First, we saw the short-term prophecy of obtaining a colt to enter Jerusalem, and quoted the detailed discussion in the past. Second, we talked about Jesus riding a colt into Jerusalem. Third, we explained the reason why Jesus cursed the fig tree. Fourth, we talked about Jesus’ second cleansing of the temple. Fifth, we continued to talk about the miracle that took place on the fig tree and Jesus’ talk about having faith as small as a mustard seed and forgiving others, pointing out the obvious contradiction in the inspiration about this matter and its reason. For those who believe that the Bible must be consistent in words, it is to recognize Satan as the father according to the Bible, and ultimately, it is to not believe that the existing Bible is inspired by God. Finally, we see Jesus answering the chief priests, scribes, and elders with the word of wisdom, knowing that His authority comes from God.

1. The prophecy of obtaining the colt to enter Jerusalem

“As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission.”(Mark 11:1-6)

The same event is also recorded in Luke 19:28-35 and Matthew 21:1-7. In the former, we see the fulfillment of the short-term prophecy about the colt, for “So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.”(Luke 19:32) We specifically mention this as a short-term prophecy because Satan cannot make prophecy about things, but he can make predictions like weather forecasts. The closer the prediction gets, the more accurate it becomes, but it will not happen 100% as predicted. For 100% happening example, “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans⁠— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.”(Daniel 9:1-2) At that time, the temple in Jerusalem began to be rebuilt.

This event is not only recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, but also briefly mentioned in the Gospel of John: “Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.”(John 12:14-16) No king rides on a colt, “…for I (Jesus) am gentle and humble in heart, …”(Matthew 11:29) We also see the word “remembered” and know its importance as previously discussed in “1.  Preparation of the donkey’s colt” under “1075 Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt and cleanses the temple – Jesus (28)”. We have also discussed Luke 19:28-35 in detail there and will not elaborate on this here. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. 

2. Jesus riding into Jerusalem

“They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.”(Mark 11:7-11)

The same incident is recorded in Luke 19:36-40 and Matthew 21:8-11. The latter says, “When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.””(Matthew 21:10-11). At the time, the Jews were under Roman rule. They thought Jesus came to restore the glory of the David’s kingdom on earth and lead them out of Roman rule, so they spread clothes and field branches on the ground. However, after entering Jerusalem, He turned to the temple and cleansed it. Jesus knew clearly, “…for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.”(Luke 13:33). Therefore, He would not spend the night in Jerusalem before His crucifixion.

3. Jesus curses the fig tree

“On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.”(Mark 11:12-14)

Some might ask, since it was clearly not fig season and nothing should be found, why did Jesus have a problem with the tree? That’s not the case. While fig season is autumn, it’s spring, close to the Passover when Jesus was crucified. Fig trees should at least bear their first fruits in spring. However, this tree only had leaves, and being on the road, it was standing in vain without any fruit.

The Bible says, ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”(John 15:1-2) And then, “And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’””(Luke 13:6-9) We see that God is a merciful and gracious God. He made sure the fig tree was not bearing fruit before he cut it down. Jesus clearly knew about the tree not bearing fruit forever but standing on the ground along the way to Jerusalem and thus cursed it. His sound must be high enough for the disciples hearing this judgment and learn the consequences of a life without fruitfulness.

4. Jesus cleans the temple

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. When evening came, they would go out of the city.”(Mark 11:15-19)

This clearly states that Jesus did not spend any nights in Jerusalem before His crucifixion. The cleansing of the temple is also briefly mentioned in Luke 19:45-46 and Matthew 21:12-13, but it is explained most clearly here. We previously discussed these and related scriptures in detail in “4. Cleanse the Temple” in “1075.” Please visit our website as before to find this article.

Please note that this was the second cleansing of the temple. The first occurred early in Jesus’ ministry, as recorded in John 2:13-17. Apparently, the Jews had not learned this lesson, hence the second cleansing.

5. The miracle of the fig tree

“As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. [But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”]”(Mark 11:20-26)

We see that the cursed tree withered to the root, not just superficially, to be revived by the spring breeze. The same will be true of judgment. Jesus’ response did not refer to this miracle, but to the need for mustard seed faith. As the Scripture says, “And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”(Matthew 17:20) Then it clearly speaks of forgiving others, as it says immediately after the Lord’s Prayer, “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”(Matthew 6:14-15)

The story of the fig tree is also recorded in Matthew 21:18-22, with an obvious contradiction. The Gospel of Matthew says, “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered. Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have (mustard seed like) faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.””(Matthew 21:18-22)

Here, it refers to what happened on the return journey, and the tree withered immediately. The Book of Mark says that the curse was cast on the tree on the way there, and only on the return journey did the tree’s roots become withered. The rest of the text is consistent. Therefore, this apparent contradiction in inspiration calls our attention to what happened; when or how it happened is less important than what happened. Don’t lie to yourself by claiming that the Bible must be consistent in its words, acknowledging Satan as the father. The Bible clearly states, “…Whenever he (devil Satan) speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44). Or perhaps you’re playing with words and claiming the original version is consistent in its words, but the original version has been lost and no one can verify it. Ultimately, both approaches contradict the belief that the Bible as it exists today is inspired by God.

Finally, you may have noticed that I added the words “mustard seed like” before the word “faith.” This is because the Bible speaks of “…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; …”(Matthew 17:20). This kind of faith is what we are referring to. Only with this kind of faith can we receive, not ask in vain. As the Scripture says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”(James 4:3). For someone who believes that “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” this is the only conclusion. 

Finally, I want to discuss the Holy Spirit’s endorsement. Although I had all the relevant scriptures, I did not see that this faith referred to mustard seed faith. It was not until I was preparing the slides that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to this fact. Knowing that lying is acknowledging Satan as the father, I will not lie consciously for sure. Therefore, “allowing the Holy Spirit to lead the Bible study” is extremely important and indispensable.

6. The source of Jesus’ authority

“They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.” They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From men’?”⁠—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.””(Mark 11:27-33)

The same incident is recorded in Matthew 21:23-27 and Luke 20:1-8. The Scripture says, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””(John 20:21) This clearly states that the incarnate Jesus was sent by God, and “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”(John 3:34). The Scripture also says, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, …”(1 Corinthians 12:7-8). We see that Jesus answered the question He was challenged with the word of wisdom this time, causing them “Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” …”(Mark 11:33). This is an example of the word of wisdom.

We see that the chief priests, scribes, and elders were lying. They were afraid of the people, because people truly considered John a prophet, so they did not dare to say, “From men.” It was only during the final minute of preparing the slideshow that my eyes were opened to realize this point. How could one not let the Holy Spirit lead his Bible study?

In fact, as can be seen from Luke 5:17-26, the scribes and Pharisees knew that no one except God could forgive sins, but Jesus could. Therefore, Jesus had long ago told them that He was the Son of Man and could forgive sins on earth, but they simply didn’t believe. Although Jesus didn’t tell them the source of His authority this time, He clearly understood that it came from God.

(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.”)

    首先我们简短的讨论要回转像小孩子才能进神国。第二，我们来看少年官问永生的事，和在人不能而在神却能，在这里我们引用了以前的讨论。第三，我们谈到彼得问撇下所有的酬报，也是引用了以前的讨论。在这里我们提到有人可能会问为什么说基督徒会有今世的祝福，这是因为从神的角度看和从人的角度看事情很不相同，就此看到了约翰写启示录时，还没有被模成耶稣的形像。第四，我们简短的提到耶稣的第三次预言，自己会死三天后复活。第五，我们相当详细的讨论了，雅各和约翰求坐在荣耀中的耶稣左右的这事。第六，耶稣说到属灵的准则是，谁愿为大必作服事人的，这和属世的标准完全不同。最后，我们谈到瞎子巴底买因信而被耶稣治愈的事， 指出了在这事上有默示明显矛盾的原因。

1. 要回转像小孩子才能进神国          

    「有人带著小孩子来见耶稣，要耶稣摸他们，门徒便责备那些人。耶稣看见就恼怒，对门徒说：「让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们，因为在神国的，正是这样的人。我实在告诉你们：凡要承受神国的，若不像小孩子，断不能进去。」于是抱著小孩子，给他们按手，为他们祝福。」(马可福音 10:13-16)       

    这是第二次的说要回转像小孩子才能进神国，在路加福音 18:15-17 和马太福音 19:13-26 是在说同一件事，是因要耶稣摸小孩子而引起的，后者则是直说要求耶稣去按手祷告，「于是(耶稣)抱著小孩子，给他们按手，为他们祝福。」(马可福音 10:16)           

    第一次是在我们讨论马可福音 9:33-37，使徒争论谁为大时，且说了，「凡为我名接待一个像这小孩子的，就是接待我；…」(马可福音 9:37) 这也在路加福音 9:46-48，其中有类似的话。马太福音 18:1-6 更明「说：「我实在告诉你们：你们若不回转，变成小孩子的样式，断不得进天国。所以，凡自己谦卑像这小孩子的，他在天国里就是最大的。」(马太福音 18:3-4)       

    这并不是说我们生理上要变成一个小孩子，这是不可能的，岁月过去，人就是会变老的，不会逆转的。所以那小孩是全部依赖父母的年龄，就像基督徒应该谦卑的，全部事情都仰望三位一体的神，顺服神，不要靠自己，「…知道在我里头，就是我肉体之中，没有良善。因为立志为善由得我，只是行出来由不得我。」(罗马书 7:18)

