction.

This event is recorded in Matthew 12:10-13 by adding “And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.””(Matthew 12:11-12) Jesus accomplished the true meaning of Sabbath, not Law of Sabbath.

Reference

[1] The meaning of Israel in the original language is from Genesis 32:28, “He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”” Someone may think what I thought before that it means the prince of God, but not according to this verse. The exact time of the changing name occurred in Genesis 35:9-10, “Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.” Thus He called him Israel.” God did give him two opportunities to change his name. Some people thinks the meaning of Israel in Hebrew means ‘prince of God,’ but it seems not based on the Bible. To my best knowledge, there is no other place mentioning that Israel is the prince of God. In fact, in the era of the New Testament, believers are all the adopted sons of God, and thus the princes of God. “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”(Hebrews 2:10)

   (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.”)

     我们首先看看彼得被呼召作得人如得鱼的过程，我们看到了彼得的认识耶稣是因安得烈的介绍，我们也看到传道是一种介绍的重要。第二我们描述了祂显示了慈心而治疗了痲疯病人，并祂所付的代价，及祂和世人不同的反应。我们讨论了祂是不是预先就知道祂要付代价，或只是因祂是有怜悯的。第三我们看看他医治瘫子的事情，是四个朋友从屋顶上把瘫子缒下的事，耶稣因他们的信心就治疗了瘫子。这些经文没有明讲他们是指谁？我们解释怎么用一个实际的方法看这点。我们也提到了圣经的一个写法，有一般的情况和特例。

1. 在革尼撒勒湖边呼召那得人如得鱼的门徒       

     耶稣第一次见到彼得记载是在这里，『再次日，(施洗)约翰同两个门徒站在那里。他见耶稣行走，就说：「看哪，这是神的羔羊！」两个门徒听见他的话，就跟从了耶稣。耶稣转过身来，看见他们跟著，就问他们说：「你们要甚么？」 他们说：「拉比，在哪里住？」（「拉比」翻出来就是「夫子」。）耶稣说：「你们来看。」他们就去看他在哪里住，这一天便与他同住。那时约有申正了。听见约翰的话，跟从耶稣的那两个人，一个是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找著自己的哥哥西门，对他说：「我们遇见弥赛亚了！」（「弥赛亚」翻出来就是「基督」。）于是领他去见耶稣。 耶稣看著他说：「你是约翰的儿子西门，你要称为矶法。」（「矶法」翻出来就是「彼得」。）』(约翰福音 1:35-42)       

     首先我们看到施洗约翰说，『他(耶稣)必兴旺，我必衰微。』(约翰福音 3:30) 这话不只是说说而已，从这事可看见约翰完全没有嫉妒耶稣的心，非常谦卑，在这里他介绍了他自己的门徒跟随耶稣。第二我们看到了彼得是透过安得烈的介绍才认识耶稣的！没有安得烈，彼得怎么会认识耶稣呢？因『…信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。』(罗马书 10:17) 所以『务要传道！无论得时不得时，总要专心，并用百般的忍耐，各样的教训，责备人，警戒人，劝勉人。』(提摩太后书 4:2) 人若不知道道是什么，怎么会信呢？我们也看到耶稣要他们自己判断，耶稣是真行道的人，一天就可以用祂的行为让他们知道遇见了弥赛亚，这是雅各书所说的，『只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各书 1:22)       

     这是彼得的第一次呼召，『耶稣在加利利海边行走，看见弟兄二人，就是那称呼彼得的西门和他兄弟安得烈，在海里撒网；他们本是打鱼的。耶稣对他们说：「来，跟从我！我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。」他们就立刻舍了网，跟从(G190)了他。从那里往前走，又看见弟兄二人，就是西庇太的儿子雅各和他兄弟约翰，同他们的父亲西庇太在船上补网，耶稣就招呼他们。他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从(G190)了耶稣。』(马太福音 4:18-22) 这里也看到了祂呼召了安得烈、雅各、和约翰。   

     经文很清楚的记载著彼得是在第二次见到神迹后才真正接受了呼召，第一次时是立刻舍了船，大概是又回去了，因为这次是撇下一切所有的，跟从了耶稣。这经文叙述了第二次呼召的情景，『耶稣站在革尼撒勒湖边，众人拥挤他，要听神的道。他见有两只船湾在湖边，打鱼的人却离开船洗网去了。有一只船是西门的，耶稣就上去，请他把船撑开，稍微离岸，就坐下，从船上教训众人。讲完了，对西门说：「把船开到水深之处，下网打鱼。」西门说：「夫子，我们整夜劳力，并没有打著甚么。但依从你的话，我就下网。」他们下了网，就圈住许多鱼，网险些裂开，便招呼那只船上的同伴来帮助。他们就来把鱼装满了两只船，甚至船要沉下去。西门彼得看见，就俯伏在耶稣膝前，说：「主啊，离开我，我是个罪人！」他和一切同在的人都惊讶这一网所打的鱼。他的伙伴西庇太的儿子雅各、约翰，也是这样。 耶稣对西门说：「不要怕！从今以后，你要得人了。」他们把两只船拢了岸，就撇下所有的，跟从(G190)了耶稣。』(路加福音 5:1-11) 注意只有西门说我是个罪人，其余的人只是惊讶，不是所有的人都有同样的领受。对他们来说这绝对是神迹，他们是职业渔夫忙了整夜却没打著什么，只依耶稣的话，就圈住这么多的鱼，难怪当耶稣再次有得人如得鱼的呼召时，领受的人就撇下一切跟随了耶稣。我们也看到了神迹奇事的重要性，对小信如我的人一般，知道圣经不是说说的而已，是可以经历的，而经历多少，神有绝对的主权，我们能做的就是祈祷。       

     在马可福音中记录了同样的事情，是在施洗约翰下监后：『约翰下监以后，耶稣来到加利利，宣传神的福音，说：「日期满了，神的国近了！你们当悔改，信福音！」耶稣顺著加利利的海边走，看见西门和西门的兄弟安得烈在海里撒网，他们本是打鱼的。耶稣对他们说：「来跟从我！我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。」他们就立刻舍了网，跟从了他。耶稣稍往前走，又见西庇太的儿子雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰在船上补网。耶稣随即招呼他们，他们就把父亲西庇太和雇工人留在船上，跟从耶稣去了。』(马可福音 1:14-20)        #####得人如得鱼不只是说说而已，圣灵是真实的做了，使众人觉得扎心如这经文所说，『众人听见这话，觉得扎心，就对彼得和其余的使徒说：「弟兄们，我们当怎样行？」…于是，领受他话的人就受了洗。那一天，门徒约添了三千人。』(使徒行传 2:37-41)

2. 医治麻疯病人      

     事情的发生是在『有一回，耶稣在一个城里，有人满身长了大痲疯，看见他，就俯伏在地，求他说：「主若肯，必能叫我洁净了。」耶稣伸手摸他，说：「我肯，你洁净了吧！」大痲疯立刻就离了他的身。耶稣嘱咐他：「你切不可告诉人，只要去把身体给祭司察看，又要为你得了洁净，照摩西所吩咐的献上礼物，对众人作证据。」但耶稣的名声越发传扬出去。有极多的人聚集来听道，也指望医治他们的病。耶稣却退到旷野去祷告。』(路加福音 5:12-16)     

     耶稣的反应和世人很不相同，这应该是一个成名的好机会，但祂却退到旷野去祷告，听圣灵的带领，因祂说得很清楚，『…正如我遵守了我父的命令，…』(约翰福音 15:10) 祂在地上时除了无罪外和我们一样，因祂『…取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 祂是完全的人，是人子，需要祷告，但回到了和当初亚当被造时一样。祂也是完全的神，只是道成肉身时祂没有用过祂的神性，如在变化山上，摩西和以利亚『他们在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。』(路加福音 9:31) 既使祂虽然早已知道这事，但也需要确认这点。 了解祂道成肉身时既是完全的神又是完全的人这点，我们可以用一个比喻。一个王子沦落为乞丐，即使他现在为乞丐，他的身份不变，仍是王子。但对我们来说这仍是一个奥秘，我们不知祂如何『反倒虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式。』(腓立比书 2:7) 必须在信心里面，知道祂做成了。在这里我们也可见到祂是个祷告的人，在祷告上作了我们的榜样。       

     在马太福音也记载了同样的事情：『耶稣下了山，有许多人跟著他。有一个长大痲疯的来拜他，说：「主若肯，必能叫我洁净了。」耶稣伸手摸他说：「我肯，你洁净了吧！」他的大痲疯立刻就洁净了。耶稣对他说：「你切不可告诉人，只要去把身体给祭司察看，献上摩西所吩咐的礼物，对众人作证据。」』(马太福音 8:1-4) 在这里我们可知道是什么时候发生的事，是在耶稣在山上讲了马太福音第五章到第七章的山上宝训，下山之后。       

     在马可福音的同样事情多记载了一些，『有一个长大痲疯的来求耶稣，向他跪下，说：「你若肯，必能叫我洁净了！」耶稣动了慈心，就伸手摸他，说：「我肯，你洁净了吧！」大痲疯即时离开他，他就洁净了。耶稣严严地嘱咐他，就打发他走，对他说：「你要谨慎，甚么话都不可告诉人；只要去把身体给祭司察看，又因为你洁净了，献上摩西所吩咐的礼物，对众人作证据。」那人出去，倒说许多的话，把这件事传扬开了，叫耶稣以后不得再明明地进城，只好在外边旷野地方。人从各处都就了他来。』(马可福音 1:40-45)      

     祂是有怜悯的，因为明讲是动了慈心，相信圣灵没有说祂不要这样做，要不就不是祂一生都是顺服圣灵的带领。讲到预先知道，在书念的妇人那事，耶和华并没有预先告诉以利沙，就如经文所说：『妇人上了山，到神人那里，就抱住神人的脚。基哈西前来要推开她，神人说：「由她吧！因为她心里愁苦，耶和华向我隐瞒，没有指示我。」』(列王纪下 4:27) 在和撒马利亚的妇人对话那件事上，耶稣是『必须经过撒马利亚，』(约翰福音 4:4) 而犹太人是通常不走经过撒马利亚那条路，相信这是圣灵的带领，因此是『必须』的。所以有些人可能会问是不是预先圣灵就告诉耶稣，而祂知道有麻烦却仍去做，在这问题上圣经虽然没有明讲，但如果从圣经的一致性看，我相信圣灵会给祂一些自由如亚当夏娃的自由意志般，而不是像一个命令一个动作的机器人。因此我会趋向于祂不预先知道，要不就是不跟随圣灵的带领，没有必要说祂因慈心付了代价，不得再明明地进城。这和在客西马尼园很不一样，祂预先就知道要为我们而死，在变化山上也确定了，虽然如此，但作为一个人，这样的选择是非常的不容易，所以祂仍然要祷告，『…然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(马太福音 26:39) 这是顺服圣灵的带领，祂做了『不要消灭圣灵的感动。』(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 的榜像。

3. 医治瘫子及圣经的一个写法    

     读经要读出神作事的法则，就如经文所说，『他使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。』(诗篇 103:7) 即使如此，摩西在气头上，仍是不能顺服神照神所晓谕的吩咐磐石发出水来，而用杖击打磐石两下 (参民数记 20:7-12)，以致于不能在身前进入迦南美地。我们是不可能知道神全部做事的法则，因神是无限而人是有限，但我们要尽力，在这里，我们要透过经文看圣经的一个写法。      

     先看看耶稣医治瘫子的一个事件，『有一天，耶稣教训人，有法利赛人和教法师在旁边坐著，他们是从加利利各乡村和犹太并耶路撒冷来的。主的能力与耶稣同在，使他能医治病人。有人用褥子抬著一个瘫子，要抬进去放在耶稣面前，却因人多，寻不出法子抬进去，就上了房顶，从瓦间把他连褥子缒到当中，正在耶稣面前。耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：「你的罪赦了。」文士和法利赛人就议论说：「这说僭妄话的是谁？除了神以外，谁能赦罪呢？」耶稣知道他们所议论的，就说：「你们心里议论的是甚么呢？或说『你的罪赦了』，或说『你起来行走』，哪一样容易呢？但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄。」就对瘫子说：「我吩咐你起来，拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人当众人面前立刻起来，拿著他所躺卧的褥子回家去，归荣耀与神。众人都惊奇，也归荣耀与神，并且满心惧怕，说：「我们今日看见非常的事了。」』(路加福音 5:17-26)     

     在这里，我们看到了耶稣教训人是公开的在公众的场合。文士和法利赛人讲得没错，除了神以外没有能赦罪的，只是他们不知道耶稣是和神合一的，如经文所说，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30) 同样的事情在马太福音 9:1-8 和马可福音 2:1-12 都有记载，马太福音记录了在何地，就是『耶稣上了船，渡过海，来到自己的城里。』(马太福音 9:1) 是如马可福音所说的在迦百农，并在马可福音 2:5说『耶稣见他们的信心，…』在前面路加福音经文中所问的，哪一样容易呢？都不容易。这次的目的很明显，『但要叫你们知道，人子在地上有赦罪的权柄。』至于他们是指谁？是只指病人的四个朋友或是包括了病人？       

     在我们讨论这问题之前，先提一下一个只要我们愿意，都可以做到的一个实际的方法 [1]，就是：(1)不要把圣经的话打折扣；(2)用逻辑；(3)用圣经的一致性。我们在这里没有圣经的一致性，因为有些例子说到病人需要有信心，有些不需要。譬如使徒行传 14:8-10 说到，『路司得城里坐著一个两脚无力的人，生来是瘸腿的，从来没有走过。他听保罗讲道，保罗定睛看他，见他有信心，可得痊愈，就大声说：「你起来，两脚站直！」那人就跳起来，而且行走。』所以那瘸腿的是有信心的。但在后面这些经文中没有说在美门瘸腿的有信心，就是『申初祷告的时候，彼得、约翰上圣殿去。有一个人，生来是瘸腿的，天天被人抬来，放在殿的一个门口（那门名叫美门），要求进殿的人赒济。他看见彼得、约翰将要进殿，就求他们赒济。彼得、约翰定睛看他。彼得说：「你看我们！」那人就留意看他们，指望得著甚么。彼得说：「金银我都没有，只把我所有的给你。我奉拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名，叫你起来行走！」于是拉著他的右手，扶他起来。他的脚和踝子骨立刻健壮了，就跳起来，站著，又行走；同他们进了殿，走著，跳著，赞美神。百姓都看见他行走，赞美神，认得他是那素常坐在殿的美门口求赒济的，就因他所遇著的事，满心希奇惊讶。』(使徒行传 3:1-10) 还有许多这样的例子，所以我们不能决定在前面路加福音经文中的他们、是只指病人的四个朋友、或是包括了病人。逻辑只是一个工具，不同的假设做为这工具的输入，我们会得到不同的结论的。在不把圣经的话打折扣下，逻辑告诉我们我们不会得到唯一的结论，就像我们以前所说，这只是一个圣经的话不会得到唯一结论的另外一个例子。       

     圣经的一致性在其他的地方是非常有用的。譬如在帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:17 提到被提的事，『以后我们这活著还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里，在空中与主相遇。这样，我们就要和主永远同在。』这在福音书也提到，『…人子降临也要这样。那时，两个人在田里，取去一个，撇下一个；两个女人推磨，取去一个，撇下一个。』(马太福音 24:39-41) 有人认为取去的那一个是取去作审判的 [2]，从圣经的一致性看这明显是不对的。       

     圣经的一个写法是通常指一般的原则，但有特例。以受(水)洗为例，主自己做了一般原则的例子: 『耶稣回答说：「你暂且许我，因为我们理当这样尽诸般的义。」于是约翰许了他。耶稣受了洗，随即从水里上来。…』(马太福音 3:15-16) 也有不需受洗的特例: 『那同钉的两个犯人，…耶稣对他(其中一个)说：「我实在告诉你：今日你要同我在乐园里了。」(路加福音 23:39-43) 我们不能用特例来说我们不需要受洗，因圣经很多地方是明讲了这一般性的原则，譬如在下列的经文中都可见此。『耶稣进前来，对他们说：「天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。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。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。」(马太福音 28:18-20) 『二人正往前走，到了有水的地方，太监说：「看哪，这里有水，我受洗有甚么妨碍呢？」于是吩咐车站住，腓利和太监二人同下水里去，腓利就给他施洗。』(使徒行传 8:36-38) 『所以我们借著洗礼归入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我们一举一动有新生的样式，像基督借著父的荣耀从死里复活一样。』(罗马书 6:4) 如果我们要引用特例，我们该问的是我们在类似的情况下吗？       

     再举一个圣经的例子，大卫是在赫人乌利亚的妻拔示巴的事件，犯了奸淫和借刀杀人的罪，但神赦免了他的死罪，但他仍然要为自己的错误受到惩罚 (参撒母耳记下 11-12:14) 难道我们能说犯奸和借刀杀人没关系吗？当然不能，我想神这次用祂的绝对主权赦免了他的死罪，是因为『大卫对拿单说：「我得罪耶和华了！」…』 (撒母耳记下 12:13) 所以他一知道自己犯错后就悔改了，他深深的悔改在诗篇 51 篇可看见，他不仅仅是向神悔改，而且是交于伶长，在众人面前不隐瞒自己的罪过，我相信这是耶和华为什么说大卫是合他心意的原因之一。 (参使徒行传 13:22) 神是有怜悯有恩典且很公平的，虽然神有绝对的主权，我们如果真能这样，相信神也会在同样的情况下有同样的决定的。

参考

[1] 详情在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『对属灵生命的了解』，按『2039 透过启示录第 15章看读经时该做的事』。

[2] 譬如说，马太福音 24:39-41，英文的一个翻译版本是这样说的。英文的写法为『Matthew 24:39-41, Amplified Bible (AMP), “and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment]. At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.”』。

(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』。)

       我們首先看看彼得被呼召作得人如得魚的過程，我們看到了彼得的認識耶穌是因安得烈的介紹，我們也看到傳道是一種介紹的重要。第二我們描述了祂顯示了慈心而治療了痲瘋病人，並祂所付的代價，及祂和世人不同的反應。我們討論了祂是不是預先就知道祂要付代價，或只是因祂是有憐憫的。第三我們看看他醫治癱子的事情，是四個朋友從屋頂上把癱子縋下的事，耶穌因他們的信心就治療了癱子。這些經文沒有明講他們是指誰？我們解釋怎麼用一個實際的方法看這點。我們也提到了聖經的一個寫法，有一般的情況和特例。

