First, we quoted the previous discussion and saw that Jesus had spiritual authority. He commanded the “Legion” of demons, and they obeyed Him. He eventually allowed them to enter the herd of pigs, but the pigs could not bear it and were thrown into the sea and drowned. Second, we saw that the crowd begged Jesus to leave out of fear and possible financial loss. We here also quoted the previous discussion. Third, Jesus healed the little daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, and allowed her spirit to return to her body and resurrect her. We quoted the previous discussion and talked about its expansion, and saw that trichotomy is what the Bible says. Finally, we look at the woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. We also quoted the previous discussion on this. Because of her faith about being healed by touching the fringe of His cloak, she was healed. In previous discussion, we also talked about the origin and significance of the fringe.

1. Healing a Man Possessed by a “Legion” of Demons and Allowing Demons to Enter Pigs

“They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones. Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.”(Mark 5:1-13).

The same incident is recorded in Luke 8:26-33 and briefly in Matthew 8:28-32. However, Matthew 8:28 says, “When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. …”(Matthew 8:28). Clearly, the obvious contradiction implied here calls our attention to the incident itself. Do not deceive yourself by saying that the Bible must be consistent in words and sentences, and thus lie by claiming Satan as the father, because Satan “…speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44). Do not play word games by saying that the first edition of the Bible did not have any contradictions in words, but the first edition has long been lost, so no one can verify the authenticity of this statement! We must truly find the reason for the obvious contradiction inspired in the Bible. 

Regarding this incident itself, we previously discussed Luke 8:26-33 in “3. The event of casting out the demons into the swine” under “1055 Relatives, stilling the sea, and casting out demons into the swine -The image of Jesus (10).” Here it says that the number of pigs is about 2,000, but it is basically the same. We thus will only briefly discuss it. 

First, we notice that the man possessed by the unclean spirit has strength beyond that of an ordinary person, but he cannot control himself and hurts himself. This is the person most demon-possessed in the Bible; he was possessed by “Legion.” Even so, his free will was not completely erased, for “Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him.”(Mark 5:6) We see that He possessed spiritual authority. He allowed them to enter the herd of pigs, and they obeyed Him. However, the pigs could not bear it and were thrown into the sea and drowned. Please visit “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. Thank you.

2. The crowds were afraid and begged Jesus to leave

“Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine. And they began to implore Him to leave their region. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore.”(Mark 5:14-21)

The same incident is recounted in Luke 8:34-39 and briefly recorded in Matthew 8:28-34. In “4. What happened afterwards” of “1055,” we discussed Luke 8:34-39 in detail and expanded on the very different ways Jesus dealt with those who received miracles of healing. Please refer to that article. Here, we will only briefly discuss it.

We noted that the man had returned to his Gentile home in the Decapolis, making him a Gentile. In the expanded discussion, we also mentioned how Jesus handled the Jewish situation differently. Their request for Jesus to leave them was based on their knowledge of what the demon-possessed man had encountered and the incident with the pigs. Since they did not know who Jesus was, fear was a natural reaction. Perhaps this was compounded by their fear of financial loss, similar to the pig owners’, leading them to ask Jesus to leave them and lose their chance for salvation. We also see that although Jesus performed miracles, He did not force them to believe and accept Him.

3. Healing the Younger Daughter of Jairus, the Synagogue Ruler

“One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him. …While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.” They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.”(Mark 5:22-24…35-43)

From the outset, we see that Jairus had great faith. He believed that if Jesus laid His hands on his dying daughter, it would be enough. Note that on the way to Jairus’s house, another incident occurred: the woman 

with a hemorrhage for twelve years, which will be mentioned in the next paragraph. This incident is denoted by ‘…’, mentioned in the interpolated passage. The same incident is recorded in Luke 8:41-42…49-56 and Matthew 9:18-19…23-26.

We can see that Jesus treated Peter, James, and John very differently from the other apostles. He only took the three of them with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration. Among the twelve apostles, Peter was the leading apostle, John lived the longest, and James was the first apostle to be martyred for the Lord. Previously, in “2. The resurrection of the daughter of Jairus” of “1056 Healing a hemorrhage woman, resurrecting a daughter, and sending the twelve -The image of Jesus (11)”, we discussed these verses in detail and expanded them to related insights. Please use the above method to find this article. 

Speaking of expansion, for example, according to the Scripture, when a person dies, the spirit leaves first, and when the soul leaves, the person dies. Didn’t Jesus also cry out in a loud voice on the cross: “…“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.”(Luke 23:46) He did not mention the soul, which shows that the spirit and soul can be separated. As the Bible clearly states, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12). Therefore, man is composed of spirit, soul, and body. As the Scripture says, “… may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, …”(1 Thessalonians 5:23). In other words, trichotomy is correct. From the fact that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” we can also see that the Greek word G5053 has two meanings: “dying” and “dead.”

4. The Woman with Hemorrhage for Twelve Years

“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse⁠— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.””(Mark 5:25-34)

The above events occurred on Jesus’ way to Jairus’s house. The same event is briefly recorded in Matthew 9:20-22 and also in Luke 8:42-48, where it is specifically mentioned the fringe of His cloak: “came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.”(Luke 8:44). She had such faith simply by hearing about Jesus. No wonder Jesus said, “…Daughter, your faith has made you well; …”(Luke 8:48)

Previously, in “1. A woman who had a hemorrhage” under “1056 Healing a hemorrhage woman, resurrecting a daughter, and sending the twelve -The image of Jesus (11),” we discussed the miracle that happened to the woman with a hemorrhage. Her faith allowed her to be healed simply by touching the fringe of His cloak. We also discussed the origin and significance of the fringe. The Scriptures clearly tell us that Jesus was a complete human being while on earth. Doesn’t the Scripture clearly state this? “and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”(John 5:27). During His incarnation, He never exercised His divinity. Therefore, the power that emanated from Him came from the Holy Spirit. He did not initiate it, but He felt it. Please use the method described above to find this article.

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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

We first look at the call of the twelve disciples, and the fact that Jesus had to pray the whole night to make sure that his choosing them was due to the will of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, we see the time and place of the Sermon on the Mount, and also explain a seemingly apparent contradiction. Talking about the words, “power was coming from Him”, how do we interpret it? Thirdly, we can see that the Gospels of Luke and Matthew talk about the same event of the Sermon on the Mount, with many chapters talking about it in the latter. So, we’ll examine and explain first the three issues in common to both Gospels in the Beatitudes. Fourthly, we’ll do the same for the rest of the five which are only mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. Fifthly and lastly, we discuss the woes in the Gospel of Luke. Associated with it, we also use one example to illustrate the big difference between seeing things in the aspect of humans and in the aspect of God.

1. The call of the twelve disciples

In Luke 6:12-16, it says, “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

We can see that Jesus as a man on earth had to pray the whole night to make sure that will of the Holy Spirit really wanted Him to choose these twelve disciples. Particularly, He wanted to make sure that the traitor Judas Iscariot was among them. The names of the twelve disciples also appears in Matthew 10:2-4 and Mark 3:13-19. If you compare the three, you know that Judas the son of James was also called Thaddaeus.

2. The time and place of the Sermon on the Mount

In Luke 6:17-19, it says, “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” Then we look at what in Luke 7:1-2, it says, “When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.” We know that the Gospel of Luke is written according to chronological order, thus we know that the event of the Sermon on the Mount happened in between these two events. 

Now we examine the time of the Sermon on the Mount mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 5:1-12, it says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” …” After many words in several chapters, we see in Matthew 8:5-6 it says, “And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”” Therefore, the event happened in the Gospel of Matthew has the same period of time as that in the Gospel of Luke, and should refer to the same event. Therefore, we should choose its union. In other words, as long as one of them is fulfilled, it is ok. For the common issues, they should be consistent because they are based upon the same fact.

In this case, we can see a seemly apparent contradiction. In the Gospel of Luke, it says in Luke 6:17, “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people …” And in Matthew 5:1, it says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.” We regard that this is the same event. Then, what happened? Up to the mountain or down from the mountain? It looks like a seemingly apparent contradiction. Let us examine what happened in detail. Take a look at the Gospel of Luke first. In Luke 6:12-13, it says, “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles.” Jesus went alone to the mountain to pray. So, when day came, He had to go down the mountain to call His disciples to Him. And “Jesus came down with them…”(Luke 6:17) At this time, He saw a large crowd, “…He went up on the mountain …”(Matthew 5:1) “…and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people…”(Luke 6:17) “…and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.”(Matthew 5:1) With this observation, there is no contradiction at all. So, the Sermon of the Mount happened on that level place described in Luke 6:17.

Here, we want to discuss one verse in Luke 6:19, “And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” We discussed before that although Jesus took the likeness of man and was a complete man at that period, He was also a complete God. But He never used His Godhead at that period. How can we perceive the words, “power was coming from Him?” Let us take a look at the verse in John 3:34, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.” If Jesus used His Godhead during the period of Word becoming flesh, it is not necessary to give Him the Spirit at all since He can do everything Himself. Thus, we can realize that the power came from the Spirit Who was given to Him without measure.

Some people may have similar experiences. God can use them as a channel, and power came from them. Because “…we have this treasure (the aboding Holy Spirit) in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”(2 Corinthians 4:7) “…but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13) In Romans 8:29 it is said clearly, “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.” If we can be like Jesus to empty ourselves, how can the power not come from the aboding Holy Spirit? But remember. The absolute authority lies on the hand of God. It is up to Him when the time should be. Because “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”(Ecclesiastes 3:1）

3. Three issues of the Beatitudes described the Gospel of Luke

In Luke 6:20-21, it says, “And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Then it follows in Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.” Similar to these words are given in Matthew 5:11-12. This paragraph is pretty clear, and we’ll not further discuss it.

Now we take a look the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10 to compare with that in Luke 6:20-21, “”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.””

In Luke 6:20, it says, “…Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” And in Matthew 5:3, it says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” So, those are poor are the poor in spirit. If a person knows that he is poor in spirit, how can he not be humble in front of God and the others? How can the kingdom of heaven not be his? In Luke 6:21, it says, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. …” And in Matthew 5:6, it says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” So, the people who hunger are those who thirst in righteousness, how can they not be satisfied? (ref. Matthew 7:7-8) The remainder of Luke 6:21 says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” And in Matthew 5:10, it says, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Those who have been prosecuted should be the ones who weep, but they will be joyful since the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Isn’t it what said in Acts 5:41? “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

4. The rest of the five in Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew

In Matthew 5:4, it says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” How can some people who are humble not mourn for themselves and thus repent? As 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.” Thus, they shall be comforted.  In Matthew 5:5, it says, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Those who are gentle are referred to as humble persons. Being humble is really important. Jesus said Himself, “…for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”(Matthew 11:29) We want to be conformed to the image of Jesus, how is it possible if a person isn’t humble? As discussed before, being proud is a big sin which is hard to deal with. Like what was said in 1 John 2:16, “…the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, …” It is among the reasons that Eve was seduced as said in Genesis 3:6, “When the woman saw that …the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; …” Aren’t the self-righteousness of Job and the counting of the number of people by David due to being proud? Some people may say that there always remains a little of being proud no matter what one does. Is it so? Not according to the Bible. When God involved Himself like what happened to Job and David, we need to work with God actively. Job knew himself better once he learned the facts God asked him. And David asked for a penalty himself. After those, the Bible doesn’t mention their being proud anymore, and says that they died full of days. (ref. 1 Chronicles 29:28, Job 42:17) Of course, there are other examples in the Bible. Yes, God can help us to get rid of being proud. But remember again, God has absolute authority and everything has its appointed time. Humans indeed can be proud to the extent that one doesn’t realize that he is being proud, if we are not careful enough. Here, it emphasizes again the importance of being humble. And we see that they shall inherit the earth.

The next is in Matthew 5:7, it says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Due to the grace of God, this is naturally true. But you have to be merciful to others first as said similarly in Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Particularly, if some people think that there is no fault in his part, it is very difficult to first apologize for his fault. If you are moved to apologize first in this situation, the Holy Spirit will let you know where your fault is even though you don’t perceive it at first. If no such a thing happens, you can conclude that you are fooled by the servants of Satan because the Holy Spirit will not to ask you to lie. You need to repent in front of God. You need to discern since even supernatural things are not necessary coming from God as depicted clearly in the beginning of the Book of Job. So, the teaching that one has to apologize first no matter what is not true. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to know after the fact to decide if it came from God and we don’t know how long we should wait. But to apologize for wrong attitudes is always correct.

Although if the Holy Spirit wants you to know ahead of time, you’ll know for sure. In this case, you can know from the accomplishment of the event know that it is true. Normally, we wouldn’t know ahead in order to face our true self.  The event of Hezekiah that he showed everything among his treasuries to them is an example. (ref. 2 Kings 20:12-15) But the Bible also has a different example about knowing ahead like what given in 1 Kings 14:5, “Now the Lord had said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. You shall say thus and thus to her, for it will be when she arrives that she will pretend to be another woman.”” In the New Testament, didn’t Jesus prophesied that Peter “…by what kind of death he would glorify God. …”(John 21:19)

Talkin about what in Matthew 5:8, it says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” As said in 1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.” A person is pure in heart. He has the Agape love. And thus, he fervently loves his brothers and sisters in Christ. He shall see God. Lastly in Matthew 5:9 it says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Although this is said clearly, if one wants to be called the son of God and tries to be a peacemaker, the motivation is wrong and can be utilized by enemy. Remember, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”(Proverbs 4:23)

5. The woes in the Gospel of Luke

Jesus is a doer and He did whatever He taught. And He also gave us a warning in Luke 6:24-26, which says, “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”

Several examples in these verses basically talk about the same thing. Please don’t think that you feel comfortable in your point of view means that you are rich. Looking at things in the aspect of human and in the aspect of God can be very different. The situation in the church of Laodicea mentioned in Revelation 3:17-18 is well illustrated this point. “Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.”

We really need to see things in the aspect of God. The Bible is inspired by God. Thus, looking at things in the aspect of the Bible is to see things in the aspect of God. But it isn’t vice versa. Because God is infinite, and the words in the Bible is finite. Jonn in the Gospel of John specifically said how he chose the material in John 20:31, “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Therefore, to looking at things in the aspect of the Bible and the God are not equivalent.

The examples of feeling well-fed and laugh merely indicate the difference between looking at things in the aspect of human and God. To see things in the aspect of human, aren’t those fake prophets all men-pleasers? But God knows that they are fake. We need to discern as said in Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” How to become mature? As said in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.” Life can only come from God. What we need to do is “Do not quench the Spirit.”(Thessalonians 5:19)  

   (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，我们看到有耳可听的，就应当听这撒种的比喻。第二，我们来看新约如何解释这撒种的比喻，并引用以前讨论过的关于以赛亚预言的部份。第三，谈到了基督徒要有作光作盐的生命，要想作光作盐，必需要有这样的生命才行。第四，我们讨论了神的国如何成长和应如何片去比喻，并引用了以前讨论过的关于芥菜种和面酵的比喻。最后，我们看到耶稣有权柄使风和海听从祂的命令。

1. 撒种的比喻      

    「耶稣又在海边教训人。有许多人到他那里聚集，他只得上船坐下。船在海里，众人都靠近海，站在岸上。耶稣就用比喻教训他们许多道理。在教训之间，对他们说：「你们听啊！有一个撒种的出去撒种。撒的时候，有落在路旁的，飞鸟来吃尽了。有落在土浅石头地上的，土既不深，发苗最快，日头出来一晒，因为没有根，就枯干了。有落在荆棘里的，荆棘长起来，把它挤住了，就不结实。又有落在好土里的，就发生长大，结实有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。」又说：「有耳可听的，就应当听！」」(马可福音 4:1-9)        

    关于撒种的比喻，在路加福音 8:4-8 和马太福音 13:1-9 都记载了同样的事，马太福音并说了那一天发生的事情，就是那一天当耶稣说，「凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母亲了。」(马太福音 12:50) 在这里，我们特别要强调，「有耳可听的，就应当听！」 这也是对启示录的七个教会所说的，要有一个能听的耳。以下我们就看圣经是如何解释这撒种的比喻。

2. 新约如何解释撒种的比喻       

    「无人的时候，跟随耶稣的人和十二个门徒，问他这比喻的意思。耶稣对他们说：「神国的奥秘，只叫你们知道，若是对外人讲，凡事就用比喻，叫『他们看是看见，却不晓得；听是听见，却不明白；恐怕他们回转过来，就得赦免。』」又对他们说：「你们不明白这比喻吗？这样怎能明白一切的比喻呢？撒种之人所撒的就是道。那撒在路旁的，就是人听了道，撒但立刻来，把撒在他心里的道夺了去。那撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，立刻欢喜领受，但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。还有那撒在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，后来有世上的思虑，钱财的迷惑，和别样的私欲进来，把道挤住了，就不能结实。那撒在好地上的，就是人听道，又领受，并且结实，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。」」(马可福音 4:10-20)        

    对于神国的奥秘这一段，马太福音说得很清楚，「门徒进前来，问耶稣说：「对众人讲话为甚么用比喻呢？」耶稣回答说：「因为天国的奥秘，只叫你们知道，不叫他们知道。凡有的，还要加给他，叫他有余；凡没有的，连他所有的也要夺去。所以我用比喻对他们讲，是因他们看也看不见，听也听不见，也不明白。在他们身上，正应了以赛亚的预言，说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。因为这百姓油蒙了心，耳朵发沉，眼睛闭著；恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。』但你们的眼睛是有福的，因为看见了；你们的耳朵也是有福的，因为听见了。我实在告诉你们：从前有许多先知和义人要看你们所看的，却没有看见；要听你们所听的，却没有听见。」」(马太福音 13:10-17)        