2. 少年官问永生的事，和在人不能而在神却能        

    「耶稣出来行路的时候，有一个人跑来，跪在他面前，问他说：「良善的夫子，我当做甚么事才可以承受永生？」耶稣对他说：「你为甚么称我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再没有良善的。诫命你是晓得的：『不可杀人，不可奸淫，不可偷盗，不可作假见证，不可亏负人，当孝敬父母。』」他对耶稣说：「夫子，这一切我从小都遵守了。」耶稣看著他，就爱他，对他说：「你还缺少一件，去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。」他听见这话，脸上就变了色，忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多。耶稣周围一看，对门徒说：「有钱财的人进神的国是何等地难哪！」门徒希奇他的话。耶稣又对他们说：「小子，倚靠钱财的人进神的国是何等地难哪！骆驼穿过针的眼，比财主进神的国还容易呢。」门徒就分外希奇，对他说：「这样，谁能得救呢？」耶稣看著他们，说：「在人是不能，在神却不然，因为神凡事都能。」」(马可福音 10:17-27)        

    同一件事情也记载在马太福音 19:16-22 和路加福音 18:18-30，前者说是少年人，后者提到是作官的，也就是少年官在问永生的事。首先我们注意到这少年官是在问要做什么，想靠自己做什么的，这是办不到的，我们刚才不是说，不能靠自己吗？靠自己总有做不到的一些点。我们看到耶稣爱他的原因，他已经尽力的做他能做，但很显然的，这并不能使他能确定，要不然他根本就不必来问耶稣了。祂说了他不足的是不要靠属世的财富，还要跟随祂，结果是过不了关，只能忧忧愁愁地走了。        

    「耶稣对他说：「你为甚么称我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再没有良善的。」(马可福音 10:18) 这里的神是指三位一体的神，的确，只有三位一体的神是良善的，耶稣只是说了一个事实。在这里耶稣并没有否认祂是三位一体的神中的一位，但祂知道这是成为人的样式(参腓立比书 2:7)，也就是道成肉身的这段期间(参约翰福音 1:14)，祂和父是有些微不同的，就像这经文所说，「天地要废去，我的话却不能废去。「但那日子、那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟独父知道。」」(马太福音 24:35-36)           

    在道成肉身时，除了这件事外，「我与父原为一。」(约翰福音 10:30) 也就是耶稣对腓力说的，「…我与你们同在这样长久，你还不认识我吗？人看见了我，就是看见了父，你怎么说『将父显给我们看』呢？」(约翰福音 14:9) 神是无限，我们是有限，我们不知道这是怎么安排的，这就像我们知道神是三位一体的神，但不知道三位一体是如何安排的，但我们要相信神在圣经说的话。        

    讲到神是无限，我们来看看启示录中提到七个教会中最好的非拉铁非教会，「我知道你的行为，你略有一点力量，也曾遵守我的道，没有弃绝我的名。看哪，我在你面前给你一个敞开的门，是无人能关的。」(启示录 3:8) 在无限的神眼中，只因他们略有一点力量，就赐给他们一个敞开的门，神是有怜悯有恩典的神。           

    以前我们在「2073 祷告态度，小孩子，少年官，及预言受难和复活 -耶稣(26)」中的「3. 看少年官的故事知要积财宝在天」中详细的讨论过路加福音 18:18-30，包括讨论了针的眼和在神凡事都能，请到我们的网站，『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

3. 撇下所有的跟从耶稣的酬报          

    「彼得就对他说：「看哪，我们已经撇下所有的跟从你了。」耶稣说：「我实在告诉你们：人为我和福音撇下房屋，或是弟兄、姐妹、父母、儿女、田地，没有不在今世得百倍的，就是房屋、弟兄、姐妹、母亲、儿女、田地，并且要受逼迫，在来世必得永生。然而，有许多在前的，将要在后；在后的，将要在前。」」(马可福音 10:28-31)          

    同样的一件事情也记录在马太福音 19:27-30 和路加福音 18:28-30，在这里彼得问出了一个代表性的问题，我们在「2073」的「3」中的讨论时，也讨论了前者，就在此不多说了，请找到这篇文章。      

    在这里我们要提到一件事，因为有人可能会问，我们知道基督徒会有永生，但为什么说会有今世的祝福呢？ 许多人都认为被祝福的人会活得较长，使徒雅各应是被祝福的人，但他不是被希律所杀而短命而死吗？(参使徒行传 12:1-2) 他那有什么今生的长寿祝福呢？这是因为雅各已完成了他的使命，被接走的，神有绝对的主权，祂可以决定一个人如何被接走， 关于这样，新约有一个实际的例子。我们注意到，耶稣是站在神的右边欢迎司提反 (参使徒行传 7:55-56)，但他是被石头打死的，死前他的祷告和耶稣在十字架的祷告如出一辙 (参使徒行传 7:57-60)，他那时已模成耶稣的形像，完成了他在世的使命，所以耶稣会站著欢迎那第一位为主殉道的门徒，没有人有这样的殊荣。        

    关于长命并不见得因为祝福而可能是另有原因，我们就来看看三个特别的使徒雅各，彼得和约翰，他们特别是因为耶稣有时只带他们三个， 譬如在睚鲁的女儿复活的这件事上，「…带著彼得、雅各、和雅各的兄弟约翰同去，不许别人跟随他。」(马可福音 5:37) 又如在变化山上，「…耶稣带著彼得、雅各、约翰暗暗地上了高山，就在他们面前变了形像。」(马可福音 9:2) 我们都知道彼得是大使徒，知道自己会为主殉道仍跟随主 (参约翰福音 21:18-19) 而约翰活得最久，所以有人很合理的说，他们的确要能站立在更多的恩典上。对于三人的结局是一样的，「耶稣说：「我实在告诉你们：你们这跟从我的人，到复兴的时候，人子坐在他荣耀的宝座上，你们也要坐在十二个宝座上，审判以色列十二个支派。」(马太福音 19:28) 当新耶路撒冷城降临时，「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) 他们三人的名字在其上。结论是虽然我们不知道神到底怎么做的，他们那时绝对已模成了耶稣的形像，要不，会不可能如此。        

    所以约翰活得最久，一个原因是他需要更长的时间去模成耶稣的形像，为什么会这样说呢？约翰写启示录时，虽然我们不知道他确实的年龄，但知道他已经在老年了，如果他那时已模成耶稣的形像，是不会去敬拜天使的。圣经是这样说，「我就俯伏在他(天使)脚前要拜他。他说：「千万不可！我和你，并你那些为耶稣作见证的弟兄同是作仆人的。你要敬拜神。因为预言中的灵意乃是为耶稣作见证。」(启示录 19:10) 和这一节，「这些事是我约翰所听见、所看见的，我既听见、看见了，就在指示我的天使脚前俯伏要拜他。」(启示录 22:8) 记载了两次，我们不太可能看不到的，所以他那时的确还没有模成耶稣的形像。

4. 第三次预言死三天后而复活         

    「他们行路上耶路撒冷去。耶稣在前头走，门徒就希奇，跟从的人也害怕。耶稣又叫过十二个门徒来，把自己将要遭遇的事告诉他们说：「看哪，我们上耶路撒冷去，人子将要被交给祭司长和文士，他们要定他死罪，交给外邦人。他们要戏弄他，吐唾沫在他脸上，鞭打他，杀害他。过了三天，他要复活。」」(马可福音 10:32-34)       

    同样的第三次预言复活的这事情，也记载在马太福音 20:17-19 和路加福音 18:31-34，门徒会害怕，可见得他们知道有死的可能性，但即使是第三次了，门徒仍不知道祂在说什么，难怪耶稣复活后，「…对他们(去以马忤斯的两门徒)说：「无知的人哪，先知所说的一切话，你们的心信得太迟钝了。基督这样受害，又进入他的荣耀，岂不是应当的吗？」」(路加福音 24:25-26) 其实对别的门徒也是一样，要真正看到耶稣复活后才真正了解这预言。

5. 雅各和约翰求坐在荣耀中的耶稣左右          

    「西庇太的儿子雅各、约翰进前来，对耶稣说：「夫子，我们无论求你甚么，愿你给我们做。」耶稣说：「要我给你们做甚么？」他们说：「赐我们在你的荣耀里，一个坐在你右边，一个坐在你左边。」耶稣说：「你们不知道所求的是甚么。我所喝的杯，你们能喝吗？我所受的洗，你们能受吗？」他们说：「我们能。」 耶稣说：「我所喝的杯，你们也要喝；我所受的洗，你们也要受。只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以赐的，乃是为谁预备的，就赐给谁。」那十个门徒听见，就恼怒雅各、约翰。」(马可福音 10:35-41)           

    同样的一件事情，马太福音说得更清楚，「那时，西庇太儿子的母亲同她两个儿子上前来拜耶稣，求他一件事。耶稣说：「你要甚么呢？」 她说：「愿你叫我这两个儿子在你国里，一个坐在你右边，一个坐在你左边。」耶稣回答说：「你们不知道所求的是甚么。我将要喝的杯，你们能喝吗？」 他们说：「我们能。」耶稣说：「我所喝的杯，你们必要喝；只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以赐的，乃是我父为谁预备的，就赐给谁。」那十个门徒听见，就恼怒他们弟兄二人。」(马太福音 20:20-24)           

    我们看到，雅各和约翰提出坐在左右的要求是透过母亲的，所以有人会以人的角度来看，说是长辈的要求可能更容易被耶稣所悦纳，但耶稣拒绝了，衪知道自己在做什么，「因为我从天上降下来，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我来者的意思行。」(约翰福音 6:38)           

    耶稣所喝的杯，就是指祂在客西马尼园的「…俯伏在地祷告说：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」」(马太福音 26:39) 就是，「既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。」(腓立比书 2:8) 雅各和约翰的确也喝了这杯，雅各为主的名年轻时就殉道 (参使徒行传 12:1-2)，而约翰也为了主的名被梱挷，就是「我约翰就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有分，为神的道，并为给耶稣作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。」(启示录 1:9)

6. 谁愿为大必作服事人的          

    「耶稣叫他们来，对他们说：「你们知道，外邦人有尊为君王的治理他们，有大臣操权管束他们。只是在你们中间，不是这样。你们中间，谁愿为大，就必作你们的用人；在你们中间，谁愿为首，就必作众人的仆人。因为人子来，并不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，并且要舍命作多人的赎价。」」(马可福音 10:42-45)         