1. 在革尼撒勒湖邊呼召那得人如得魚的門徒

       耶穌第一次見到彼得記載是在這裏，『再次日，(施洗)約翰同兩個門徒站在那裏。他見耶穌行走，就說：「看哪，這是神的羔羊！」兩個門徒聽見他的話，就跟從了耶穌。耶穌轉過身來，看見他們跟着，就問他們說：「你們要甚麼？」 他們說：「拉比，在哪裏住？」（「拉比」翻出來就是「夫子」。）耶穌說：「你們來看。」他們就去看他在哪裏住，這一天便與他同住。那時約有申正了。聽見約翰的話，跟從耶穌的那兩個人，一個是西門彼得的兄弟安得烈。他先找着自己的哥哥西門，對他說：「我們遇見彌賽亞了！」（「彌賽亞」翻出來就是「基督」。）於是領他去見耶穌。 耶穌看着他說：「你是約翰的兒子西門，你要稱為磯法。」（「磯法」翻出來就是「彼得」。）』(約翰福音 1:35-42)

       首先我們看到施洗約翰說，『他(耶穌)必興旺，我必衰微。』(約翰福音 3:30) 這話不只是說說而已，從這事可看見約翰完全沒有嫉妒耶穌的心，非常謙卑，在這裏他介紹了他自己的門徒跟隨耶穌。第二我們看到了彼得是透過安得烈的介紹才認識耶穌的！沒有安得烈，彼得怎麼會認識耶穌呢？因『…信道是從聽道來的，聽道是從基督的話來的。』(羅馬書 10:17) 所以『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) 人若不知道道是什麼，怎麼會信呢？我們也看到耶穌要他們自己判斷，耶穌是真行道的人，一天就可以用祂的行為讓他們知道遇見了彌賽亞，這是雅各書所說的，『只是你們要行道，不要單單聽道，自己欺哄自己。』(雅各書 1:22)

       這是彼得的第一次呼召，『耶穌在加利利海邊行走，看見弟兄二人，就是那稱呼彼得的西門和他兄弟安得烈，在海裏撒網；他們本是打魚的。耶穌對他們說：「來，跟從我！我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」他們就立刻捨了網，跟從(G190)了他。從那裏往前走，又看見弟兄二人，就是西庇太的兒子雅各和他兄弟約翰，同他們的父親西庇太在船上補網，耶穌就招呼他們。他們立刻捨了船，別了父親，跟從(G190)了耶穌。』(馬太福音 4:18-22) 這裏也看到了祂呼召了安得烈、雅各、和約翰。

     經文很清楚的記載著彼得是在第二次見到神蹟後才真正接受了呼召，第一次時是立刻捨了船，大概是又回去了，因為這次是撇下一切所有的，跟從了耶穌。這經文敍述了第二次呼召的情景，『耶穌站在革尼撒勒湖邊，眾人擁擠他，要聽神的道。他見有兩隻船灣在湖邊，打魚的人卻離開船洗網去了。有一隻船是西門的，耶穌就上去，請他把船撐開，稍微離岸，就坐下，從船上教訓眾人。講完了，對西門說：「把船開到水深之處，下網打魚。」西門說：「夫子，我們整夜勞力，並沒有打着甚麼。但依從你的話，我就下網。」他們下了網，就圈住許多魚，網險些裂開，便招呼那隻船上的同伴來幫助。他們就來把魚裝滿了兩隻船，甚至船要沉下去。西門彼得看見，就俯伏在耶穌膝前，說：「主啊，離開我，我是個罪人！」他和一切同在的人都驚訝這一網所打的魚。他的夥伴西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰，也是這樣。 耶穌對西門說：「不要怕！從今以後，你要得人了。」他們把兩隻船攏了岸，就撇下所有的，跟從(G190)了耶穌。』(路加福音 5:1-11) 注意只有西門說我是個罪人，其餘的人只是驚訝，不是所有的人都有同樣的領受。對他們來說這絕對是神蹟，他們是職業漁夫忙了整夜卻沒打著什麼，只依耶穌的話，就圈住這麼多的魚，難怪當耶穌再次有得人如得魚的呼召時，領受的人就撇下一切跟隨了耶穌。我們也看到了神蹟奇事的重要性，對小信如我的人一般，知道聖經不是說說的而已，是可以經歷的，而經歷多少，神有絕對的主權，我們能做的就是祈禱。

       在馬可福音中記錄了同樣的事情，是在施洗約翰下監後：『約翰下監以後，耶穌來到加利利，宣傳神的福音，說：「日期滿了，神的國近了！你們當悔改，信福音！」耶穌順着加利利的海邊走，看見西門和西門的兄弟安得烈在海裏撒網，他們本是打魚的。耶穌對他們說：「來跟從我！我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」他們就立刻捨了網，跟從了他。耶穌稍往前走，又見西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰在船上補網。耶穌隨即招呼他們，他們就把父親西庇太和雇工人留在船上，跟從耶穌去了。』(馬可福音 1:14-20)

       得人如得魚不只是說說而已，聖靈是真實的做了，使眾人覺得扎心如這經文所說，『眾人聽見這話，覺得扎心，就對彼得和其餘的使徒說：「弟兄們，我們當怎樣行？」…於是，領受他話的人就受了洗。那一天，門徒約添了三千人。』(使徒行傳 2:37-41)

2. 醫治麻瘋病人

       事情的發生是在『有一回，耶穌在一個城裏，有人滿身長了大痲瘋，看見他，就俯伏在地，求他說：「主若肯，必能叫我潔淨了。」耶穌伸手摸他，說：「我肯，你潔淨了吧！」大痲瘋立刻就離了他的身。耶穌囑咐他：「你切不可告訴人，只要去把身體給祭司察看，又要為你得了潔淨，照摩西所吩咐的獻上禮物，對眾人作證據。」但耶穌的名聲越發傳揚出去。有極多的人聚集來聽道，也指望醫治他們的病。耶穌卻退到曠野去禱告。』(路加福音 5:12-16)

       耶穌的反應和世人很不相同，這應該是一個成名的好機會，但祂卻退到曠野去禱告，聽聖靈的帶領，因祂說得很清楚，『…正如我遵守了我父的命令，…』(約翰福音 15:10) 祂在地上時除了無罪外和我們一樣，因祂『…取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 祂是完全的人，是人子，需要禱告，但回到了和當初亞當被造時一樣。祂也是完全的神，只是道成肉身時祂沒有用過祂的神性，如在變化山上，摩西和以利亞『他們在榮光裏顯現，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 9:31) 既使祂雖然早已知道這事，但也需要確認這點。 瞭解祂道成肉身時既是完全的神又是完全的人這點，我們可以用一個比喻。一個王子淪落為乞丐，即使他現在為乞丐，他的身份不變，仍是王子。但對我們來說這仍是一個奧秘，我們不知祂如何『反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。』(腓立比書 2:7) 必須在信心裏面，知道祂做成了。在這裏我們也可見到祂是個禱告的人，在禱告上作了我們的榜樣。

       在馬太福音也記載了同樣的事情：『耶穌下了山，有許多人跟着他。有一個長大痲瘋的來拜他，說：「主若肯，必能叫我潔淨了。」耶穌伸手摸他說：「我肯，你潔淨了吧！」他的大痲瘋立刻就潔淨了。耶穌對他說：「你切不可告訴人，只要去把身體給祭司察看，獻上摩西所吩咐的禮物，對眾人作證據。」』(馬太福音 8:1-4) 在這裏我們可知道是什麼時候發生的事，是在耶穌在山上講了馬太福音第五章到第七章的山上寶訓，下山之後。

       在馬可福音的同樣事情多記載了一些，『有一個長大痲瘋的來求耶穌，向他跪下，說：「你若肯，必能叫我潔淨了！」耶穌動了慈心，就伸手摸他，說：「我肯，你潔淨了吧！」大痲瘋即時離開他，他就潔淨了。耶穌嚴嚴地囑咐他，就打發他走，對他說：「你要謹慎，甚麼話都不可告訴人；只要去把身體給祭司察看，又因為你潔淨了，獻上摩西所吩咐的禮物，對眾人作證據。」那人出去，倒說許多的話，把這件事傳揚開了，叫耶穌以後不得再明明地進城，只好在外邊曠野地方。人從各處都就了他來。』(馬可福音 1:40-45)

       祂是有憐憫的，因為明講是動了慈心，相信聖靈沒有說祂不要這樣做，要不就不是祂一生都是順服聖靈的帶領。講到預先知道，在書念的婦人那事，耶和華並沒有預先告訴以利沙，就如經文所說：『婦人上了山，到神人那裏，就抱住神人的腳。基哈西前來要推開她，神人說：「由她吧！因為她心裏愁苦，耶和華向我隱瞞，沒有指示我。」』(列王紀下 4:27) 在和撒馬利亞的婦人對話那件事上，耶穌是『必須經過撒馬利亞，』(約翰福音 4:4) 而猶太人是通常不走經過撒馬利亞那條路，相信這是聖靈的帶領，因此是『必須』的。所以有些人可能會問是不是預先聖靈就告訴耶穌，而祂知道有麻煩卻仍去做，在這問題上聖經雖然沒有明講，但如果從聖經的一致性看，我相信聖靈會給祂一些自由如亞當夏娃的自由意志般，而不是像一個命令一個動作的機器人。因此我會趨向於祂不預先知道，要不就是不跟隨聖靈的帶領，沒有必要說祂因慈心付了代價，不得再明明地進城。這和在客西馬尼園很不一樣，祂預先就知道要為我們而死，在變化山上也確定了，雖然如此，但作為一個人，這樣的選擇是非常的不容易，所以祂仍然要禱告，『…然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。』(馬太福音 26:39) 這是順服聖靈的帶領，祂做了『不要消滅聖靈的感動。』(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 的榜像。

3. 醫治癱子及聖經的一個寫法

    讀經要讀出神作事的法則，就如經文所說，『他使摩西知道他的法則，叫以色列人曉得他的作為。』(詩篇 103:7) 即使如此，摩西在氣頭上，仍是不能順服神照神所曉諭的吩咐磐石發出水來，而用杖擊打磐石兩下 (參民數記 20:7-12)，以致於不能在身前進入迦南美地。我們是不可能知道神全部做事的法則，因神是無限而人是有限，但我們要盡力，在這裏，我們要透過經文看聖經的一個寫法。

      先看看耶穌醫治癱子的一個事件，『有一天，耶穌教訓人，有法利賽人和教法師在旁邊坐着，他們是從加利利各鄉村和猶太並耶路撒冷來的。主的能力與耶穌同在，使他能醫治病人。有人用褥子抬着一個癱子，要抬進去放在耶穌面前，卻因人多，尋不出法子抬進去，就上了房頂，從瓦間把他連褥子縋到當中，正在耶穌面前。耶穌見他們的信心，就對癱子說：「你的罪赦了。」文士和法利賽人就議論說：「這說僭妄話的是誰？除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？」耶穌知道他們所議論的，就說：「你們心裏議論的是甚麼呢？或說『你的罪赦了』，或說『你起來行走』，哪一樣容易呢？但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。」就對癱子說：「我吩咐你起來，拿你的褥子回家去吧！」那人當眾人面前立刻起來，拿着他所躺臥的褥子回家去，歸榮耀與神。眾人都驚奇，也歸榮耀與神，並且滿心懼怕，說：「我們今日看見非常的事了。」』(路加福音 5:17-26)

      在這裏，我們看到了耶穌教訓人是公開的在公眾的場合。文士和法利賽人講得沒錯，除了神以外沒有能赦罪的，只是他們不知道耶穌是和神合一的，如經文所說，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 同樣的事情在馬太福音 9:1-8 和馬可福音 2:1-12 都有記載，馬太福音記錄了在何地，就是『耶穌上了船，渡過海，來到自己的城裏。』(馬太福音 9:1) 是如馬可福音所說的在迦百農，並在馬可福音 2:5說『耶穌見他們的信心，…』在前面路加福音經文中所問的，哪一樣容易呢？都不容易。這次的目的很明顯，『但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。』至於他們是指誰？是只指病人的四個朋友或是包括了病人？

       在我們討論這問題之前，先提一下一個只要我們願意，都可以做到的一個實際的方法 [1]，就是：(1)不要把聖經的話打折扣；(2)用邏輯；(3)用聖經的一致性。我們在這裏沒有聖經的一致性，因為有些例子說到病人需要有信心，有些不需要。譬如使徒行傳 14:8-10 說到，『路司得城裏坐着一個兩腳無力的人，生來是瘸腿的，從來沒有走過。他聽保羅講道，保羅定睛看他，見他有信心，可得痊愈，就大聲說：「你起來，兩腳站直！」那人就跳起來，而且行走。』所以那瘸腿的是有信心的。但在後面這些經文中沒有說在美門瘸腿的有信心，就是『申初禱告的時候，彼得、約翰上聖殿去。有一個人，生來是瘸腿的，天天被人抬來，放在殿的一個門口（那門名叫美門），要求進殿的人賙濟。他看見彼得、約翰將要進殿，就求他們賙濟。彼得、約翰定睛看他。彼得說：「你看我們！」那人就留意看他們，指望得着甚麼。彼得說：「金銀我都沒有，只把我所有的給你。我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名，叫你起來行走！」於是拉着他的右手，扶他起來。他的腳和踝子骨立刻健壯了，就跳起來，站着，又行走；同他們進了殿，走着，跳着，讚美神。百姓都看見他行走，讚美神，認得他是那素常坐在殿的美門口求賙濟的，就因他所遇着的事，滿心希奇驚訝。』(使徒行傳 3:1-10) 還有許多這樣的例子，所以我們不能決定在前面路加福音經文中的他們、是只指病人的四個朋友、或是包括了病人。邏輯只是一個工具，不同的假設做為這工具的輸入，我們會得到不同的結論的。在不把聖經的話打折扣下，邏輯告訴我們我們不會得到唯一的結論，就像我們以前所說，這只是一個聖經的話不會得到唯一結論的另外一個例子。

       聖經的一致性在其他的地方是非常有用的。譬如在帖撒羅尼迦前書 4:17 提到被提的事，『以後我們這活着還存留的人必和他們一同被提到雲裏，在空中與主相遇。這樣，我們就要和主永遠同在。』這在福音書也提到，『…人子降臨也要這樣。那時，兩個人在田裏，取去一個，撇下一個；兩個女人推磨，取去一個，撇下一個。』(馬太福音 24:39-41) 有人認為取去的那一個是取去作審判的 [2]，從聖經的一致性看這明顯是不對的。

       聖經的一個寫法是通常指一般的原則，但有特例。以受(水)洗為例，主自己做了一般原則的例子: 『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。…』(馬太福音 3:15-16) 也有不需受洗的特例: 『那同釘的兩個犯人，…耶穌對他(其中一個)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) 我們不能用特例來說我們不需要受洗，因聖經很多地方是明講了這一般性的原則，譬如在下列的經文中都可見此。『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，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」(馬太福音 28:18-20) 『二人正往前走，到了有水的地方，太監說：「看哪，這裏有水，我受洗有甚麼妨礙呢？」於是吩咐車站住，腓利和太監二人同下水裏去，腓利就給他施洗。』(使徒行傳 8:36-38) 『所以我們藉着洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉着父的榮耀從死裏復活一樣。』(羅馬書 6:4) 如果我們要引用特例，我們該問的是我們在類似的情況下嗎？

       再舉一個聖經的例子，大衞是在赫人烏利亞的妻拔示巴的事件，犯了姦淫和借刀殺人的罪，但神赦免了他的死罪，但他仍然要為自己的錯誤受到懲罰 (參撒母耳記下 11-12:14) 難道我們能說犯姦和借刀殺人沒關係嗎？當然不能，我想神這次用祂的絕對主權赦免了他的死罪，是因為『大衞對拿單說：「我得罪耶和華了！」…』 (撒母耳記下 12:13) 所以他一知道自己犯錯後就悔改了，他深深的悔改在詩篇 51 篇可看見，他不僅僅是向神悔改，而且是交於伶長，在眾人面前不隱瞞自己的罪過，我相信這是耶和華為什麼說大衞是合他心意的原因之一。 (參使徒行傳 13:22) 神是有憐憫有恩典且很公平的，雖然神有絕對的主權，我們如果真能這樣，相信神也會在同樣的情況下有同樣的決定的。

參考

[1] 詳情在『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，按『2039 透過啓示錄第 15章看讀經時該做的事』。

[2] 譬如說，馬太福音 24:39-41，英文的一個翻譯版本是這樣說的。英文的寫法為『Matthew 24:39-41, Amplified Bible (AMP), “and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment]. At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.”』。

  (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, let us see the process of the call of Peter to be fishers of men. We observe that due to Andrew’s introduction, Peter knew Jesus. We can thus see the importance of preaching the Gospel as one way of introducing the Gospels to people. Secondly, He showed His mercy by healing the leper and the price He paid for it. We also observe that His reaction to this event is very different from ordinary people. We also discussed if He knew ahead of time the price He had to pay, or if he healed him just because of His mercy. Thirdly, we take a look at His healing of a paralyzed man, who was let down by four friends through the roof. Jesus healed the paralyzed man because of their faith. Who are they? These verses don’t say it clearly. We use a practical method to explain this. We also mention one way the Bible uses writing styles to make a point by referring to certain examples, which includes the general principles and special cases.

1. The call of disciples as fishers of men in the lake of Gennesaret   

The time Jesus first met Peter is described in John 1:35-42, “Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” 

First, we see what John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” is real. From this event, we can see that he had a heart without any jealousy to Jesus at all. He is very humble. He introduced his own disciples to follow Jesus. Secondly, we can see that Peter knew Jesus through the introduction of Andrew. Without Andrew, Peter would not know Jesus. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ,”(Romans 10:17) we should “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”(2 Timothy 4:2) If people don’t know what Gospels are, how can they believe? We also see that Jesus wanted these two disciples to make their own judgement by inviting them. Just one day, they knew, “We have found the Messiah.” Thus, Jesus is indeed a doer. This is what James said in James 1:22, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

This was the first call of Peter, described in Matthew 4:18-22, “Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” Here, we can see that He also called Andrew, James, and John.