    关于以赛亚的预言，约翰福音是这样说的，「他虽然在他们面前行了许多神迹，他们还是不信他。这是要应验先知以赛亚的话，说：「主啊，我们所传的有谁信呢？主的膀臂向谁显露呢？」他们所以不能信，因为以赛亚又说：「主叫他们瞎了眼、硬了心，免得他们眼睛看见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。」」(约翰福音 12:37-40) 我们看到神是有怜悯有恩典的神，只要真正悔改，神就会医治他们，所以神用的是回授(feedback)策略，这也就是新约所说的，「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)     

    看和合本的翻译，好像神怕他们悔改一样，不是的，看原文就很清楚了，以前我们在『 2117 实实在在, 逻辑, 真理, 和刚硬 – 约(5)19-47』中的『4. 人的心是何等的刚硬啊！ 』分享过约翰福音12:38-40，就是这预言的真谛，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章，我们就不在这重复了。           

    关于这比喻的意思，这里说得很清楚，马太福音 13:18-23 基本是说同样的事情。路加福音 8:11-15 对同样的事情是这样说的，「这比喻乃是这样：种子就是神的道。那些在路旁的，就是人听了道，随后魔鬼来，从他们心里把道夺去，恐怕他们信了得救。那些在磐石上的，就是人听道，欢喜领受，但心中没有根，不过暂时相信，及至遇见试炼就退后了。那落在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，走开以后，被今生的思虑、钱财、宴乐挤住了，便结不出成熟的子粒来。那落在好土里的，就是人听了道，持守在诚实善良的心里，并且忍耐著结实。」(路加福音 8:11-15) 这和马可福音讲的基本是一样的，但说了种子就是神的道，强调了持守和忍耐。        

    问题是有些人一看这些经文就问，我们到底是结几倍的，像我以前一样，但在这样问之前，要先能确定自己不是那撒在路旁的，那撒在石头地上的，还有那撒在荆棘里的。

3. 要有作光作盐的生命   

    「耶稣又对他们说：「人拿灯来，岂是要放在斗底下，床底下，不放在灯台上吗？因为掩藏的事，没有不显出来的；隐瞒的事，没有不露出来的。「有耳可听的，就应当听！」」(马可福音 4:21-23)     

    在马太福音是这样说的，「你们是世上的盐。盐若失了味，怎能叫它再咸呢？以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了。「你们是世上的光。城造在山上，是不能隐藏的。人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人。你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。」」(马太福音 5:13-16)        

    基督徒是要作光作盐没错，但不要忘记，灯有发光的生命，即使放在床底下仍会发光。请注意，这里是说犹太人用的「岩盐」，据说是从死海的岸边(参西番雅书 2:9)及死海西南方的盐山开采，是一种含有盐成分的岩石。也是据说在烹饪时，用绳子绑住岩盐来调味，越煮岩盐越小，盐分越少，到最后成了无味的石头，失去了含盐的生命，只能被丢弃在外。如直接舔著吃尝咸味，也会有一样的效果。     

    所以基督徒是要得生命，就像耶稣自己所说的，「你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生；给我作见证的就是这经。然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命。」(约翰福音 5:39-40) 即使读经时的解释对而没有得到生命，也最多是得到知识，要愿意让圣灵带领读经，因为生命只能从三位一体的神来，如保罗所说，「我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。」(哥林多前书 3:6-7) 我们知道祂来，「…是要叫羊得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」(约翰福音 10:10) 得生命是真正重要的，所以说，「有耳可听的，就应当听！」(马可福音 4:23) #####4. 神的国如何成长和应如何比喻        

    「又说：「你们所听的要留心。你们用甚么量器量给人，也必用甚么量器量给你们，并且要多给你们。因为有的，还要给他；没有的，连他所有的也要夺去。」又说：「神的国，如同人把种撒在地 上。 黑夜睡觉，白日起来，这种就发芽渐长，那人却不晓得如何这样。地生五谷是出于自然的：先发苗，后长穗，再后穗上结成饱满的子粒。谷既熟了，就用镰刀去割，因为收成的时候到了。」又说﹕「神的国，我们可用甚么比较呢？可用甚么比喻表明呢？好像一粒芥菜种，种在地里的时候，虽比地上的百种都小，但种上以后，就长起来，比各样的菜都大，又长出大枝来，甚至天上的飞鸟可以宿在它的荫下。」耶稣用许多这样的比喻，照他们所能听的，对他们讲道。若不用比喻，就不对他们讲，没有人的时候，就把一切的道讲给门徒听。」(马可福音 4:24-34)        

    很显然的，量器要公平，「两样的法码，两样的升斗，都为耶和华所憎恶。」(箴言 20:10) 天国的原则和一般是不同的，「…有的，还要给他；没有的，连他所有的也要夺去。」(马可福音 4:25, 并参马太福音 13:11-12, 25:28-30; 路加福音 8:18, 19:22-27) 至于神的国会自然成长，这里说得很清楚。        

    关于「…神的国，我们可用甚么比较呢？可用甚么比喻表明呢？」(马可福音 4:30) 这里祗有芥菜种的比喻，在马太福音 13:31-35 用的是神的国犹如芥菜种和面酵的比喻，这两个比喻是指同一件事情。我们知道这是一个争议性的话题，但我们不像平常的结论是往好的方向想，认为神的国必定发展如芥菜种和面酵般的加以状大。在圣经中，酵通常是指不好的事，所以我们是从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看，看到神的国的确发展得相当快，但教会的成员参差不齐，而是把这比喻看做一个事实和警告。     

    基本上芥菜种是和菜(G3001)比较，本应是菜，欲长成了树(G1186)，变质了！这不是和现在相当多的教会的情况类似吗？ 譬如成功哲学，教导人只要信主就一切顺利，这不是依照圣经的教导，圣经是说，『…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) 这样的教会如老底嘉的教会般，把主耶稣关在门外而不自知，让神的国参差不齐，但最终只会如稗子般被吹散，只有麦子会被收在仓里(参马太福音 13:24-。以前在「2065 悔改，不结实的下场，医治，和面酵的比喻 -耶稣(19)」中的「4. 神的国用芥菜种和面酵比喻」，我们详细的讨论过这问题，有兴趣的人可依照以前所述的方法，找到这篇文章。

5. 风和海听从耶稣的命令       

    「当那天晚上，耶稣对门徒说：「我们渡到那边去吧。」门徒离开众人，耶稣仍在船上，他们就把他一同带去，也有别的船和他同行。忽然起了暴风，波浪打入船内，甚至船要满了水。耶稣在船尾上，枕著枕头睡觉。门徒叫醒了他，说：「夫子！我们丧命，你不顾吗？」耶稣醒了，斥责风，向海说：「住了吧！静了吧！」风就止住，大大地平静了。耶稣对他们说：「为甚么胆怯，你们还没有信心吗？」他们就大大地惧怕，彼此说：「这到底是谁，连风和海也听从他了。」」(马可福音 4:35-41)       

    这些经文一开始就述说了情况的危急，但耶稣安心得很，祂在船尾睡觉。因危急的情况，他们显然知道祂能做一些事，就只好叫醒祂，「…说：「夫子！我们丧命，你不顾吗？」」(马可福音 4:38) 只是他们没有想到风和海都听从耶稣的命令。     

    在马太福音是这样说，「耶稣说：「你们这小信的人哪！为甚么胆怯呢？」于是起来，斥责风和海，风和海就大大地平静了。」(马太福音 8:26) 有一次，「使徒对主说：「求主加增我们的信心。」主说：「你们若有信心像一粒芥菜种，就是对这棵桑树说：『你要拔起根来，栽在海里』，它也必听从你们。」(路加福音 17:5-6) 这样的信心实在是很不容易。我们凡事都可求，但不是每次都会得到应许，而且结果有时是和我们想像的不一样。很显然的，耶稣生前他们并没有得到这样的信心，因为当祂被捕的时候，「门徒都离开他，逃走了。」(马可福音 14:50) 这是一般的情况，所以你不能说这不对，只因彼得和约翰没有跑，彼得是三次不认主后出去痛哭悔改的(参马太福音 26:69-75)  而约翰是唯一在十字架下的使徒(参约翰福音 19:25-27)。 

(经文除了特别注明外，是基于和合本。)

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

       首先，我們看到有耳可聽的，就應當聽這撒種的比喻。第二，我們來看新約如何解釋這撒種的比喻，並引用以前討論過的關於以賽亞預言的部份。第三，談到了基督徒要有作光作鹽的生命，要想作光作鹽，必需要有這樣的生命才行。第四，我們討論了神的國如何成長和應如何片去比喻，並引用了以前討論過的關於芥菜種和麪酵的比喻。最後，我們看到耶穌有權柄使風和海聽從祂的命令。

1. 撒種的比喻

       「耶穌又在海邊教訓人。有許多人到他那裏聚集，他只得上船坐下。船在海裏，眾人都靠近海，站在岸上。耶穌就用比喻教訓他們許多道理。在教訓之間，對他們說：「你們聽啊！有一個撒種的出去撒種。撒的時候，有落在路旁的，飛鳥來吃盡了。有落在土淺石頭地上的，土既不深，發苗最快，日頭出來一曬，因為沒有根，就枯乾了。有落在荊棘裏的，荊棘長起來，把它擠住了，就不結實。又有落在好土裏的，就發生長大，結實有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。」又說：「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」」(馬可福音 4:1-9)

        關於撒種的比喻，在路加福音 8:4-8 和馬太福音 13:1-9 都記載了同樣的事，馬太福音並說了那一天發生的事情，就是那一天當耶穌說，「凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母親了。」(馬太福音 12:50) 在這裏，我們特別要強調，「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」 這也是對啓示錄的七個教會所說的，要有一個能聽的耳。以下我們就看聖經是如何解釋這撒種的比喻。

2. 新約如何解釋撒種的比喻

       「無人的時候，跟隨耶穌的人和十二個門徒，問他這比喻的意思。耶穌對他們說：「神國的奧秘，只叫你們知道，若是對外人講，凡事就用比喻，叫『他們看是看見，卻不曉得；聽是聽見，卻不明白；恐怕他們回轉過來，就得赦免。』」又對他們說：「你們不明白這比喻嗎？這樣怎能明白一切的比喻呢？撒種之人所撒的就是道。那撒在路旁的，就是人聽了道，撒但立刻來，把撒在他心裏的道奪了去。那撒在石頭地上的，就是人聽了道，立刻歡喜領受，但他心裏沒有根，不過是暫時的，及至為道遭了患難，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。還有那撒在荊棘裏的，就是人聽了道，後來有世上的思慮，錢財的迷惑，和別樣的私慾進來，把道擠住了，就不能結實。那撒在好地上的，就是人聽道，又領受，並且結實，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。」」(馬可福音 4:10-20)

        對於神國的奧秘這一段，馬太福音說得很清楚，「門徒進前來，問耶穌說：「對眾人講話為甚麼用比喻呢？」耶穌回答說：「因為天國的奧秘，只叫你們知道，不叫他們知道。凡有的，還要加給他，叫他有餘；凡沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。所以我用比喻對他們講，是因他們看也看不見，聽也聽不見，也不明白。在他們身上，正應了以賽亞的預言，說：『你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得。因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉着；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。』但你們的眼睛是有福的，因為看見了；你們的耳朵也是有福的，因為聽見了。我實在告訴你們：從前有許多先知和義人要看你們所看的，卻沒有看見；要聽你們所聽的，卻沒有聽見。」」(馬太福音 13:10-17)

        關於以賽亞的預言，約翰福音是這樣說的，「他雖然在他們面前行了許多神蹟，他們還是不信他。這是要應驗先知以賽亞的話，說：「主啊，我們所傳的有誰信呢？主的膀臂向誰顯露呢？」他們所以不能信，因為以賽亞又說：「主叫他們瞎了眼、硬了心，免得他們眼睛看見，心裏明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。」」(約翰福音 12:37-40) 我們看到神是有憐憫有恩典的神，衹要真正悔改，神就會醫治他們，所以神用的是回授(feedback)策略，這也就是新約所說的，「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)

     看和合本的翻譯，好像神怕他們悔改一樣，不是的，看原文就很清楚了，以前我們在『 2117 實實在在, 邏輯, 真理, 和剛硬 – 約(5)19-47』中的『4. 人的心是何等的剛硬啊！ 』分享過約翰福音12:38-40，就是這預言的真諦，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章，我們就不在這重複了。

        關於這比喻的意思，這裏說得很清楚，馬太福音 13:18-23 基本是說同樣的事情。路加福音 8:11-15 對同樣的事情是這樣說的，「這比喻乃是這樣：種子就是神的道。那些在路旁的，就是人聽了道，隨後魔鬼來，從他們心裏把道奪去，恐怕他們信了得救。那些在磐石上的，就是人聽道，歡喜領受，但心中沒有根，不過暫時相信，及至遇見試煉就退後了。那落在荊棘裏的，就是人聽了道，走開以後，被今生的思慮、錢財、宴樂擠住了，便結不出成熟的子粒來。那落在好土裏的，就是人聽了道，持守在誠實善良的心裏，並且忍耐着結實。」(路加福音 8:11-15) 這和馬可福音講的基本是一樣的，但說了種子就是神的道，強調了持守和忍耐。

        問題是有些人一看這些經文就問，我們到底是結幾倍的，像我以前一樣，但在這樣問之前，要先能確定自己不是那撒在路旁的，那撒在石頭地上的，還有那撒在荊棘裏的。

3. 要有作光作鹽的生命

    「耶穌又對他們說：「人拿燈來，豈是要放在斗底下，牀底下，不放在燈台上嗎？因為掩藏的事，沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事，沒有不露出來的。「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」」(馬可福音 4:21-23)

     在馬太福音是這樣說的，「你們是世上的鹽。鹽若失了味，怎能叫它再鹹呢？以後無用，不過丟在外面，被人踐踏了。「你們是世上的光。城造在山上，是不能隱藏的。人點燈，不放在斗底下，是放在燈台上，就照亮一家的人。你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。」」(馬太福音 5:13-16)

        基督徒是要作光作鹽沒錯，但不要忘記，燈有發光的生命，即使放在牀底下仍會發光。請注意，這裏是說猶太人用的「岩鹽」，據說是從死海的岸邊(參西番雅書 2:9)及死海西南方的鹽山開採，是一種含有鹽成分的岩石。也是據說在烹飪時，用繩子綁住岩鹽來調味，越煮岩鹽越小，鹽分越少，到最後成了無味的石頭，失去了含鹽的生命，衹能被丟棄在外。如直接舔著吃嚐鹹味，也會有一樣的效果。

     所以基督徒是要得生命，就像耶穌自己所說的，「你們查考聖經，因你們以為內中有永生；給我作見證的就是這經。然而你們不肯到我這裏來得生命。」(約翰福音 5:39-40) 即使讀經時的解釋對而沒有得到生命，也最多是得到知識，要願意讓聖靈帶領讀經，因為生命衹能從三位一體的神來，如保羅所說，「我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。」(哥林多前書 3:6-7) 我們知道祂來，「…是要叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」(約翰福音 10:10) 得生命是真正重要的，所以說，「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」(馬可福音 4:23)

4. 神的國如何成長和應如何比喻

        「又說：「你們所聽的要留心。你們用甚麼量器量給人，也必用甚麼量器量給你們，並且要多給你們。因為有的，還要給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。」又說：「神的國，如同人把種撒在地 上。 黑夜睡覺，白日起來，這種就發芽漸長，那人卻不曉得如何這樣。地生五穀是出於自然的：先發苗，後長穗，再後穗上結成飽滿的子粒。穀既熟了，就用鐮刀去割，因為收成的時候到了。」又說﹕「神的國，我們可用甚麼比較呢？可用甚麼比喻表明呢？好像一粒芥菜種，種在地裏的時候，雖比地上的百種都小，但種上以後，就長起來，比各樣的菜都大，又長出大枝來，甚至天上的飛鳥可以宿在它的蔭下。」耶穌用許多這樣的比喻，照他們所能聽的，對他們講道。若不用比喻，就不對他們講，沒有人的時候，就把一切的道講給門徒聽。」(馬可福音 4:24-34)

        很顯然的，量器要公平，「兩樣的法碼，兩樣的升斗，都為耶和華所憎惡。」(箴言 20:10) 天國的原則和一般是不同的，「…有的，還要給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。」(馬可福音 4:25, 並參馬太福音 13:11-12, 25:28-30; 路加福音 8:18, 19:22-27) 至於神的國會自然成長，這裏說得很清楚。

        關於「…神的國，我們可用甚麼比較呢？可用甚麼比喻表明呢？」(馬可福音 4:30) 這裏祗有芥菜種的比喻，在馬太福音 13:31-35 用的是神的國猶如芥菜種和麪酵的比喻，這兩個比喻是指同一件事情。我們知道這是一個爭議性的話題，但我們不像平常的結論是往好的方向想，認為神的國必定發展如芥菜種和麪酵般的加以狀大。在聖經中，酵通常是指不好的事，所以我們是從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看，看到神的國的確發展得相當快，但教會的成員參差不齊，而是把這比喻看做一個事實和警告。