    这是和马太福音 20:25-28 说的是同一件事， 经文很清楚的讲，天国的准则是和世间完全不同的，谁愿为大必作服事人的。不知道那十二使徒为什么仍不能得到这概念，大概是很难接受天国的准则是和世间完全不同的。           

    在逾越节的筵席，也就是最后的晚餐中，门徒又起了争论，「…他们中间哪一个可算为大。耶稣说：「外邦人有君王为主治理他们，那掌权管他们的称为恩主。但你们不可这样。你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服事人的。是谁为大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大吗？然而，我在你们中间如同服事人的。」(路加福音 22:24-27) 这是一致的。请注意，这争论是包括卖主的犹大在内的，因为主以身作则的，为服事人的作了榜样， 其中也包括了为这犹大洗了脚 (参约翰福音 13:1-17)。

7. 瞎子巴底买因信被耶稣治愈          

    「到了耶利哥，耶稣同门徒并许多人出耶利哥的时候，有一个讨饭的瞎子，是底买的儿子巴底买，坐在路旁。他听见是拿撒勒的耶稣，就喊著说：「大卫的子孙耶稣啊，可怜我吧！」有许多人责备他，不许他做声。他却越发大声喊著说：「大卫的子孙哪，可怜我吧！」耶稣就站住，说：「叫过他来。」 他们就叫那瞎子，对他说：「放心！起来，他叫你啦。」瞎子就丢下衣服，跳起来，走到耶稣那里。耶稣说：「要我为你做甚么？」瞎子说：「拉波尼，我要能看见！」耶稣说：「你去吧，你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看见了，就在路上跟随耶稣。」(马可福音 10:46-52)           

    请注意，拉波尼是希伯来话，「…（拉波尼就是夫子的意思。）」(约翰福音 20:16) 现在我们来比较路加福音的记载，「耶稣将近耶利哥的时候，有一个瞎子坐在路旁讨饭。听见许多人经过，就问是甚么事。他们告诉他，是拿撒勒人耶稣经过。他就呼叫说：「大卫的子孙耶稣啊，可怜我吧！」在前头走的人就责备他，不许他做声，他却越发喊叫说：「大卫的子孙，可怜我吧！」耶稣站住，吩咐把他领过来，到了跟前，就问他说：「你要我为你做甚么？」 他说：「主啊，我要能看见！」耶稣说：「你可以看见！你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看见了，就跟随耶稣，一路归荣耀与神。众人看见这事，也赞美神。」(路加福音 18:35-43)          

    这里是说将近耶利哥发生的，而马可福音是说发生在出耶利哥的时候，所以这儿有一个明显的矛盾，而其余的记载是相容的。所以这默示的明显矛盾是要我们注意发生的事情，看到讨饭的瞎子相信耶稣是那一位大卫的子孙，可以治愈他。耶稣也因他的信，使瞎子立刻看见了，赞美神的跟随耶稣。           

    这儿也可看到信的重要，就像耶稣自己说的，「…「大凡先知，除了本地亲属、本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的。」耶稣就在那里不得行甚么异能，不过按手在几个病人身上，治好他们。他也诧异他们不信，就往周围乡村教训人去了。」(马可福音 6:4-6)

(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』。)  

          首先我們簡短的討論要回轉像小孩子才能進神國。第二，我們來看少年官問永生的事，和在人不能而在神卻能，在這裏我們引用了以前的討論。第三，我們談到彼得問撇下所有的酬報，也是引用了以前的討論。在這裏我們提到有人可能會問為什麼說基督徒會有今世的祝福，這是因為從神的角度看和從人的角度看事情很不相同，就此看到了約翰寫啓示錄時，還沒有被模成耶穌的形像。第四，我們簡短的提到耶穌的第三次預言，自己會死三天後復活。第五，我們相當詳細的討論了，雅各和約翰求坐在榮耀中的耶穌左右的這事。第六，耶穌說到屬靈的準則是，誰願為大必作服事人的，這和屬世的標準完全不同。最後，我們談到瞎子巴底買因信而被耶穌治癒的事， 指出了在這事上有默示明顯矛盾的原因。

1. 要回轉像小孩子才能進神國

          「有人帶着小孩子來見耶穌，要耶穌摸他們，門徒便責備那些人。耶穌看見就惱怒，對門徒說：「讓小孩子到我這裏來，不要禁止他們，因為在神國的，正是這樣的人。我實在告訴你們：凡要承受神國的，若不像小孩子，斷不能進去。」於是抱着小孩子，給他們按手，為他們祝福。」(馬可福音 10:13-16)

           這是第二次的說要回轉像小孩子才能進神國，在路加福音 18:15-17 和馬太福音 19:13-26 是在說同一件事，是因要耶穌摸小孩子而引起的，後者則是直說要求耶穌去按手禱告，「於是(耶穌)抱着小孩子，給他們按手，為他們祝福。」(馬可福音 10:16)

           第一次是在我們討論馬可福音 9:33-37，使徒爭論誰為大時，且說了，「凡為我名接待一個像這小孩子的，就是接待我；…」(馬可福音 9:37) 這也在路加福音 9:46-48，其中有類似的話。馬太福音 18:1-6 更明「說：「我實在告訴你們：你們若不回轉，變成小孩子的樣式，斷不得進天國。所以，凡自己謙卑像這小孩子的，他在天國裏就是最大的。」(馬太福音 18:3-4)

       這並不是說我們生理上要變成一個小孩子，這是不可能的，歲月過去，人就是會變老的，不會逆轉的。所以那小孩是全部依賴父母的年齡，就像基督徒應該謙卑的，全部事情都仰望三位一體的神，順服神，不要靠自己，「…知道在我裏頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善。因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。」(羅馬書 7:18)

2. 少年官問永生的事，和在人不能而在神卻能

        「耶穌出來行路的時候，有一個人跑來，跪在他面前，問他說：「良善的夫子，我當做甚麼事才可以承受永生？」耶穌對他說：「你為甚麼稱我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再沒有良善的。誡命你是曉得的：『不可殺人，不可姦淫，不可偷盜，不可作假見證，不可虧負人，當孝敬父母。』」他對耶穌說：「夫子，這一切我從小都遵守了。」耶穌看着他，就愛他，對他說：「你還缺少一件，去變賣你所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我。」他聽見這話，臉上就變了色，憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的產業很多。耶穌周圍一看，對門徒說：「有錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！」門徒希奇他的話。耶穌又對他們說：「小子，倚靠錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！駱駝穿過針的眼，比財主進神的國還容易呢。」門徒就分外希奇，對他說：「這樣，誰能得救呢？」耶穌看着他們，說：「在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能。」」(馬可福音 10:17-27)

        同一件事情也記載在馬太福音 19:16-22 和路加福音 18:18-30，前者說是少年人，後者提到是作官的，也就是少年官在問永生的事。首先我們注意到這少年官是在問要做什麼，想靠自己做什麼的，這是辦不到的，我們剛才不是說，不能靠自己嗎？靠自己總有做不到的一些點。我們看到耶穌愛他的原因，他已經儘力的做他能做，但很顯然的，這並不能使他能確定，要不然他根本就不必來問耶穌了。祂說了他不足的是不要靠屬世的財富，還要跟隨祂，結果是過不了關，衹能憂憂愁愁地走了。

        「耶穌對他說：「你為甚麼稱我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再沒有良善的。」(馬可福音 10:18) 這裏的神是指三位一體的神，的確，衹有三位一體的神是良善的，耶穌衹是說了一個事實。在這裏耶穌並沒有否認祂是三位一體的神中的一位，但祂知道這是成為人的樣式(參腓立比書 2:7)，也就是道成肉身的這段期間(參約翰福音 1:14)，祂和父是有些微不同的，就像這經文所說，「天地要廢去，我的話卻不能廢去。「但那日子、那時辰，沒有人知道，連天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟獨父知道。」」(馬太福音 24:35-36) 

           在道成肉身時，除了這件事外，「我與父原為一。」(約翰福音 10:30) 也就是耶穌對腓力說的，「…我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我嗎？人看見了我，就是看見了父，你怎麼說『將父顯給我們看』呢？」(約翰福音 14:9) 神是無限，我們是有限，我們不知道這是怎麼安排的，這就像我們知道神是三位一體的神，但不知道三位一體是如何安排的，但我們要相信神在聖經說的話。

        講到神是無限，我們來看看啓示錄中提到七個教會中最好的非拉鐵非教會，「我知道你的行為，你略有一點力量，也曾遵守我的道，沒有棄絕我的名。看哪，我在你面前給你一個敞開的門，是無人能關的。」(啓示錄 3:8) 在無限的神眼中，衹因他們略有一點力量，就賜給他們一個敞開的門，神是有憐憫有恩典的神。

           以前我們在「2073 禱告態度，小孩子，少年官，及預言受難和復活 -耶穌(26)」中的「3. 看少年官的故事知要積財寶在天」中詳細的討論過路加福音 18:18-30，包括討論了針的眼和在神凡事都能，請到我們的網站，『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

3. 撇下所有的跟從耶穌的酬報

          「彼得就對他說：「看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從你了。」耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們：人為我和福音撇下房屋，或是弟兄、姐妹、父母、兒女、田地，沒有不在今世得百倍的，就是房屋、弟兄、姐妹、母親、兒女、田地，並且要受逼迫，在來世必得永生。然而，有許多在前的，將要在後；在後的，將要在前。」」(馬可福音 10:28-31)

           同樣的一件事情也記錄在馬太福音 19:27-30 和路加福音 18:28-30，在這裏彼得問出了一個代表性的問題，我們在「2073」的「3」中的討論時，也討論了前者，就在此不多說了，請找到這篇文章。