It is clearly stated in Luke 5:1-11 that Peter in the second call genuinely accepted his call after his seeing a miracle. In the first time, “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Probably, he went back again since there was the second time. And this time, “they left everything and followed Him.” These verses described the overall situation as follows. “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”

Notice that only Simon said, “I am a sinful man.” The others just felt amazed. We can see that not all people can perceive things for the same event. To them, it is surely a miracle. They were professionals and worked hard all night and caught nothing. And they caught so many fishes just acting according to what Jesus said. No wonder why anyone who perceives the event accepted the call to be fishers of men, and left everything and followed Him. We can also see the importance of encountering miracles for those with little faith like me. The miracles make us realize that the words in the Bible are not merely words, but can be experienced. And how much we can experience, God has the absolute authority. What we can only do is to pray. 

In the Gospel of Mark, the same event is recorded. The time of the event is after John had been taken into custody as stated in Mark 1:14-20, “Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.”

“Fishers of men” is not just a saying. It was actually done by the Holy Spirit to make people be pierced to the heart as stated in Acts 2:37-41, “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” …So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

2. Healing the leper

The event happened in Luke 5:12-16, “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”

The reaction of Jesus was very different from ordinary people. This should be a good opportunity to become famous, but He slipped away to the wilderness to pray to hear the leading of the Holy Spirit. He said clearly that He kept the commandments of the Father in John 15:10 “… just as I have kept My Father’s commandments …” He is the same as us except that He has no sin, since He took “the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) He was a complete man with the likeness of men, and needed prayer just like us, but He was back to the original state when Adam was created. He was also completely God without using His God’s status during the period of Word becoming flesh. For example, in the mountain of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah, “…appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31) Although He knew this quite a while ago, He had to confirm it. To understand that He can be both a complete man and a complete God at the same time, let us use an analogy. A prince was down to a beggar for a situation like a mutation, he is still a prince even he became a beggar temporarily. There is no change for his status. He is always a prince no matter how he lives. But to us, it is still a mystery because we don’t know how He “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) We have to be in faith, and know that He had already done it. Here, we also see that He was the man with constant praying, and is a model for us in prayer.

In Matthew 8:1-4, the same event is recorded as follows. “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”” Here, we know when it happened. It was after the time Jesus preached the words in chapters five to seven of the Book of Matthew, the well known the Sermon on the Mount.

In the Book of Mark, a little more is described. In Mark 1:40-45, it is said, “And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.”

He is merciful since it is said clearly that He was moved with compassion. It is believed that the Holy Spirit didn’t say that He was not allowed to heal the leper; otherwise, He cannot say that He follows the leading of the Holy Spirit in His whole life. Talking about foreknowledge, in the event of the woman of Shunem, “When she came to the man of God (Elisha) to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.””(2 Kings 4:27) Apparently, God didn’t tell Elisha in advance.

In the event of the conversation of Jesus and the woman of Samaria, “…He had to pass through Samaria.”(John 4:4) And Jews normally didn’t pass the road through Samaria. We see the leading of the Holy Spirit because “He had to.” Therefore, someone may ask if the Holy Spirit let Jesus know ahead. He knew the trouble but He still did it anyway. In this question, the Bible doesn’t say clearly. But according to the consistency of the Bible, it is believed that the Holy Spirit will give him some freedom like when Adam and Eve were created, not like a robot, one command leading to one action only. Therefore, my opinion is that He didn’t know ahead of time; otherwise, He didn’t follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as discussed. In this case, there is no reason to record that He paid the price for His compassion, which is the fact that He could no longer publicly enter a city. This is very different from what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. Although He confirmed ahead in the mountain of transfiguration that He would die for us, it wasn’t easy to do so as a human being. But He still prayed, “…yet not as I will, but as You will.” This is an example of obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, and “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19)

3. Healing the paralyzed man, and one way of Bible writing style 

Reading the Bible must read out the principles of how God works like what said in Psalms 103:7, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.” Despite this, when Moses became angry, he still couldn’t obey what God told him regarding telling the water to flow out of the rock, and struck the rock twice with his rod instead. (Ref. Numbers 20:7-12) As a result, he couldn’t enter the land of Canaan in this life. We cannot know all the principles of how God works since He is infinite and we are finite. But we have to do our best. Here, we’ll share one way of the Bible writing style from verses. Before that, let us take a look at the event of His healing of a man who was paralyzed.

In Luke 5:17-26, it says, “One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”-He said to the paralytic-“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.””

Here, we can see that the teaching of Jesus was in public. The scribes and the Pharisees said correctly, “Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” But they didn’t know, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30) The same event is recorded in Matthew 9:1-8 and Mark 2:1-12. In Matthew 9:1, it is said, “… Jesus …came to His own city, which is as Mark 2:1 said in Capernaum. In the Book of Luke, it was also asked, “Which is easier?” Both of them were not easy. The goal of this time is very clear, “so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” It is also said in Mark 2:5, “And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”” So, who are they as said here and the verses in the Book of Luke? They were only the four friends or including the paralyzed? 

Before we discuss this question, let us mention one practical method with detail in [1], which can be done by everyone who is willing to do it. That is: (1) Don’t discount the words in the Bible; (2) Use logic; (3) Use the consistency of the Bible. Here, we have no consistency of the Bible since there are examples where some patients need to have at least a weak amount of faith in order to be healed, and some don’t. As an example, it is said in Acts 14:8-10,”At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk.” The man certainly had faith. But the verses in Acts 3:1-10 don’t mention that the lame at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful has faith.

In Acts 3:1-10, it says, “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!” And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” There are other examples like these two. Thus, we cannot determine uniquely whether the verses in the Book of Luke indicate that the word ‘they’ includes the patient or not. As discussed in [1], logic is only a tool. If we enter various assumptions as inputs, we will get different results. Under the assumption that we don’t discount the words in the Bible, we cannot get a unique conclusion. Like what we discussed before, this is just another example which doesn’t get a unique conclusion. 

The consistency of the Bible is very useful in other places. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, it is said, “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Such an event is also mentioned in Matthew 24:39-41 “…so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” Someone thinks the person is taken away for judgement [2]. From the consistency of the Bible, it is apparently incorrect.

There is one way of Bible writing style. Normally, it refers to ordinary cases, but there are special cases. As an example, the Lord made Himself as an example in baptism as a general principle in Matthew 3:15-16, “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; …” There is a special case in Luke 23:39-43, “…He said to him (one of the criminals), “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”” We cannot use the special case as the excuse that one doesn’t need baptism.

The Bible states clearly in many places this general principle that we need to be baptized. In the following, there are some examples. In Matthew 28:18-20, it says, “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.”” In Acts 8:36-38, it says, “As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.” The meaning of baptism is given in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” If we want to use special cases, we need to ask if we are in similar situations.

Let use another example from the Bible as an illustration. David in the event of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, he committed adultery and killed Uriah with the sword of the sons of Ammon. (Ref. 2 Samuel 11-13:14) Are we saying there is no problem by committing adultery and killing by this way? Absolutely not. I think that God used His absolute authority this time to forgive the death penalty of David because “…David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”(2 Samuel 12:13) He immediately repent when he realized that he was faulty. His repent was very deep as stated in Psalm 51, and not only to God, but also to many as this Psalm was for the choir director which would be sang by many. He didn’t hide his faults in front of them. I think that it might be one of the reasons why God said, “…David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart…”(Acts 13:22) God has mercy and grace, but He is also fair. Although God has the absolute authority, it is believed that He would make the same decision under the same circumstance.

References

[1] The detail is in the web, “https://a-christian-voice.com/,” by pressing “On spiritual understanding about life.” And then press, “1039 Looking at what we should do through Revelation 15.”

[2] For example, in Matthew 24:39-41, Amplified Bible (AMP), it says, “and they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be [unexpected judgment]. At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left.”

   (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.”)

     我们先看看耶稣在灵界是大有能力的，祂责备污鬼而且能命令牠，我们也看到灵界是比我们知道多一些东西，并看看以经解经。第二，我们看看耶稣如何医治西门岳母的热病及其所作所为，和在迦百农的一些医治，并看经文说祂为什么能治病。第三，耶稣来是以传福音为主，神迹奇事、医病赶鬼为副，后者本是为传福音的需要而有的。第四，我们讨论什么是超过所求所想的事，举了三个过去的例子，包括以利沙的仆人眼睛被开，耶稣明讲祂会从死里复活，和哥百尼的日心说。最后提到一个和我们现在有关的例子，就是保罗被提到了三层天，为什么我们说他知道自己不该讲，而不是神不要他讲。

1. 耶稣在灵界的权柄

     耶稣在灵界是大有能力的，祂责备污鬼而命令牠，牠就乖乖的听话，这在下面的经文中写得很清楚。『耶稣下到迦百农，就是加利利的一座城，在安息日教训众人。他们很希奇他的教训，因为他的话里有权柄。在会堂里有一个人，被污鬼的精气附著，大声喊叫说：「唉！拿撒勒的耶稣，我们与你有甚么相干？你来灭我们吗？我知道你是谁，乃是神的圣者！」耶稣责备他说：「不要做声，从这人身上出来吧！」鬼把那人摔倒在众人中间，就出来了，却也没有害他。众人都惊讶，彼此对问说：「这是甚么道理呢？因为他用权柄能力吩咐污鬼，污鬼就出来。」于是耶稣的名声传遍了周围地方。』(路加福音 4:31-37) 其实不只是耶稣的话有权柄，譬如保罗明讲，『我说的话，讲的道，不是用智慧委婉的言语，乃是用圣灵和大能的明证，叫你们的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。』(哥林多前书 2:4-5)       

     同样的一件事在马可福音也有记载，基本上是相同的，所以可以彼此对照，也可在这里看到它们为什么属于对观福音或符类福音。『到了迦百农，耶稣就在安息日进了会堂教训人。众人很希奇他的教训，因为他教训他们，正像有权柄的人，不像文士。在会堂里，有一个人被污鬼附著。他喊叫说：「拿撒勒人耶稣，我们与你有甚么相干，你来灭我们吗？我知道你是谁，乃是神的圣者！」耶稣责备他说：「不要做声，从这人身上出来吧！」污鬼叫那人抽了一阵风，大声喊叫，就出来了。众人都惊讶，以致彼此对问说：「这是甚么事？是个新道理啊！他用权柄吩咐污鬼，连污鬼也听从了他。」耶稣的名声就传遍了加利利的四方。』(马可福音 1:21-28)       

     因为是基于同一个事实，我们必须取它们的联集，也就是要把不同的部份考虑进去。这就是所谓的以经解经的一部份，实在想不出还有别的想法。在这里我们也看到灵界是比我们知道多一些东西，因污鬼那时就知道祂是神的圣者，而那时耶稣还没有让人知道这事实。当然祂对污鬼的权柄不只在这一个地方提到，也有其他很多的例子。

2. 西门岳母的热病和迦百农的医治          

    耶稣在人间的所作所为，马太福音 4:23-25 记载得相当清楚。『耶稣走遍加利利，在各会堂里教训人，传天国的福音，医治百姓各样的病症。他的名声就传遍了叙利亚。那里的人把一切害病的，就是害各样疾病、各样疼痛的和被鬼附的、癫痫的、瘫痪的，都带了来，耶稣就治好了他们。当下，有许多人从加利利、低加坡里、耶路撒冷、犹太、约旦河外来跟著他。』(马太福音 4:23-25) 我们可看到祂在人间也大有权柄的。有人可能会问，祂在人间这么有权柄，怎么会被人钉上十字架呢？就如上次所说，在时间到的时候，祂可以自己把命舍去上十字架，时间没有到的时候人不能伤害祂。       

     我们现在就看看祂在迦百农医治人的一些例子。首先看看祂如何医治西门的岳母的热病，这在三本福音书都有记载，可以互相比较。『耶稣出了会堂，进了西门的家。西门的岳母害热病甚重，有人为她求耶稣。耶稣站在她旁边，斥责那热病，热就退了。她立刻起来服事他们。』(路加福音 4:38-39) 『他们一出会堂，就同著雅各、约翰，进了西门和安得烈的家。西门的岳母正害热病躺著，就有人告诉耶稣。耶稣进前拉著她的手，扶她起来，热就退了，她就服事他们。』 (马可福音 1:29-31) 『耶稣到了彼得家里，见彼得的岳母害热病躺著。耶稣把她的手一摸，热就退了；她就起来服事耶稣。』(马太福音 8:14-15)      

     我们看到西门的家是在迦百农的，也看到了她好了就立刻服事祂，有时立刻会非常重要的，要不就可能会错过时间。我们也看到祂只用话语就可以治病了，这使我们想起创世记第一章的「神说」，所以祂的话和我们很不相同，是大有能力的。因此有人以为只要宣告就一定会成就，是这样的吗？不是的，是神有时候会在后面使这宣告得以成就，要看到神有绝对的主权，不是我们。在宣告时，要确定是因圣灵的感动才这样做的。要不，如果不成就只能徒增笑柄！       

     我们现看看祂在迦百农的其他医治，『日落的时候，凡有病人的，不论害甚么病，都带到耶稣那里。耶稣按手在他们各人身上，医好他们。又有鬼从好些人身上出来，喊著说：「你是神的儿子！」耶稣斥责他们，不许他们说话，因为他们知道他是基督。』(路加福音 4:40-41) 这在马可福音也有记载，『天晚日落的时候，有人带著一切害病的和被鬼附的，来到耶稣跟前，合城的人都聚集在门前。耶稣治好了许多害各样病的人，又赶出许多鬼，不许鬼说话，因为鬼认识他。』(马可福音 1:32-34)      

     我们看到了耶稣会用不同的方法医治各人，且又一次看到了鬼在人知道前就已认识耶稣了。有人说疾病都是由鬼造成，圣经没这么说，后面的经文说得相当清楚。『到了晚上，有人带著许多被鬼附的来到耶稣跟前，他只用一句话，就把鬼都赶出去，并且治好了一切有病的人。这是要应验先知以赛亚的话，说：「他代替我们的软弱，担当我们的疾病。」』(马太福音 8:16-17) #####3. 道成肉身的使命和神迹奇事       

     『天亮的时候，耶稣出来，走到旷野地方。众人去找他，到了他那里，要留住他，不要他离开他们。但耶稣对他们说：「我也必须在别城传神国的福音，因我奉差原是为此。」于是耶稣在加利利的各会堂传道。』(路加福音 4:42-44) 很清楚的，耶稣来是以传福音为主，神迹奇事、医病赶鬼为副，后者本是为传福音的需要而有，证明不是空口说白话，这点也可在使徒行传看出来。       

     『以色列人哪，请听我的话：神借著拿撒勒人耶稣在你们中间施行异能、奇事、神迹，将他证明出来，这是你们自己知道的。』(使徒行传 2:22) 『…一面叫你仆人大放胆量，讲你的道；一面伸出你的手来医治疾病，并且使神迹奇事因著你圣仆耶稣的名行出来。』(使徒行传 4:29-30) 彼得很清楚的知道这点，所以他会『…对百姓说：「以色列人哪，为甚么把这事当作希奇呢？为甚么定睛看我们，以为我们凭自己的能力和虔诚使这人行走呢？…我们因信他的名，他的名便叫你们所看见、所认识的这人健壮了。正是他所赐的信心，叫这人在你们众人面前全然好了。』(使徒行传 3:12-16)  在保罗和巴拿巴的第一次宣道中也提到， 『二人在那里住了多日，倚靠主放胆讲道，主借他们的手施行神迹奇事，证明他的恩道。』(使徒行传 14:3) 基督徒是在传扬耶稣基督的名，而不是因神迹奇事而骄傲自大。

4. 什么是超过所求所想的事？       

     我们最后来看一节经文，因和神迹奇事有关。『神能照著运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。』(以弗所书 3:20) 超过我们所求所想的事是指什么？绝不是指医病赶鬼，这方面也许能是超过我们所求的，却不是超过我们所想的。       

     我们现在看看过去和现在的例子，先看看过去的三个例子。第一个是在列王纪下 6:15-17，『神人的仆人清早起来出去，看见车马军兵围困了城。仆人对神人说：「哀哉！我主啊，我们怎样行才好呢？」神人说：「不要惧怕！与我们同在的，比与他们同在的更多。」以利沙祷告说：「耶和华啊，求你开这少年人的眼目，使他能看见。」耶和华开他的眼目，他就看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。』 (列王纪下 6:15-17) 那时以利沙的仆人眼开了，看到了以利沙看到的真相，也知道在有些情况下，除非是神开眼睛，摆在眼前也看不到，这绝对是那时超过仆人所求所想的，事实上就算他告诉别人，别人也看不到。今日会相信这事，是因相信圣经是神所默示的，是对的，但圣经已明说眼睛会被开启的，我们也应该如此求。但我们仍要注意这不是指超过我们所想的事情，超过我们所想的事是不能求的。在这种情况下，神必须要先开始才行。        

     第二件事是在新约的时候，『从此，耶稣才指示门徒，他必须上耶路撒冷去，受长老、祭司长、文士许多的苦，并且被杀，第三日复活。』(马太福音 16:21) 我们看到耶稣是明讲祂会从死里复活，可是门徒们听不懂，直到看到了这事实，如这处经文所说，『这耶稣，神已经叫他复活了，我们都为这事作见证。』 (使徒行传 2:32) 很显然，那时是超过他们所求所想的。现在对我们不是超过所求所想了，因已发生过，且在圣经有记载。       

     第三件事是和历史有关。哥百尼那时提出了日心说，就是地球绕太阳转，当时大部人以为大地是不动的，所以日心说是超过当时大部人所求所想的事。今日的科技看见了这事实，所以我们知道，但有些事实，除非是神让我们看见，科技也许永远看不到！这样的事绝对是超过我们所求所想的。       