     基本上芥菜種是和菜(G3001)比較，本應是菜，欲長成了樹(G1186)，變質了！這不是和現在相當多的教會的情況類似嗎？ 譬如成功哲學，教導人只要信主就一切順利，這不是依照聖經的教導，聖經是說，『…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) 這樣的教會如老底嘉的教會般，把主耶穌關在門外而不自知，讓神的國參差不齊，但最終只會如稗子般被吹散，衹有麥子會被收在倉裡(參馬太福音 13:24-。以前在「2065 悔改，不結實的下場，醫治，和麪酵的比喻 -耶穌(19)」中的「4. 神的國用芥菜種和麪酵比喻」，我們詳細的討論過這問題，有興趣的人可依照以前所述的方法，找到這篇文章。

5. 風和海聽從耶穌的命令

       「當那天晚上，耶穌對門徒說：「我們渡到那邊去吧。」門徒離開眾人，耶穌仍在船上，他們就把他一同帶去，也有別的船和他同行。忽然起了暴風，波浪打入船內，甚至船要滿了水。耶穌在船尾上，枕着枕頭睡覺。門徒叫醒了他，說：「夫子！我們喪命，你不顧嗎？」耶穌醒了，斥責風，向海說：「住了吧！靜了吧！」風就止住，大大地平靜了。耶穌對他們說：「為甚麼膽怯，你們還沒有信心嗎？」他們就大大地懼怕，彼此說：「這到底是誰，連風和海也聽從他了。」」(馬可福音 4:35-41)

        這些經文一開始就述說了情況的危急，但耶穌安心得很，祂在船尾睡覺。因危急的情況，他們顯然知道祂能做一些事，就衹好叫醒祂，「…說：「夫子！我們喪命，你不顧嗎？」」(馬可福音 4:38) 衹是他們沒有想到風和海都聽從耶穌的命令。

     在馬太福音是這樣說，「耶穌說：「你們這小信的人哪！為甚麼膽怯呢？」於是起來，斥責風和海，風和海就大大地平靜了。」(馬太福音 8:26) 有一次，「使徒對主說：「求主加增我們的信心。」主說：「你們若有信心像一粒芥菜種，就是對這棵桑樹說：『你要拔起根來，栽在海裏』，它也必聽從你們。」(路加福音 17:5-6) 這樣的信心實在是很不容易。我們凡事都可求，但不是每次都會得到應許，而且結果有時是和我們想像的不一樣。很顯然的，耶穌生前他們並沒有得到這樣的信心，因為當祂被捕的時候，「門徒都離開他，逃走了。」(馬可福音 14:50) 這是一般的情況，所以你不能說這不對，衹因彼得和約翰沒有跑，彼得是三次不認主後出去痛哭悔改的(參馬太福音 26:69-75)  而約翰是唯一在十字架下的使徒(參約翰福音 19:25-27)。

(經文除了特別註明外，是基於和合本。)

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

First, we saw that those who have ears to hear should listen to the parable of the sower. Second, we looked at how the New Testament interprets the parable of the sower and quoted the part about Isaiah’s prophecy that we discussed previously. Third, we talked about the life that Christians must have to be salt and light. To be salt and light, we must have such a life. Fourth, we discussed how the kingdom of God grows and how it should be interpreted, and quoted the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven that we discussed previously. Finally, we saw that Jesus has the authority to make the wind and the sea obey His command.

1. The Parable of the Sower

“He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.””(Mark 4:1-9)

The parable of the sower is recorded in Luke 8:4-8 and Matthew 13:1-9. The book of Matthew also describes that day when the events occurs, that is, when Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”(Matthew 12:50). Here, we must emphasize the verse, “He who has ears, let him hear.”(Matthew 13:9) The same is said for the seven churches in book of Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”(Revelation 2:29) Let’s see how the Bible interprets the parable of the sower. 

2. How the New Testament Explains the Parable of the Sower

“As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.””(Mark 4:10-20)

The book of Matthew clearly explains this passage about the mysteries of the Kingdom of God: “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”(Matthew 13:10-17)

The Gospel of John says this about Isaiah’s prophecy: “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.””(John 12:37-40) We see that God is a merciful and gracious God. As long as they truly repent, God will heal them. Therefore, God uses a feedback strategy, which is what the New Testament says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) 

The translation of the Union Version seems to make it seem like God is afraid of them repenting. This is not the case. It is very clear when we read the original text. Previously, we saw in “4. How hard is the human heart!” under “1117 Truly truly, logic, truth, and hardness – John (5) 19-47”, we’ve already shared John 12:38-40, which explains the true meaning of this prophecy. Please visit https://a-christian-voice.com/ and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. We won’t repeat it here.

The meaning of this parable is clearly explained here. Matthew 13:18-23 essentially says the same thing. Luke 8:11-15 describes the same thing: ““Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”(Luke 8:11-15) This is essentially the same as what the book of Mark says, but it emphasizes perseverance and endurance by saying the seed is the word of God.

The problem is that some people, like me, immediately ask, “How much folds can we bear – thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold?” after reading these verses. But before asking this question, we must first make sure that we are not the ones sown by the wayside, on rocky ground, or among thorns.

3. Have a life of being salt and light

“And He was saying to them, “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.””(Mark 4:21-23)

In the book of Matthew, it says, ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 5:13-16)

It is true that Christians should be light and salt, but don’t forget that a lamp has a luminous life and will continue to shine even if placed under a bed. Please note that the salt refers to the “rock salt” used by the Jews. It is said to be mined from the shores of the Dead Sea (see Zephaniah 2:9) and the salt mountains southwest of the Dead Sea. It is a salty rock. It is also said that when cooking, rock salt is tied with ropes to season food. As it cooks, the rock salt becomes smaller and less salty, eventually becoming a tasteless stone, losing its salty life and having to be discarded. Licking it directly to taste the saltiness will

eventually become a tasteless stone, and thus have the same effect.

Therefore, Christians seek to have life, just as Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”(John 5:39-40). Even if one interprets the Scripture correctly but does not have life, at most one can gain knowledge only. We must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our reading of the Scriptures, because life can only come from the Triune God. As Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7). We know that He came “…that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”(John 10:10). Having life is truly important, so it is said, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”(Mark 4:23).

4. How the Kingdom of God Grows and How to Use Parables to Describe It 

“And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows⁠—how, he himself does not know. The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.” With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.”(Mark 4:24-34)

Obviously, the measuring vessel must be fair. “Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD.”(Proverbs 20:10). The principles of the kingdom of heaven are different from ordinary ones. “For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”(Mark 4:25, see also Matthew 13:11-12, 25:28-30; Luke 8:18, 19:22-27). As for the natural growth of the kingdom of God, this is clearly stated here.

Regarding “…How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it?”(Mark 4:30), here only the parable of the mustard seed is used. Matthew 13:31-35 uses the parable of the kingdom of God as a mustard seed and leaven. These two parables refer to the same thing. We know this is a controversial topic, but we don’t tend to assume the Kingdom of God will grow like the mustard seed and leaven. In the Bible, leaven typically refers to something bad. Therefore, we consider the parable as a fact and a warning, by considering “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” We see that the Kingdom of God is indeed growing rapidly, but the church’s membership is uneven.

Essentially, the mustard seed is being compared to vegetables (G3001). It was supposed to be vegetables, but it wanted to grow into a tree (G1186), and so it became corrupted! Doesn’t this resemble the situation in many churches today? For example, the philosophy of success teaches that everything will go smoothly as long as people believe in the Lord. This is not in line with the Bible’s teaching, which says, “…In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33) Such a church is like the church in Laodicea, which shuts out the Lord Jesus without realizing it, making the Kingdom of God uneven. But in the end, it will be scattered like tares, while only the wheat will be gathered into the barn (see Matthew 13:24-). We have previously discussed this issue in detail in “4. The parable of the kingdom of God with the mustard seed and the leaven” under “1065 Repentance, unfruitful end, healing, and the parable of leaven – Jesus (19)”. Those who are interested can find this article according to the method described previously.

5. The Wind and the Sea Obeyed Jesus’ Command

“On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””(Mark 4:35-41)

These verses begin by describing the critical situation, but Jesus was at peace, sleeping in the stern. Because of the critical situation, they obviously knew He could do something, so they had no choice but to wake Him, “and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?””(Mark 4:38). However, they didn’t realize that the wind and the sea obeyed Jesus’ command.

In the book of Matthew, it says, “He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”(Matthew 8:26). On another occasion, “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.”(Luke 17:5-6). Such faith is truly not easy to come by. We can ask for anything, but not every prayer will be granted, and sometimes the results are different from what we imagine. Obviously, they did not have such faith during Jesus’ lifetime, because when He was arrested, “And they all left Him and fled.”(Mark 14:50). This is a general statement, so you cannot say the description of the Bible is wrong just because Peter and John did not run away. Peter went out and repented weeping bitterly after denying the Lord three times (see Matthew 26:69-75), and John was the only apostle who was at the foot of the cross (see John 19:25-27).

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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

    首先，我们引用以前详细讨论过的耶稣治愈手枯干的人这事。第二，我们讨论了耶稣的宣道和宗教领䄂预谋要除灭祂，也引用了以前讨论过耶稣有属灵权柄的这事。第三，我们引用了耶稣在地上设立十二使徒的事，祂选择卖主的犹大是经过整夜祷告神，知道是父神的旨意要选祂，在祂复活后，祂拣选了保罗代替这犹大。第四，我们讨论了耶稣说，凡亵渎圣灵的永不得赦免及其原委。虽然凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免，但我们引用了经文，说到不可明知故犯的亵渎耶稣。最后我们看到遵行神旨意的人就是亲属，及其真正的含义。

1. 治愈手枯干的人       

    「耶稣又进了会堂，在那里有一个人枯干了一只手。众人窥探耶稣在安息日医治不医治，意思是要控告耶稣。耶稣对那枯干一只手的人说：「起来，站在当中。」又问众人说：「在安息日行善行恶，救命害命，哪样是可以的呢？」他们都不做声。耶稣怒目周围看他们，忧愁他们的心刚硬，就对那人说：「伸出手来。」他把手一伸，手就复了原。」(马可福音 3:1-5)        

    同样的事情记在路加福音 6:6-10 和马太福音 12:10-13，以前在「2050 马太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶稣的形像 (5) 」中的「4. 人子是安息日的主」，我们详细的讨论过这些经文，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章，希望能有时闲去看看。     

    请注意，这里是说一只手出了问题不是两只手，所以至少还有一只手可用。神是有怜悯有恩典的神，在非要面临不可的苦难中，经常还有可用的。譬如说，在一个家庭的生命成长中，如果一定要经过忧郁症，会夫妻轮流的，而不是两人同时发生。当然，不是每次都如此，而如果那人没结婚，自然不可能如此。但如果你在那情况下仍然仰望神，有需要的时候，神会自己把你的忧郁症拿走的。

2. 耶稣的宣道和宗教领䄂预谋要除灭祂       

    「法利赛人出去，同希律一党的人商议怎样可以除灭耶稣。耶稣和门徒退到海边去，有许多人从加利利跟随他。还有许多人听见他所做的大事，就从犹太、耶路撒冷、以土买、约旦河外并推罗、西顿的四方来到他那里。他因为人多，就吩咐门徒叫一只小船伺候著，免得众人拥挤他。他治好了许多人，所以凡有灾病的，都挤进来要摸他。污鬼无论何时看见他，就俯伏在他面前，喊著说：「你是神的儿子！」耶稣再三地嘱咐(G2008，charged)他们，不要把他显露出来。」(马可福音 3:6-12)    

    法利赛人和撒都该人都是当时的宗教领袖，当时的「大祭司和他的一切同人，就是撒都该教门的人，都起来，…」(使徒行传 5:17) 但他们之间仍有区别，譬如，「…撒都该人说没有复活，也没有天使和鬼魂；法利赛人却说两样都有。」(使徒行传 23:8) 耶稣直说，「…叫他们防备饼的酵，乃是防备法利赛人和撒都该人的教训。」(马太福音 16:12) 难怪，「祭司长和文士想法子怎么才能杀害耶稣，…」(路加福音 22:2) 这里是说他们早有预谋，最终他们也透过加略人犹大付诸行动，将耶稣钉上了十字架。       

    对于宗教领䄂预谋要除灭祂，路加福音只说了一句话，「他们就满心大怒，彼此商议怎样处治耶稣。」(路加福音 6:11) 这里加上了耶稣的宣道详情，就像耶稣自己说的，「…我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。」(马太福音 15:24) 行神迹的目的本是证明他的恩道，就如经文所说，「二人(保罗和巴拿巴)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)     

    可是耶稣知道行神迹的重要，所以「耶稣就对他(迦百农的大臣)说：「若不看见神迹奇事，你们总是不信。」」(约翰福音 4:48) 而且「众人看见耶稣所行的神迹，就说：「这真是那要到世间来的先知。」」(约翰福音 6:14) 但祂清楚的知道重点是宣道，行神迹的目的是要人能信， 告诉别人所讲的道不是空口说白话。经文说得很清楚，在五饼二鱼的神迹后，「众人看见耶稣所行的神迹，就说：「这真是那要到世间来的先知。」耶稣既知道众人要来强逼他作王，就独自又退到山上去了。」(约翰福音 6:14-15) 且耶稣说，「我实实在在地告诉你们：你们找我，并不是因见了神迹，乃是因吃饼得饱。」(约翰福音 6:26)     

    这里也加上了祂和门徒退到海边去之后发生的事情，并在最后这一段说到污鬼比当时的人们对属灵的事情知道得多，因为那时人们并不知道耶稣是神的儿子。也可看到祂有属灵的权柄，因用的是共出现29次的这字G2008，在马可福音出现过九次。这字真实的意义可由这经文看出，「耶稣责备(G2008)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。」(马可福音 1:25-26) 以前在「2150 赶鬼、权柄、医治、和大痳疯 – 可(1)21-45」中的「2. 耶稣有赶鬼的权柄和要从神的角度看事情」，我们详细的讨论过这点，有兴趣的人可以照前述的方法找到这篇文章。        

    关于耶稣的宣道，马太福音只简单的叙述，「法利赛人出去，商议怎样可以除灭耶稣。耶稣知道了，就离开那里。有许多人跟著他，他把其中有病的人都治好了。」(马太福音 12:14-15)

3. 设立十二使徒和羔羊使徒       

    「耶稣上了山，随自己的意思叫人来，他们便来到他那里。他就设立十二个人，要他们常和自己同在，也要差他们去传道，并给他们权柄赶鬼。这十二个人有西门，耶稣又给他起名叫彼得，还有西庇太的儿子雅各和雅各的兄弟约翰，又给这两个人起名叫半尼其，就是雷子的意思，又有安得烈、腓力、巴多罗买、马太、多马、亚勒腓的儿子雅各，和达太，并奋锐党的西门，还有卖耶稣的加略人犹大。」(马可福音 3:13-19)    

    以前我们在「2051 十二使徒的呼召、及路加福音与登山八福  –  耶稣的形像 (6)」中的「1. 十二使徒的呼召」，简短的讨论过一次这些经文，虽说是耶稣随自己的意思叫人来，但祂是「…整夜祷告神。」(路加福音 6:12) 知道父神要祂选卖主的加略人犹大。有人很离谱的认为这犹大是和耶稣合作，事实上是祂虽然知道自己会被卖，但仍选择了顺服神。     

    使徒行传记载了这犹大的结局，「那时，有许多人聚会，约有一百二十名，彼得就在弟兄中间站起来，说：「弟兄们，圣灵借大卫的口，在圣经上预言领人捉拿耶稣的犹大，这话是必须应验的。他本来列在我们数中，并且在使徒的职任上得了一分。「这人用他作恶的工价买了一块田，以后身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，肠子都流出来。住在耶路撒冷的众人都知道这事，所以按著他们那里的话给那块田起名叫亚革大马，就是血田的意思。」(使徒行传 1:15-19)      #####在耶稣复活后，祂亲自拣选了保罗(参使徒行传 22:1-16)，所以，新耶路撒冷的「城墙有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。」(启示录 21:14) 这羔羊十二使徒是指耶稣亲自拣选的十二人，很显然的，保罗的名字在里面，而马提亚是抽签来的(参使徒行传 1:23-26)。     

    请注意，同样的十二个人也列在马太福音 10:2-4，一比较就知道马太就是指税吏马太。在路加福音 6:14-16 也有这十二个人的名字，一比较我们就知道雅各的儿子犹大就是达太。

4. 凡亵渎圣灵的永不得赦免和不可明知故犯的亵渎耶稣       

    「耶稣进了一个屋子，众人又聚集，甚至他连饭也顾不得吃。耶稣的亲属听见，就出来要拉住他，因为他们说他癫狂了。从耶路撒冷下来的文士说：「他是被别西卜附著。」又说：「他是靠著鬼王赶鬼。」耶稣叫他们来，用比喻对他们说：「撒但怎能赶出撒但呢？若一国自相纷争，那国就站立不住；若一家自相纷争，那家就站立不住。若撒但自相攻打纷争，他就站立不住，必要灭亡。没有人能进壮士家里，抢夺他的家具；必先捆住那壮士，才可以抢夺他的家。」「我实在告诉你们：世人一切的罪和一切亵渎(G988, blasphemies,  名词)的话都可得赦免；凡亵渎(G987,  动词)圣灵的，却永不得赦免，乃要担当永远的罪。」这话是因为他们说：「他是被污鬼附著的。」」(马可福音 3:20-30)     