       在這裏我們要提到一件事，因為有人可能會問，我們知道基督徒會有永生，但為什麼說會有今世的祝福呢？ 許多人都認為被祝福的人會活得較長，使徒雅各應是被祝福的人，但他不是被希律所殺而短命而死嗎？(參使徒行傳 12:1-2) 他那有什麼今生的長壽祝福呢？這是因為雅各已完成了他的使命，被接走的，神有絕對的主權，祂可以決定一個人如何被接走， 關於這樣，新約有一個實際的例子。我們注意到，耶穌是站在神的右邊歡迎司提反 (參使徒行傳 7:55-56)，但他是被石頭打死的，死前他的禱告和耶穌在十字架的禱告如出一轍 (參使徒行傳 7:57-60)，他那時已模成耶穌的形像，完成了他在世的使命，所以耶穌會站著歡迎那第一位為主殉道的門徒，沒有人有這樣的殊榮。

        關於長命並不見得因為祝福而可能是另有原因，我們就來看看三個特別的使徒雅各，彼得和約翰，他們特別是因為耶穌有時衹帶他們三個， 譬如在睚魯的女兒復活的這件事上，「…帶着彼得、雅各、和雅各的兄弟約翰同去，不許別人跟隨他。」(馬可福音 5:37) 又如在變化山上，「…耶穌帶着彼得、雅各、約翰暗暗地上了高山，就在他們面前變了形像。」(馬可福音 9:2) 我們都知道彼得是大使徒，知道自己會為主殉道仍跟隨主 (參約翰福音 21:18-19) 而約翰活得最久，所以有人很合理的說，他們的確要能站立在更多的恩典上。對於三人的結局是一樣的，「耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們：你們這跟從我的人，到復興的時候，人子坐在他榮耀的寶座上，你們也要坐在十二個寶座上，審判以色列十二個支派。」(馬太福音 19:28) 當新耶路撒冷城降臨時，「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) 他們三人的名字在其上。結論是雖然我們不知道神到底怎麼做的，他們那時絕對已模成了耶穌的形像，要不，會不可能如此。

        所以約翰活得最久，一個原因是他需要更長的時間去模成耶穌的形像，為什麼會這樣說呢？約翰寫啓示錄時，雖然我們不知道他確實的年齡，但知道他已經在老年了，如果他那時已模成耶穌的形像，是不會去敬拜天使的。聖經是這樣說，「我就俯伏在他(天使)腳前要拜他。他說：「千萬不可！我和你，並你那些為耶穌作見證的弟兄同是作僕人的。你要敬拜神。因為預言中的靈意乃是為耶穌作見證。」(啓示錄 19:10) 和這一節，「這些事是我約翰所聽見、所看見的，我既聽見、看見了，就在指示我的天使腳前俯伏要拜他。」(啓示錄 22:8) 記載了兩次，我們不太可能看不到的，所以他那時的確還沒有模成耶穌的形像。

4. 第三次預言死三天後而復活

          「他們行路上耶路撒冷去。耶穌在前頭走，門徒就希奇，跟從的人也害怕。耶穌又叫過十二個門徒來，把自己將要遭遇的事告訴他們說：「看哪，我們上耶路撒冷去，人子將要被交給祭司長和文士，他們要定他死罪，交給外邦人。他們要戲弄他，吐唾沫在他臉上，鞭打他，殺害他。過了三天，他要復活。」」(馬可福音 10:32-34)

        同樣的第三次預言復活的這事情，也記載在馬太福音 20:17-19 和路加福音 18:31-34，門徒會害怕，可見得他們知道有死的可能性，但即使是第三次了，門徒仍不知道祂在說什麼，難怪耶穌復活後，「…對他們(去以馬忤斯的兩門徒)說：「無知的人哪，先知所說的一切話，你們的心信得太遲鈍了。基督這樣受害，又進入他的榮耀，豈不是應當的嗎？」」(路加福音 24:25-26) 其實對別的門徒也是一樣，要真正看到耶穌復活後才真正瞭解這預言。

5. 雅各和約翰求坐在榮耀中的耶穌左右

          「西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來，對耶穌說：「夫子，我們無論求你甚麼，願你給我們做。」耶穌說：「要我給你們做甚麼？」他們說：「賜我們在你的榮耀裏，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」耶穌說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼。我所喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？我所受的洗，你們能受嗎？」他們說：「我們能。」 耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們也要喝；我所受的洗，你們也要受。只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒雅各、約翰。」(馬可福音 10:35-41)

           同樣的一件事情，馬太福音說得更清楚，「那時，西庇太兒子的母親同她兩個兒子上前來拜耶穌，求他一件事。耶穌說：「你要甚麼呢？」 她說：「願你叫我這兩個兒子在你國裏，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」耶穌回答說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼。我將要喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？」 他們說：「我們能。」耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們必要喝；只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是我父為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒他們弟兄二人。」(馬太福音 20:20-24)

           我們看到，雅各和約翰提出坐在左右的要求是透過母親的，所以有人會以人的角度來看，說是長輩的要求可能更容易被耶穌所悅納，但耶穌拒絕了，衪知道自己在做什麼，「因為我從天上降下來，不是要按自己的意思行，乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。」(約翰福音 6:38)

           耶穌所喝的杯，就是指祂在客西馬尼園的「…俯伏在地禱告說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我；然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」」(馬太福音 26:39) 就是，「既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。」(腓立比書 2:8) 雅各和約翰的確也喝了這杯，雅各為主的名年輕時就殉道 (參使徒行傳 12:1-2)，而約翰也為了主的名被梱挷，就是「我約翰就是你們的弟兄，和你們在耶穌的患難、國度、忍耐裏一同有分，為神的道，並為給耶穌作的見證，曾在那名叫拔摩的海島上。」(啓示錄 1:9)

6. 誰願為大必作服事人的

          「耶穌叫他們來，對他們說：「你們知道，外邦人有尊為君王的治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。只是在你們中間，不是這樣。你們中間，誰願為大，就必作你們的用人；在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」」(馬可福音 10:42-45)

          這是和馬太福音 20:25-28 說的是同一件事， 經文很清楚的講，天國的準則是和世間完全不同的，誰願為大必作服事人的。不知道那十二使徒為什麼仍不能得到這概念，大概是很難接受天國的準則是和世間完全不同的。

           在逾越節的筵席，也就是最後的晚餐中，門徒又起了爭論，「…他們中間哪一個可算為大。耶穌說：「外邦人有君王為主治理他們，那掌權管他們的稱為恩主。但你們不可這樣。你們裏頭為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。是誰為大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中間如同服事人的。」(路加福音 22:24-27) 這是一致的。請注意，這爭論是包括賣主的猶大在內的，因為主以身作則的，為服事人的作了榜樣， 其中也包括了為這猶大洗了腳 (參約翰福音 13:1-17)。

7. 瞎子巴底買因信被耶穌治癒

          「到了耶利哥，耶穌同門徒並許多人出耶利哥的時候，有一個討飯的瞎子，是底買的兒子巴底買，坐在路旁。他聽見是拿撒勒的耶穌，就喊着說：「大衞的子孫耶穌啊，可憐我吧！」有許多人責備他，不許他做聲。他卻越發大聲喊着說：「大衞的子孫哪，可憐我吧！」耶穌就站住，說：「叫過他來。」 他們就叫那瞎子，對他說：「放心！起來，他叫你啦。」瞎子就丟下衣服，跳起來，走到耶穌那裏。耶穌說：「要我為你做甚麼？」瞎子說：「拉波尼，我要能看見！」耶穌說：「你去吧，你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看見了，就在路上跟隨耶穌。」(馬可福音 10:46-52)

           請注意，拉波尼是希伯來話，「…（拉波尼就是夫子的意思。）」(約翰福音 20:16) 現在我們來比較路加福音的記載，「耶穌將近耶利哥的時候，有一個瞎子坐在路旁討飯。聽見許多人經過，就問是甚麼事。他們告訴他，是拿撒勒人耶穌經過。他就呼叫說：「大衞的子孫耶穌啊，可憐我吧！」在前頭走的人就責備他，不許他做聲，他卻越發喊叫說：「大衞的子孫，可憐我吧！」耶穌站住，吩咐把他領過來，到了跟前，就問他說：「你要我為你做甚麼？」 他說：「主啊，我要能看見！」耶穌說：「你可以看見！你的信救了你了。」瞎子立刻看見了，就跟隨耶穌，一路歸榮耀與神。眾人看見這事，也讚美神。」(路加福音 18:35-43)

          這裏是說將近耶利哥發生的，而馬可福音是說發生在出耶利哥的時候，所以這兒有一個明顯的矛盾，而其餘的記載是相容的。所以這默示的明顯矛盾是要我們注意發生的事情，看到討飯的瞎子相信耶穌是那一位大衞的子孫，可以治癒他。耶穌也因他的信，使瞎子立刻看見了，讚美神的跟隨耶穌。

           這兒也可看到信的重要，就像耶穌自己說的，「…「大凡先知，除了本地親屬、本家之外，沒有不被人尊敬的。」耶穌就在那裏不得行甚麼異能，不過按手在幾個病人身上，治好他們。他也詫異他們不信，就往周圍鄉村教訓人去了。」(馬可福音 6:4-6)

(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 briefly discussed that we must become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Second, we looked at the young ruler’s question about eternal life and how it is impossible for man but possible for God. Here we quoted from the previous discussion. Third, we talked about Peter’s question regarding rewards about leaving everything behind to follow Jesus. We also quoted from the previous discussion. Here we mentioned that some people may ask why Christians have blessings in this world. This is because things are viewed very differently from God’s perspective and from a human perspective. This shows that when John wrote the Book of Revelation, he had not yet been conformed to the image of Jesus. Fourth, we briefly mentioned Jesus’ third prophecy that he would die and be resurrected after three days. Fifth, we discussed in considerable detail the matter of James and John asking to be seated near Jesus in glory. Sixth, Jesus spoke of the spiritual principle that those who desire greatness must serve others, which is completely different from the worldly standard. Finally, we discussed the blind man Bartimaeus, who was healed by Jesus due to his faith, and pointed out the reason for the apparent contradiction in inspiration about this matter.