     最后我们再看看一个和现在有关的例子，就是保罗被提到了三层天，他说：『我认得一个在基督里的人，他前十四年被提到第三层天上去。或在身内，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道，只有神知道。我认得这人，或在身内、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。他被提到乐园里，听见隐秘的言语，是人不可说的。为这人，我要夸口；但是为我自己，除了我的软弱以外，我并不夸口！我就是愿意夸口，也不算狂，因为我必说实话；只是我禁止不说，恐怕有人把我看高了，过于他在我身上所看见、所听见的。』(哥林多后书 12:2-6) 那时在三层天所看到的，绝对是超过保罗所求所想的，也又一次明见了神是主动的神。今日只能在信心中相信三层天的存在。    

     有人说保罗是谦卑才说，『不知道这人、或在身内、或在身外』，但他讲的是实话，如果一个人说谎怎么会是谦卑呢？我不是说保罗在做梦，他是被提到三层天，但我们可以用梦中梦来解释「我不知道」这现象。梦中梦是这样的，当人在睡觉时做了一个梦，在这第一个梦中，他睡著了进入了第二梦中，在第二梦中他醒来了但仍在第一个梦中，那时他究竟知不知道自己是在身外或身内？所以这样的情况是绝对可能的。圣经告诉我们的是事实，不要因我们自己不了解而以为是错的。    

     我们也看到了有些话是不能说的，所以他禁止不说，不是神要他不说的，不是像有人以为是神不要他说的。要不，从圣经的一致性，圣经会有像启示录七雷的记录，神会直接告诉约翰不要说。『七雷发声之后，我正要写出来，就听见从天上有声音说：「七雷所说的你要封上，不可写出来。」』(启示录 10:4) 其实，因为没有这个经验，就算保罗说了我们也听不懂，怎能造就人呢？他很清楚的知道，不造就人的话是没有必要说的！『…亲爱的弟兄啊，一切的事都是为造就你们。』 (哥林多后书 12:19) 其实在许多的地方圣经都有这种说法。我只知道一件可能算作例外的事，就是从一些事实中相信神准许我们分享一些事，但我们事先不知道能不能造就人，也许是为了我们而分享，可能会不造就人。 

(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』。)

    我們先看看耶穌在靈界是大有能力的，祂責備污鬼而且能命令牠，我們也看到靈界是比我們知道多一些東西，並看看以經解經。第二，我們看看耶穌如何醫治西門岳母的熱病及其所作所為，和在迦百農的一些醫治，並看經文說祂為什麼能治病。第三，耶穌來是以傳福音為主，神蹟奇事、醫病趕鬼為副，後者本是為傳福音的需要而有的。第四，我們討論什麼是超過所求所想的事，舉了三個過去的例子，包括以利沙的僕人眼睛被開，耶穌明講祂會從死裏復活，和哥百尼的日心說。最後提到一個和我們現在有關的例子，就是保羅被提到了三層天，為什麼我們說他知道自己不該講，而不是神不要他講。

1. 耶穌在靈界的權柄

       耶穌在靈界是大有能力的，祂責備污鬼而命令牠，牠就乖乖的聽話，這在下面的經文中寫得很清楚。『耶穌下到迦百農，就是加利利的一座城，在安息日教訓眾人。他們很希奇他的教訓，因為他的話裏有權柄。在會堂裏有一個人，被污鬼的精氣附着，大聲喊叫說：「唉！拿撒勒的耶穌，我們與你有甚麼相干？你來滅我們嗎？我知道你是誰，乃是神的聖者！」耶穌責備他說：「不要做聲，從這人身上出來吧！」鬼把那人摔倒在眾人中間，就出來了，卻也沒有害他。眾人都驚訝，彼此對問說：「這是甚麼道理呢？因為他用權柄能力吩咐污鬼，污鬼就出來。」於是耶穌的名聲傳遍了周圍地方。』(路加福音 4:31-37) 其實不只是耶穌的話有權柄，譬如保羅明講，『我說的話，講的道，不是用智慧委婉的言語，乃是用聖靈和大能的明證，叫你們的信不在乎人的智慧，只在乎神的大能。』(哥林多前書 2:4-5)

       同樣的一件事在馬可福音也有記載，基本上是相同的，所以可以彼此對照，也可在這裏看到它們為什麼屬於對觀福音或符類福音。『到了迦百農，耶穌就在安息日進了會堂教訓人。眾人很希奇他的教訓，因為他教訓他們，正像有權柄的人，不像文士。在會堂裏，有一個人被污鬼附着。他喊叫說：「拿撒勒人耶穌，我們與你有甚麼相干，你來滅我們嗎？我知道你是誰，乃是神的聖者！」耶穌責備他說：「不要做聲，從這人身上出來吧！」污鬼叫那人抽了一陣風，大聲喊叫，就出來了。眾人都驚訝，以致彼此對問說：「這是甚麼事？是個新道理啊！他用權柄吩咐污鬼，連污鬼也聽從了他。」耶穌的名聲就傳遍了加利利的四方。』(馬可福音 1:21-28)

       因為是基於同一個事實，我們必須取它們的聯集，也就是要把不同的部份考慮進去。這就是所謂的以經解經的一部份，實在想不出還有別的想法。在這裏我們也看到靈界是比我們知道多一些東西，因污鬼那時就知道祂是神的聖者，而那時耶穌還沒有讓人知道這事實。當然祂對污鬼的權柄不只在這一個地方提到，也有其他很多的例子。

2. 西門岳母的熱病和迦百農的醫治

       耶穌在人間的所作所為，馬太福音 4:23-25 記載得相當清楚。『耶穌走遍加利利，在各會堂裏教訓人，傳天國的福音，醫治百姓各樣的病症。他的名聲就傳遍了敍利亞。那裏的人把一切害病的，就是害各樣疾病、各樣疼痛的和被鬼附的、癲癇的、癱瘓的，都帶了來，耶穌就治好了他們。當下，有許多人從加利利、低加坡里、耶路撒冷、猶太、約旦河外來跟着他。』(馬太福音 4:23-25) 我們可看到祂在人間也大有權柄的。有人可能會問，祂在人間這麼有權柄，怎麼會被人釘上十字架呢？就如上次所說，在時間到的時候，祂可以自己把命捨去上十字架，時間沒有到的時候人不能傷害祂。

       我們現在就看看祂在迦百農醫治人的一些例子。首先看看祂如何醫治西門的岳母的熱病，這在三本福音書都有記載，可以互相比較。『耶穌出了會堂，進了西門的家。西門的岳母害熱病甚重，有人為她求耶穌。耶穌站在她旁邊，斥責那熱病，熱就退了。她立刻起來服事他們。』(路加福音 4:38-39) 『他們一出會堂，就同着雅各、約翰，進了西門和安得烈的家。西門的岳母正害熱病躺着，就有人告訴耶穌。耶穌進前拉着她的手，扶她起來，熱就退了，她就服事他們。』 (馬可福音 1:29-31) 『耶穌到了彼得家裏，見彼得的岳母害熱病躺着。耶穌把她的手一摸，熱就退了；她就起來服事耶穌。』(馬太福音 8:14-15)

      我們看到西門的家是在迦百農的，也看到了她好了就立刻服事祂，有時立刻會非常重要的，要不就可能會錯過時間。我們也看到祂只用話語就可以治病了，這使我們想起創世記第一章的「神說」，所以祂的話和我們很不相同，是大有能力的。因此有人以為只要宣告就一定會成就，是這樣的嗎？不是的，是神有時候會在後面使這宣告得以成就，要看到神有絕對的主權，不是我們。在宣告時，要確定是因聖靈的感動才這樣做的。要不，如果不成就只能徒增笑柄！

       我們現看看祂在迦百農的其他醫治，『日落的時候，凡有病人的，不論害甚麼病，都帶到耶穌那裏。耶穌按手在他們各人身上，醫好他們。又有鬼從好些人身上出來，喊着說：「你是神的兒子！」耶穌斥責他們，不許他們說話，因為他們知道他是基督。』(路加福音 4:40-41) 這在馬可福音也有記載，『天晚日落的時候，有人帶着一切害病的和被鬼附的，來到耶穌跟前，合城的人都聚集在門前。耶穌治好了許多害各樣病的人，又趕出許多鬼，不許鬼說話，因為鬼認識他。』(馬可福音 1:32-34)

      我們看到了耶穌會用不同的方法醫治各人，且又一次看到了鬼在人知道前就已認識耶穌了。有人說疾病都是由鬼造成，聖經沒這麼說，後面的經文說得相當清楚。『到了晚上，有人帶着許多被鬼附的來到耶穌跟前，他只用一句話，就把鬼都趕出去，並且治好了一切有病的人。這是要應驗先知以賽亞的話，說：「他代替我們的軟弱，擔當我們的疾病。」』(馬太福音 8:16-17)

3. 道成肉身的使命和神蹟奇事

       『天亮的時候，耶穌出來，走到曠野地方。眾人去找他，到了他那裏，要留住他，不要他離開他們。但耶穌對他們說：「我也必須在別城傳神國的福音，因我奉差原是為此。」於是耶穌在加利利的各會堂傳道。』(路加福音 4:42-44) 很清楚的，耶穌來是以傳福音為主，神蹟奇事、醫病趕鬼為副，後者本是為傳福音的需要而有，証明不是空口說白話，這點也可在使徒行傳看出來。

       『以色列人哪，請聽我的話：神藉着拿撒勒人耶穌在你們中間施行異能、奇事、神蹟，將他證明出來，這是你們自己知道的。』(使徒行傳 2:22) 『…一面叫你僕人大放膽量，講你的道；一面伸出你的手來醫治疾病，並且使神蹟奇事因着你聖僕耶穌的名行出來。』(使徒行傳 4:29-30) 彼得很清楚的知道這點，所以他會『…對百姓說：「以色列人哪，為甚麼把這事當作希奇呢？為甚麼定睛看我們，以為我們憑自己的能力和虔誠使這人行走呢？…我們因信他的名，他的名便叫你們所看見、所認識的這人健壯了。正是他所賜的信心，叫這人在你們眾人面前全然好了。』(使徒行傳 3:12-16)  在保羅和巴拿巴的第一次宣道中也提到， 『二人在那裏住了多日，倚靠主放膽講道，主藉他們的手施行神蹟奇事，證明他的恩道。』(使徒行傳 14:3) 基督徒是在傳揚耶穌基督的名，而不是因神蹟奇事而驕傲自大。

4. 什麼是超過所求所想的事？

       我們最後來看一節經文，因和神蹟奇事有關。『神能照着運行在我們心裏的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。』(以弗所書 3:20) 超過我們所求所想的事是指什麼？絕不是指醫病趕鬼，這方面也許能是超過我們所求的，卻不是超過我們所想的。

       我們現在看看過去和現在的例子，先看看過去的三個例子。第一個是在列王紀下 6:15-17，『神人的僕人清早起來出去，看見車馬軍兵圍困了城。僕人對神人說：「哀哉！我主啊，我們怎樣行才好呢？」神人說：「不要懼怕！與我們同在的，比與他們同在的更多。」以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』 (列王紀下 6:15-17) 那時以利沙的僕人眼開了，看到了以利沙看到的真相，也知道在有些情況下，除非是神開眼睛，擺在眼前也看不到，這絕對是那時超過僕人所求所想的，事實上就算他告訴別人，別人也看不到。今日會相信這事，是因相信聖經是神所默示的，是對的，但聖經已明說眼睛會被開啓的，我們也應該如此求。但我們仍要注意這不是指超過我們所想的事情，超過我們所想的事是不能求的。在這種情況下，神必須要先開始才行。  

       第二件事是在新約的時候，『從此，耶穌才指示門徒，他必須上耶路撒冷去，受長老、祭司長、文士許多的苦，並且被殺，第三日復活。』(馬太福音 16:21) 我們看到耶穌是明講祂會從死裏復活，可是門徒們聽不懂，直到看到了這事實，如這處經文所說，『這耶穌，神已經叫他復活了，我們都為這事作見證。』 (使徒行傳 2:32) 很顯然，那時是超過他們所求所想的。現在對我們不是超過所求所想了，因已發生過，且在聖經有記載。

       第三件事是和歷史有關。哥百尼那時提出了日心說，就是地球繞太陽轉，當時大部人以為大地是不動的，所以日心說是超過當時大部人所求所想的事。今日的科技看見了這事實，所以我們知道，但有些事實，除非是神讓我們看見，科技也許永遠看不到！這樣的事絕對是超過我們所求所想的。

       最後我們再看看一個和現在有關的例子，就是保羅被提到了三層天，他說：『我認得一個在基督裏的人，他前十四年被提到第三層天上去。或在身內，我不知道；或在身外，我也不知道，只有神知道。我認得這人，或在身內、或在身外，我都不知道，只有神知道。他被提到樂園裏，聽見隱秘的言語，是人不可說的。為這人，我要誇口；但是為我自己，除了我的軟弱以外，我並不誇口！我就是願意誇口，也不算狂，因為我必說實話；只是我禁止不說，恐怕有人把我看高了，過於他在我身上所看見、所聽見的。』(哥林多後書 12:2-6) 那時在三層天所看到的，絕對是超過保羅所求所想的，也又一次明見了神是主動的神。今日只能在信心中相信三層天的存在。

    有人說保羅是謙卑才說，『不知道這人、或在身內、或在身外』，但他講的是實話，如果一個人說謊怎麼會是謙卑呢？我不是說保羅在做夢，他是被提到三層天，但我們可以用夢中夢來解釋「我不知道」這現象。夢中夢是這樣的，當人在睡覺時做了一個夢，在這第一個夢中，他睡著了進入了第二夢中，在第二夢中他醒來了但仍在第一個夢中，那時他究竟知不知道自己是在身外或身內？所以這樣的情況是絕對可能的。聖經告訴我們的是事實，不要因我們自己不瞭解而以為是錯的。

    我們也看到了有些話是不能說的，所以他禁止不說，不是神要他不說的，不是像有人以為是神不要他說的。要不，從聖經的一致性，聖經會有像啓示錄七雷的記錄，神會直接告訴約翰不要說。『七雷發聲之後，我正要寫出來，就聽見從天上有聲音說：「七雷所說的你要封上，不可寫出來。」』(啓示錄 10:4) 其實，因為沒有這個經驗，就算保羅說了我們也聽不懂，怎能造就人呢？他很清楚的知道，不造就人的話是沒有必要說的！『…親愛的弟兄啊，一切的事都是為造就你們。』 (哥林多後書 12:19) 其實在許多的地方聖經都有這種說法。我只知道一件可能算作例外的事，就是從一些事實中相信神准許我們分享一些事，但我們事先不知道能不能造就人，也許是為了我們而分享，可能會不造就人。

  (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 let us take a look at the fact that Jesus is powerful in the spiritual world. He rebuked the unclean spirit who then obeyed Him. We can also see the unclean spirit knows more than us. And we take a look at the interpretation of scriptures in terms of scriptures. Secondly, let us see how He healed a high fever of Simon’s mother-in-law and some about what He did. On the top of that, we also see some other healings in Capernaum, and take a look at why He could heal as described in Bible verses. Thirdly, we can see that Jesus came mainly for preaching the gospel. Miracles and wonders are needed for preaching the gospel to make sure that people know it for real. Fourthly, about things beyond all that we ask or think, we give three examples in the past, which includes the eyes of servant of Elisha being opened, Jesus saying clearly about His death and resurrection, and Copernicus talking about the earth moving around the sun. We’ll talk about the last example which is related with the present which is the fact that Paul was raised up to the third heaven, and why we know that he didn’t want to speak in detail about that experience, which is not because God didn’t want him to say.

1. The power of Jesus in the spiritual world

Jesus is powerful in the spiritual world. He rebuked the spirit of an unclean demon, and the spirit obeyed Him. This is clearly said in Luke 4:31-37, “And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.”(Luke 4:31-37) In fact, not only what Jesus says has power, but also the disciples too. For example, Paul clearly said in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 “and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

The same event is also mentioned in Mark 1:21-28, “They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.”

You can see that they are basically the same, and can be used to check each other. So, you can see why they belong to the Synoptic Gospels. Because they are based on the same fact, we have to choose their union. That means that we have to consider all different parts. This is part of what is called interpreting scriptures based upon scriptures. Actually, this is the only correct way. Here, we also see that the spiritual world knows more than we do. The unclean spirit already knew that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and at that time the fact was not known by people yet. Of course, He had power towards unclean spirits are mentioned in other places as well. There are indeed many examples.

2. Healing of a high fever of Simon’s mother-in-law and some in Capernaum

What Jesus did in the world is described in Matthew 4:23-25, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.” We can see that He is also powerful in this world. Then, maybe someone will ask, if He is so powerful in the world, how come He was nailed to the cross? Like what we discussed last time, when His time comes up, He will give up His own life in the cross. Before that, no one could harm Him at all.

Let us now take a look at the healing of some cases in Capernaum. First, the healing of a high fever of Simon’s mother-in-law is described in Luke 4:38-39, “Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.” The same event is described in two other Gospels as below, and can be compared with each other. Below are the passages. “And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.”(Mark 1:29-31) “When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him.”(Matthew 8:14-15)

We can see that the home of Simon is in Capernaum. And we see that she immediately got up and waited on them. So, the immediacy is very important; otherwise, one may miss the right time. We also see that He can heal only by His words. This reminds us in the chapter one of Genesis where “God said.” So, His words are very different from ours, they are powerful. As a result, some people think that proclamation by mouth is powerful. Is that so? No, absolutely not. Sometimes, God backups the proclaimers and makes the proclamation accomplished. We need to see that God has absolute authority, not us. When you make a proclamation, you really want to make sure that it is moved by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it only makes people laugh if not accomplished!

Let us now take a look at the other healing instances in Capernaum. In Luke 4:40-41, it says, “While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.” This is also recorded in Mark 1:32-34, “When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.”

We also see that Jesus used various methods to heal different people. And again, the unclean spirit knows something before people know. Someone may say that all diseases are due to the unclean spirit. The Bible doesn’t say so. Instead, the following verses say very clearly, “When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.”(Matthew 8:16-17)

3. The mission of Word coming to flesh, and miracles and wonders  

In Luke 4:42-44, it says, “When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” Clearly, His main mission is to preach the Gospel. The miracles, wonders, and casting out the unclean spirits are not the main mission, but are needed to support His activities of preaching Gospel and shows what he preaches is real and not just only saying so. The latter can also be seen in the Book of Acts.