    关于祂的亲属以为他癫狂了，只因为看到祂甚至连饭也顾不得吃，如果知道「耶稣说：「狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，人子却没有枕头的地方。」」(马太福音 8:20) 岂不是会更加如此吗？而耶稣只是因知道，「…日子将到，新郎要离开他们，…」(马可福音 2:20) 在那日子未到之前，祂是这么努力的作神的工作，以致于「犹太人说：「你还没有五十岁，岂见过亚伯拉罕呢？」」(约翰福音 8:57) 那时祂只是三十多岁呢！     

    在这些经文中，他们明明是亵渎耶鲂，祂却说是亵渎圣灵，这是因为三位一体的神中的圣灵总是与祂同在，这就是经文所说的，「神所差来的，就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。」(约翰福音 3:34) 这也就是圣灵要祂说话的直接证据。        

    关于亵渎圣灵永不得赦免这事，马太福音是这样说的，「所以我告诉你们：人一切的罪和亵渎的话，都可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵，总不得赦免。凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独说话干犯圣灵的，今世、来世总不得赦免。」(马太福音 12:31-32) 路加福音也说，「凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；惟独亵渎圣灵的，总不得赦免。」(路加福音 12:10) 祇有在这里讲明了原委，「这话是因为他们说：「他是被污鬼附著的。」(马可福音 3:30)        

    祂的比喻讲得非常清楚，没有必要解释什么了。有人看到「…世人一切的罪和一切亵渎的话都可得赦免。」(马可福音 3:28; 参马太福音 12:31) 又看到，「凡说话干犯人子的，还可得赦免；…」(路加福音 12:10) 就可能会暗自高兴，以为明知故犯的亵渎耶稣没有关系？大错特错，犹太人当时是亵渎耶稣，怎么知道是在亵渎圣灵呢，所以不是明知故犯。圣经明讲，「论到那些已经蒙了光照、尝过天恩的滋味、又于圣灵有分、并尝过神善道的滋味、觉悟来世权能的人，若是离弃道理，就不能叫他们从新懊悔了。因为他们把神的儿子重钉十字架，明明地羞辱他。就如一块田地，吃过屡次下的雨水，生长菜蔬，合乎耕种的人用，就从神得福；若长荆棘和蒺藜，必被废弃，近于咒诅，结局就是焚烧。」(希伯来书 6:4-8) 很清楚的，不要明知故犯的亵渎耶稣。

5. 遵行神旨意的人就是亲属       

    「当下，耶稣的母亲和弟兄来，站在外边，打发人去叫他。有许多人在耶稣周围坐著，他们就告诉他说：「看哪，你母亲和你弟兄在外边找你。」耶稣回答说：「谁是我的母亲？谁是我的弟兄？」就四面观看那周围坐著的人，说：「看哪！我的母亲，我的弟兄。凡遵行神旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姐妹和母亲了。」」(马可福音 3:31-35)      

    请注意，耶稣除了说母亲和弟兄外，也提到了姐妹，这就是说，凡遵行神旨意的人就是耶稣的亲属，这件事情在路加福音 8:19-21 和马太福音 12:46-50 也都有记载。有人看见这些经文就以为耶稣六亲不认，尤其是耶稣说，「你们不要想，我来是叫地上太平；我来并不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上动刀兵。因为我来是叫『人与父亲生疏，女儿与母亲生疏，媳妇与婆婆生疏。人的仇敌就是自己家里的人。』」(马太福音 10:34-36)     

    这样的推导看起来很合理，但不是的，要看是在什么情况下说的这话，「凡在人面前认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必认他；凡在人面前不认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不认他。」(马太福音 10:32-33) 在现实生活中，有不信主的父母甚至不准儿女信主，难道这不是人的仇敌就是自己家里的人吗？当然这只是一个例子，还有其他的情况，如父母换成配偶等等，其实这就是「彼得、约翰说：「听从你们，不听从神，这在神面前合理不合理，你们自己酌量吧！」」(使徒行传 4:19)  

(经文除了特别注明外，是基于和合本。)

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

       首先，我們引用以前詳細討論過的耶穌治癒手枯乾的人這事。第二，我們討論了耶穌的宣道和宗教領䄂預謀要除滅祂，也引用了以前討論過耶穌有屬靈權柄的這事。第三，我們引用了耶穌在地上設立十二使徒的事，祂選擇賣主的猶大是經過整夜禱告神，知道是父神的旨意要選祂，在祂復活後，祂揀選了保羅代替這猶大。第四，我們討論了耶穌說，凡褻瀆聖靈的永不得赦免及其原委。雖然凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免，但我們引用了經文，說到不可明知故犯的褻瀆耶穌。最後我們看到遵行神旨意的人就是親屬，及其真正的含義。

1. 治癒手枯乾的人

       「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。」(馬可福音 3:1-5)

        同樣的事情記在路加福音 6:6-10 和馬太福音 12:10-13，以前在「2050 馬太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶穌的形像 (5) 」中的「4. 人子是安息日的主」，我們詳細的討論過這些經文，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章，希望能有時閒去看看。

     請注意，這裏是說一隻手出了問題不是兩隻手，所以至少還有一隻手可用。神是有憐憫有恩典的神，在非要面臨不可的苦難中，經常還有可用的。譬如說，在一個家庭的生命成長中，如果一定要經過憂鬱症，會夫妻輪流的，而不是兩人同時發生。當然，不是每次都如此，而如果那人沒結婚，自然不可能如此。但如果你在那情況下仍然仰望神，有需要的時候，神會自己把你的憂鬱症拿走的。

2. 耶穌的宣道和宗教領䄂預謀要除滅祂

       「法利賽人出去，同希律一黨的人商議怎樣可以除滅耶穌。耶穌和門徒退到海邊去，有許多人從加利利跟隨他。還有許多人聽見他所做的大事，就從猶太、耶路撒冷、以土買、約旦河外並推羅、西頓的四方來到他那裏。他因為人多，就吩咐門徒叫一隻小船伺候着，免得眾人擁擠他。他治好了許多人，所以凡有災病的，都擠進來要摸他。污鬼無論何時看見他，就俯伏在他面前，喊着說：「你是神的兒子！」耶穌再三地囑咐(G2008，charged)他們，不要把他顯露出來。」(馬可福音 3:6-12) 

    法利賽人和撒都該人都是當時的宗教領袖，當時的「大祭司和他的一切同人，就是撒都該教門的人，都起來，…」(使徒行傳 5:17) 但他們之間仍有區別，譬如，「…撒都該人說沒有復活，也沒有天使和鬼魂；法利賽人卻說兩樣都有。」(使徒行傳 23:8) 耶穌直說，「…叫他們防備餅的酵，乃是防備法利賽人和撒都該人的教訓。」(馬太福音 16:12) 難怪，「祭司長和文士想法子怎麼才能殺害耶穌，…」(路加福音 22:2) 這裡是說他們早有預謀，最終他們也透過加略人猶大付諸行動，將耶穌釘上了十字架。

        對於宗教領䄂預謀要除滅祂，路加福音衹說了一句話，「他們就滿心大怒，彼此商議怎樣處治耶穌。」(路加福音 6:11) 這裏加上了耶穌的宣道詳情，就像耶穌自己說的，「…我奉差遣，不過是到以色列家迷失的羊那裏去。」(馬太福音 15:24) 行神蹟的目的本是證明他的恩道，就如經文所說，「二人(保羅和巴拿巴)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)

     可是耶穌知道行神蹟的重要，所以「耶穌就對他(迦百農的大臣)說：「若不看見神蹟奇事，你們總是不信。」」(約翰福音 4:48) 而且「眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟，就說：「這真是那要到世間來的先知。」」(約翰福音 6:14) 但祂清楚的知道重點是宣道，行神蹟的目的是要人能信， 告訴別人所講的道不是空口說白話。經文說得很清楚，在五餅二魚的神蹟後，「眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟，就說：「這真是那要到世間來的先知。」耶穌既知道眾人要來強逼他作王，就獨自又退到山上去了。」(約翰福音 6:14-15) 且耶穌說，「我實實在在地告訴你們：你們找我，並不是因見了神蹟，乃是因吃餅得飽。」(約翰福音 6:26)

     這裏也加上了祂和門徒退到海邊去之後發生的事情，並在最後這一段說到污鬼比當時的人們對屬靈的事情知道得多，因為那時人們並不知道耶穌是神的兒子。也可看到祂有屬靈的權柄，因用的是共出現29次的這字G2008，在馬可福音出現過九次。這字真實的意義可由這經文看出，「耶穌責備(G2008)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。」(馬可福音 1:25-26) 以前在「2150 趕鬼、權柄、醫治、和大痳瘋 – 可(1)21-45」中的「2. 耶穌有趕鬼的權柄和要從神的角度看事情」，我們詳細的討論過這點，有興趣的人可以照前述的方法找到這篇文章。

        關於耶穌的宣道，馬太福音衹簡單的敍述，「法利賽人出去，商議怎樣可以除滅耶穌。耶穌知道了，就離開那裏。有許多人跟着他，他把其中有病的人都治好了。」(馬太福音 12:14-15) 

3. 設立十二使徒和羔羊使徒

       「耶穌上了山，隨自己的意思叫人來，他們便來到他那裏。他就設立十二個人，要他們常和自己同在，也要差他們去傳道，並給他們權柄趕鬼。這十二個人有西門，耶穌又給他起名叫彼得，還有西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰，又給這兩個人起名叫半尼其，就是雷子的意思，又有安得烈、腓力、巴多羅買、馬太、多馬、亞勒腓的兒子雅各，和達太，並奮銳黨的西門，還有賣耶穌的加略人猶大。」(馬可福音 3:13-19)

     以前我們在「2051 十二使徒的呼召、及路加福音與登山八福  –  耶穌的形像 (6)」中的「1. 十二使徒的呼召」，簡短的討論過一次這些經文，雖說是耶穌隨自己的意思叫人來，但祂是「…整夜禱告神。」(路加福音 6:12) 知道父神要祂選賣主的加略人猶大。有人很離譜的認為這猶大是和耶穌合作，事實上是祂雖然知道自己會被賣，但仍選擇了順服神。

     使徒行傳記載了這猶大的結局，「那時，有許多人聚會，約有一百二十名，彼得就在弟兄中間站起來，說：「弟兄們，聖靈藉大衞的口，在聖經上預言領人捉拿耶穌的猶大，這話是必須應驗的。他本來列在我們數中，並且在使徒的職任上得了一分。「這人用他作惡的工價買了一塊田，以後身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，腸子都流出來。住在耶路撒冷的眾人都知道這事，所以按着他們那裏的話給那塊田起名叫亞革大馬，就是血田的意思。」(使徒行傳 1:15-19)

     在耶穌復活後，祂親自揀選了保羅(參使徒行傳 22:1-16)，所以，新耶路撒冷的「城牆有十二根基，根基上有羔羊十二使徒的名字。」(啓示錄 21:14) 這羔羊十二使徒是指耶穌親自揀選的十二人，很顯然的，保羅的名字在裏面，而馬提亞是抽籤來的(參使徒行傳 1:23-26)。

     請注意，同樣的十二個人也列在馬太福音 10:2-4，一比較就知道馬太就是指稅吏馬太。在路加福音 6:14-16 也有這十二個人的名字，一比較我們就知道雅各的兒子猶大就是達太。

4. 凡褻瀆聖靈的永不得赦免和不可明知故犯的褻瀆耶穌

       「耶穌進了一個屋子，眾人又聚集，甚至他連飯也顧不得吃。耶穌的親屬聽見，就出來要拉住他，因為他們說他癲狂了。從耶路撒冷下來的文士說：「他是被別西卜附着。」又說：「他是靠着鬼王趕鬼。」耶穌叫他們來，用比喻對他們說：「撒但怎能趕出撒但呢？若一國自相紛爭，那國就站立不住；若一家自相紛爭，那家就站立不住。若撒但自相攻打紛爭，他就站立不住，必要滅亡。沒有人能進壯士家裏，搶奪他的家具；必先捆住那壯士，才可以搶奪他的家。」「我實在告訴你們：世人一切的罪和一切褻瀆(G988, blasphemies,  名詞)的話都可得赦免；凡褻瀆(G987,  動詞)聖靈的，卻永不得赦免，乃要擔當永遠的罪。」這話是因為他們說：「他是被污鬼附着的。」」(馬可福音 3:20-30)

     關於祂的親屬以為他癲狂了，衹因為看到祂甚至連飯也顧不得吃，如果知道「耶穌說：「狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，人子卻沒有枕頭的地方。」」(馬太福音 8:20) 豈不是會更加如此嗎？而耶穌衹是因知道，「…日子將到，新郎要離開他們，…」(馬可福音 2:20) 在那日子未到之前，祂是這麼努力的作神的工作，以致於「猶太人說：「你還沒有五十歲，豈見過亞伯拉罕呢？」」(約翰福音 8:57) 那時祂衹是三十多歲呢！

     在這些經文中，他們明明是褻瀆耶魴，祂卻說是褻瀆聖靈，這是因為三位一體的神中的聖靈總是與祂同在，這就是經文所說的，「神所差來的，就說神的話，因為神賜聖靈給他，是沒有限量的。」(約翰福音 3:34) 這也就是聖靈要祂說話的直接証據。

        關於褻瀆聖靈永不得赦免這事，馬太福音是這樣說的，「所以我告訴你們：人一切的罪和褻瀆的話，都可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈，總不得赦免。凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨說話干犯聖靈的，今世、來世總不得赦免。」(馬太福音 12:31-32) 路加福音也說，「凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；惟獨褻瀆聖靈的，總不得赦免。」(路加福音 12:10) 祇有在這裏講明了原委，「這話是因為他們說：「他是被污鬼附着的。」(馬可福音 3:30) 

        祂的比喻講得非常清楚，沒有必要解釋什麼了。有人看到「…世人一切的罪和一切褻瀆的話都可得赦免。」(馬可福音 3:28; 參馬太福音 12:31) 又看到，「凡說話干犯人子的，還可得赦免；…」(路加福音 12:10) 就可能會暗自高興，以為明知故犯的褻瀆耶穌沒有關係？大錯特錯，猶太人當時是褻瀆耶稣，怎麼知道是在褻瀆聖靈呢，所以不是明知故犯。聖經明講，「論到那些已經蒙了光照、嘗過天恩的滋味、又於聖靈有分、並嘗過神善道的滋味、覺悟來世權能的人，若是離棄道理，就不能叫他們從新懊悔了。因為他們把神的兒子重釘十字架，明明地羞辱他。就如一塊田地，吃過屢次下的雨水，生長菜蔬，合乎耕種的人用，就從神得福；若長荊棘和蒺藜，必被廢棄，近於咒詛，結局就是焚燒。」(希伯來書 6:4-8) 很清楚的，不要明知故犯的褻瀆耶穌。

5. 遵行神旨意的人就是親屬

       「當下，耶穌的母親和弟兄來，站在外邊，打發人去叫他。有許多人在耶穌周圍坐着，他們就告訴他說：「看哪，你母親和你弟兄在外邊找你。」耶穌回答說：「誰是我的母親？誰是我的弟兄？」就四面觀看那周圍坐着的人，說：「看哪！我的母親，我的弟兄。凡遵行神旨意的人，就是我的弟兄姐妹和母親了。」」(馬可福音 3:31-35)

      請注意，耶穌除了說母親和弟兄外，也提到了姐妹，這就是說，凡遵行神旨意的人就是耶穌的親屬，這件事情在路加福音 8:19-21 和馬太福音 12:46-50 也都有記載。有人看見這些經文就以為耶穌六親不認，尤其是耶穌說，「你們不要想，我來是叫地上太平；我來並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。因為我來是叫『人與父親生疏，女兒與母親生疏，媳婦與婆婆生疏。人的仇敵就是自己家裏的人。』」(馬太福音 10:34-36)

     這樣的推導看起來很合理，但不是的，要看是在什麼情況下說的這話，「凡在人面前認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必認他；凡在人面前不認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不認他。」(馬太福音 10:32-33) 在現實生活中，有不信主的父母甚至不准兒女信主，難道這不是人的仇敵就是自己家裏的人嗎？當然這衹是一個例子，還有其他的情況，如父母換成配偶等等，其實這就是「彼得、約翰說：「聽從你們，不聽從神，這在神面前合理不合理，你們自己酌量吧！」」(使徒行傳 4:19) 

(經文除了特別註明外，是基於和合本。)

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

First, we quoted the previous detailed discussion of Jesus healing the man with a withered hand. Second, we discussed Jesus’ preaching and the religious leaders’ premeditated plan to kill Him, and also quoted the previous discussion of Jesus’ spiritual authority. Third, we quoted the matter of Jesus appointing the twelve apostles when on earth. He chose Judas, the traitor, after praying all night to God and knowing that it was the Father’s will to choose him. After His resurrection, He chose Paul to replace Judas. Fourth, we discussed Jesus’ words that anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven and mentioned the reason why Jesus said so. Although anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven, we quoted the text that says that we must not knowingly blaspheme Jesus. Finally, we saw that those who do God’s will are relatives and what this truly means.