1. One must become like a little child to enter the Kingdom of God

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.”(Mark 10:13-16)

This is the second time the phrase “turn like a little child” is used to describe the need to enter the Kingdom of God. Luke 18:15-17 and Matthew 19:13-26 discuss the same incident, which is prompted by the request for Jesus to touch the children. The latter directly states that Jesus was requested to lay hands on and pray. “So (Jesus) took the children, laid his hands on them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).

The first instance occurred when we were discussing Mark 9:33-37, where the apostles argued over who was greatest. The verses also said, ““Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; …”(Mark 9:37). Similar language is found in Luke 9:46-48. Matthew 18:1-6 further explains, “and (Jesus) said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 18:3-4)

This does not mean that we need to become like little children physically; that is impossible. As time passes, people simply age, and there is no reversal. Therefore, the child is at an age when he or she is completely dependent on his or her parents, just as Christians should be humble, looking to the Triune God for all things, obeying Him, and not relying on themselves. “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”(Romans 7:18)

2. The young ruler asked about eternal life and what is impossible for man but possible for God

“As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.””(Mark 10:17-27)

The same incident is also recorded in Matthew 19:16-22 and Luke 18:18-30. The former mentions a young man, while the latter mentions a ruler. This means the young ruler is asking about eternal life. First, we notice that the young ruler is asking about what he should do. He wants to do something on his own, which is impossible. Didn’t we just say that we can’t rely on ourselves? There are always some things that we cannot achieve on our own. We see the reason why Jesus loves him. He has done everything he can, but it is clear that this does not give him certainty, otherwise he would not have come to Jesus in the first place. He said his lack was not relying on worldly wealth, and he needed to follow Him. However, he failed the test and had no choice but to leave in sorrow.

“And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”(Mark 10:18) The God here refers to the Triune God. Indeed, only the Triune God is good; Jesus was simply stating a fact. Jesus did not deny that He is one of the Triune God. However, He knew that this was during that He was “…taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7) That is, the period of His incarnation (see John 1:14). He and the Father were slightly different, as this passage says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”(Matthew 24:35-36) In addition to this, when the Word became flesh, “I and the Father are one.”(John 10:30). This is what Jesus said to Philip, “…Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”(John 14:9) God is infinite, and we are finite. We don’t know how this is arranged. It’s like we know God is a Trinity, but we don’t know how the Trinity is arranged. However, we must believe what God says in the Bible.

Speaking of God’s infinity, let’s look at the Church of Philadelphia, the best of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation: “‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”(Revelation 3:8) In the eyes of the infinite God, simply because they have a little power, He grants them an open door. God is a merciful and gracious God.

We have previously discussed Luke 18:18-30 in detail in “3. Read the story of the young ruler and know you must accumulate treasure in heaven” under “1073 Prayer attitude, children, young ruler, And prophecy of crucifixion and resurrection -Jesus (26),” including the discussion of the eye of a needle and that with God all things are possible. Please visit our website, “https://a-christian-voice.com/“, and click “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. 

3. Rewards about leaving everything to follow Jesus 

“Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.””(Mark 10:28-31)

The same incident is recorded in Matthew 19:27-30 and Luke 18:28-30. Here, Peter asks a representative question. We also discussed the former in “3” under “1073,” so we will not elaborate on it here. Please find the article.

We need to mention one thing here because some may ask, “We know Christians will have eternal life, but why saying there are blessings in this life?” Most people often think about blessed people having longevity. Aren’t people like James blessed by living longer? But James was executed and thus died young. (See Acts 12:1-2) This is because James had completed his mission and was taken away. God has absolute sovereignty and can determine how a person is taken away. The New Testament provides a practical example of this. We note that Jesus stood at God’s right hand to welcome Stephen (see Acts 7:55-56), but he was stoned to death. His prayer before death mirrored Jesus’ prayer on the cross (see Acts 7:57-60). By then, he had been conformed to Jesus’ image and completed his mission on earth. Therefore, Jesus would stand and welcome the first disciple who died for Himself. No one else has such a privilege.

Regarding the fact that longevity isn’t necessarily a blessing but may have other reasons, let’s look at the three special apostles: James, Peter, and John. They were special because Jesus sometimes took only the three of them with Him. For example, in the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, “And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.”(Mark 5:37). Another example is on the Mount of Transfiguration, “…Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them.”(Mark 9:2). We all know that Peter was the leader among apostles, following the Lord even though he knew he would die for Him (see John 21:18-19). John lived the longest, so some could reasonably argue that they were indeed able to stand on more grace. The fate of all three is the same: “And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”(Matthew 19:28). When the New Jerusalem comes, “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”(Revelation 21:14). The names of these three are on them. The conclusion is that although we don’t know exactly how God did it, they were definitely conformed to the image of Jesus by then; otherwise, this would be impossible.

So, one reason John lived the longest is that it took him longer to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Why is this so? Although we don’t know his exact age when he wrote the Book of Revelation, we know he was already old. If he had been conformed to the image of Jesus by then, he would not have worshiped angels. The Bible says, “Then I fell at his (the angel’s) feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.””(Revelation 19:10) And this verse says, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.”(Revelation 22:8) These are recorded twice, and it is unlikely that we didn’t see them, so he certainly hadn’t yet been conformed to the image of Jesus at that time.

4. The third prophecy regarding Jesus’ resurrection after three days

“They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again.””(Mark 10:32-34)

The same third prophecy of resurrection also recorded in Matthew 20:17-19 and Luke 18:31-34. The disciples were afraid, which shows that they knew there was a possibility of death, but even though it was the third time, the disciples still did not know what He was talking about. No wonder after Jesus was resurrected, “And He said to them (the two disciples who went to Emmaus), “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?””(Luke 24:25-26) In fact, the same was true for the other disciples. Only after they actually saw Jesus’ resurrection could they truly understand this prophecy.

5. James and John asking to sit near Jesus in glory

“James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.”(Mark 10:35-41)

The Book of Matthew describes the same incident more clearly: “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.”(Matthew 20:20-24)

We see that James and John’s request to sit on His right and left was through their mother. So, from a human perspective, some might say that a request from an elder might be more pleasing to Jesus. However, Jesus refused. He knew what He was doing: “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”(John 6:38)

The cup Jesus drank refers to the cup He drank in the Garden of Gethsemane: “And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.””(Matthew 26:39). That is, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”(Philippians 2:8) James and John did indeed drink this cup as well. James died for the Lord at a young age. (see Acts 12:1-2) And John was also imprisoned for the Lord’s name: “I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”(Revelation 1:9)

6. Whoever wishes to be great must serve others

“Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.””(Mark 10:42-45).

This is the same statement as Matthew 20:25-28. The Scriptures clearly state that the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven are completely different from those of the world: whoever wishes to be great must serve. I wonder why the twelve apostles still couldn’t grasp this concept? Perhaps they found it difficult to accept that the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven are completely different from those of the world.

During the Passover, also known as the Last Supper, the disciples again argued about which of them was to be considered the greatest. Jesus answered them, “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”(Luke 22:24-27) This is consistent. Please note that this argument included Judas, the betrayer, because the Lord set an example of serving others, including washing Judas’ feet (see John 13:1-17). 

7. Blind Bartimaeus healed by Jesus due to his faith

“Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”(Mark 10:46-52) 

Please notice that Rabboni is in Hebrew, “…(which means, Teacher).”(John 20:16)   Now let’s compare the record in the Book of Luke: “As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.”(Luke 18:35-43)

This passage says it happened near Jericho, while the Book of Mark says it happened on the way out of Jericho. This presents an apparent contradiction, while the rest of the account is consistent. This apparent contradiction in inspiration calls our attention to what happened. The blind beggar believed Jesus, the Son of David, could heal him. And because of his faith, Jesus immediately restored the blind man’s sight, and he follows Jesus by praising God.

The importance of faith is also evident here, as Jesus Himself said, “…“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”(Mark 6:4-6)

(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.”)

    看这个争议性的问题，我们必须从根本说起，也就是从基督徒都相信「新旧约都是神所默示的」看起。因为神不是模棱两可的神，所以「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」。也是因默示的缘故，我们「不会把圣经的话打折扣」。 基于这两个原则，当三位一体的神开我们的眼睛时，我们会看到一般没有看到的事情，在这篇文章中，我们会举一个例子来说明这点。           

    首先，我们看看包含这句话，「神配合的，人不可分开」的经文，并建议从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看圣经怎么说。第二，为了达到这个目的，我们来看这段经文提到的，摩西律法是说可以单方面休妻，但耶稣说得很清楚，「…摩西因为你们的心硬，所以写这条例给你们。」(马可福音 10:5) 神原先的设定是如耶稣所说， 「…神配合的，人不可分开。」(马可福音 10:9) 第三，我们知道大卫是合神心意的人，但圣经记载了神仍允许撒但试探他，让他面对真实的自己。其中之一是导致了大卫犯奸淫，和隐瞒事实而借刀杀人，虽然神用祂的绝对主权赦免了他的死罪，但惩罚难免，我们会很简洁的提到这事。从神赦免他的死罪上，我们就知道大卫的情况是从律法的审判中的一个特例，所以我们读经时一定要把特例从一般的原则中分别出来，这就和我们讨论的主题，「…神配合的，人不可分开。」(马可福音 10:9) 有关了。第四，为了看到特例和一般情况的区别，我们就接著分享了妓女喇合的事情。圣经明白的记录了她的说谎，但只称赞了她的信心，因圣经明说了不可说谎去认撒但为父，所以我们可以看到这是一个特例。因为这只有一个能一致的解释，就是神有绝对主权可以赦免大卫的死罪，祂也赦免了喇合说谎的罪，所以圣经只提到了她是信心的榜样。最后，我们就先检验一下，传统绝对不可离婚的观念是从那儿来的，和其不符合圣经的地方在那里。简言之，不可离婚是一般的情况，当是特例时，是应该顺服神而离婚的。  