For example, in Acts 2:22, it says, “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know.” In Acts 4:29-30, it says, “And now, Lord, …grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” Peter knew this point very well, so “…he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? …And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.””(Acts 3:12-16) In the first journey of Paul with Barnabas,”…they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.”(Acts 14:3) Christians are supposed to make the name of Jesus Christ known, not themselves, not being proud just because of the ability performing miracles and wonders.

4. What are things beyond all that we ask or think?

Let us in the last section take a look at this verse since it is related to miracles and wonders. In Ephesians 3:20, it says, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” What are things beyond all that we ask or think? Absolutely not healing or casting out unclean spirits. This may be beyond we ask, but not beyond what we think. They are clearly spelled out in the Bible.

Now let us take a look at some examples in the past and at the present. Let us first see three examples in the past. The first one is in 2 Kings 6:15-17, “Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” At that time, the eyes of the servant of Elisha were opened, and he saw the reality that Elisha saw. We also know that under some circumstances, unless God opens eyes for someone, he cannot see anything even in front of him. At that time, it was definitely beyond what the servant could see or think. As a matter of fact, even if he told others, they most likely wouldn’t believe him. Today, we believe that this happened since we believe that the Bible is inspired by God, which is absolutely correct. The Bible says clearly that eyes could be opened. We should ask so, but we should be aware of the existence of those things which are still beyond what we can think. How can we ask if we cannot think? In this case, God must initiate.

The second one is in the New Testament. In Matthew 16:21 it says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.” Jesus said clearly that He would die and resurrect. But apostles didn’t understand that until they saw by their eyes as stated in Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.” Apparently, it was beyond what they could ask or think at that time. Nowadays, it isn’t for us anymore since it happened and the Bible has its record.

The third one is related to history.  Nicolaus Copernicus proposed that earth moves around the sun. At that time, most people thought that the earth didn’t move, and all other planets moves around it. Therefore, this fact was beyond what they could think for those people at that time. Nowadays, the scientific technology can actually see this fact. Therefore, we do know. But there are certain things which might never been seen by technology. Such things are absolutely beyond what we can think!

The last thing we’ll examine is related to the present. That is in 2 Corinthians 12:2-6, where Paul was raised up to the third heaven. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man-whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows -was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.” At that time, what Paul saw in the third heaven was definitely beyond what he could think. We can also see that God is active and He initiates. Nowadays, we have to be in faith to see the existence of the third heaven.

Someone said that because Paul was humble since he said “whether in the body or apart from the body he didn’t know.” But as the verse says, “I will be speaking the truth.” How can someone be humble by lying? I am not saying that Paul was dreaming about raising up to the third heaven. But we can imagine this indeed happened by using a dream in a dream to explain such phenomena. A dream in a dream is as follows. When a person sleeps, assume that he was dreaming in a dream. In his first dream, he dreams again that he sleeps and has the second dream. Then, he wakes up in the second dream. When he wakes up in the second dream, he is still in the first dream. At that time, does he really know where he is? So, this situation is absolutely possible. The Bible is telling the truth, and we shouldn’t think that it is wrong because of our own mistakes.

We can also see that something that you shouldn’t tell even encountered. So, Paul didn’t tell that experience because he refrained himself not because God requires him not to say. Otherwise, from the consistency of the Bible, it should have recorded like what happened to the words seven thunder said that God would tell John not to say directly, as stated in Revelation 10:4, “When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”” In fact, even if Paul described, we cannot understand what he said since we didn’t have the same experience. He clearly knows that words not edifying people are not worthy to say, as said in 2 Corinthians 12:19, KJV, “…but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.” Actually, there are many places saying so. I only know one sort of exception. In this case, we may think that God permits us to say something from all the facts we know. Unless a thing happens, we don’t know in advance if it can edify people or not. It could happen that such an event didn’t edify another people at that time. The sharing might be just for our sake instead.

   (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.”)

     因耶稣道成肉身是要除掉我们的罪，所以首先我们要谈谈罪是从何而来。罪不为神所造，但神赋予了人自由意志 [1]，我们看到经文说，罪因撒但的自由意志选择了骄傲而来，而骄傲也是人相当难对付的一项大罪。接著我们看看神悦纳人的禧年和耶稣所做的事，神是爱，祂所做的都是基于爱，所以耶稣引用以赛亚书停在『和我们神报仇的日子』之前。最后我们看看『没有先知在自己家乡被人悦纳』的经文，和耶稣为什么举那两个例子。也看到了耶稣那时的时间还没有到。J

1.  前言: 罪的起源       

     我们看到了『…罪是从一人(亚当)入了世界，死又是从罪来的，于是死就临到众人…』(罗马书 5:12) 也知道『…(基督)在这末世显现一次(道成肉身)，把自己献为祭，好除掉罪。』(希伯来书 9:26) 很显然罪在人被创造前就存在，因为『耶和华神所造的，惟有蛇(撒但)比田野一切的活物更狡猾。…』(创世记 3:1) 而『大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(启示录 12:9) 我们已从创世记的「光」这个字在「2042 创世记的第一日及第三节的光是指什么？ – 神原先的心意(1)」 讨论过，撒但是在人现在可见的物质世界以前所创造的，而那蛇是代表撒但的。因『各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐都是从上头来的，从众光之父那里降下来的；在他并没有改变，也没有转动的影儿。』(雅各书 1:17) 显然罪不是神所创造的。可能有人会问，这不是和以下这些经文冲突吗？『起初神创造天地。』(创世记 1:1)『天地万物都造齐了。到第七日，神造物的工已经完毕，…』(创世记 2:1-2) 不是所有的包括罪都应该是神所创造的吗？这不是好像明显的矛盾吗？       

     罪既不是神所创造的，那么罪从何而来？  神造了自由意志，是撒但在自由意志下选择了骄傲！为什么这么说？我们从以下的经文可以看到这点。『你是那受膏遮掩约柜的基路伯(撒但)，我将你安置在神的圣山上，你在发光如火的宝石中间往来。…你因美丽心中高傲，又因荣光败坏智慧，我已将你摔倒在地，使你倒在君王面前，好叫他们目睹眼见。』(以西结书 28:14-17) 『明亮之星，早晨之子啊！(撒但) 你何竟从天坠落？你这攻败列国的，何竟被砍倒在地上？你心里曾说：「我要升到天上！我要高举我的宝座在神众星以上；我要坐在聚会的山上，在北方的极处；我要升到高云之上，我要与至上者同等。』(以赛亚书 14:12-14)    我们看到了这都是讲灵界的事情，也看到了牠原先被创造时是美丽的，是明亮之星，早晨之子，但牠很显然是和我们的老我一样，以自我为中心。是的，我们看到撒但有自由意志和我们一样。自由意志在没犯罪前是如亚当有绝对的选择的，要不就不叫做自由意志。撒但因骄傲选择了和神作对！罪就开始了。       

     骄傲也是人相当难对付的一项大罪，人很容易骄傲到看不到自己的骄傲！我们看到了从人的角度看约伯，神都说『…那人完全正直，敬畏神，远离恶事。』(约伯记 1:1) 但他仍然自义，这不是因骄傲吗？一个从神的角度看完全正直的人不会是这样的！所以是神从人的角度看。最后神在旋风中问了他一些问题，但没有回答他问的任何问题，我们就看到约伯知罪了，因他说：『我(约伯)从前风闻有你，现在亲眼看见你。因此我厌恶自己，在尘土和炉灰中懊悔。』(约伯记 42:5-6) 他是知过能改的人。在这之后，神没有让约伯再受任何试探。看整本约伯记，就知道神原先的心意就是要祝福约伯，而用苦难炼净了他。     

     再看一个例子，大卫晚年数民也不是因为他的骄傲吗？因『约押对王说：「无论百姓多少，愿耶和华你的神再加增百倍，使我主我王亲眼得见。我主我王何必喜悦行这事呢？但王的命令胜过约押和众军长。约押和众军长就从王面前出去，数点以色列的百姓。』(撒母耳记下 24:3-4)   这和摩西在民数记第一章的数民很不一样，因为那时是耶和华要摩西做的。最后是『神不喜悦这数点百姓的事，便降灾给以色列人。』(历代志上 21:7) 我以前以为是圣灵感动他的心，数民后就立刻自责，但现在相信大卫是看见了神有形的惩罚，于是在『大卫数点百姓以后，就心中自责，祷告耶和华说：「我行这事大有罪了。耶和华啊，求你除掉仆人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。」』(撒母耳记下 24:10)    

     我们看到了不知约押准备了多久，也不知以后是指多久以后，但约押『他们走遍全地，过了九个月零二十天，就回到耶路撒冷。』(撒母耳记下 24:8) 所以数民至少是花了九个月零二十天，这其间大卫是骄傲到看不到自己骄傲的！真的不要意外，因为我们都很容易这样，就像耶利米明说，『人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？』(耶利米书 17:9) 但我们也看到大卫是如以往的知过能改，就如在赫人乌利亚的妻拔示巴的事件一样，犯了奸淫和借刀杀人的罪，虽然神赦免了他的死罪，但仍然要为自己的错误受到惩罚(参撒母耳记下 11-12:14) 从此以后，圣经没有再说大卫再受过其他的试探，且圣经是说，『因为大卫除了赫人乌利亚那件事，都是行耶和华眼中看为正的事，一生没有违背耶和华一切所吩咐的。』(列王纪上 15:5) 请注意，这经文记载时的时间距离大卫数民的事情相当远，相信圣经是要我们看到这点，就是大卫已受过责罚的事，圣经连提都不再提，所以我们应该会很高兴在今世因骄傲受的苦难才对！因已经审判过了，在来世连提都不会再提。       

     在这里我们看到了人的骄傲是很难对付的。有人可能会问，人的骄傲究意从何而来？撒但是有带著骄傲的罪的，当他引诱夏娃时，而她『…就摘下果子来吃了；又给她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。』(创世记 3:6) 亚当是从神那里直接受到不可吃的命令的，但亚当选择了不顺服神而顺服夏娃，于是罪『…从一人(亚当)入了世界，…，因为众人都犯了罪。』(罗马书 5:12) 我们出生时犹如遗传般是带著罪的。所以罪是从撒但带著骄傲而来的，而人的骄傲是从撒但和亚当的错误选择而来的。

2. 神悦纳人的禧年       

     『耶稣来到拿撒勒，就是他长大的地方。在安息日，照他平常的规矩进了会堂，站起来要念圣经。有人把先知以赛亚的书交给他，他就打开，找到一处写著说：「主的灵在我身上，因为他用膏膏我，叫我传福音给贫穷的人；差遣我报告被掳的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，叫那受压制的得自由，报告神悦纳人的禧年。」于是把书卷起来，交还执事，就坐下。会堂里的人都定睛看他。耶稣对他们说：「今天这经应验在你们耳中了。」众人都称赞他，并希奇他口中所出的恩言。…』(路加福音 4:16-22) 对应的经文在以赛亚书如下：『主耶和华的灵在我身上，因为耶和华用膏膏我，叫我传好信息给谦卑的人，差遣我医好伤心的人，报告被掳的得释放，被囚的出监牢；报告耶和华的恩年，和我们神报仇的日子；…』(以赛亚书 61:1-2)       

     耶稣的所作所为包括这样，如同马太福音 11:4-5 说的：『耶稣回答说：「你们去，把所听见、所看见的事告诉约翰：就是瞎子看见，瘸子行走，长大痲疯的洁净，聋子听见，死人复活，穷人有福音传给他们。』关于主的灵在我身上，我们在约翰福音 3:34 可以看到，『神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。』说传福音给贫穷的人，我们都是灵里贫穷的人，『因为世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；』(罗马书 3:23) 绝对是从灵里贫穷的人开始，没有人出生时就是基督徒，且大家都是从被罪沾污开始的，怎么能不谦卑呢？说到被掳的得释放，我们都不是从被掳开始吗？我们看看，『耶稣回答说：「我实实在在地告诉你们：所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴仆。…所以天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。」』(约翰福音 8:34-36) 这不就是受压制的得自由吗？     

     关于瞎眼的得看见，『你们这耳聋的，听吧！你们这眼瞎的，看吧！使你们能看见。谁比我的仆人眼瞎呢？谁比我差遣的使者耳聋呢？谁瞎眼像那与我和好的，谁瞎眼像耶和华的仆人呢？你看见许多事却不领会，耳朵开通却不听见。』(以赛亚书 42:18-20) 耶稣不是开了许多瞎眼的吗？不只属世的，也是属灵的。『耶稣对他们说：「这就是我从前与你们同在之时所告诉你们的话说：摩西的律法、先知的书和诗篇上所记的，凡指著我的话都必须应验。」于是耶稣开他们的心窍，使他们能明白圣经。』(路加福音 24:44-45) 神是无限，我们是有限，神要我们看见的我们就看见了。关于神不开我们的眼睛我们会看不到的这点，就像『以利沙祷告说：「耶和华啊，求你开这少年人的眼目，使他能看见。」耶和华开他的眼目，他就看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。』(列王纪下 6:17) 再举一个例子，耶稣对门徒明讲他会死后三日复活，他们从人的角度看认为这是不可能的，虽是那时明讲却没人相信，我们现在对这点容易多了，因为已发生了。我们实在要相信圣经所说的，不要把圣经的话打折扣。       

     请注意到，新约没有说: 『…我们神报仇的日子；…』(以赛亚书 61:2) 神给了我们一个机会，因为神是爱如约翰一书 4:16 所说，『神爱我们的心，我们也知道、也信。 神就是爱！住在爱里面的，就是住在神里面，神也住在他里面。』但也要知道，『公义和公平，是你宝座的根基；慈爱和诚实，行在你前面。』(诗篇 89:14) 为了神的公义，基督虚已，『…在这末世显现一次(道成肉身)，把自己献为祭，好除掉罪。』(希伯来书 9:26) 除了给我们一个机会外，而且『…我(基督)来了，是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。』(约翰福音 10:10)

3. 没有先知在自己家乡被人悦纳的       

     接著在路加福音 4:22-24『…又说：「这不是约瑟的儿子吗？」耶稣对他们说：「你们必引这俗语向我说：『医生，你医治自己吧！我们听见你在迦百农所行的事，也当行在你自己家乡里。』」又说：「我实在告诉你们，没有先知在自己家乡被人悦纳的。』(路加福音 4:22-24)       

     在不同的时候，『耶稣…来到自己的家乡，在会堂里教训人，甚至他们都希奇，说：「这人从哪里有这等智慧和异能呢？这不是木匠的儿子吗？他母亲不是叫马利亚吗？他弟兄们不是叫雅各、约西、西门、犹大吗？他妹妹们不是都在我们这里吗？这人从哪里有这一切的事呢？」他们就厌弃他。 耶稣对他们说：「大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的。」耶稣因为他们不信，就在那里不多行异能了。』(马太福音 13:53-58) 如果我们比较前后的经文，就知道这和路加福音讲的是两件事，在这里，我们看见了祂的乡人以为对祂相当熟习，他们就厌弃他，更看见了信的重要。其实，当时连祂的弟兄都不相信祂，就如约翰福音 7:2-5 所明说的，『当时，犹太人的住棚节近了，耶稣的弟兄就对他说：「你离开这里上犹太去吧！叫你的门徒也看见你所行的事。人要显扬名声，没有在暗处行事的，你如果行这些事，就当将自己显明给世人看。」因为连他的弟兄说这话，是因为不信他。』(约翰福音 7:2-5)    

     在这里我们也可以猜到为什么先知没有在自己家乡被人接纳的！因为弟兄姊妹和家乡的人对先知那个人太熟习，从人的角度看，相当难接受那个人于众不同而是先知。在较远的地方中，人们会注意到那个人所做先知的事。       

     我们接著看看耶稣举的两个例子。『我对你们说实话，当以利亚的时候，天闭塞了三年零六个月，遍地有大饥荒，那时，以色列中有许多寡妇，以利亚并没有奉差往她们一个人那里去，只奉差往西顿的撒勒法一个寡妇那里去。先知以利沙的时候，以色列中有许多长大痲疯的，但内中除了叙利亚国的乃缦，没有一个得洁净的。』(路加福音 4:25-27) 前者在列王纪上 17:8-16 叙述，后者在列王纪下 5:1-14 提到。这两个例子都是为『没有先知在自己家乡被人悦纳的』而讲的，回头看看北国最后还是灭亡，就可以知道以利亚和以利沙虽行了许多神迹，还是没有被以色列人接受，归向耶和华，难怪神会送以利亚到外邦人那里，而以利沙只洁净了一个外邦人！这不是和新约时代起初相似吗？耶稣不为犹太人接受而钉了十字架，而保罗也不为犹太人接受而主要他传教给外邦人，就如使徒行传 22:21 所说，『主向我(保罗)说：『你去吧！我要差你远远地往外邦人那里去。』』       

     这一段最后讲到，『会堂里的人听见这话，都怒气满胸，就起来撵他出城。他们的城造在山上，他们带他到山崖，要把他推下去。他却从他们中间直行，过去了。』(路加福音 4:24-30) 当时的犹太人非常瞧不起外邦人，就如约翰福音 4:9 所说，『…犹太人和撒马利亚人没有来往。』难怪他们受不了耶稣的话，而且有了行动，但没有成功。我们因此也看到了祂的时间还没有到，人是不能伤害祂的，这就是耶稣说的，『…若不是从上头赐给你的，你就毫无权柄办我，…』(约翰福音 19:11) 也就是，『没有人夺我的命去，是我自己舍的。…』(约翰福音 10:18) 祂是为我们舍命。

参考

 [1] 人是照著神的形像造的，就如创世记 1:27 所说，『神就照著自己的形像造人，乃是照著他的形像造男造女。』神有绝对的主权，显然神有自由意志，所以亚当和夏娃有自由意志，人的自由意志是神造的，所赋予的。  

(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』。)

       因耶穌道成肉身是要除掉我們的罪，所以首先我們要談談罪是從何而來。罪不為神所造，但神賦予了人自由意志 [1]，我們看到經文說，罪因撒但的自由意志選擇了驕傲而來，而驕傲也是人相當難對付的一項大罪。接著我們看看神悅納人的禧年和耶穌所做的事，神是愛，祂所做的都是基於愛，所以耶穌引用以賽亞書停在『和我們神報仇的日子』之前。最後我們看看『沒有先知在自己家鄉被人悅納』的經文，和耶穌為什麼舉那兩個例子。也看到了耶穌那時的時間還沒有到。J