1. Healing the man with a withered hand

“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.”(Mark 3:1-5) 

The same thing is recorded in Luke 6:6-10 and Matthew 12:10-13. We have discussed these verses in detail in “1050 The call of Matthew, fasting, and Sabbath -The image of Jesus (5)” under “4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. I hope that you can read it when you have time. 

Please note that here only one hand has problems, not both hands, thus there is at least one hand available. God is a merciful and gracious God. In the face of unavoidable suffering, He normally still allows something available. For example, in the growth of a family’s life, if depression must be experienced, it will take turns between the husband and wife, rather than both of them at the same time. Of course, this is not always the case, and if the person is not married, it is naturally impossible. But if you still look to God even in your depression, God will take it away Himself when necessary.

2. Jesus’ preaching and religious leaders plotted to kill Him

“The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him. And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him; for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” And He earnestly warned (G2008) them not to tell who He was.”(Mark 3:6-12)

The Pharisees and Sadducees were both religious leaders of the time, as indicated by this verse “But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), …”(Acts 5:17). However, there were still differences between them. For example, “…the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.”(Acts 23:8). Jesus bluntly stated, “…beware …of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”(Matthew 16:12). No wonder, “The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; …”(Luke 22:2). This suggests that they had planned this long ago, and ultimately, through Judas Iscariot, they put it into action, crucifying Jesus.

Regarding the religious leaders’ plot to kill Him, Luke only mentions one sentence: “But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.”(Luke 6:11) This adds details about Jesus’ preaching, just as Jesus Himself said, “…I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”(Matthew 15:24) The purpose of performing miracles (signs) was to prove His grace, as the verse says, “Therefore they (Paul and Barnabas) 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)

However, Jesus understood the importance of miracles. Therefore, “So Jesus said to him (the official from Capernaum), “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.””(John 4:48) Furthermore, “Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.””(John 6:14) But He clearly understood that the focus was on preaching. The purpose of performing miracles was to convince people, to show them that the message He was preaching was not just empty words. The text clearly states that after the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, “Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.”(John 6:14-15) And Jesus also said, “…Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.”(John 6:26) Not everyone will become a believer even seeing miracles.

Here also adds what happened after He and His disciples retreated to the seashore. In this final paragraph, it is stated that the demons knew more about spiritual matters than the people of His time, who did not know Jesus was the Son of God at that rime. His spiritual authority is also evident in the use of the word G2008, which appears 29 times, nine times in the Book of Mark. The true meaning of this word can be seen in this passage: “And Jesus rebuked (G2008) 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.”(Mark 1:25-26) We have previously discussed this in detail in “2. Jesus has the authority to cast out demons and to see things from God’s perspective” of “1150 Exorcism, Authority, Healing, and Leprosy – Mark(1)21-45”. Those who are interested can find this article in the same way as before. 

Regarding Jesus’ preaching, the Book of Matthew simply narrates, “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all.”(Matthew 12:14-15)

3. The establishment of the twelve Apostles and the Apostles of the Lamb

“And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons. And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.”(Mark 3:13-19) 

We have previously briefly discussed these verses in “1. The call of the twelve disciples” under “1051 The call of twelve disciples, and the Gospel of Luke and the Beatitudes -The image of Jesus (6)”. Although Jesus called people according to what He wanted, “…He spent the whole night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12) Thus, He knew that God the Father wanted Him to choose Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. Some people think that Judas was cooperating with Jesus. It is not true at all. In fact, although He knew that He would be betrayed, He still chose to obey God. The book of Acts records the fate of Judas: “At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)”(Acts 1:15-19)

After Jesus’ resurrection, He personally chose Paul (see Acts 22:1-16). Therefore, the wall of the New Jerusalem “…had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:14). These twelve apostles of the Lamb refer to the twelve people personally chosen by Jesus. Paul’s name is obviously among them, while Matthias was chosen by lot (see Acts 1:23-26).

Note that these same twelve people are also listed in Matthew 10:2-4. A comparison clearly indicates that Matthew is referring to the tax collector Matthew. These twelve people are also mentioned in Luke 6:14-16, and a comparison clearly indicates that Judas, the son of James, is Thaddeus.

4. Anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, and those who knowingly blaspheme Jesus must not do so

“And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”⁠— because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.””(Mark 3:20-30).

Regarding His relatives who thought He was out of His mind simply because they saw Him not even bothering to eat, wouldn’t they have been even more convinced if they had known in this verse that “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.””(Matthew 8:20)? Jesus simply knew that “…the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, …”(Mark 2:20). Before that day came, He was so diligently doing God’s work that “…the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?””(John 8:57). He was only in his thirties at the time!

In these verses, they were clearly blaspheming Jesus, but He called it blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is because the Holy Spirit of the Triune God is always with Him. This is what the verse says, “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34). This is direct evidence that the Holy Spirit intended Him to speak.

Regarding the eternal unforgiveness of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the book of Matthew explains, “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”(Matthew 12:31-32). The book of Luke also says, “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.”(Luke 12:10). Only here is the reason clarified: “because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.””(Mark 3:30)

His parables are so clear that no further explanation is necessary. Some people might see, “…all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter.”(Mark 3:28; ref. Matthew 12:31) “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; …”(Luke 12:10) and secretly rejoice, thinking that knowingly blaspheming Jesus is okay. This is completely wrong. The Jews were blaspheming Jesus, but how could they know they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit? Therefore, they were not knowingly committing this offense. 

The Bible clearly states, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”(Hebrews 6:4-8). Clearly, do not knowingly blaspheme Jesus.

5. Those who do God’s will are relatives

“Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.””(Mark 3:31-35)

Please note that Jesus mentioned sister in addition to My mother and brother. This means that anyone who does God’s will is Jesus’ relative. This is also recorded in Luke 8:19-21 and Matthew 12:46-50. Some people see these verses and think that Jesus disowns his relatives, especially when he says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”(Matthew 10:34-36)

This line of reasoning seems reasonable, but it is not. It depends on the context in which these words were spoken. “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 10:32-33) In real life, some unbelieving parents even forbid their children from believing in the Lord. Doesn’t this mean that even their enemies are members of their own household? Of course, this is just one example. There are other situations, such as parents being replaced by spouses in the example. This is essentially what happened when Peter and John said, “…Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge.”(Acts 4:19)

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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

    这文章和以往相同是基于专题查经，动机是因为我最近把一些和专题查经有关的讯息放在一起，并送给人请他们看看逻辑上有没有什么错误，以下是他们的回应。这讯息分为三部份，首先对这讯息有回应的是一个非基督徒，他看不出逻辑上有什么错误。另外还有几位基督徒，也告诉我看不出逻辑上有什么错误。有几位没有直接说逻辑上有没有错误，只陈述了一些个人的看法，就不在此分享他们的看法了。大部份人没有回应，我猜大概是因为基于圣经，找不到逻辑上的错误，又和自己所想的不符合，就只好选择不回应，不知道这样的猜想是对或不对？        

    所以这次的专题查经和以往大不同，是基于这有三部份的讯息。我们首先将这讯息不作任何更改的呈现出来， 因为这讯息的目的本就是要提出一个得生命的实际可行方法。在最后面，我们再加以讨论因此而发生的事情。以下就是这讯息本身。        

    这个讯息分为三部份，因为包含一些圣经所讲，但一般基督徒可能想都没有想过的事情，所以会比较长，希望大家能看完，并告诉我你的想法，有没有逻辑上的错误？如果有，请告诉我在那里？谢谢。        

    这看见是基于基督徒是活在信心里面，相信新旧约都是神所默示的。因为圣经是神所默示的，相信神不是模棱两可的神，所以相信「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」，也因为圣经是神所默示的，所以我们「不把圣经的话打折扣」。换句话说，我们必须基于这两者去看圣经。简言之，我们在逻辑的推导中，如果把这两者作为公理，且不强解圣经，就会发觉圣经是多么的符合逻辑的原则。对一个非基督徒而言，如果能假设这两者的确是逻辑的公理，会用逻辑的推导得出同样的结论。如果没有假设这样的公理是正确的，而只用逻辑的推导，就会得到不可知论的结论，不知道神是否存在。        

    这三部份就是:

1. 为什么圣经说我们的逻辑推导是和神的逻辑推导是一样的

2. 为什么说，圣经应许基督徒，只要真正的打开心门，就一定会有圣灵带领我们查经 3.  建议一个能走到启示录所说的，有一个能听的耳的道路

1. 为什么圣经说我们的逻辑推导是和神的逻辑推导是一样的        

    我们来看创世记的经文，「耶和华神说：「那人已经与我们相似，能知道善恶。…」(创世记 3:22) 「相似」的地方是因『能知道善恶』。那么我们如何知道善恶呢？是用我们的逻辑。数学上的逻辑分为公理和逻辑推导两部份，我们看见的是有限的例子，必须扩展归纳所得的到无限例子都能成立，这就逻辑推导输入的公理。虽然不同的领域有不同的公理，但在全世界各地，每个人的逻辑推导都是相同的，所以做研究的人才能发表文章。        

    如果是个人的决定，我们可以视为将个人的看见扩展为可以适用于所有的情况，也就是对某件事情有了个人的公理，作为逻辑推导的输入。以善恶来说，每一个人的善恶标准是不同的。譬如说，食人族不会以食人为恶，纵然对我们一般的标准来说，食人绝对是恶的。这相当于逻辑的个人公理不同，一但设定，我们就会用一样的逻辑推导来判定善恶，就会有不同的结果。       

    逻辑的推导是神造而被我们发现的，所以我们和神的逻辑推导是一样的，因『神说：「我们要照著我们的形像，按著我们的样式造(H6213, make)人，…』(创世记 1:26) 这里用的是从已有的东西造作 (H6213, make) 的，但神的公理和我们个人的公理绝对是大不相同的。以行神迹而言，神有绝对的主权，能随时随地行神迹，我们最多是能成为一个行神迹的管道。也就是说，我们最多是只能和神相似，而不可能相同。      

    神只要开我们的眼睛，使我们看见以前没有看到过的东西，我们个人的公理就会随之而改变！譬如，神开了以利沙仆人的眼睛，使他可以看到满山的火车火马围绕著以利沙，以后他的个人公理就可以包括这事实。(参列王纪下 6:8-17) 虽然他告诉别人，其他的人最可能也是不信，因为没有看到，但他个人的公理现在包括了，满山的火车火马围绕著以利沙的事实。        

    在这段的最后，我要做一个关于圣灵带领我们查经的小小见证，这是和逻辑推导有关。我以前就相信，我们的逻辑推导和神的逻辑推导是一样的，但我一直没有找到圣经里有直接的证据，在这次准备专题查经中要解释「相似」时，我只能祷告神说，如果没有直接的证据，我实在不能这样的分享，神就使我看见了这分享过的经文，『神说：「我们要照著我们的形像，按著我们的样式造(H6213, make)人，…』(创世记 1:26) 我这才有了直接的证据。

2. 为什么说圣经应许基督徒，只要真正的打开心门，就一定会有圣灵带领我们查经        

    圣灵带领我们查经是圣经中的应许，我们要做的是真正的打开心门。在启示录中的老底嘉教会，把耶稣关在门外，祂仍应许，「看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我一同坐席。」(启示录 3:20) 祂不但是坐席而已，并且会作工，要不就不会有，「得胜的，我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐，…」(启示录 3:21) 请注意，这应许没有说时间是在什么时候，神有绝对的主权，祂会选择最好的时间去做的。        

    我做这小小的见证并不是说我有什么特别，只是想给大家一个例子，说明圣经所说的应许是真实的。这就是过去我们在专题查经一向所说的，专题查经最多只能带来知识，如果一个人想要圣灵带领查经，一定要自己到神面前，因为生命只能从神来，也就是保罗说的，「我栽种了，亚波罗浇灌了，惟有神叫他生长。可见栽种的算不得甚么，浇灌的也算不得甚么，只在那叫他生长的神。」(哥林多前书 3:6-7) 

3.  建议一个能走到启示录所说的，有一个能听的耳的道路     

    请注意，开眼睛可以是神直接的工作，如保罗的见大光(参使徒行传 9:1-9)，也有可以经过别人的，譬如保罗见大光后，神是差亚拿尼亚告诉他一些事情(参使徒行传 9:10-18)。 所以我们能知道保罗有一个能听的耳，就是启示录中对所有的七个教会所说的，「圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！」(启示录 3:6) 我们必须要有一个能听的耳，才能去得到那只能从神来的生命。        

    首先是不要说谎，认撒但为父，因为圣经明说，「…魔鬼(撤但)…说谎是出于自己，因他本来是说谎的，也是说谎之人的父。」(约翰福音 8:44) 然后，如果听到别人和自己有不同的看法，要深思，看别人是不是对，对要听从。如果不对，一定可以找到逻辑上的错误。如果现在找不到错误而又不愿意听，就只好先放在一边，也许有一天会看到真象。真的要分辩，譬如说，有这样的教导，不论你对不对，都要先道歉，尤其是你有感动的时候。如果你道完歉后，圣灵没有要你意识到究竟错在何处，那么你知道那感动不是从圣灵来的，因为圣灵不会要你说谎而认撒但为父。所以彼得会说，「务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。」(彼得前书 5:8)        

    当我们看到这经文，「你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人，倒要彼此劝勉。…」(希伯来书 10:25) 真的不要当成律法来守，你看老底嘉的教会不是没有停止聚会吗？他们却把耶稣关在门外却不自知，不要沦为老底嘉教会的光景。要有一个能听的耳，我们不知道圣灵什么时候就借著弟兄姊妹的口对我们说话了，所以要高高兴兴的，尽可能的参加每周的聚会。        

    以上是这讯息的终结，我们就先叙述因此而发生的事情，然后加以讨论。请注意，我们是在问这三段本身是不是自己就符合基于圣经的逻辑。也就是说这三个讯息是独立的，但因它们又是相关的，所以会放在一起。我们一开始就说这文章是基于专题查经，在专题查经中我们把这讯息打出来并加上了更多的解释，如果你对这解释有兴趣，请看「250727 一个得生命的实际可行方法 2152」，链结为「https://youtu.be/fk8huQyI8Mk?si=uzwBwWaogfpDPgEi 」。      

    发生的事情是这样的，我将这讯息请某一个团契的联络人转送给那个团契，他大致的看过了，觉得没有问题就转发了，所以我以为至少有些人看过这讯息，就因此在这团契中的讨论就据此发言。事后我问过的一些在团契的人，他们根本没有看，可能那时只有联络人看过。        

    我记得我提的第一件事情是因不要说谎而认撒但为父，就是有一位已不是长老，而是(不能在长执会中投票但能讲道的)荣誉长老，教会的网站还把他列为长老，这是明明的说谎。我以前就对参加团契的执事反应过这件事，不过我这次同意这执事所说的，要给教会多一点时间，祗是希望这教会能做出正确的决定。        

    接著是因为我想起有人对我说，这位荣誉长老要带十个人读 经，告诉他们每天读固定的章节，只需要看过去，这样一年可以读圣经三次。我知道这样的读经法是不对的，我们以前在「3141 对圣灵带领查经我们可做的事」中的「2. 把神的话存在心里」，分享过这点，一则是这在守律法，二则是如果愿意每天花一小时左右去看过去，加上何时停会有圣灵的带领，犹如出埃及有云柱和火柱的带领般，照样可以约每年读圣经三次。而带领十个人这样固定章节的读经，绝对不是圣灵的意思，因为一次这样看过去读经的终极目的，是要让圣灵代领查经，不是每个人都真正愿意去做的，这实在是太像从人的角度做事情，看十个人中有那些人能得著，而从圣灵来的，是一定会成就的。对「3141」有兴趣的人，请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。        

    不过，我没有机会讲完我要分享的，有两个人打断了我的话，因为我的听力本有问题，又时好时坏，根本听不到较远的人在讲什么，倒是听到第二个较近的人的一部份话，说她们还没有开始，根本不知道那时他(荣誉长老)会说什么，这和我所以为听到的不同，事后我才知道他们会约八月底才开始，当时我并不知道。因我相信至少是该让人讲完话，就因此要求，但最终为当天的代领人制止再讲下去，因为我相信要尊重代领人，就停止了分享。        

    回家后，我总觉得不对，就问太太我今天的态度是否不对。她说的确如此，她说第二个人只是说不该讲不在场的人的事。好在我那时没听到，因为这不是放诸四海皆准的，因为如果是，就不能在分享中引用其他人的见证，也不能在会议中讨论不在场人的事，而这是不能避免的。     

    我没有想到这次是神会如约伯般的允许我被攻击，因为我早已知道自己离标杆很远，绝对没有模成耶稣的形像，没有必要让我知道自己的生命不够，这到底是为什么呢？我首先想到的是要我经历这经文，「故此，我所愿意的善(像专题查经般的说话)，我反不做；我所不愿意的恶(这次说话的态度不好)，我倒去做。」(罗马书 7:19) 然后在意念中知道了，在「3.  建议一个能走到启示录所说的，有一个能听的耳的道路」中有逻辑上的错误，因为说到了「如果听到别人和自己有不同的看法，要深思，看别人是不是对，对要听从。」这好像很合理，但我们知道，「因为赐生命圣灵的律在基督耶稣里释放了我，使我脱离罪和死的律了。」(罗马书 8:2) 所以要做到这样，一定要在基督耶稣里才可能，自己是没有办法做的。     