1. 神配合的，人不可分开          

    「耶稣从那里起身，来到犹太的境界并约旦河外。众人又聚集到他那里，他又照常教训他们。有法利赛人来问他说：「人休妻可以不可以？」意思要试探他。耶稣回答说：「摩西吩咐你们的是甚么？」他们说：「摩西许人写了休书便可以休妻。」耶稣说：「摩西因为你们的心硬，所以写这条例给你们。但从起初创造的时候，神造人是造男造女。因此，人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。既然如此，夫妻不再是两个人，乃是一体的了。所以神配合的，人不可分开。」到了屋里，门徒就问他这事。耶稣对他们说：「凡休妻另娶的，就是犯奸淫，辜负他的妻子；妻子若离弃丈夫另嫁，也是犯奸淫了。」」(马可福音 10:1-12)           

    同样的一件事情在马太福音 19:3-9 也有记载，接著就加上了这段，「门徒对耶稣说：「人和妻子既是这样，倒不如不娶。」耶稣说：「这话不是人都能领受的，惟独赐给谁，谁才能领受。因为有生来是阉人，也有被人阉的，并有为天国的缘故自阉的。这话谁能领受，就可以领受。」」(马太福音 19:10-12) 的确，只有能领受的人才会因天国不结婚的。保罗说得很清楚，「难道我们没有权柄娶信主的姊妹为妻，带著一同往来，仿佛其余的使徒和主的弟兄，并矶法一样吗？」(哥林多前书 9:5) 所以保罗那时是绝对没有结婚的。           

    这是一段有争议的经节，尤其是我们的看法和传统的观念很不相同，所以我们要详细的看看圣经是怎么说，因为「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」。

2. 摩西的律法和神的安排           

    首先我们来看看摩西的律法是怎么说的，「人若娶妻以后，见她有甚么不合理的事，不喜悦她，就可以写休书交在她手中，打发她离开夫家。妇人离开夫家以后，可以去嫁别人。后夫若恨恶她，写休书交在她手中，打发她离开夫家，或是娶她为妻的后夫死了，打发她去的前夫不可在妇人玷污之后再娶她为妻，因为这是耶和华所憎恶的。不可使耶和华你神所赐为业之地被玷污了。」(申命记 24:1-4)     

    经文说，休妻是单方面的，那时犹太人的社会是不可以休夫的，并将其后的规定也明说了。但耶稣说得很清楚，「…摩西因为你们的心硬，所以写这条例给你们。」(马可福音 10:5) 这和神原先的设定是不同的，因为「…神配合的，人不可分开。」(马可福音 10:9)          

    神原先的设定在创世记说得很清楚，「耶和华神就用那人身上所取的肋骨(H6763)造成一个女人，领她到那人跟前。那人说：「这是我骨中的骨，肉中的肉，可以称她为『女人』，因为她是从男人身上取出来的。」因此，人要离开父母与妻子连合，二人成为一体。」(创世记 2:22-24) 是的，亚当知道，夏娃是从他身上取出来的 H6763 构成的，二人要成为一体后，才能形成一个完整的创造时的亚当。至于H6763这个字到底要如何翻译，我不知道，但绝对不能翻作肋骨，因为这个字在别的场合中从没有这样被翻译作肋骨过。以前在「2146 创造亚当和造夏娃及其成为一体  – 创(2)4-25」中的「3. 夏娃非由肋骨造成的原因和夫妻成为一体」，我们引用经文详细的讨论过这点，请到到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。

3. 大卫犯奸淫和杀人，死罪虽免但惩罚难免              

    首先我们来先看看大卫，他是合神心意的人，旧约是这样说的，「…耶和华已经寻著一个合他心意的人，立他作百姓的君，…」(撒母耳记上 13:14) 不久之后，撒母耳就膏了大卫。新约更是明说，「既废了扫罗，就选立大卫作他们的王，又为他作见证说：『我寻得耶西的儿子大卫，他是合我心意的人，凡事要遵行我的旨意。』」(使徒行传 13:22)           

    从圣经的记录中，我们看到在大卫的一生中，经常有神超自然的眷顾。譬如，「非利士人又上来，布散在利乏音谷。大卫求问耶和华。耶和华说：「不要一直的上去，要转到他们后头，从桑林对面攻打他们。你听见桑树梢上有脚步的声音，就要急速前去，因为那时耶和华已经在你前头去攻打非利士人的军队。」大卫就遵著耶和华所吩咐的去行，攻打非利士人，从迦巴直到基色。」(撒母耳记下 5:22-25) 但是神仍允许撒但试探他，让他面对真实的自己。           

    譬如，在他晚年数民的事上。「撒但起来攻击以色列人，激动大卫数点他们。」(历代志上 21:1) 所以神仍允许撒但试探他。有人可能会提到这节经文，「耶和华又向以色列人发怒，就激动大卫，使他吩咐人去数点以色列人和犹大人。」(撒母耳记下 24:1) 所以是到底谁激动大卫？是撒但，是耶和华允许牠这么做，就犹如约伯记所说一样，「耶和华对撒但说：「凡他所有的都在你手中，只是不可伸手加害于他。」…」(约伯记 1:12) 撒但所作所为，绝对不能超过神所允许的。而且每一次都要求神的许可，「撒但回答耶和华说：「人以皮代皮，情愿舍去一切所有的保全性命。你且伸手伤他的骨头和他的肉，他必当面弃掉你。」耶和华对撒但说：「他在你手中，只要存留他的性命。」」(约伯记 2:4-6)     

    其他的试探如，「一日，太阳平西，大卫从床上起来，在王宫的平顶上游行，看见一个妇人沐浴，容貌甚美。大卫就差人打听那妇人是谁。有人说：「她是以连的女儿，赫人乌利亚的妻拔示巴。」大卫差人去，将妇人接来。那时她的月经才得洁净。她来了，大卫与她同房，她就回家去了。于是她怀了孕，打发人去告诉大卫说：「我怀了孕。」」(撒母耳记下 11:2-5) 大卫犯了奸淫。   

    请注意，那时她的月经才得洁净，怎么会有怀孕的可能？撒但不能做的，这是神的工作。大卫那时显然没有意识到这点，只想掩盖这件事情，以致于尤有甚者，他「…借亚扪人的刀杀害赫人乌利亚，又娶了他的妻为妻。」(撒母耳记下 12:9) 在一般的情况下，在耶和华的眼中，这绝对是死罪。     

    但「…拿单说：「耶和华已经除掉你的罪，你必不至于死。」(撒母耳记下 12:13) 神用祂的绝对主权赦免了大卫的死罪，但是神很公平，他也受到了处罸，就是「只是你(大卫)行这事，叫耶和华的仇敌大得亵渎的机会，故此，你所得的孩子必定要死。」(撒母耳记下 12:14) 而且，「…刀剑必永不离开你的家。」(撒母耳记下 12:10) 又「耶和华如此说：『我必从你家中兴起祸患攻击你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嫔赐给别人，他在日光之下就与她们同寝。你在暗中行这事，我却要在以色列众人面前、日光之下报应你。』」(撒母耳记下 12:11-12) 他受的处罸是非常大的。    

    他是合神心意的事在先，然后神允许他被试探，他也为数民和拔示巴事件，在今生已受到处罸。神很公平，不会再记念因犯错而已被处罸过的事件，所以圣经对大卫的评价是，「因为大卫除了赫人乌利亚那件事，都是行耶和华眼中看为正的事，一生没有违背耶和华一切所吩咐的。」(列王纪上 15:5)          

    难道我们从大卫的例子就可以说，犯奸淫是可以的。不，绝对不可以。这是特例，而一般的原则在旧约的十诫中说得清楚，「不可奸淫。」(出埃及记 20:14) 在新约也一致的说，「婚姻，人人都当尊重，床也不可污秽，因为苟合行淫的人，神必要审判。」(希伯来书 13:4)           

    圣经基本上都是讲一般的原则，但也有特例，我们要分辩那些是特例，所以耶和华是「…使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。」(诗篇 103:7) 我们就从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」原则，来看妓女喇合的事情，就可以看到其说谎的赦免。

4. 妓女喇合的信心和其说谎的赦免           

    首先，「耶利哥王打发人去见喇合说：「那来到你这里、进了你家的人要交出来，因为他们来窥探全地。」女人将二人隐藏，就回答说：「那人果然到我这里来，他们是哪里来的我却不知道。天黑、要关城门的时候，他们出去了，往哪里去我却不知道。你们快快地去追赶，就必追上。」（先是女人领二人上了房顶，将他们藏在那里所摆的麻稭中。）」(约书亚记 2:3-6)           

    「二人还没有躺卧，女人就上房顶，到他们那里，对他们说：「我知道耶和华已经把这地赐给你们，并且因你们的缘故我们都惊慌了。这地的一切居民在你们面前心都消化了。因为我们听见你们出埃及的时候，耶和华怎样在你们前面使红海的水干了，并且你们怎样待约旦河东的两个亚摩利王西宏和噩，将他们尽行毁灭。我们一听见这些事，心就消化了。因你们的缘故，并无一人有胆气。耶和华你们的神，本是上天下地的神。」(约书亚记 2:8-11)           

    妓女喇合的信心是大的，她只是听见耶和华所行的事，就相信祂「…本是上天下地的神。」(约书亚记 2:11) 于是她愿意为祂摆上自己的生命去说谎，因为她知道如果被发觉，极可能会被处死的。我们知道，「身体没有灵(魂)(spirit, G4151)是死的，信心没有行为也是死的。」(雅各书 2:26) 伴随妓女喇合的信心行为就是摆上自己的生命去说谎。    

    因此就有基督徒基于喇合的例子，很可笑的说是可以说谎并且实行。圣经说得很清楚，撒但「…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) 三位一体的神怎么会要我们认撒但为父呢? 如果不小心说了谎，一旦发觉，就要认罪，「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)           