1.  前言: 罪的起源

       我們看到了『…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…』(羅馬書 5:12) 也知道『…(基督)在這末世顯現一次(道成肉身)，把自己獻為祭，好除掉罪。』(希伯來書 9:26) 很顯然罪在人被創造前就存在，因為『耶和華神所造的，惟有蛇(撒但)比田野一切的活物更狡猾。…』(創世記 3:1) 而『大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(啓示錄 12:9) 我們已從創世記的「光」這個字在「2042 創世記的第一日及第三節的光是指什麼？ – 神原先的心意(1)」 討論過，撒但是在人現在可見的物質世界以前所創造的，而那蛇是代表撒但的。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) 顯然罪不是神所創造的。可能有人會問，這不是和以下這些經文衝突嗎？『起初神創造天地。』(創世記 1:1)『天地萬物都造齊了。到第七日，神造物的工已經完畢，…』(創世記 2:1-2) 不是所有的包括罪都應該是神所創造的嗎？這不是好像明顯的矛盾嗎？

       罪既不是神所創造的，那麼罪從何而來？  神造了自由意志，是撒但在自由意志下選擇了驕傲！為什麼這麼說？我們從以下的經文可以看到這點。『你是那受膏遮掩約櫃的基路伯(撒但)，我將你安置在神的聖山上，你在發光如火的寶石中間往來。…你因美麗心中高傲，又因榮光敗壞智慧，我已將你摔倒在地，使你倒在君王面前，好叫他們目睹眼見。』(以西結書 28:14-17) 『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)    我們看到了這都是講靈界的事情，也看到了牠原先被創造時是美麗的，是明亮之星，早晨之子，但牠很顯然是和我們的老我一樣，以自我為中心。是的，我們看到撒但有自由意志和我們一樣。自由意志在沒犯罪前是如亞當有絕對的選擇的，要不就不叫做自由意志。撒但因驕傲選擇了和神作對！罪就開始了。

       驕傲也是人相當難對付的一項大罪，人很容易驕傲到看不到自己的驕傲！我們看到了從人的角度看約伯，神都說『…那人完全正直，敬畏神，遠離惡事。』(約伯記 1:1) 但他仍然自義，這不是因驕傲嗎？一個從神的角度看完全正直的人不會是這樣的！所以是神從人的角度看。最後神在旋風中問了他一些問題，但沒有回答他問的任何問題，我們就看到約伯知罪了，因他說：『我(約伯)從前風聞有你，現在親眼看見你。因此我厭惡自己，在塵土和爐灰中懊悔。』(約伯記 42:5-6) 他是知過能改的人。在這之後，神沒有讓約伯再受任何試探。看整本約伯記，就知道神原先的心意就是要祝福約伯，而用苦難煉淨了他。

     再看一個例子，大衞晚年數民也不是因為他的驕傲嗎？因『約押對王說：「無論百姓多少，願耶和華你的神再加增百倍，使我主我王親眼得見。我主我王何必喜悅行這事呢？但王的命令勝過約押和眾軍長。約押和眾軍長就從王面前出去，數點以色列的百姓。』(撒母耳記下 24:3-4)   這和摩西在民數記第一章的數民很不一樣，因為那時是耶和華要摩西做的。最後是『神不喜悅這數點百姓的事，便降災給以色列人。』(歷代志上 21:7) 我以前以為是聖靈感動他的心，數民後就立刻自責，但現在相信大衞是看見了神有形的懲罰，於是在『大衞數點百姓以後，就心中自責，禱告耶和華說：「我行這事大有罪了。耶和華啊，求你除掉僕人的罪孽，因我所行的甚是愚昧。」』(撒母耳記下 24:10)

    我們看到了不知約押準備了多久，也不知以後是指多久以後，但約押『他們走遍全地，過了九個月零二十天，就回到耶路撒冷。』(撒母耳記下 24:8) 所以數民至少是花了九個月零二十天，這其間大衞是驕傲到看不到自己驕傲的！真的不要意外，因為我們都很容易這樣，就像耶利米明說，『人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？』(耶利米書 17:9) 但我們也看到大衞是如以往的知過能改，就如在赫人烏利亞的妻拔示巴的事件一樣，犯了姦淫和借刀殺人的罪，雖然神赦免了他的死罪，但仍然要為自己的錯誤受到懲罰(參撒母耳記下 11-12:14) 從此以後，聖經沒有再說大衞再受過其他的試探，且聖經是說，『因為大衞除了赫人烏利亞那件事，都是行耶和華眼中看為正的事，一生沒有違背耶和華一切所吩咐的。』(列王紀上 15:5) 請注意，這經文記載時的時間距離大衞數民的事情相當遠，相信聖經是要我們看到這點，就是大衞已受過責罰的事，聖經連提都不再提，所以我們應該會很高興在今世因驕傲受的苦難才對！因已經審判過了，在來世連提都不會再提。

       在這裏我們看到了人的驕傲是很難對付的。有人可能會問，人的驕傲究意從何而來？撒但是有帶著驕傲的罪的，當他引誘夏娃時，而她『…就摘下果子來吃了；又給她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。』(創世記 3:6) 亞當是從神那裏直接受到不可吃的命令的，但亞當選擇了不順服神而順服夏娃，於是罪『…從一人(亞當)入了世界，…，因為眾人都犯了罪。』(羅馬書 5:12) 我們出生時猶如遺傳般是帶著罪的。所以罪是從撒但帶著驕傲而來的，而人的驕傲是從撒但和亞當的錯誤選擇而來的。

2. 神悅納人的禧年

       『耶穌來到拿撒勒，就是他長大的地方。在安息日，照他平常的規矩進了會堂，站起來要念聖經。有人把先知以賽亞的書交給他，他就打開，找到一處寫着說：「主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人；差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，報告神悅納人的禧年。」於是把書捲起來，交還執事，就坐下。會堂裏的人都定睛看他。耶穌對他們說：「今天這經應驗在你們耳中了。」眾人都稱讚他，並希奇他口中所出的恩言。…』(路加福音 4:16-22) 對應的經文在以賽亞書如下：『主耶和華的靈在我身上，因為耶和華用膏膏我，叫我傳好信息給謙卑的人，差遣我醫好傷心的人，報告被擄的得釋放，被囚的出監牢；報告耶和華的恩年，和我們神報仇的日子；…』(以賽亞書 61:1-2)

       耶穌的所作所為包括這樣，如同馬太福音 11:4-5 說的：『耶穌回答說：「你們去，把所聽見、所看見的事告訴約翰：就是瞎子看見，瘸子行走，長大痲瘋的潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人有福音傳給他們。』關於主的靈在我身上，我們在約翰福音 3:34 可以看到，『神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。』說傳福音給貧窮的人，我們都是靈裏貧窮的人，『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀；』(羅馬書 3:23) 絕對是從靈裏貧窮的人開始，沒有人出生時就是基督徒，且大家都是從被罪沾汚開始的，怎麼能不謙卑呢？說到被擄的得釋放，我們都不是從被擄開始嗎？我們看看，『耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們：所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴僕。…所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。」』(約翰福音 8:34-36) 這不就是受壓制的得自由嗎？

     關於瞎眼的得看見，『你們這耳聾的，聽吧！你們這眼瞎的，看吧！使你們能看見。誰比我的僕人眼瞎呢？誰比我差遣的使者耳聾呢？誰瞎眼像那與我和好的，誰瞎眼像耶和華的僕人呢？你看見許多事卻不領會，耳朵開通卻不聽見。』(以賽亞書 42:18-20) 耶穌不是開了許多瞎眼的嗎？不只屬世的，也是屬靈的。『耶穌對他們說：「這就是我從前與你們同在之時所告訴你們的話說：摩西的律法、先知的書和詩篇上所記的，凡指着我的話都必須應驗。」於是耶穌開他們的心竅，使他們能明白聖經。』(路加福音 24:44-45) 神是無限，我們是有限，神要我們看見的我們就看見了。關於神不開我們的眼睛我們會看不到的這點，就像『以利沙禱告說：「耶和華啊，求你開這少年人的眼目，使他能看見。」耶和華開他的眼目，他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙。』(列王紀下 6:17) 再舉一個例子，耶穌對門徒明講他會死後三日復活，他們從人的角度看認為這是不可能的，雖是那時明講卻沒人相信，我們現在對這點容易多了，因為已發生了。我們實在要相信聖經所說的，不要把聖經的話打折扣。

       請注意到，新約沒有說: 『…我們神報仇的日子；…』(以賽亞書 61:2) 神給了我們一個機會，因為神是愛如約翰一書 4:16 所說，『神愛我們的心，我們也知道、也信。 神就是愛！住在愛裏面的，就是住在神裏面，神也住在他裏面。』但也要知道，『公義和公平，是你寶座的根基；慈愛和誠實，行在你前面。』(詩篇 89:14) 為了神的公義，基督虛已，『…在這末世顯現一次(道成肉身)，把自己獻為祭，好除掉罪。』(希伯來書 9:26) 除了給我們一個機會外，而且『…我(基督)來了，是要叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。』(約翰福音 10:10)

3. 沒有先知在自己家鄉被人悅納的

       接著在路加福音 4:22-24『…又說：「這不是約瑟的兒子嗎？」耶穌對他們說：「你們必引這俗語向我說：『醫生，你醫治自己吧！我們聽見你在迦百農所行的事，也當行在你自己家鄉裏。』」又說：「我實在告訴你們，沒有先知在自己家鄉被人悅納的。』(路加福音 4:22-24)

       在不同的時候，『耶穌…來到自己的家鄉，在會堂裏教訓人，甚至他們都希奇，說：「這人從哪裏有這等智慧和異能呢？這不是木匠的兒子嗎？他母親不是叫馬利亞嗎？他弟兄們不是叫雅各、約西、西門、猶大嗎？他妹妹們不是都在我們這裏嗎？這人從哪裏有這一切的事呢？」他們就厭棄他。 耶穌對他們說：「大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的。」耶穌因為他們不信，就在那裏不多行異能了。』(馬太福音 13:53-58) 如果我們比較前後的經文，就知道這和路加福音講的是兩件事，在這裏，我們看見了祂的鄉人以為對祂相當熟習，他們就厭棄他，更看見了信的重要。其實，當時連祂的弟兄都不相信祂，就如約翰福音 7:2-5 所明說的，『當時，猶太人的住棚節近了，耶穌的弟兄就對他說：「你離開這裏上猶太去吧！叫你的門徒也看見你所行的事。人要顯揚名聲，沒有在暗處行事的，你如果行這些事，就當將自己顯明給世人看。」因為連他的弟兄說這話，是因為不信他。』(約翰福音 7:2-5)

    在這裏我們也可以猜到為什麼先知沒有在自己家鄉被人接納的！因為弟兄姊妹和家鄉的人對先知那個人太熟習，從人的角度看，相當難接受那個人於衆不同而是先知。在較遠的地方中，人們會注意到那個人所做先知的事。

       我們接著看看耶穌舉的兩個例子。『我對你們說實話，當以利亞的時候，天閉塞了三年零六個月，遍地有大饑荒，那時，以色列中有許多寡婦，以利亞並沒有奉差往她們一個人那裏去，只奉差往西頓的撒勒法一個寡婦那裏去。先知以利沙的時候，以色列中有許多長大痲瘋的，但內中除了敍利亞國的乃縵，沒有一個得潔淨的。』(路加福音 4:25-27) 前者在列王紀上 17:8-16 敍述，後者在列王紀下 5:1-14 提到。這兩個例子都是為『沒有先知在自己家鄉被人悅納的』而講的，回頭看看北國最後還是滅亡，就可以知道以利亞和以利沙雖行了許多神蹟，還是沒有被以色列人接受，歸向耶和華，難怪神會送以利亞到外邦人那裏，而以利沙只潔淨了一個外邦人！這不是和新約時代起初相似嗎？耶穌不為猶太人接受而釘了十字架，而保羅也不為猶太人接受而主要他傳教給外邦人，就如使徒行傳 22:21 所說，『主向我(保羅)說：『你去吧！我要差你遠遠地往外邦人那裏去。』』

       這一段最後講到，『會堂裏的人聽見這話，都怒氣滿胸，就起來攆他出城。他們的城造在山上，他們帶他到山崖，要把他推下去。他卻從他們中間直行，過去了。』(路加福音 4:24-30) 當時的猶太人非常瞧不起外邦人，就如約翰福音 4:9 所說，『…猶太人和撒馬利亞人沒有來往。』難怪他們受不了耶穌的話，而且有了行動，但沒有成功。我們因此也看到了祂的時間還沒有到，人是不能傷害祂的，這就是耶穌說的，『…若不是從上頭賜給你的，你就毫無權柄辦我，…』(約翰福音 19:11) 也就是，『沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。…』(約翰福音 10:18) 祂是為我們捨命。

參考

[1] 人是照著神的形像造的，就如創世記 1:27 所說，『神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着他的形像造男造女。』神有絕對的主權，顯然神有自由意志，所以亞當和夏娃有自由意志，人的自由意志是神造的，所賦予的。  

 (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』。)

Because the purpose of the Word becoming flesh is to put away sin, we want to talk about where sin comes from. Sin is not created by God but God indeed gave man free will [1]. From several verses, we can see that Satan chose to be proud out of free will. This is where sin comes from. And being proud is also a big sin which is hard, if not impossible, for humans to tackle alone by oneself. Secondly, we take a look at the favorable year of the Lord, and also see what Jesus did. God is love, and whatever He does is based upon love. So, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:2 and stopped at “And the day of vengeance of our God.” Thirdly, we talk about the verse regarding the fact that no prophet is welcome in his hometown. We ask why Jesus gave those two associated examples. Also, we can see that it is not time for Jesus to die.

1. Preface: The origin of sin

We see in Romans 5:12, “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.” We also see in Hebrews 9:26, “…but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Apparently, sin exists before man was created because “…the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. …”(Genesis 3:1) And in Revelation 12:9, it is clearly said, “…the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, …” We have already discussed from the word “light (H216)” in “1042 The first day in Genesis 1 and what ‘light’ in verse 3 means

– The original will of God (1)” that Satan was created before the material world nowadays. “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) Sin is definitely not good, and isn’t created by God. Someone may think that the statement is contradictory to these two verses. In Genesis 1:1, it says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And in Genesis 2:1-2, it says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Aren’t all created by God? Isn’t it an apparent contradiction?

We say that sin wasn’t created by God. Then where did it come from? God created free will, and Satan chose pride under the free will. Why do we say this? This can be seen in the following verses. In Ezekiel 28:14-17, it says, “You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. …”Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you.” In Isaiah 14:12-14, it says, “”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.'” We can see that what talked about are spiritual things. Satan was created beautiful and was called the star of the morning, son of the dawn! But he apparently is like our old-self, which is centered by own-self. Yes, we see that Satan has free will just like us. Before the free will is contaminated by sin, it has the absolute choice just like what Adam had before his choice of disobedience; otherwise, it isn’t a free will. Satan chose to be against God. Sin then started!

To be proud is also a big sin which is hard, if not impossible, for anyone to tackle. Humans become proud easily even to the extent for him not to detect his being proud. We can see in the aspect of human, even God said in Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” But still “…he was righteous in his own eyes.”(Job 32:1) Isn’t it because of his being proud? A person who is righteous in the aspect of God cannot be so. Thus, it must be that God made this statement from human’s eyes. At the end, he knew that he was wrong by saying, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”(Job 42:5-6) He is a person who can repent. After this test, God didn’t make any test happen to him. If you look at the whole Book of Job, you know the original will of God was to bless him and used tribulations to purify him. 

Let us take a look at another example. Wasn’t David counting people because of his pride? Because it is said clearly by Joab in 2 Samuel 24:3-4, “But Joab said to the king, “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?” Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to register the people of Israel.” This is very different from what was described in chapter one of the Book of Numbers, where Moses was asked to count the number of people by God. After counting people, “God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel.”(1 Chronicles 21:7) In the past, I thought that David’s heart was troubled immediately after he learned about the number of people because of the movement of the Holy Spirit, but now I see that the Bible says that he saw the worldly things about what happened to the Israelites. Therefore, in 2 Samuel 24:10, it says, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

We don’t know what the preparation time of Joab was or how long David repented after counting people, but at least for the period of what said in 2 Samuel 24:8, “So when they had gone about through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.” So, counting people took at least this much time, and during that period David was proud to the extent of him not detecting his pride. Be not surprised since we are prone to behave this way as said in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” We also see that David is a person who can repent after learning about his mistakes like what happened before in the event of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. In that event, David committed the sin of adultery and killed Uriah with the sword of the sons of Ammon. (Ref. 2 Samuel 11-12:14) Although God took away his sin and he didn’t die, but he had to pay the price for his mistakes. After the event of counting people, the Bible doesn’t tell that he went through other tests. Actually, the Bible says in 1 Kings 15:5 “because David did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” Notice this is said in the Book of 1 King, which is far away from the event of Uriah. Therefore, the Bible makes sure that we are aware of this point.  Whatever events which David had been penalized, the Bible doesn’t count them anymore by not even mentioning them. Therefore, we should be happy that we have tribulations in this life due to being proud! For things that have already been judged and paid the price for, it won’t mention them in the future.

Here, we see that sin of being proud is hard, if not impossible, for human to tackle alone by oneself. One may then ask where the sin of being proud comes from. Satan is the one with being proud. And when he seduced Eve, and “…she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”(Genesis 3:6) Adam got the command directly from God to not eat this particular fruit. But he didn’t obey God and listened to Eve. As a result, it is said in Romans 5:12, “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.” When we are born, we carry sin with us like those in genes. So, sin comes from the sinful Satan due to his being proud. Humans being proud comes from Satan and the wrong choice of Adam.