    保罗说，「我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。」(罗马书 8:28) 所以一件事情常常会为很多的目的而发生，我们并没有在这里说到这次事件的所有目的，现在就提出我们要分享的最后一点，就是前两个话题逻辑上没有问题，第三个话题逻辑上出了问题。也就是说，这是一个对错相杂的讯息，我们看到了对的，就很容易接受错的，以为是对的。以前我没有看出来第三个话题有逻辑上的问题，到目前为止，也没有人看出来，难怪圣经会说，「务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。」(彼得前书 5:8)     

    所以随时要分辩，尤其意念中的超自然的事情，不要以为几次对了就全盘接收，要知道「 …撒但也装作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若装作仁义的差役，也不算希奇。…」(哥林多后书 11:14-15) 而且「人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？」(耶利米书 17:9) 自己会欺骗自己的，要做出来后，才真正了解自己是怎么想的，所以在白色的大宝座前，「…他们都照各人所行的受审判。」(启示录 20:13)    

    圣经说得很清楚，「世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善，他向你所要的是甚么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。」(弥迦书 6:8) 要想与神同行，要有一个能听的耳，这样才能「不要消灭圣灵的感动。」(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19) 如果一个人怀疑自己是否有一个能聪的耳，可以向神祷告自己的心愿，但不要期望神赐下一个能听的耳，是自己要愿意，不只是口头上说说而已，要真正的愿意，所以会说，「圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听！…」(启示录 2:7)

(经文除了特别注明外，是基于和合本。)

(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』。)  

     這文章和以往相同是基於專題查經，動機是因為我最近把一些和專題查經有關的訊息放在一起，並送給人請他們看看邏輯上有沒有什麼錯誤，以下是他們的回應。這訊息分為三部份，首先對這訊息有回應的是一個非基督徒，他看不出邏輯上有什麼錯誤。另外還有幾位基督徒，也告訴我看不出邏輯上有什麼錯誤。有幾位沒有直接說邏輯上有沒有錯誤，衹陳述了一些個人的看法，就不在此分享他們的看法了。大部份人沒有回應，我猜大概是因為基於聖經，找不到邏輯上的錯誤，又和自己所想的不符合，就衹好選擇不回應，不知道這樣的猜想是對或不對？

        所以這次的專題查經和以往大不同，是基於這有三部份的訊息。我們首先將這訊息不作任何更改的呈現出來， 因為這訊息的目的本就是要提出一個得生命的實際可行方法。在最後面，我們再加以討論因此而發生的事情。以下就是這訊息本身。

        這個訊息分為三部份，因為包含一些聖經所講，但一般基督徒可能想都沒有想過的事情，所以會比較長，希望大家能看完，並告訴我你的想法，有沒有邏輯上的錯誤？如果有，請告訴我在那裡？謝謝。

        這看見是基於基督徒是活在信心裏面，相信新舊約都是神所默示的。因為聖經是神所默示的，相信神不是模稜兩可的神，所以相信「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」，也因為聖經是神所默示的，所以我們「不把聖經的話打折扣」。換句話說，我們必須基於這兩者去看聖經。簡言之，我們在邏輯的推導中，如果把這兩者作為公理，且不強解聖經，就會發覺聖經是多麼的符合邏輯的原則。對一個非基督徒而言，如果能假設這兩者的確是邏輯的公理，會用邏輯的推導得出同樣的結論。如果沒有假設這樣的公理是正確的，而只用邏輯的推導，就會得到不可知論的結論，不知道神是否存在。

        這三部份就是:

1. 為什麼聖經說我們的邏輯推導是和神的邏輯推導是一樣的

2. 為什麼說，聖經應許基督徒，衹要真正的打開心門，就一定會有聖靈帶領我們查經

3.  建議一個能走到啓示錄所說的，有一個能聽的耳的道路

1. 為什麼聖經說我們的邏輯推導是和神的邏輯推導是一樣的

        我們來看創世記的經文，「耶和華神說：「那人已經與我們相似，能知道善惡。…」(創世記 3:22) 「相似」的地方是因『能知道善惡』。那麼我們如何知道善惡呢？是用我們的邏輯。數學上的邏輯分為公理和邏輯推導兩部份，我們看見的是有限的例子，必須擴展歸納所得的到無限例子都能成立，這就邏輯推導輸入的公理。雖然不同的領域有不同的公理，但在全世界各地，每個人的邏輯推導都是相同的，所以做研究的人才能發表文章。

        如果是個人的決定，我們可以視為將個人的看見擴展為可以適用於所有的情況，也就是對某件事情有了個人的公理，作為邏輯推導的輸入。以善惡來說，每一個人的善惡標準是不同的。譬如說，食人族不會以食人為惡，縱然對我們一般的標準來說，食人絕對是惡的。這相當於邏輯的個人公理不同，一但設定，我們就會用一樣的邏輯推導來判定善惡，就會有不同的結果。

        邏輯的推導是神造而被我們發現的，所以我們和神的邏輯推導是一樣的，因『神說：「我們要照着我們的形像，按着我們的樣式造(H6213, make)人，…』(創世記 1:26) 這裏用的是從已有的東西造作 (H6213, make) 的，但神的公理和我們個人的公理絕對是大不相同的。以行神蹟而言，神有絕對的主權，能隨時隨地行神蹟，我們最多是能成為一個行神蹟的管道。也就是說，我們最多是只能和神相似，而不可能相同。

        神只要開我們的眼睛，使我們看見以前沒有看到過的東西，我們個人的公理就會隨之而改變！譬如，神開了以利沙僕人的眼睛，使他可以看到滿山的火車火馬圍繞著以利沙，以後他的個人公理就可以包括這事實。(參列王紀下 6:8-17) 雖然他告訴別人，其他的人最可能也是不信，因為沒有看到，但他個人的公理現在包括了，滿山的火車火馬圍繞著以利沙的事實。

        在這段的最後，我要做一個關於聖靈帶領我們查經的小小見証，這是和邏輯推導有關。我以前就相信，我們的邏輯推導和神的邏輯推導是一樣的，但我一直沒有找到聖經裏有直接的証據，在這次準備專題查經中要解釋「相似」時，我衹能禱告神說，如果沒有直接的証據，我實在不能這樣的分享，神就使我看見了這分享過的經文，『神說：「我們要照着我們的形像，按着我們的樣式造(H6213, make)人，…』(創世記 1:26) 我這才有了直接的証據。

2. 為什麼說，聖經應許基督徒，衹要真正的打開心門，就一定會有聖靈帶領我們查經

        聖靈帶領我們查經是聖經中的應許，我們要做的是真正的打開心門。在啓示錄中的老底嘉教會，把耶穌關在門外，祂仍應許，「看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。」(啓示錄 3:20) 祂不但是坐席而已，並且會作工，要不就不會有，「得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，…」(啓示錄 3:21) 請注意，這應許沒有說時間是在什麼時候，神有絕對的主權，祂會選擇最好的時間去做的。

        我做這小小的見証並不是說我有什麼特別，衹是想給大家一個例子，說明聖經所說的應許是真實的。這就是過去我們在專題查經一向所說的，專題查經最多衹能帶來知識，如果一個人想要聖靈帶領查經，一定要自己到神面前，因為生命衹能從神來，也就是保羅説的，「我栽種了，亞波羅澆灌了，惟有神叫他生長。可見栽種的算不得甚麼，澆灌的也算不得甚麼，只在那叫他生長的神。」(哥林多前書 3:6-7)  

3.  建議一個能走到啓示錄所說的，有一個能聽的耳的道路

        請注意，開眼睛可以是神直接的工作，如保羅的見大光(參使徒行傳 9:1-9)，也有可以經過別人的，譬如保羅見大光後，神是差亞拿尼亞告訴他一些事情(參使徒行傳 9:10-18)。 所以我們能知道保羅有一個能聽的耳，就是啓示錄中對所有的七個教會所說的，「聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！」(啓示錄 3:6) 我們必須要有一個能聽的耳，才能去得到那衹能從神來的生命。

        首先是不要說謊，認撒但為父，因為聖經明說，「…魔鬼(撤但)…說謊是出於自己，因他本來是說謊的，也是說謊之人的父。」(約翰福音 8:44) 然後，如果聽到別人和自己有不同的看法，要深思，看別人是不是對，對要聽從。如果不對，一定可以找到邏輯上的錯誤。如果現在找不到錯誤而又不願意聽，就衹好先放在一邊，也許有一天會看到真象。真的要分辨，譬如說，有這樣的教導，不論你對不對，都要先道歉，尤其是你有感動的時候。如果你道完歉後，聖靈沒有要你意識到究竟錯在何處，那麼你知道那感動不是從聖靈來的，因為聖靈不會要你說謊而認撒但為父。所以彼得會說，「務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。」(彼得前書 5:8)

        當我們看到這經文，「你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉。…」(希伯來書 10:25) 真的不要當成律法來守，你看老底嘉的教會不是沒有停止聚會嗎？他們卻把耶穌關在門外卻不自知，不要淪為老底嘉教會的光景。要有一個能聽的耳，我們不知道聖靈什麼時候就借著弟兄姊妹的口對我們說話了，所以要高高興興的，儘可能的參加每週的聚會。

        以上是這訊息的終結，我們就先敍述因此而發生的事情，然後加以討論。請注意，我們是在問這三段本身是不是自己就符合基於聖經的邏輯。也就是說這三個訊息是獨立的，但因它們又是相關的，所以會放在一起。我們一開始就說這文章是基於專題查經，在專題查經中我們把這訊息打出來並加上了更多的解釋，如果你對這解釋有興趣，請看「250727 一個得生命的實際可行方法 2152」，鏈結為「https://youtu.be/fk8huQyI8Mk?si=uzwBwWaogfpDPgEi 」。

      發生的事情是這樣的，我將這訊息請某一個團契的聯絡人轉送給那個團契，他大致的看過了，覺得沒有問題就轉發了，所以我以為至少有些人看過這訊息，就因此在這團契中的討論就據此發言。事後我問過的一些在團契的人，他們根本沒有看，可能那時衹有聯絡人看過。

        我記得我提的第一件事情是因不要說謊而認撒但為父，就是有一位已不是長老，而是(不能在長執會中投票但能講道的)榮譽長老，教會的網站還把他列為長老，這是明明的說謊。我以前就對參加團契的執事反應過這件事，不過我這次同意這執事所說的，要給教會多一點時間，祗是希望這教會能做出正確的決定。

        接著是因為我想起有人對我說，這位榮譽長老要帶十個人讀 經，告訴他們每天讀固定的章節，衹需要看過去，這樣一年可以讀聖經三次。我知道這樣的讀經法是不對的，我們以前在「2141 對聖靈帶領查經我們可做的事」中的「2. 把神的話存在心裏」，分享過這點，一則是這在守律法，二則是如果願意每天花一小時左右去看過去，加上何時停會有聖靈的帶領，猶如出埃及有雲柱和火柱的帶領般，照樣可以約每年讀聖經三次。而帶領十個人這樣固定章節的讀經，絕對不是聖靈的意思，因為一次這樣看過去讀經的終極目的，是要讓聖靈代領查經，不是每個人都真正願意去做的，這實在是太像從人的角度做事情，看十個人中有那些人能得著，而從聖靈來的，是一定會成就的。對「2141」有興趣的人，請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

        不過，我沒有機會講完我要分享的，有兩個人打斷了我的話，因為我的聽力本有問題，又時好時壞，根本聽不到較遠的人在講什麼，倒是聽到第二個較近的人的一部份話，說她們還沒有開始，根本不知道那時他(榮譽長老)會說什麼，這和我所以為聽到的不同，事後我才知道他們會約八月底才開始，當時我並不知道。因我相信至少是該讓人講完話，就因此要求，但最終為當天的代領人制止再講下去，因為我相信要尊重代領人，就停止了分享。

        回家後，我總覺得不對，就問太太我今天的態度是否不對。她說的確如此，她說第二個人衹是說不該講不在場的人的事。好在我那時沒聽到，因為這不是放諸四海皆準的，因為如果是，就不能在分享中引用其他人的見証，也不能在會議中討論不在場人的事，而這是不能避免的。

     我沒有想到這次是神會如約伯般的允許我被攻擊，因為我早已知道自己離標杆很遠，絕對沒有模成耶穌的形像，沒有必要讓我知道自己的生命不夠，這到底是為什麼呢？我首先想到的是要我經歷這經文，「故此，我所願意的善(像專題查經般的說話)，我反不做；我所不願意的惡(這次說話的態度不好)，我倒去做。」(羅馬書 7:19) 然後在意念中知道了，在「3.  建議一個能走到啓示錄所說的，有一個能聽的耳的道路」中有邏輯上的錯誤，因為說到了「如果聽到別人和自己有不同的看法，要深思，看別人是不是對，對要聽從。」這好像很合理，但我們知道，「因為賜生命聖靈的律在基督耶穌裏釋放了我，使我脫離罪和死的律了。」(羅馬書 8:2) 所以要做到這樣，一定要在基督耶穌裏才可能，自己是沒有辦法做的。

     保羅說，「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。」(羅馬書 8:28) 所以一件事情常常會為很多的目的而發生，我們並沒有在這裏說到這次事件的所有目的，現在就提出我們要分享的最後一點，就是前兩個話題邏輯上沒有問題，第三個話題邏輯上出了問題。也就是說，這是一個對錯相雜的訊息，我們看到了對的，就很容易接受錯的，以為是對的。以前我沒有看出來第三個話題有邏輯上的問題，到目前為止，也沒有人看出來，難怪聖經會說，「務要謹守、警醒，因為你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人。」(彼得前書 5:8)

     所以隨時要分辨，尤其意念中的超自然的事情，不要以為幾次對了就全盤接收，要知道「 …撒但也裝作光明的天使。所以，他的差役若裝作仁義的差役，也不算希奇。…」(哥林多後書 11:14-15) 而且「人心比萬物都詭詐，壞到極處，誰能識透呢？」(耶利米書 17:9) 自己會欺騙自己的，要做出來後，才真正了解自己是怎麼想的，所以在白色的大寶座前，「…他們都照各人所行的受審判。」(啓示錄 20:13)

    聖經說得很清楚，「世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善，他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。」(彌迦書 6:8) 要想與神同行，要有一個能聽的耳，這樣才能「不要消滅聖靈的感動。」(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:19) 如果一個人懷疑自己是否有一個能聰的耳，可以向神禱告自己的心願，但不要期望神賜下一個能聽的耳，是自己要願意，不衹是口頭上說說而已，要真正的願意，所以會說，「聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！…」(啓示錄 2:7)

(經文除了特別註明外，是基於和合本。)

(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』。)

Like previous articles, this article is based on a topicwise Bible study. The motivation was that I recently put together some messages related to the topicwise Bible study and sent them to people, asking them to examine the logic for any flaws.

This message is divided into three parts. Below are their responses. The first person who responded was a non-Christian who couldn’t see any logical flaws. Several other Christians also told me they couldn’t see any logical flaws. Some didn’t directly address the logical flaws, simply stating their personal opinions, which I won’t share here. Most people didn’t respond. I suspect this is because they couldn’t find any logical flaws based on the Bible, and since it didn’t align with their own thoughts, they simply chose not to respond. I wonder if this assumption is correct or not?

This topicwise Bible study is therefore quite different from previous ones, since it is based on this three-part message. We will present this message without any changes, as its purpose is to present a practical method to have life. At the end, we will discuss what happened as a result. Below is the message itself.

This message is divided into three parts. Because it covers some things the Bible teaches that most Christians may not even think about, it’s quite long. I hope you will read it and share your thoughts. Are there any logical errors? If so, please tell me where they are. Thank you.

This viewpoint is based on the fact that Christians live by faith, believing that both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. Because the Bible is inspired by God, and we believe that God is not ambiguous, we believe that “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” Also, because the Bible is inspired by God, we “do not discount the Bible’s words.” In other words, we must interpret the Bible based on these two principles. Simply put, if we take these two principles as axioms in our logical reasoning and do not distort to interpret the Bible, we will discover how logically consistent the Bible is. For a non-Christian, if they can assume these two principles are indeed logical axioms, they will reach the same conclusion through logical reasoning. If they fail to assume that such axioms are correct and rely solely on logical deduction, they will reach the conclusion of agnosticism, uncertain whether God exists.

        These three parts are:

1. Why the Bible states that our logical deductions are the same as God’s.

2. Why the Bible promises Christians that if they truly open their hearts, the Holy Spirit will guide them in Bible study.

3. Suggesting a path to achieving the state of having ears that can hear as described in the Book of Revelation.

1. Why does the Bible say our logical deduction is the same as God’s?

Let’s look at the passage in the Book of Genesis: “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; …”(Genesis 3:22). “Like” here means knowing good and evil. So how do we know good and evil? We use our logic. Mathematical logic consists of two parts: axioms and logical deductions. We see a limited number of examples, and we must generalize and generalize them to apply to an infinite number of examples. These are the axioms that form the input for logical deduction. Although different fields have different axioms, everyone’s logical deductions are the same, which is why researchers can publish their work.

If it’s a personal decision, we can think of it as expanding our personal viewpoints to apply to all situations. In other words, we have our own axioms for a particular matter, which serve as the input for logical deduction. Regarding good and evil, everyone’s standards of good and evil are different. For example, cannibals do not consider cannibalism evil, even though, by our general standards, cannibalism is definitely evil. This is equivalent to having different personal axioms in logic. Once established, we will use the same logical deduction to judge good and evil, resulting in different results. For cannibals, it is considered that killing other tribe people is good.