    那么妓女喇合的事究竟该如何解释呢? 她只因听见耶和华所做的事就有大信心，愿意把自己的生命摆上，而圣经只称赞喇合的信心，就是希伯来书说的，「妓女喇合因著信，曾和和平平地接待探子，就不与那些不顺从的人一同灭亡。」(希伯来书 11:31) 我们从「神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」原则，就可以看到这是一个特例，只有一个能一致的解释，就是神有绝对主权可以赦免大卫的死罪，祂也赦免了喇合说谎的罪，所以圣经只提到了她是信心的榜样。所以读经时一定要把特例从一般的原则中分别出来，这就和我们讨论的主题，「…神配合的，人不可分开。」(马可福音 10:9) 有关了。

5. 传统绝对不可离婚的观念及不符合圣经的地方           

    传统的观念基本上是基于这节经文，「因此，人要离开父母与妻子连合，二人成为一体。」(创世记 2:24) 所以传统的观念是说结了婚就绝对不可以离婚。这当然不是摩西说的，更不是神原先的旨意， 因耶稣很明显的说，「所以神配合的，人不可分开。」(马可福音 10:9) 试问，有多少人真正知道自己的婚姻是神所配合的？就我所知，相信这样的人很多，但真正知道的人不多，知道是神所配合的时候，就自然不会想到要离婚的。不少人是在利用创世记 2:24 的话来牵制虔诚的妻子不可离婚，在字面上要「你们作妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主。」(以弗所书 5:22) 却忘了丈夫该尽的责任，「你们作丈夫的，要爱你们的妻子，正如基督爱教会，为教会舍己。」(以弗所书 5:25) 虽然作丈夫的，一生都可能不会碰到要舍弃自己物理的生命的时候，但要有这个心志。         

    这不是鼓励人离婚，正好相反，神造男造女是有一个次序的，「…先造的是亚当，后造的是夏娃，」(提摩太前书 2:13) 要知道夫妻角色是不同的，因「耶和华神说：「那人独居不好，我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。」」(创世记 2:18) 男女在救恩前是平等的，「神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。」(约翰福音 3:16) 完全和性别无关。就像我们先前所说的，二人要成为一体后，才能形成一个完整的创造时的亚当。尤其是当妻子对的时候，怎么能不「….存敬畏基督的心，彼此顺服。」(以弗所书 5:21) 呢? 所以不能离婚只是一般性原则，有些特例能确实的说明，有些婚姻绝对不是神所配合的。           

    举个较为极端但可能发生过的例子来说，夫妻二人原都不是信主的，结婚后妻子信了主，而丈夫则仍不信主，且有家暴的行为。在这种情况下，有人可能会说，这是神量给妻子的环境，告诉她要记得这经文，「你们作妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主。」(以弗所书 5:22) 有家暴的丈夫，绝对没有尽到作丈夫的责任。虔诚的妻子知道，「不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去做。若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。」(罗马书 12:17-18) 与众人尚要和睦相处，何况是与丈夫呢？          

    通常即使有家暴，妻子也不会立刻想要离婚的，而可能认为是承受由错误的决定来的惩罸，只有在非常确定这婚姻绝不是神所配合的情况下，才会想到离婚。知道圣经说得很清楚，「你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的。在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。」(哥林多前书 10:13) 焉知丈夫的最终同意离婚，不是神开给她最好的一条出路？简言之，不可离婚是一般的情况，当是特例时，是应该顺服神而离婚的。     

    我们最后来看这经文，「耶稣对他们说：「凡休妻另娶的，就是犯奸淫，辜负他的妻子；妻子若离弃丈夫另嫁，也是犯奸淫了。」」(马可福音 10:11-12) 这是一般原则，不是在说特例。神偶而会以我们难以想像的方式促成一段婚姻，我们先前不是说神的工作促成了大卫和拔示巴的婚姻吗？而且当「大卫安慰他的妻拔示巴，与她同寝。她就生了儿子，给他起名叫所罗门。耶和华也喜爱他，就借先知拿单赐他一个名字叫耶底底亚，因为耶和华爱他。」(撒母耳记下 12:24-25)  

(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』。)  

           看這個爭議性的問題，我們必須從根本說起，也就是從基督徒都相信「新舊約都是神所默示的」看起。因為神不是模稜兩可的神，所以「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」。也是因默示的緣故，我們「不會把聖經的話打折扣」。 基於這兩個原則，當三位一體的神開我們的眼睛時，我們會看到一般沒有看到的事情，在這篇文章中，我們會舉一個例子來說明這點。

           首先，我們看看包含這句話，「神配合的，人不可分開」的經文，並建議從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看聖經怎麼說。第二，為了達到這個目的，我們來看這段經文提到的，摩西律法是說可以單方面休妻，但耶穌說得很清楚，「…摩西因為你們的心硬，所以寫這條例給你們。」(馬可福音 10:5) 神原先的設定是如耶穌所說， 「…神配合的，人不可分開。」(馬可福音 10:9) 第三，我們知道大衞是合神心意的人，但聖經記載了神仍允許撒但試探他，讓他面對真實的自己。其中之一是導致了大衞犯姦淫，和隱瞞事實而藉刀殺人，雖然神用祂的絕對主權赦免了他的死罪，但懲罰難免，我們會很簡潔的提到這事。從神赦免他的死罪上，我們就知道大衞的情況是從律法的審判中的一個特例，所以我們讀經時一定要把特例從一般的原則中分別出來，這就和我們討論的主題，「…神配合的，人不可分開。」(馬可福音 10:9) 有關了。第四，為了看到特例和一般情況的區別，我們就接著分享了妓女喇合的事情。聖經明白的記錄了她的說謊，但衹稱贊了她的信心，因聖經明說了不可說謊去認撒但為父，所以我們可以看到這是一個特例。因為這衹有一個能一致的解釋，就是神有絕對主權可以赦免大衞的死罪，祂也赦免了喇合說謊的罪，所以聖經衹提到了她是信心的榜樣。最後，我們就先檢驗一下，傳統絕對不可離婚的觀念是從那兒來的，和其不符合聖經的地方在那裏。簡言之，不可離婚是一般的情況，當是特例時，是應該順服神而離婚的。

 1. 神配合的，人不可分開

          「耶穌從那裏起身，來到猶太的境界並約旦河外。眾人又聚集到他那裏，他又照常教訓他們。有法利賽人來問他說：「人休妻可以不可以？」意思要試探他。耶穌回答說：「摩西吩咐你們的是甚麼？」他們說：「摩西許人寫了休書便可以休妻。」耶穌說：「摩西因為你們的心硬，所以寫這條例給你們。但從起初創造的時候，神造人是造男造女。因此，人要離開父母，與妻子連合，二人成為一體。既然如此，夫妻不再是兩個人，乃是一體的了。所以神配合的，人不可分開。」到了屋裏，門徒就問他這事。耶穌對他們說：「凡休妻另娶的，就是犯姦淫，辜負他的妻子；妻子若離棄丈夫另嫁，也是犯姦淫了。」」(馬可福音 10:1-12)

           同樣的一件事情在馬太福音 19:3-9 也有記載，接著就加上了這段，「門徒對耶穌說：「人和妻子既是這樣，倒不如不娶。」耶穌說：「這話不是人都能領受的，惟獨賜給誰，誰才能領受。因為有生來是閹人，也有被人閹的，並有為天國的緣故自閹的。這話誰能領受，就可以領受。」」(馬太福音 19:10-12) 的確，衹有能領受的人才會因天國不結婚的。保羅說得很清楚，「難道我們沒有權柄娶信主的姊妹為妻，帶着一同往來，彷彿其餘的使徒和主的弟兄，並磯法一樣嗎？」(哥林多前書 9:5) 所以保羅那時是絕對沒有結婚的。

           這是一段有爭議的經節，尤其是我們的看法和傳統的觀念很不相同，所以我們要詳細的看看聖經是怎麼說，因為「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」。

2. 摩西的律法和神的安排

           首先我們來看看摩西的律法是怎麼說的，「人若娶妻以後，見她有甚麼不合理的事，不喜悅她，就可以寫休書交在她手中，打發她離開夫家。婦人離開夫家以後，可以去嫁別人。後夫若恨惡她，寫休書交在她手中，打發她離開夫家，或是娶她為妻的後夫死了，打發她去的前夫不可在婦人玷污之後再娶她為妻，因為這是耶和華所憎惡的。不可使耶和華你神所賜為業之地被玷污了。」(申命記 24:1-4)

     經文說，休妻是單方面的，那時猶太人的社會是不可以休夫的，並將其後的規定也明說了。但耶穌說得很清楚，「…摩西因為你們的心硬，所以寫這條例給你們。」(馬可福音 10:5) 這和神原先的設定是不同的，因為「…神配合的，人不可分開。」(馬可福音 10:9)

           神原先的設定在創世記說得很清楚，「耶和華神就用那人身上所取的肋骨(H6763)造成一個女人，領她到那人跟前。那人說：「這是我骨中的骨，肉中的肉，可以稱她為『女人』，因為她是從男人身上取出來的。」因此，人要離開父母與妻子連合，二人成為一體。」(創世記 2:22-24) 是的，亞當知道，夏娃是從他身上取出來的 H6763 構成的，二人要成為一體後，才能形成一個完整的創造時的亞當。至於H6763這個字到底要如何翻譯，我不知道，但絕對不能翻作肋骨，因為這個字在別的場合中從沒有這樣被翻譯作肋骨過。以前在「2146 創造亞當和造夏娃及其成為一體  – 創(2)4-25」中的「3. 夏娃非由肋骨造成的原因和夫妻成為一體」，我們引用經文詳細的討論過這點，請到到『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