2. The favorable year of the Lord

It is said in Luke 4:16-22, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; …”

Among what Jesus did includes what was said in Matthew 11:4-5, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”    

Regarding “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,” we can see in John 3:34 “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.” Talking about “to preach the gospel to the poor,” we all are poor in spirit, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”(Romans 3:23) We are absolutely born being poor in spirit since we never heard anyone being a Christian as a newborn. We are all contaminated by sin, how can we not be humble? Regarding “to proclaim release to the captives,” do we start from being a captive? Let us take a look at John 8:34-36 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. …So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Isn’t it the captives getting freedom?

Talking about the “recovery of sight to the blind, it is said in Isaiah 42:18-20 “Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see. Who is blind but My servant, Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, Or so blind as the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.” Did Jesus open eyes for many blind people, not only worldly but also spiritually? It is said in Luke 24:44-45, “Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” God is infinite, and we are finite. We can only see what God permits us to see. To illustrate this point, it is said in 2 Kings 6:17, “Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” As another example, Jesus said clearly to His apostles that He would die and be resurrected after three days, but they thought that it was impossible in the aspect of human. Although it was said clearly, they didn’t believe at that time. It is much easier for us since it happened and was recorded. We must really believe what the Bible says without any discounts.

Notice that it doesn’t say in the New Testament, “…And the day of vengeance of our God…”(Isaiah 61:2) God gave us a chance since God is love as said in 1 John 4:16, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” But we need to know also, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.”(Psalms 89:14) For the righteousness of God, Jesus emptied Himself and became flesh.  In Hebrews 9:26, it is said, “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Other than giving us a chance, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”(John 10:10)

3. No prophet is welcome in his hometown

In Luke 4:22-24 it says “And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.'” And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.”

In a different time, it is said in Matthew 13:53-58, “When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there. He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  

If we compare the verses nearby, we’ll know that here talks about a different event from that in Luke 4:22-24. Here, we see that they thought that they were familiar with Him and took offense at Him. Moreover, we can see how important faith is. In fact, even His brothers didn’t believe in Him at that time, as said in John 7:2-5, “Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”

Also, we can guess why no prophet is welcome in his hometown! Because brothers or sisters or country men are too familiar with that prophet, and in the aspect of human it hard to accept that person is different from the rest and a prophet. In faraway places, people will notice his work of prophecy.

Then we’ll take a look at the two examples in Luke 4:25-27, “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” The former is mentioned in 1 King 17:8-16, and the latter in 2 King 5:1-14. These two examples were used to support the idea of ‘no prophet is welcome in his hometown.’ When we look back, the nation of Israelites was perished although Elijah and Elisha performed quite a lot of miracles. Therefore, we know that they weren’t accepted and people led not to the God. No wonder Elijah was sent out to a gentile, and Elisha only cleansed a gentile. Isn’t the same in the era of the New Testament, Jesus wasn’t accepted by Jews and was nailed in the cross. And Paul wasn’t accepted by Jews and the Lord told him to preach to gentiles as said in Acts 22:21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'”

The paragraph in Luke 4:28-30 talks about, “And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.” Jews at that time looked down at gentiles as described in John 4:9, “… (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)” No wonder that they couldn’t tolerate what Jesus said. Moreover, they took an action but without any success. Therefore, we can also see not yet the time for Him to die and human being couldn’t hurt Him as “Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; …””(John 19:11) This is what said in John 10:18, “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. …” He died for us.

Reference

[1] As said in Genesis 1:27, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” God has an absolute authority. He apparently has free will. Thus, Adam and Eve have free will and finally made a decision of not obeying God’s command. The free will of humans is created by God and bestowed by Him.  

 (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.”)

First, we mention in preface that our goal is to be conformed to the image of Jesus. What then is such an image? Secondly, there are two Gospels talking about the genealogy of Jesus. We point out their differences and the controversial issues surrounding them. Thirdly, we discuss the time of the temptations of Jesus, what the order means here, and the associated controversy. We also discuss our temptations encountered. Fourthly, although Satan chose the time that Jesus was hungry to tempt Him to tell a stone to become bread, He said clearly that man shall not live on bread alone. Fifthly, in terms of the temptation of showing Him all the kingdoms of the world, He responded clearly, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” Jesus wasn’t tempted by worldly things. Sixthly, we discuss the temptation of throwing Yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Although Satan correctly quotes the verses and accidentally showed that he was familiar with the Bible. Jesus told him clearly, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Associated with that, we give one example in the Old Testament to show that once God tells us to do something, even though we think it is impossible, it no longer counts as a test but obedience is more important. We also discuss a related controversy raised by the prophecy of the virgin bearing a child.

1. Preface: The image of Jesus

We need to be conformed to the image of Jesus as said in Romans 8:29, “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.” The whole Bible talks about Jesus. It is impossible for us to talk about the image of Jesus clearly since God is infinite and we are finite. Futhermore, God has the absolute authority and we can only understand the parts that the Holy Spirit reveals to us. Therefore, this is a series of sharing, which is limited by what we know about the image of Jesus.

Regarding the image of Jesus, the four Gospels state relatively clearly. We choose our sharing primarily based upon the Gospel of Luke and secondarily and on other Three Gospels since the Book of Luke says clearly that it is based on order as said in Luke 1:1-4, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”

2. The genealogy of Jesus

We have shared some events about Jesus before. Let’s start with this fact now stated in Luke 3:23, “When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli.” We know that Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit, thus He is only supposed to be the son of Joseph in the aspect of human. The genealogy in Luke 3:23-38 and those in Matthew 1:1-17 are very different. In Luke 3:32, it says that David is “the son of Jesse, …” Before that, both Gospels are basically the same except the Gospel of Matthew states upward the fact to “…Adam, the son of God.”(Luke 3:38) After David, the names are different in these two Gospels. This is because the Gospel of Matthew talks about the genealogy from the father and the Gospel of Luke is that from the mother. Of course, they are different and thus not contradictory. This is what prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:16, “Your (David’s) house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” No matter if we see the genealogy from the mother or from the father, Jesus is the offspring of David and His kingdom is indeed forever.

The genealogy from the father in the Gospel of Matthew means that the father of Jesus is supposed to be Joseph, and the father of Joseph is Jacob, and so on till Abram. The genealogy in the Gospel of Luke is from the mother, which should be counted from Mary. Does this create a problem since the genealogy of the Gospel of Luke never mentions the name Mary? And in Luke 3:23-24, it seems clearly stated, “…being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, …” Isn’t the father of Joseph Eli? If we want to make it consistent with what described in the Gospel of Matthew 1:16, “Jacob was the father of Joseph…,” isn’t Jacob called Eli either? If we trace the genealogy upward, then we can see that this is wrong. It is impossible to make them consistent this way. The number of generations are quite different. Then, how do we explain this seemingly apparent contradiction? Here, we have to look at the historical background. At that time, the system of Jews was based upon the male, and the father represents the whole family. This point can be seen clearly in the genealogy of the Old Testament, which basically talks about males. In other words, Joseph described in Luke 3:23 represents the Mary’s whole family. In other words, Mary’s father is Eli, Eli’s father is Matthat, etc. Notice that whenever a genealogy mentions the names of females, we need to be aware of what they did.

Regarding the genealogy, there are some other questions. For example, why do we trace up to David and not stop at Zerubbabel, whose name is mentioned in both Gospels? If you trace several generations back, you’ll find out that they are not the same person but the same name. It is the custom of Jews to choose the same name for different persons. For example, we mentioned previously in Luke 3:24, “…Matthat, the son of Levi, …,” who is not the same Levi among the twelve sons of James. The other question often discussed is why several kings are not mentioned in the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew. They are Ahaziah in 2 Kings 8:24, Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1, Amaziah in 2 Kings 12:21, and Jehoiakim in 2 Kings 23:34. The Bible doesn’t say clearly why, and we can never get a unique conclusion.

3. The time of the temptation of Jesus and its order

The temptation of Jesus is mentioned in the first three Gospels (except in the Book of John), which are called synoptic Gospels because there are some events mentioned in two or three of them and can be used to check each other. The temptation of Jesus happened after He was baptized, which is only briefly mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. In the chapter 4 of the Gospel of Luke, three temptations are particularly mentioned in the order of: (1) Telling a stone to become bread; (2) Showing Him all the kingdoms of the world; (3) Throwing Yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple. In the Gospel of Matthew, their order is different, (1)(3)(2). Someone may ask, ‘Is the Bible wrong?’ No, absolutely not. The Bible is inspired by God, and we should ask what He wants to tell us when He puts this seemingly apparent error here? First, the Gospel of Luke is indeed written according to the order of events, not issues. The event of the temptation of Jesus happened after He was baptized. Secondly, the temptation involves more than three issues as said in Luke 4:13, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”

Remember that Satan could not let Jesus go, but failed, as clearly stated in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” We are tempted very often too, because “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”(2 Timothy 3:12) Christians have tribulations for sure. At least till now, we don’t have tribulations like what happens in mainland China. God sometimes responds according to our reactions, and His responses often look very slow in the eyes of humans. But good work often results from working slowly. For example, Moses spent forty years in the wilderness before God called him, and Paul got his revelation in about three years. You must know that the verses quoted below are very true. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33) And it says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Every man will die for sure. Before that time, our temptations are just like what this verse says, that there is always a way to escape. Furthermore, there is always the way of repentance in the era of the New Testament as is said in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If someone says that he never encountered temptation. The person must reflect on himself. Either he encountered temptations but didn’t know, or he was not worthy of any temptation even in the eyes of the servants of Satan!

4. Telling a stone to become bread

In Luke 4:1-4, it says, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.'””

Here, someone may ask, “Isn’t the Holy Spirit in cooperation with Satan?” Absolutely not, the Holy Spirit is one of the Holy Trinity and is omniscient. He knows ahead of time that Satan will not let go of Jesus. The temptations will start sooner or later, and it may start right now in His chosen time. Satan can choose the right time for maximum damage too. When Jesus became hungry, Satan then started this temptation. But Jesus didn’t take the hook, because He knew that He is indeed the Son of God. And He also knows that man lives depending on food, but shall not live on bread alone. Christians must abide in Jesus as said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

5. Showing Him all the kingdoms of the world

It is said in Luke 4:5-8, “And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'””

Satan didn’t lie this time, and Jesus answered clearly. Indeed, “…the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”(1 John 5:19) “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”(1 John 5:20)

6. Throwing Yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple

In Luke 4:9-12, it says, “And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'””

Satan accurately quote these verses in Psalms 91:9-12, “For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.”  “And the great dragon was …the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, …”(Revelation 12:9) Here, we can see that Satan is familiar with the Bible. But Satan says, “…If You are the Son of God, …”(Luke 4:9) We said before that Jesus knew clearly that He is indeed the Son of God. This kind of temptation is doomed to be a failure.

In the verses of the Old Testament, they say verses like, “Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice.”(Numbers 14:22) We also see in Psalms 78:41, “Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel.” Jesus knew in the beginning, “… You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”(Luke 4:12) We must do the same.

When God asks people to do something impossible, it is no longer a test. This point is illustrated very clearly in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 7:10-14, it says, “Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Doesn’t Ahaz really want to not put a test for God? From what Isaiah said, most likely Ahaz didn’t believe that it was possible! But God already said, He will do it no matter what people say since He has the absolute authority. In the New Testament, this is verified as stated in Matthew 1:22-23, “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.””

Related to these verses but having controversy are the verses in Isaiah 7:15-16, “He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.” There are two different thoughts about the period of Ahaz being a king. One is from 736 BC to 716 BC, and the other from 735 BC to 715 BC. No matter which one, the period from Ahaz to Jesus is less than 750 years. There is nothing logically wrong since Jesus absolutely didn’t know enough to refuse evil and choose good about 750 years ago. The controversy comes from the argument that Jesus has to be born in the period Ahez being a king. The Bible doesn’t say so! If we believe that the Bible is inspired by God, we’ll know that prophecy normally doesn’t specify the time. And sometimes it is even not consistent with what we think in the first glance.

For example, it is said in Genesis 15:13, “God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.” Originally, I thought that the Israelites were in Egypt 400 years according to the prophecy. But I wasn’t aware of the key words, “will be enslaved and oppressed.” When James went to Egypt, “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.””(Genesis 41:41) Therefore, they weren’t enslaved and oppressed until stated in Exodus 1:8-10, “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.  …” So, when Joseph was alive, they should not be enslaved and oppressed. And we know, “…Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, …”(Genesis 41:46) When James got to Egypt, “…the famine has been in the land these two years, …”(Genesis 45:6) Adding seven abundant years, James came to Egypt is when Joseph was 30+7+2=39 years old. And “Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.”(Genesis 50:22) Therefore, they have at least 110-39=71 good years. The actual time is stated in Exodus 12:40, “Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years,” which is different. There are also examples in the New Testament, where the prophecy of the time of Jesus coming again is not even specified! 

 (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.”)

       首先我們在前言中提到，標桿是要模成耶穌的形像，所以我們要知道這形像是什麼？第二，聖經有兩本福音書都說到耶穌的家譜，我們指出主要的不同處及爭議。第三，我們討論耶穌受試探的時間及次序意謂著什麼及爭議，也討論我們會受試探的意義。第四，魔鬼雖選祂餓的時候做了「吩咐石頭變成食物」的試探，耶穌卻不受試探而很清楚的回答，「人活著不是單靠食物」。第五，說到了「把天下的萬國都指給祂看」的試探，有別的經文的確看到了魔鬼這次沒有撒慌，但榮華富貴不能引誘耶穌。第六，我們討論了這試探，「從殿頂跳下去」，魔鬼雖正確的引用了經文，耶穌卻很清楚的告訴牠不要試探主你的神。我們也討論了一個舊約關於當神要人做事時就不再是試探的例子，並討論一個相關於童女生子時間上有爭議性的預言。

1. 前言: 耶穌的形像

       我們是要模成耶穌的形像，如羅馬書 8:29 所說：『因為他預先所知道的人，就預先定下效法(模成)他兒子的模樣(形像)，使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。』整本聖經都和耶穌有關，我們大概不可能把耶穌的形像完全講清楚，因神是無限我們是有限，且神有絕對的主權，我們只能瞭解聖靈啓示我們的部份。這會是一系列的分享，談到我們所知道有限的耶穌的形像。

       關於耶穌的形像，四福音書講得相當清楚。我們選擇了以路加福音為主而其他三本福音書為輔的分享，因為路加福音明說是按著次序的。『提阿非羅大人哪，…這些事我既從起頭都詳細考察了，就定意要按着次序寫給你，使你知道所學之道都是確實的。』(路加福音 1:1-4) 

2. 耶穌的家譜

       我們已分享過一些事情，現在從這一個事實開始：『耶穌開頭傳道，年紀約有三十歲。依人看來，他是約瑟的兒子，約瑟是希里的兒子。』(路加福音 3:23) 我們知道，耶穌因聖靈感孕而生，所以祂只是依人看來是約瑟的兒子。在路加福音 3:23-38 的家譜和馬太福音 1:1-17 的家譜很不相同。在路加福音 3:32 講到『大衞是耶西的兒子，…』之前，兩者基本上是完全相同的，只是馬太福音是從亞伯拉罕說起而已，而路加福音往上直追述到，『…亞當是神的兒子。』(路加福音 3:38) 從大衞到耶穌以後名字的不同，因馬太福音是父系的家譜，而路加福音是講母系的家譜，當然會不同，並不是矛盾的。

    所謂在馬太福音中父系的家譜是指耶穌的父親是約瑟，約瑟的父親是雅各，等等直到亞伯拉罕。所謂在路加福音母系的家譜，是從耶穌的母親是從馬利亞算起，這就產生了一個問題，在路加福音的家譜中沒有提到馬利亞啊？而且在路加福音 3:23-24 好像說得很清楚，『…依人看來，他是約瑟的兒子，約瑟是希里的兒子，希里是瑪塔的兒子，瑪塔是利未的兒子，…』(路加福音 3:23-24) 那麼約瑟的父親應該是希里啊？要和馬太福音一致，是不是雅各又叫希里啊？如果我們向上追述就會發覺這種說法是不對的，不可能讓馬太福音所述的家譜和路加福音的一致，究意要如何解釋這好像明顯的矛盾啊！這時我們就要看當時的歷史背景，那時的猶太人是以父系為主，父親是代表整個家的，看舊約的家譜描述基本上都是只講男人，所以路加福音 3:23 提到的約瑟是馬利亞一家的代表，也就是說馬利亞的父親是希里，希里的父親是瑪塔，等等。所以在家譜中如馬太福音的家譜提到女性的名字，要特別注意她們的事蹟。

    關於家譜還常有的一些疑問，譬如說，我們追述到大衞才說兩者完全相同，為什麼不說到所羅巴伯呢？所羅巴伯不是兩個福音書都提到嗎？如果你追述好幾代就會知道他們是同名但不是一個人，猶太人的習俗是會取同樣名字的，譬如剛才提到瑪塔是利未的兒子，這利未不會是雅各的兒子十二先祖之一的利未。另外常討論的問題是有幾位王為什麼在馬太福音中的家譜沒提到，就是沒有提到亞哈謝，約阿施，亞瑪謝，和約雅敬，聖經沒明說為什麼，我們不會得到唯一的結論的。

3. 耶穌受試探的時間及次序

       耶穌受試探的事除了在約翰福音外，在前三本福音書都提到，因前三本福音書有一些同樣的事情，可互相對照，所以稱為對觀福音或符類福音。耶穌受試探是在祂受洗之後，其中在馬可福音只短短的提到。路加福音第 4 章提到三件事的秩序為: (1) 吩咐這塊石頭變成食物；(2) 把天下的萬國都指給他看；(3) 從殿頂跳下去。但馬太福音第四章的秩序為 (1)、(3)、(2)。我們可能會問，是不是聖經錯了？不是，聖經是神所默示的，那麼我們該問是、祂把這明顯的矛盾放在這裏要告訴我們什麼？首先，以受試探這事件發生的秩序來說，路加福音的確按秩序寫的，是在耶穌受洗之後，而且受試探的不只是這三件事，在這次『魔鬼用完了各樣的試探，就暫時離開耶穌。』(路加福音 4:13) 