Logical deduction was created by God and discovered by us, so our logical deduction is the same as God’s. In this verse, “Then God said, “Let Us make (H6213) man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”(Genesis 1:26). Here, the word ‘make’ is used, which means making something “from what already exists”. However, God’s axioms and our personal axioms are absolutely different. As far as miracles are concerned, God has absolute sovereignty and can perform miracles at any time and in any place. We can only be a channel for miracles. In other words, we can only be similar to God, not identical to Him.

As long as God opens our eyes and allows us to see things we have never seen before, our personal axioms will be changed accordingly! For example, God opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, allowing him to see that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

From then on, his personal axioms could include this fact. (See 2 Kings 6:8-17) Although he told others about this, other people were most likely didn’t believe it because they hadn’t seen it, but his personal axioms now included the fact.

To conclude this section, I’d like to share a brief testimony about the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our topicwise Bible study, which relates to logical deduction. I believed in the past that our logical deduction is the same as God’s, but I had never found direct evidence in the Bible. When preparing to explain the concept of “Like” in this topicwise Bible study, I could only pray that without direct evidence, I couldn’t share this way. Then God pointed me to the verse I’ve shared before:  “Then God said, “Let Us make (H6213) man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”(Genesis 1:26). Now I had direct evidence.

2. Why does the Bible promise Christians that if they truly open their hearts, the Holy Spirit will guide them in Bible study?

The Holy Spirit’s guidance in Bible study is a promise in the Bible. What we need to do is truly open our hearts. In the Laodicean church in the Book of Revelation, Jesus was locked out, yet He still promised, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”(Revelation 3:20). Not only does He dine at the table, He also works; otherwise, there would be no such thing. “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, …”(Revelation 3:21). Please note that this promise does not specify a specific time. God is absolutely sovereign and will choose the best time to act.

I offer this small testimony not to claim any specialness, but simply to give an example to show that the Bible’s promises are always true. This is what we have always said in our topicwise Bible study. Topicwise Bible studies can only bring knowledge at best. If a person wants the Holy Spirit to lead his Bible study, he must go to God himself, because life can only come from God. This is what Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”(1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

3. Suggesting a path to achieving the state of having ears that can hear as described in the Book of Revelation

Please note that opening eyes can be a direct work of God, such as Paul’s vision of great light (see Acts 9:1-9), or it can come through others. For example, after Paul saw the great light, God sent Ananias to tell him something (see Acts 9:10-18). Therefore, we know that Paul had an ear that can hear, as the Book of Revelation says about in all seven churches: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”(Revelation 3:6). We must have an ear that can hear in order to receive the life that can only come from God.

First, do not lie or acknowledge Satan as your father, as the Bible clearly states, “…the devil (Satan)…Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44). Then, if you hear someone’s opinion differ from yours, reflect deeply to see if they are right, and if they are, obey them. If it’s wrong, you can definitely find a logical flaw. If you can’t find one now but you’re unwilling to listen, just put it aside. Perhaps one day you’ll see the truth. We truly need to discern. For example, if you receive such teaching, whether you’re right or wrong, you should apologize first, especially if you’re moved. If, after you apologize, the Holy Spirit doesn’t prompt you to realize your mistake, then you know that the prompting wasn’t from the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit wouldn’t prompt you to lie and acknowledge Satan as your father. That’s why Peter says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8).

When we read the verse, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; …”(Hebrews 10:25), we really shouldn’t treat it as a law. Look at the church in Laodicea. Didn’t they stop meeting together? Yet, they kept Jesus out without realizing it. Don’t end up like the Laodiceans. We need to have ears that can hear. We never know when the Holy Spirit will speak to us through the mouths of our brothers and sisters, so we should cheerfully attend weekly gatherings whenever possible.

This concludes this message. We will first describe the events that followed the message and then discuss them. Please note that we are asking whether these three passages themselves conform independently to biblical logic. In other words, these three messages are independent, but they are related, so they are grouped together. We stated at the outset that this article is based on a topicwise Bible study. In that study, we reproduced this message and added further explanation. If you are interested in this explanation, please see “250727 A Practical Way to Have Life 2152” in Chinese at the link: “https://youtu.be/fk8huQyI8Mk?si=uzwBwWaogfpDPgEi.”

What happened is this: I asked a fellowship’s liaison to forward this message to that fellowship. He briefly reviewed it and, finding it okay, forwarded it. I assumed at least some people had seen it, and therefore, it was used as a basis for discussion in that fellowship. Later, I asked some people in the fellowship, and they hadn’t seen it at all. Perhaps only the liaison had seen it at that time.

I remember the first thing I brought up was regarding not lying and acknowledging Satan as their father. There was a person who was no longer an elder, but rather an honorary elder (who couldn’t vote on the elders’ meeting but could preach). The church website still listed him as an elder, a blatant lie. I’d previously raised this with a deacon in the fellowship, but this time I agreed with him, saying that the church should be given more time. I simply hoped the church would make the right decision.

Then I remembered someone telling me that this honorary elder was leading ten people in Bible study, telling them to read a fixed passage each day and just read through it, so they could read the Bible three times a year. I know this method of Bible study is wrong. We previously discussed this in “2. Keep God’s Word in your heart” under “1141 What we can do regarding Holy Spirit leads us to study Bible”. 

First, it’s keeping the law. Second, if you’re willing to spend about an hour daily reading the Bible this way, and if you can stop when the Holy Spirit leads you, just as the pillar of cloud and fire led people during the Exodus, you can still read the Bible about three times a year. Leading ten people in a fixed Bible study is definitely not the Holy Spirit’s will. The ultimate purpose of this kind of reading is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead the Bible study, something not everyone truly wants to do. It’s too much like operating from a human viewpoints, seeing who among ten people can gain something. What comes from the Holy Spirit will definitely be accomplished. For those interested in “1141,” please visit https://a-christian-voice.com/ and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article.

However, I didn’t have a chance to finish my sharing because two people interrupted me. My hearing is already problematic, sometimes good and sometimes bad, so I couldn’t hear what the person farther away was saying. I did catch part of the second closer person’s words, saying they hadn’t started yet and had no idea what he (the honorary elder) would say. This was different from what I thought I heard before. I later learned they wouldn’t start until about the end of August, something I hadn’t known at the time. I believe that at least the person should finish speaking, so I asked for it. Ultimately, the person who was leading the Bible study that day stopped me from speaking. I believe in respecting the person who was leading the Bible study, so I stopped sharing.

After returning home, I felt something was wrong, so I asked my wife if my attitude was wrong. She said it was true, that the second person was simply saying that one shouldn’t talk about someone who wasn’t present. Fortunately, I didn’t hear it then, because it’s not a universal rule. If it were, then you wouldn’t be able to quote other people’s testimonies in your sharing, nor would you be able to discuss the matters of someone who wasn’t present during the meeting—something that’s unavoidable.

I didn’t expect God to allow me to be attacked this time, just as Job had. I already knew I was far from the mark and definitely not conformed to the image of Jesus. There was no need for me to be told that my life was inadequate. Why then? My first thought was that God wanted me to experience this verse: “For the good that I want (talking like topicwise Bible study), I do not do, but I practice the very evil (this time speaking with a bad attitude) that I do not want.”(Romans 7:19). Then I realized that there was a logical flaw in “3. Suggesting a path to achieving the state of having ears that can hear as described in the Book of Revelation”. It says, “Then, if you hear someone’s opinion differ from yours, reflect deeply to see if they are right, and if they are, obey them.” This seems reasonable, but we know, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”(Romans 8:2). Therefore, to achieve this, you must be in Christ Jesus; you cannot do it on your own.

Paul said, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”(Romans 8:28). Therefore, events often occur for many purposes. We haven’t discussed all the purposes of this incident here. Let’s bring up our final point then: the first two subtopics are logically sound, but the third one is not. In other words, this is a message that is a mixture of right and wrong. When we see the right part, we easily accept the wrong part, mistaking it for the right part. I didn’t see the logical problem with the third subtopic before, and no one has noticed it yet. No wonder the Bible says, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”(1 Peter 5:8).

So, always be discerning, especially when it comes to supernatural thoughts. Don’t just accept them just because they are right just a few times. Remember, “…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, …”(2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Furthermore, “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”(Jeremiah 17:9). We can deceive ourselves, and only after we act out can we truly understand our own thoughts. Therefore, in the great white throne, ” …they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”(Revelation 20:13).

The Bible clearly states, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”(Micah 6:8). To walk humbly with God, one must have an ear that can hear so that we are able to “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19). If one doubts whether one has an ear that can hear, one can pray to God for the desire, but one should not expect God to grant an ear that can hear. One must be willing, not just saying it, but truly willing. Therefore, it is said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. …”(Revelation 2:7).

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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

    首先我们谈到耶稣医治缒下的瘫子并赦免其罪，并引用以前讨论过的，加上那时未讨论的。第二，我们引用以前讨论过的，说到如何呼召使徒税吏马太，也就是利未，讨论了我们都是蒙恩的罪人。第三，我们引用以前讨论过的禁食，提到了要做智慧之子，提到了智慧的言语。第四，我们引用以前讨论过的以「新酒装在旧皮袋」比喻新旧难合， 和讨论这里的酒是指什么。最后，我们引用以前讨论过的人子是安息日的主，提到了耶稣是做我们榜样的持守了安息日的真谛。

1.  医治缒下的瘫子并赦免其罪       

    「过了些日子，耶稣又进了迦百农。人听见他在房子里，就有许多人聚集，甚至连门前都没有空地，耶稣就对他们讲道。有人带著一个瘫子来见耶稣，是用四个人抬来的。因为人多，不得近前，就把耶稣所在的房子，拆了房顶，既拆通了，就把瘫子连所躺卧的褥子都缒下来。耶稣见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：「小子，你的罪赦了。」有几个文士坐在那里，心里议论，说：「这个人为甚么这样说呢？他说僭妄的话了！除了神以外，谁能赦罪呢？」耶稣心中知道他们心里这样议论，就说：「你们心里为甚么这样议论呢？或对瘫子说『你的罪赦了』，或说『起来，拿你的褥子行走』，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！」那人就起来，立刻拿著褥子，当众人面前出去了。以致众人都惊奇，归荣耀与神，说：「我们从来没有见过这样的事。」」(马可福音 2:1-12)     

    我们首先注意到耶稣到迦百农是为了传道，「…因我奉差原是为此。」(路加福音 4:43) 同样的事情在马太福音 9:1-8 和路加福音 5:17-26 都有记载，在这里我们看到衪医治瘫子的事情，这瘫子是四个朋友从屋顶上把缒下的，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？在「3049 得人如得鱼、医治痲疯和瘫子、及圣经的一个写法 –  耶稣的形像 (4)」中的「3. 医治瘫子及圣经的一个写法」，我们解释了怎么用一个实际的方法回答这问题。请到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。        

    我们在其中也讨论了耶稣赦罪的权柄的这事，犹太人是对的，除了神以外没有能赦罪的，但耶稣是三位一体的神中的一位，是完全的人也是完全的神，祂自己说得很清楚，『我与父原为一。』(约翰福音 10:30)        

    至于祂在这里说的那一样容易呢？从人的角度看，神迹和赦罪两者都不容易，都只有神能做，新约的时代，在基督内是这样做的。说到神迹，可看这经文，「那人(素常坐在殿的美门口求赒济的)正在称为所罗门的廊下，拉著彼得、约翰，众百姓一齐跑到他们那里，很觉希奇。彼得看见，就对百姓说：「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 3:11-16)     

    这些经文很清楚的说是耶稣在做，他们只是行神迹的一个管道。其实在马可福音 2:12 中说，「…以致众人都惊奇，归荣耀与神，…」(马可福音 2:12) 他们是归荣耀给神，所以有些犹太人是很清楚的，耶稣做的事情只有神能做，就像这经文所记，「这人(尼哥低母)夜里来见耶稣，说：「拉比，我们知道你是由神那里来作师傅的，因为你所行的神迹，若没有神同在，无人能行。」(约翰福音 3:2)     

    关于赦罪，这经文说，「耶稣又对他们说：「愿你们平安！父怎样差遣了我，我也照样差遣你们。」说了这话，就向他们吹一口气，说：「你们受圣灵。你们赦免谁的罪，谁的罪就赦免了；你们留下谁的罪，谁的罪就留下了。」」(约翰福音 20:21-23) 很显然的，也是三位一体的神在做。

2. 呼召使徒税吏马太也就是利未       

    「耶稣又出到海边去，众人都就了他来，他便教训他们。耶稣经过的时候，看见亚勒腓的儿子利未坐在税关上，就对他说：「你跟从我来！」他就起来，跟从了耶稣。耶稣在利未家里坐席的时候，有好些税吏和罪人与耶稣并门徒一同坐席，因为这样的人多，他们也跟随耶稣。法利赛人中的文士看见耶稣和罪人并税吏一同吃饭，就对他门徒说：「他和税吏并罪人一同吃喝吗？」耶稣听见，就对他们说：「康健的人用不著医生，有病的人才用得著。我来本不是召义人，乃是召罪人。」」(马可福音 2:13-17)             

    同样的一件事在马太福音 9:9-13 有简短的记载，且加上了「经上说：『我喜爱怜恤，不喜爱祭祀。』这句话的意思，你们且去揣摩。我来，本不是召义人，乃是召罪人。」(马太福音 9:13) 我们都是蒙恩的罪人。关于这点，罪人是我们与生具来的生命，是一种身份，不能改变的事实，本来罪人是没办法不犯罪的，但现在因为我们有新生命，可以靠著圣灵而不犯罪，也就是那罪人已经和主同钉十字架，那罪人在地位上已经死了，这是主所成就的，也就是客观的事实。我们若要将这客观的事实，活出主观的经历，就要随从圣灵，体贴圣灵。只要我们这个肉体还在，我们从亚当来的生命就还在。可是因信主，我们同时又有基督复活的生命。这两个生命的争战会一直存在，直到我们肉体死了，也就是从亚当来的「罪人」死了，没有了。所以圣灵与情欲相争是信主后一生之久。     

    在路加福音 5:27-32，也有类似的记录，以前在「3050 马太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶稣的形像 (5)」中的「1. 税吏利未就是马太的呼召」，我们详细的讨论了路加福音 5:27-32，请按照以前的方法找到这篇文章。

3.  禁食和新郎    

    「当下，约翰的门徒和法利赛人禁食。他们来问耶稣说：「约翰的门徒和法利赛人的门徒禁食，你的门徒倒不禁食，这是为甚么呢？」耶稣对他们说：「新郎和陪伴之人同在的时候，陪伴之人岂能禁食呢？新郎还同在，他们不能禁食。但日子将到，新郎要离开他们，那日他们就要禁食。」」(马可福音 2:18-20)        

    基本上一样的经文也在路加福音 5:33-35 和马太福音 9:14-15，新郎是指耶稣自己，所以这段经文很清楚，门徒有耶稣同在时是不必禁食的，但就像我们以前说过的，耶稣自己是常常禁食的。在「3050」中的「2. 禁食的果效」，我们也详细的讨论了其相关的经文，有兴趣的人可以从这篇文章中得到更多的资讯。     

    路加福音这样记载著，「他们说：「约翰的门徒屡次禁食祈祷，法利赛人的门徒也是这样，惟独你的门徒又吃又喝。」(路加福音 5:33) 这使我想起这经文，「约翰来了，也不吃，也不喝，人就说他是被鬼附著的。人子来了，也吃也喝，人又说他是贪食好酒的人，是税吏和罪人的朋友。但智慧之子，总以智慧为是。」(马太福音 11:18-19) 就像保罗讲的，「其实食物不能叫神看中我们，因为我们不吃也无损，吃也无益。」(哥林多前书 8:8) 总要做智慧之子。    

    我们知道智慧的言语本是圣灵的恩赐(参哥林多前书 12:8)，有这样的恩赐要在信心中善为利用，尤其是要分辩是不是真有这样的恩赐，而用这恩赐为神作工。我看过这样的一位牧师，说自己有这样的恩赐，常在聚会中当众告诉别人他得到的对那个人的智慧话语。我实在是怀疑他是不是真有圣灵的恩赐，因为他真得到为那个人的智慧语语，可以祇告诉那个人就好，实在是没有必要告诉会众，尤其我记得有一次，他用原文解经，而汇编的原文完全没有那个意思。

4. 以「新酒装在旧皮袋」比喻新旧难合      

    「没有人把新布缝在旧衣服上，恐怕所补上的新布，带坏了旧衣服，破的就更大了。也没有人把新酒装在旧皮袋里，恐怕酒把皮袋裂开，酒和皮袋就都坏了﹔惟把新酒装在新皮袋里。」(马可福音 2:21-22)          

    在这里我们要说明一下，新酒会发酵膨胀，如放在旧皮袋中，旧皮袋就会承受不了这样的压力而裂开，新皮袋的伸缩性较强，就不会有这样的问题。     

    我们也看到，类似的经文在马太福音 9:16-17 和路加福音 5:36-39。在「3050」中的「3. 新旧难合的比喻」，我们也讨论了其相关的经文。在对酒的比喻中，路加福音特别的说，「没有人喝了陈酒又想喝新的，他总说陈的好。」(路加福音 5:39) 我们知道，「律法本是借著摩西传的，恩典和真理都是由耶稣基督来的。」(约翰福音 1:17) 当时的犹太人试著守字句上律法的陈酒，结果是「…离弃神的诫命，拘守人的遗传。」(马可福音 7:8) 他们不相信耶稣是弥赛亚，最终将耶稣钉上了十字架。这样子，他们今日仍是很难接受、充满恩典和真理的新酒的。

5. 人子是安息日的主       

    「耶稣当安息日从麦地经过。他门徒行路的时候，掐了麦穗。法利赛人对耶稣说：「看哪，他们在安息日为甚么做不可做的事呢？」耶稣对他们说：「经上记著大卫和跟从他的人缺乏、饥饿之时所做的事，你们没有念过吗？他当亚比亚他作大祭司的时候，怎么进了神的殿，吃了陈设饼，又给跟从他的人吃；这饼除了祭司以外，人都不可吃。」又对他们说：「安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的。所以，人子也是安息日的主。」」(马可福音 2:23-28)     

    同样的事在路加福音 6:1-5 和马太福音 12:1-8 都有记载，纪录是差不多的。我们以前在「3050」中的「4. 人子是安息日的主」详细的讨论了路加福音 6:1-5 及其相关的经文，尤其是说到耶稣是做我们榜样的持守了安息日的真谛，也提到在旧约的一段类似却是两件事的经文，那时我们只提到讲那段经文时只有大卫一个人，我们还要加上，亚比亚他那时候不是大祭司。有兴趣的人可以按照前述的方法去找到这篇文章。

(经文除了特别注明外，是基于和合本。)

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

       首先我們談到耶穌醫治縋下的癱子並赦免其罪，並引用以前討論過的，加上那時未討論的。第二，我們引用以前討論過的，說到如何呼召使徒稅吏馬太，也就是利未，討論了我們都是蒙恩的罪人。第三，我們引用以前討論過的禁食，提到了要做智慧之子，提到了智慧的言語。第四，我們引用以前討論過的以「新酒裝在舊皮袋」比喻新舊難合， 和討論這裡的酒是指什麼。最後，我們引用以前討論過的人子是安息日的主，提到了耶穌是做我們榜樣的持守了安息日的真諦。

1.  醫治縋下的癱子並赦免其罪

       「過了些日子，耶穌又進了迦百農。人聽見他在房子裏，就有許多人聚集，甚至連門前都沒有空地，耶穌就對他們講道。有人帶着一個癱子來見耶穌，是用四個人抬來的。因為人多，不得近前，就把耶穌所在的房子，拆了房頂，既拆通了，就把癱子連所躺臥的褥子都縋下來。耶穌見他們的信心，就對癱子說：「小子，你的罪赦了。」有幾個文士坐在那裏，心裏議論，說：「這個人為甚麼這樣說呢？他說僭妄的話了！除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？」耶穌心中知道他們心裏這樣議論，就說：「你們心裏為甚麼這樣議論呢？或對癱子說『你的罪赦了』，或說『起來，拿你的褥子行走』，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！」那人就起來，立刻拿着褥子，當眾人面前出去了。以致眾人都驚奇，歸榮耀與神，說：「我們從來沒有見過這樣的事。」」(馬可福音 2:1-12)

     我們首先注意到耶穌到迦百農是為了傳道，「…因我奉差原是為此。」(路加福音 4:43) 同樣的事情在馬太福音 9:1-8 和路加福音 5:17-26 都有記載，在這裏我們看到衪醫治癱子的事情，這癱子是四個朋友從屋頂上把縋下的，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？在「2049 得人如得魚、醫治痲瘋和癱子、及聖經的一個寫法 –  耶穌的形像 (4)」中的「3. 醫治癱子及聖經的一個寫法」，我們解釋了怎麼用一個實際的方法回答這問題。請到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

        我們在其中也討論了耶穌赦罪的權柄的這事，猶太人是對的，除了神以外沒有能赦罪的，但耶穌是三位一體的神中的一位，是完全的人也是完全的神，祂自己說得很清楚，『我與父原為一。』(約翰福音 10:30) 

        至於祂在這裏說的那一樣容易呢？從人的角度看，神蹟和赦罪兩者都不容易，都衹有神能做，新約的時代，在基督內是這樣做的。說到神蹟，可看這經文，「那人(素常坐在殿的美門口求賙濟的)正在稱為所羅門的廊下，拉着彼得、約翰，眾百姓一齊跑到他們那裏，很覺希奇。彼得看見，就對百姓說：「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 3:11-16)

     這些經文很清楚的說是耶穌在做，他們衹是行神蹟的一個管道。其實在馬可福音 2:12 中說，「…以致眾人都驚奇，歸榮耀與神，…」(馬可福音 2:12) 他們是歸榮耀給神，所以有些猶太人是很清楚的，耶穌做的事情衹有神能做，就像這經文所記，「這人(尼哥低母)夜裏來見耶穌，說：「拉比，我們知道你是由神那裏來作師傅的，因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有神同在，無人能行。」(約翰福音 3:2)

     關於赦罪，這經文說，「耶穌又對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」說了這話，就向他們吹一口氣，說：「你們受聖靈。你們赦免誰的罪，誰的罪就赦免了；你們留下誰的罪，誰的罪就留下了。」」(約翰福音 20:21-23) 很顯然的，也是三位一體的神在做。

2. 呼召使徒稅吏馬太也就是利未

       「耶穌又出到海邊去，眾人都就了他來，他便教訓他們。耶穌經過的時候，看見亞勒腓的兒子利未坐在稅關上，就對他說：「你跟從我來！」他就起來，跟從了耶穌。耶穌在利未家裏坐席的時候，有好些稅吏和罪人與耶穌並門徒一同坐席，因為這樣的人多，他們也跟隨耶穌。法利賽人中的文士看見耶穌和罪人並稅吏一同吃飯，就對他門徒說：「他和稅吏並罪人一同吃喝嗎？」耶穌聽見，就對他們說：「康健的人用不着醫生，有病的人才用得着。我來本不是召義人，乃是召罪人。」」(馬可福音 2:13-17)

         同樣的一件事在馬太福音 9:9-13 有簡短的記載，且加上了「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 9:13) 我們都是蒙恩的罪人。關於這點，罪人是我們與生具來的生命，是一種身份，不能改變的事實，本來罪人是沒辦法不犯罪的，但現在因為我們有新生命，可以靠著聖靈而不犯罪，也就是那罪人已經和主同釘十字架，那罪人在地位上已經死了，這是主所成就的，也就是客觀的事實。我們若要將這客觀的事實，活出主觀的經歷，就要隨從聖靈，體貼聖靈。只要我們這個肉體還在，我們從亞當來的生命就還在。可是因信主，我們同時又有基督復活的生命。這兩個生命的爭戰會一直存在，直到我們肉體死了，也就是從亞當來的「罪人」死了，沒有了。所以聖靈與情慾相爭是信主後一生之久。

     在路加福音 5:27-32，也有類似的記錄，以前在「2050 馬太的呼召， 禁食，和安息日  –  耶穌的形像 (5)」中的「1. 稅吏利未就是馬太的呼召」，我們詳細的討論了路加福音 5:27-32，請按照以前的方法找到這篇文章。 

3.  禁食和新郎

    「當下，約翰的門徒和法利賽人禁食。他們來問耶穌說：「約翰的門徒和法利賽人的門徒禁食，你的門徒倒不禁食，這是為甚麼呢？」耶穌對他們說：「新郎和陪伴之人同在的時候，陪伴之人豈能禁食呢？新郎還同在，他們不能禁食。但日子將到，新郎要離開他們，那日他們就要禁食。」」(馬可福音 2:18-20)

        基本上一樣的經文也在路加福音 5:33-35 和馬太福音 9:14-15，新郎是指耶穌自己，所以這段經文很清楚，門徒有耶穌同在時是不必禁食的，但就像我們以前說過的，耶穌自己是常常禁食的。在「2050」中的「2. 禁食的果效」，我們也詳細的討論了其相關的經文，有興趣的人可以從這篇文章中得到更多的資訊。

     路加福音這樣記載著，「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。」(路加福音 5:33) 這使我想起這經文，「約翰來了，也不吃，也不喝，人就說他是被鬼附着的。人子來了，也吃也喝，人又說他是貪食好酒的人，是稅吏和罪人的朋友。但智慧之子，總以智慧為是。」(馬太福音 11:18-19) 就像保羅講的，「其實食物不能叫神看中我們，因為我們不吃也無損，吃也無益。」(哥林多前書 8:8) 總要做智慧之子。

    我們知道智慧的言語本是聖靈的恩賜(參哥林多前書 12:8)，有這樣的恩賜要在信心中善為利用，尤其是要分辨是不是真有這樣的恩賜，而用這恩賜為神作工。我看過這樣的一位牧師，說自己有這樣的恩賜，常在聚會中當衆告訴別人他得到的對那個人的智慧話語。我實在是懷疑他是不是真有聖靈的恩賜，因為他真得到為那個人的智慧語語，可以祇告訴那個人就好，實在是沒有必要告訴會衆，尤其我記得有一次，他用原文解經，而彙編的原文完全沒有那個意思。

4. 以「新酒裝在舊皮袋」比喻新舊難合

       「沒有人把新布縫在舊衣服上，恐怕所補上的新布，帶壞了舊衣服，破的就更大了。也沒有人把新酒裝在舊皮袋裏，恐怕酒把皮袋裂開，酒和皮袋就都壞了﹔惟把新酒裝在新皮袋裏。」(馬可福音 2:21-22)

     在這裏我們要說明一下，新酒會發酵膨脹，如放在舊皮袋中，舊皮袋就會承受不了這樣的壓力而裂開，新皮袋的伸縮性較强，就不會有這樣的問題。

     我們也看到，類似的經文在馬太福音 9:16-17 和路加福音 5:36-39。在「2050」中的「3. 新舊難合的比喻」，我們也討論了其相關的經文。在對酒的比喻中，路加福音特別的說，「沒有人喝了陳酒又想喝新的，他總說陳的好。」(路加福音 5:39) 我們知道，「律法本是藉着摩西傳的，恩典和真理都是由耶穌基督來的。」(約翰福音 1:17) 當時的猶太人試著守字句上律法的陳酒，結果是「…離棄神的誡命，拘守人的遺傳。」(馬可福音 7:8) 他們不相信耶穌是彌賽亞，最終將耶穌釘上了十字架。這樣子，他們今日仍是很難接受、充滿恩典和真理的新酒的。

5. 人子是安息日的主

       「耶穌當安息日從麥地經過。他門徒行路的時候，掐了麥穗。法利賽人對耶穌說：「看哪，他們在安息日為甚麼做不可做的事呢？」耶穌對他們說：「經上記着大衞和跟從他的人缺乏、飢餓之時所做的事，你們沒有念過嗎？他當亞比亞他作大祭司的時候，怎麼進了神的殿，吃了陳設餅，又給跟從他的人吃；這餅除了祭司以外，人都不可吃。」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 2:23-28)

     同樣的事在路加福音 6:1-5 和馬太福音 12:1-8 都有記載，紀錄是差不多的。我們以前在「2050」中的「4. 人子是安息日的主」詳細的討論了路加福音 6:1-5 及其相關的經文，尤其是說到耶穌是做我們榜樣的持守了安息日的真諦，也提到在舊約的一段類似卻是兩件事的經文，那時我們衹提到講那段經文時衹有大衞一個人，我們還要加上，亞比亞他那時候不是大祭司。有興趣的人可以按照前述的方法去找到這篇文章。

(經文除了特別註明外，是基於和合本。)

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

First, we talked about Jesus healing the paralytic sickness and forgiving his sins, and quoted what we had discussed before, and added what we had not discussed at that time. Second, we quoted what we had discussed before, talking about how to call the apostle Matthew, the tax collector, who is Levi, and discussed that we are all sinners who have received grace. Third, we quoted the fasting we had discussed before, mentioned that we should be sons of wisdom, and mentioned the words of wisdom. Fourth, we quoted the metaphor of “new wine into old wineskins” that the new and the old are hard to mix, and discussed what the wine here refers to. Finally, we quoted the previous discussion that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath, and mentioned that Jesus is our example in upholding the true meaning of the Sabbath.

1.  Healing the paralytic and forgiving his sins

“When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet 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, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.””(Mark 2:1-12) 

We first note that Jesus went to Capernaum to preach, “…for I was sent for this purpose.”(Luke 4:43) The same thing is recorded in Matthew 9:1-8 and Luke 5:17-26, where we see Him healing a paralytic who was lowered from the roof by four friends. Jesus healed the paralytic because of their faith. These verses do not specify who they are referring to? In “1049 Fishers of men, healings of the leper and the paralyzed man, and one way of Bible writing style – The image of Jesus (4)” under “3. Healing the paralyzed man, and one way of Bible writing style”, we explain how to answer this question in a practical way. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article.

We also discussed in this article the authority of Jesus to forgive sins. The Jews were right. No one can forgive sins except God. But Jesus is one of the three persons in the Trinity. He is a perfect man and a perfect God. He said it very clearly, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) 

As for the one He said here, “Which is easier, …”(Mark 2:9), from a human perspective, both miracles and forgiveness of sins are not easy. Only God can do them. This is how it is done in Christ in the New Testament era. Speaking of miracles, we can look at this verse, “While he (who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple asking for alms) was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. But when Peter saw this, 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 3:11-16)

These verses clearly say that Jesus was doing it, and they were just a channel for performing miracles. In fact, it says “…so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, …”(Mark 2:12) They were giving glory to God, so some Jews knew very well that what Jesus did could only be done by God, just as it is recorded in this verse, “this man (Nicodemus) came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”(John 3:2)

Regarding the forgiveness of sins, this verse says, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.””(John 20:21-23) Obviously, it is also the Triune God who is doing this.

2. Calling Apostle Matthew, the tax collector, who is also Levi

“And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.””(Mark 2:13-17)  

The same incident is briefly recorded in Matthew 9:9-13, with the addition of “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(Matthew 9:13) We are all sinners who have received grace. Regarding this point, sinners are our innate life, an identity, and an unchangeable fact. Originally, sinners had no way to avoid sinning, but now because we have a new life, we can rely on the Holy Spirit and not sin, that is, the sinner has been crucified with the Lord, and the sinner has died in status. This is what the Lord has accomplished, and it is an objective fact. If we want to live out this objective fact as a subjective experience, we must follow the Holy Spirit, and that is “Do not quench the Spirit.”(1 Thessalonians 5:19) As long as our flesh is still there, our life from Adam is still there. But because of faith in the Lord, we also have the life of Christ’s resurrection. The battle between these two lives will continue until our flesh dies, that is, the “sinner” from Adam dies and disappears. Therefore, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; …”(Galatians 5:17) Such a struggle lasts for a lifetime after believing in the Lord.

There is a similar record in Luke 5:27-32. Previously, in “1050 The call of Matthew, fasting, and Sabbath -The image of Jesus” under “1. The call of the tax collector Levi who is also named Matthew”, we discussed Luke 5:27-32 in detail. Please find this article in the same way as before.

3. Fasting and the bridegroom

“John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.”(Mark 2:18-20)

Basically, the same verses are also found in Luke 5:33-35 and Matthew 9:14-15. The bridegroom refers to Jesus Himself, so this passage is very clear. The disciples do not need to fast when Jesus is with them, but as we have said before, Jesus Himself fasted frequently. In “2. The effectiveness of fasting” of “1050”, we also discussed the relevant verses in detail. Those who are interested can get more information from this article.

The Book of Luke records, “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.””(Luke 5:33) This reminds me of this verse, “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”(Matthew 11:18-19) Just as Paul said, “But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.”(1 Corinthians 8:8) We must always be sons of wisdom.

We know that the words of wisdom are the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:8). We should make good use of such gifts in faith, especially to discern whether we really have such gifts and use them to work for God. I have seen a pastor who said he had such a gift and often told others in public during meetings the words of wisdom he had received for that person. I really doubt whether he really has the gift from the Holy Spirit, because if he really received the words of wisdom for that person, he could just tell that person alone, and there is really no need to tell the congregation, especially I remember one time when he used the original text to interpret the Bible, and the original text of the Strong’s Concordance does not mean that at all.

4. The metaphor of “new wine into old wineskins”

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”(Mark 2:21-22) 

Here we need to explain that new wine will ferment and expand. If it is placed in old wineskins, the old wineskins will not be able to withstand such pressure and will burst. New wineskins are more elastic and will not have such a problem.

We also see similar verses in Matthew 9:16-17 and Luke 5:36-39. In “1050” under “3. A parable of old and new things that cannot match”, we also discussed the relevant verses. In the parable of the wine, the Book of Luke specifically says, “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’”(Luke 5:39) We know that “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”(John 1:17) The Jews at that time tried to keep the old wine of the letter of the Law, but the result was “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”(Mark 7:8) They did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and eventually crucified Him. As such, it is still difficult for them today to accept the new wine full of grace and truth.

5. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

“And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 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 2:23-28)

The same thing is recorded in Luke 6:1-5 and Matthew 12:1-8, and the records are similar. We previously discussed Luke 6:1-5 and related passages in detail in “4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” of “1050”, especially when we talked about Jesus as our role model in upholding the true meaning of the Sabbath. We also mentioned in that section a similar passage in the Old Testament that was about two different things. At that time, we only mentioned that David was the only person involved in that passage. We should also add that Abiathar was not the high priest at that time. Those who are interested can find this section in the article.

(Verses refer to those in NASB95 unless otherwise specified.)

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