       撒但不會放過耶穌的，這從下面的經文就很清楚，『因我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱，他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣，只是他沒有犯罪。』(希伯來書 4:15) 我們也會常受試探，因『…凡立志在基督耶穌裏敬虔度日的，也都要受逼迫。』(提摩太後書 3:12)  所以基督徒本有苦難，到目前為止，我們至少不像在大陸一樣的受逼迫，神會看我們的反應而做出回應的。常常是慢功出細活，譬如摩西有四十年和保羅約有三年是在曠野。要知道下面這些經文不是空話，『我將這些事告訴你們，是要叫你們在我裏面有平安。在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』(約翰福音 16:33) 『你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的。在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。』(哥林多前書 10:13) 人人都有一死，但死的時間還沒到的時候，都是如此。而且好處是在新約時代留給了我們一條悔改的路，就如經文所說，『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) 如果有人說沒被受試探過，實在是應該反省，或是受試探自己不知道，或是撒但的差役都覺得你不值得受試探！

 4. 吩咐石頭變成食物

       『耶穌被聖靈充滿，從約旦河回來，聖靈將他引到曠野，四十天受魔鬼的試探。那些日子沒有吃甚麼，日子滿了，他就餓了。魔鬼對他說：「你若是神的兒子，可以吩咐這塊石頭變成食物。」耶穌回答說：「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。』」』(路加福音 4:1-4)

    在這裏，有人可能會問，這不是聖靈在和魔鬼合作嗎？不是的。聖靈是全知的三位一體的神，祂早就知道魔鬼不會放過耶穌，試探的開始是遲早的事，不如現在就開始。魔鬼很會選時間，在祂肚子餓的時候做這個試探，但祂不受魔鬼說的這試探，因祂真是神的兒子。且人活著雖然要靠食物，不是單靠食物，基督徒必須住在基督裏而靠神的話，就猶如約翰福音 15:5 所說，『我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裏面的，我也常在他裏面，這人就多結果子。因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。』

5. 把天下的萬國都指給祂看

       『魔鬼又領他上了高山，霎時間把天下的萬國都指給他看，對他說：「這一切權柄、榮華，我都要給你，因為這原是交付我的，我願意給誰就給誰。你若在我面前下拜，這都要歸你。」耶穌說：「經上記着說：『當拜主你的神，單要事奉他。』」』(路加福音 4:5-8)

       這次魔鬼沒有撒謊，耶穌也回答的很清楚。的確，『…全世界都臥在那惡者手下。』(約翰一書 5:19) 而『我們也知道神的兒子已經來到，且將智慧賜給我們，使我們認識那位真實的，我們也在那位真實的裏面，就是在他兒子耶穌基督裏面。這是真神，也是永生。』(約翰一書 5:20)

6. 從殿頂跳下去

       『魔鬼又領他到耶路撒冷去，叫他站在殿頂上，對他說：「你若是神的兒子，可以從這裏跳下去；因為經上記着說：『主要為你吩咐他的使者保護你。他們要用手托着你，免得你的腳碰在石頭上。』」耶穌對他說：「經上說：『不可試探主你的神。』」(路加福音 4:9-12)

       魔鬼正確的引用了這經文，『耶和華是我的避難所，你已將至高者當你的居所，禍患必不臨到你，災害也不挨近你的帳棚。因他要為你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保護你。他們要用手托着你，免得你的腳碰在石頭上。』(詩篇 91:9-12) 『大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(啓示錄 12:9)  從這裏，我們也看到了撒但對經文是很熟習的。只是牠說，『你若是神的兒子。』我們說過耶穌知道祂的確是神的兒子，而且祂知道的很清楚，任何這樣的試探註定會失敗。

    在舊約的一些經文中，如『這些人雖看見我的榮耀和我在埃及與曠野所行的神蹟，仍然試探我這十次，不聽從我的話，』(民數記 14:22) 我們看到了 『他們再三試探神，惹動以色列的聖者。』(詩篇 78:41) 耶穌一開始就知道不可試探主你的神，祂是真知道，我們也要如此。

       當神要人做一些事時，就不再是試探，這點在舊約的這些經文很清楚，『耶和華又曉諭亞哈斯說：「你向耶和華你的神求一個兆頭，或求顯在深處，或求顯在高處。」亞哈斯說：「我不求！我不試探耶和華。」以賽亞說：「大衞家啊，你們當聽！你們使人厭煩豈算小事，還要使我的神厭煩嗎？因此，主自己要給你們一個兆頭，必有童女懷孕生子，給他起名叫以馬內利。』(以賽亞書 7:10-14) 亞哈斯是真的在心底不試探神嗎？從以賽亞說的看，他大概是不相信吧！但祂已說了，不管人怎麼說，祂要成就就會一定成就！在新約，這一件事情就証實了，『這一切的事成就，是要應驗主藉先知所說的話，說：「必有童女懷孕生子，人要稱他的名為以馬內利。」（「以馬內利」翻出來就是「神與我們同在」。）』(馬太福音 1:22-23)

       和這經文相關而通常有爭議的經文是，『到他曉得棄惡擇善的時候，他必吃奶油與蜂蜜。因為在這孩子還不曉得棄惡擇善之先，你所憎惡的那二王之地必致見棄。』(以賽亞書 7:15-16) 亞哈斯王在位的期間有兩種不同的說法，從前736年到前716年及從前735年到前715年。不論是那種說法，亞哈斯王在位到耶穌出生時都不到  750 年，750 年前絕對是在耶穌不曉得棄惡擇善之先，所以邏輯上沒問題。爭議是有人以為這經文一定是指耶穌非要出生於亞哈斯王在位時不可，但聖經沒有明白的這樣講！如果我們真相信聖經是神所默示的，就知道預言的時間通常是不會說定、而且不見得會如我們所想的。

    舉一個舊約的例子，『耶和華對亞伯蘭說：「你要的確知道，你的後裔必寄居別人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他們四百年。』(創世記 15:13) 雅各最開始去埃及時約瑟是宰相，他們沒有被苦待，直到『有不認識約瑟的新王起來，治理埃及，…』(出埃及記 1:8-10) 所以約瑟活著時他們應該沒被苦待，且知『約瑟見埃及王法老的時候年三十歲。…』(創世記 41:46) 雅各去的時候『…饑荒已經二年了，…』(創世記 45:6) 加上前面的七年豐年，所以雅各到埃及的時候是約瑟 30+7+2=39 歲時，而我們知道『…約瑟活了一百一十歲。』(創世記 50:22) 因此他們至少 110-39=71 年沒有被苦待。結論是他們至少在埃及 400+71=471 年。而真實的時間是，『以色列人住在埃及共有四百三十年。』(出埃及記 12:40) 在新約也有這樣的例子，耶穌再來的預言，更沒有說時間呢！

 (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』。)

    首先我们在前言中提到，标杆是要模成耶稣的形像，所以我们要知道这形像是什么？第二，圣经有两本福音书都说到耶稣的家谱，我们指出主要的不同处及争议。第三，我们讨论耶稣受试探的时间及次序意谓着什么及争议，也讨论我们会受试探的意义。第四，魔鬼虽选祂饿的时候做了「吩咐石头变成食物」的试探，耶稣却不受试探而很清楚的回答，「人活着不是单靠食物」。第五，说到了「把天下的万国都指给祂看」的试探，有别的经文的确看到了魔鬼这次没有撒慌，但荣华富贵不能引诱耶稣。第六，我们讨论了这试探，「从殿顶跳下去」，魔鬼虽正确的引用了经文，耶稣却很清楚的告诉牠不要试探主你的神。我们也讨论了一个旧约关于当神要人做事时就不再是试探的例子，并讨论一个相关于童女生子时间上有争议性的预言。

1. 前言: 耶稣的形像       

    我们是要模成耶稣的形像，如罗马书 8:29 所说：『因为他预先所知道的人，就预先定下效法(模成)他儿子的模样(形像)，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子。』整本圣经都和耶稣有关，我们大概不可能把耶稣的形像完全讲清楚，因神是无限我们是有限，且神有绝对的主权，我们只能了解圣灵启示我们的部份。这会是一系列的分享，谈到我们所知道有限的耶稣的形像。       

    关于耶稣的形像，四福音书讲得相当清楚。我们选择了以路加福音为主而其他三本福音书为辅的分享，因为路加福音明说是按着次序的。『提阿非罗大人哪，…这些事我既从起头都详细考察了，就定意要按着次序写给你，使你知道所学之道都是确实的。』(路加福音 1:1-4)

2. 耶稣的家谱

    我们已分享过一些事情，现在从这一个事实开始：『耶稣开头传道，年纪约有三十岁。依人看来，他是约瑟的儿子，约瑟是希里的儿子。』(路加福音 3:23) 我们知道，耶稣因圣灵感孕而生，所以祂只是依人看来是约瑟的儿子。在路加福音 3:23-38 的家谱和马太福音 1:1-17 的家谱很不相同。在路加福音 3:32 讲到『大衞是耶西的儿子，…』之前，两者基本上是完全相同的，只是马太福音是从亚伯拉罕说起而已，而路加福音往上直追述到，『…亚当是神的儿子。』(路加福音 3:38) 从大衞到耶稣以后名字的不同，因马太福音是父系的家谱，而路加福音是讲母系的家谱，当然会不同，并不是矛盾的。    

    所谓在马太福音中父系的家谱是指耶稣的父亲是约瑟，约瑟的父亲是雅各，等等直到亚伯拉罕。所谓在路加福音母系的家谱，是从耶稣的母亲是从马利亚算起，这就产生了一个问题，在路加福音的家谱中没有提到马利亚啊？而且在路加福音 3:23-24 好像说得很清楚，『…依人看来，他是约瑟的儿子，约瑟是希里的儿子，希里是玛塔的儿子，玛塔是利未的儿子，…』(路加福音 3:23-24) 那么约瑟的父亲应该是希里啊？要和马太福音一致，是不是雅各又叫希里啊？如果我们向上追述就会发觉这种说法是不对的，不可能让马太福音所述的家谱和路加福音的一致，究意要如何解释这好像明显的矛盾啊！这时我们就要看当时的历史背景，那时的犹太人是以父系为主，父亲是代表整个家的，看旧约的家谱描述基本上都是只讲男人，所以路加福音 3:23 提到的约瑟是马利亚一家的代表，也就是说马利亚的父亲是希里，希里的父亲是玛塔，等等。所以在家谱中如马太福音的家谱提到女性的名字，要特别注意她们的事迹。

    关于家谱还常有的一些疑问，譬如说，我们追述到大衞才说两者完全相同，为什么不说到所罗巴伯呢？所罗巴伯不是两个福音书都提到吗？如果你追述好几代就会知道他们是同名但不是一个人，犹太人的习俗是会取同样名字的，譬如刚才提到玛塔是利未的儿子，这利未不会是雅各的儿子十二先祖之一的利未。另外常讨论的问题是有几位王为什么在马太福音中的家谱没提到，就是没有提到亚哈谢，约阿施，亚玛谢，和约雅敬，圣经没明说为什么，我们不会得到唯一的结论的。

3. 耶稣受试探的时间及次序       

    耶稣受试探的事除了在约翰福音外，在前三本福音书都提到，因前三本福音书有一些同样的事情，可互相对照，所以称为对观福音或符类福音。耶稣受试探是在祂受洗之后，其中在马可福音只短短的提到。路加福音第 4 章提到三件事的秩序为: (1) 吩咐这块石头变成食物；(2) 把天下的万国都指给他看；(3) 从殿顶跳下去。但马太福音第四章的秩序为 (1)、(3)、(2)。我们可能会问，是不是圣经错了？不是，圣经是神所默示的，那么我们该问是、祂把这明显的矛盾放在这里要告诉我们什么？首先，以受试探这事件发生的秩序来说，路加福音的确按秩序写的，是在耶稣受洗之后，而且受试探的不只是这三件事，在这次『魔鬼用完了各样的试探，就暂时离开耶稣。』(路加福音 4:13)       

    撒但不会放过耶稣的，这从下面的经文就很清楚，『因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱，他也曾凡事受过试探，与我们一样，只是他没有犯罪。』(希伯来书 4:15) 我们也会常受试探，因『…凡立志在基督耶稣里敬虔度日的，也都要受逼迫。』(提摩太后书 3:12)  所以基督徒本有苦难，到目前为止，我们至少不像在大陆一样的受逼迫，神会看我们的反应而做出回应的。常常是慢功出细活，譬如摩西有四十年和保罗约有三年是在旷野。要知道下面这些经文不是空话，『我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。』(约翰福音 16:33) 『你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。』(哥林多前书 10:13) 人人都有一死，但死的时间还没到的时候，都是如此。而且好处是在新约时代留给了我们一条悔改的路，就如经文所说，『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。』(约翰一书 1:9) 如果有人说没被受试探过，实在是应该反省，或是受试探自己不知道，或是撒但的差役都觉得你不值得受试探！

4. 吩咐石头变成食物       

    『耶稣被圣灵充满，从约旦河回来，圣灵将他引到旷野，四十天受魔鬼的试探。那些日子没有吃甚么，日子满了，他就饿了。魔鬼对他说：「你若是神的儿子，可以吩咐这块石头变成食物。」耶稣回答说：「经上记着说：『人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。』」』(路加福音 4:1-4)    

    在这里，有人可能会问，这不是圣灵在和魔鬼合作吗？不是的。圣灵是全知的三位一体的神，祂早就知道魔鬼不会放过耶稣，试探的开始是迟早的事，不如现在就开始。魔鬼很会选时间，在祂肚子饿的时候做这个试探，但祂不受魔鬼说的这试探，因祂真是神的儿子。且人活着虽然要靠食物，不是单靠食物，基督徒必须住在基督里而靠神的话，就犹如约翰福音 15:5 所说，『我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。因为离了我，你们就不能做甚么。』

5. 把天下的万国都指给祂看       

    『魔鬼又领他上了高山，霎时间把天下的万国都指给他看，对他说：「这一切权柄、荣华，我都要给你，因为这原是交付我的，我愿意给谁就给谁。你若在我面前下拜，这都要归你。」耶稣说：「经上记着说：『当拜主你的神，单要事奉他。』」』(路加福音 4:5-8)       

    这次魔鬼没有撒谎，耶稣也回答的很清楚。的确，『…全世界都卧在那恶者手下。』(约翰一书 5:19) 而『我们也知道神的儿子已经来到，且将智慧赐给我们，使我们认识那位真实的，我们也在那位真实的里面，就是在他儿子耶稣基督里面。这是真神，也是永生。』(约翰一书 5:20)

6. 从殿顶跳下去       

    『魔鬼又领他到耶路撒冷去，叫他站在殿顶上，对他说：「你若是神的儿子，可以从这里跳下去；因为经上记着说：『主要为你吩咐他的使者保护你。他们要用手托着你，免得你的脚碰在石头上。』」耶稣对他说：「经上说：『不可试探主你的神。』」(路加福音 4:9-12)       

    魔鬼正确的引用了这经文，『耶和华是我的避难所，你已将至高者当你的居所，祸患必不临到你，灾害也不挨近你的帐棚。因他要为你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保护你。他们要用手托着你，免得你的脚碰在石头上。』(诗篇 91:9-12) 『大龙就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，…』(启示录 12:9)  从这里，我们也看到了撒但对经文是很熟习的。只是牠说，『你若是神的儿子。』我们说过耶稣知道祂的确是神的儿子，而且祂知道的很清楚，任何这样的试探注定会失败。    

    在旧约的一些经文中，如『这些人虽看见我的荣耀和我在埃及与旷野所行的神迹，仍然试探我这十次，不听从我的话，』(民数记 14:22) 我们看到了 『他们再三试探神，惹动以色列的圣者。』(诗篇 78:41) 耶稣一开始就知道不可试探主你的神，祂是真知道，我们也要如此。       

    当神要人做一些事时，就不再是试探，这点在旧约的这些经文很清楚，『耶和华又晓谕亚哈斯说：「你向耶和华你的神求一个兆头，或求显在深处，或求显在高处。」亚哈斯说：「我不求！我不试探耶和华。」以赛亚说：「大衞家啊，你们当听！你们使人厌烦岂算小事，还要使我的神厌烦吗？因此，主自己要给你们一个兆头，必有童女怀孕生子，给他起名叫以马内利。』(以赛亚书 7:10-14) 亚哈斯是真的在心底不试探神吗？从以赛亚说的看，他大概是不相信吧！但祂已说了，不管人怎么说，祂要成就就会一定成就！在新约，这一件事情就证实了，『这一切的事成就，是要应验主藉先知所说的话，说：「必有童女怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。」（「以马内利」翻出来就是「神与我们同在」。）』(马太福音 1:22-23)       

    和这经文相关而通常有争议的经文是，『到他晓得弃恶择善的时候，他必吃奶油与蜂蜜。因为在这孩子还不晓得弃恶择善之先，你所憎恶的那二王之地必致见弃。』(以赛亚书 7:15-16) 亚哈斯王在位的期间有两种不同的说法，从前736年到前716年及从前735年到前715年。不论是那种说法，亚哈斯王在位到耶稣出生时都不到  750 年，750 年前绝对是在耶稣不晓得弃恶择善之先，所以逻辑上没问题。争议是有人以为这经文一定是指耶稣非要出生于亚哈斯王在位时不可，但圣经没有明白的这样讲！如果我们真相信圣经是神所默示的，就知道预言的时间通常是不会说定、而且不见得会如我们所想的。    

    举一个旧约的例子，『耶和华对亚伯兰说：「你要的确知道，你的后裔必寄居别人的地，又服事那地的人，那地的人要苦待他们四百年。』(创世记 15:13) 雅各最开始去埃及时约瑟是宰相，他们没有被苦待，直到『有不认识约瑟的新王起来，治理埃及，…』(出埃及记 1:8-10) 所以约瑟活着时他们应该没被苦待，且知『约瑟见埃及王法老的时候年三十岁。…』(创世记 41:46) 雅各去的时候『…饥荒已经二年了，…』(创世记 45:6) 加上前面的七年丰年，所以雅各到埃及的时候是约瑟 30+7+2=39 岁时，而我们知道『…约瑟活了一百一十岁。』(创世记 50:22) 因此他们至少 110-39=71 年没有被苦待。结论是他们至少在埃及 400+71=471 年。而真实的时间是，『以色列人住在埃及共有四百三十年。』(出埃及记 12:40) 在新约也有这样的例子，耶稣再来的预言，更没有说时间呢！

(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』。)