3. 大衞犯姦淫和殺人，死罪雖免但懲罰難免

           首先我們來先看看大衞，他是合神心意的人，舊約是這樣說的，「…耶和華已經尋着一個合他心意的人，立他作百姓的君，…」(撒母耳記上 13:14) 不久之後，撒母耳就膏了大衞。新約更是明說，「既廢了掃羅，就選立大衞作他們的王，又為他作見證說：『我尋得耶西的兒子大衞，他是合我心意的人，凡事要遵行我的旨意。』」(使徒行傳 13:22)

           從聖經的記錄中，我們看到在大衞的一生中，經常有神超自然的眷顧。譬如，「非利士人又上來，布散在利乏音谷。大衞求問耶和華。耶和華說：「不要一直的上去，要轉到他們後頭，從桑林對面攻打他們。你聽見桑樹梢上有腳步的聲音，就要急速前去，因為那時耶和華已經在你前頭去攻打非利士人的軍隊。」大衞就遵着耶和華所吩咐的去行，攻打非利士人，從迦巴直到基色。」(撒母耳記下 5:22-25) 但是神仍允許撒但試探他，讓他面對真實的自己。

           譬如，在他晚年數民的事上。「撒但起來攻擊以色列人，激動大衞數點他們。」(歷代志上 21:1) 所以神仍允許撒但試探他。有人可能會提到這節經文，「耶和華又向以色列人發怒，就激動大衞，使他吩咐人去數點以色列人和猶大人。」(撒母耳記下 24:1) 所以是到底誰激動大衞？是撒但，是耶和華允許牠這麼做，就猶如約伯記所說一樣，「耶和華對撒但說：「凡他所有的都在你手中，只是不可伸手加害於他。」…」(約伯記 1:12) 撒但所作所為，絕對不能超過神所允許的。而且每一次都要求神的許可，「撒但回答耶和華說：「人以皮代皮，情願捨去一切所有的保全性命。你且伸手傷他的骨頭和他的肉，他必當面棄掉你。」耶和華對撒但說：「他在你手中，只要存留他的性命。」」(約伯記 2:4-6)

     其他的試探如，「一日，太陽平西，大衞從牀上起來，在王宮的平頂上遊行，看見一個婦人沐浴，容貌甚美。大衞就差人打聽那婦人是誰。有人說：「她是以連的女兒，赫人烏利亞的妻拔示巴。」大衞差人去，將婦人接來。那時她的月經才得潔淨。她來了，大衞與她同房，她就回家去了。於是她懷了孕，打發人去告訴大衞說：「我懷了孕。」」(撒母耳記下 11:2-5) 大衞犯了姦淫。

    請注意，那時她的月經才得潔淨，怎麼會有懷孕的可能？撒但不能做的，這是神的工作。大衞那時顯然沒有意識到這點，衹想掩蓋這件事情，以致於尤有甚者，他「…借亞捫人的刀殺害赫人烏利亞，又娶了他的妻為妻。」(撒母耳記下 12:9) 在一般的情況下，在耶和華的眼中，這絕對是死罪。

     但「…拿單說：「耶和華已經除掉你的罪，你必不至於死。」(撒母耳記下 12:13) 神用祂的絕對主權赦免了大衞的死罪，但是神很公平，他也受到了處罸，就是「只是你(大衞)行這事，叫耶和華的仇敵大得褻瀆的機會，故此，你所得的孩子必定要死。」(撒母耳記下 12:14) 而且，「…刀劍必永不離開你的家。」(撒母耳記下 12:10) 又「耶和華如此說：『我必從你家中興起禍患攻擊你，我必在你眼前把你的妃嬪賜給別人，他在日光之下就與她們同寢。你在暗中行這事，我卻要在以色列眾人面前、日光之下報應你。』」(撒母耳記下 12:11-12) 他受的處罸是非常大的。

    他是合神心意的事在先，然後神允許他被試探，他也為數民和拔示巴事件，在今生已受到處罸。神很公平，不會再記念因犯錯而已被處罸過的事件，所以聖經對大衞的評價是，「因為大衞除了赫人烏利亞那件事，都是行耶和華眼中看為正的事，一生沒有違背耶和華一切所吩咐的。」(列王紀上 15:5)

           難道我們從大衞的例子就可以說，犯姦淫是可以的。不，絕對不可以。這是特例，而一般的原則在舊約的十誡中說得清楚，「不可姦淫。」(出埃及記 20:14) 在新約也一致的說，「婚姻，人人都當尊重，牀也不可污穢，因為苟合行淫的人，神必要審判。」(希伯來書 13:4)

           聖經基本上都是講一般的原則，但也有特例，我們要分辨那些是特例，所以耶和華是「…使摩西知道他的法則，叫以色列人曉得他的作為。」(詩篇 103:7) 我們就從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」原則，來看妓女喇合的事情，就可以看到其說謊的赦免。

4. 妓女喇合的信心和其說謊的赦免

           首先，「耶利哥王打發人去見喇合說：「那來到你這裏、進了你家的人要交出來，因為他們來窺探全地。」女人將二人隱藏，就回答說：「那人果然到我這裏來，他們是哪裏來的我卻不知道。天黑、要關城門的時候，他們出去了，往哪裏去我卻不知道。你們快快地去追趕，就必追上。」（先是女人領二人上了房頂，將他們藏在那裏所擺的麻稭中。）」(約書亞記 2:3-6)

           「二人還沒有躺臥，女人就上房頂，到他們那裏，對他們說：「我知道耶和華已經把這地賜給你們，並且因你們的緣故我們都驚慌了。這地的一切居民在你們面前心都消化了。因為我們聽見你們出埃及的時候，耶和華怎樣在你們前面使紅海的水乾了，並且你們怎樣待約旦河東的兩個亞摩利王西宏和噩，將他們盡行毀滅。我們一聽見這些事，心就消化了。因你們的緣故，並無一人有膽氣。耶和華你們的神，本是上天下地的神。」(約書亞記 2:8-11)       

     妓女喇合的信心是大的，她衹是聽見耶和華所行的事，就相信祂「…本是上天下地的神。」(約書亞記 2:11) 於是她願意為祂擺上自己的生命去說謊，因為她知道如果被發覺，極可能會被處死的。我們知道，「身體沒有靈(魂)(spirit, G4151)是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。」(雅各書 2:26) 伴隨妓女喇合的信心行為就是擺上自己的生命去說謊。

     因此就有基督徒基於喇合的例子，很可笑的說是可以說謊並且實行。聖經說得很清楚，撒但「…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) 三位一體的神怎麼會要我們認撒但為父呢? 如果不小心說了謊，一旦發覺，就要認罪，「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)

           那麼妓女喇合的事究竟該如何解釋呢? 她衹因聽見耶和華所做的事就有大信心，願意把自己的生命擺上，而聖經衹稱贊喇合的信心，就是希伯來書說的，「妓女喇合因着信，曾和和平平地接待探子，就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。」(希伯來書 11:31) 我們從「神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」原則，就可以看到這是一個特例，衹有一個能一致的解釋，就是神有絕對主權可以赦免大衞的死罪，祂也赦免了喇合說謊的罪，所以聖經衹提到了她是信心的榜樣。所以讀經時一定要把特例從一般的原則中分別出來，這就和我們討論的主題，「…神配合的，人不可分開。」(馬可福音 10:9) 有關了。

5. 傳統絕對不可離婚的觀念及不符合聖經的地方

           傳統的觀念基本上是基於這節經文，「因此，人要離開父母與妻子連合，二人成為一體。」(創世記 2:24) 所以傳統的觀念是說結了婚就絕對不可以離婚。這當然不是摩西說的，更不是神原先的旨意， 因耶穌很明顯的說，「所以神配合的，人不可分開。」(馬可福音 10:9) 試問，有多少人真正知道自己的婚姻是神所配合的？就我所知，相信這樣的人很多，但真正知道的人不多，知道是神所配合的時候，就自然不會想到要離婚的。不少人是在利用創世記 2:24 的話來牽制虔誠的妻子不可離婚，在字面上要「你們作妻子的，當順服自己的丈夫，如同順服主。」(以弗所書 5:22) 卻忘了丈夫該盡的責任，「你們作丈夫的，要愛你們的妻子，正如基督愛教會，為教會捨己。」(以弗所書 5:25) 雖然作丈夫的，一生都可能不會碰到要捨棄自己物理的生命的時候，但要有這個心志。

           這不是鼓勵人離婚，正好相反，神造男造女是有一個次序的，「…先造的是亞當，後造的是夏娃，」(提摩太前書 2:13) 要知道夫妻角色是不同的，因「耶和華神說：「那人獨居不好，我要為他造一個配偶幫助他。」」(創世記 2:18) 男女在救恩前是平等的，「神愛世人，甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，反得永生。」(約翰福音 3:16) 完全和性別無關。就像我們先前所說的，二人要成為一體後，才能形成一個完整的創造時的亞當。尤其是當妻子對的時候，怎麼能不「….存敬畏基督的心，彼此順服。」(以弗所書 5:21) 呢? 所以不能離婚衹是一般性原則，有些特例能確實的說明，有些婚姻絕對不是神所配合的。

           舉個較為極端但可能發生過的例子來說，夫妻二人原都不是信主的，結婚後妻子信了主，而丈夫則仍不信主，且有家暴的行為。在這種情況下，有人可能會說，這是神量給妻子的環境，告訴她要記得這經文，「你們作妻子的，當順服自己的丈夫，如同順服主。」(以弗所書 5:22) 有家暴的丈夫，絕對沒有盡到作丈夫的責任。虔誠的妻子知道，「不要以惡報惡。眾人以為美的事，要留心去做。若是能行，總要盡力與眾人和睦。」(羅馬書 12:17-18) 與衆人尚要和睦相處，何況是與丈夫呢？

           通常即使有家暴，妻子也不會立刻想要離婚的，而可能認為是承受由錯誤的決定來的懲罸，衹有在非常確定這婚姻絕不是神所配合的情況下，才會想到離婚。知道聖經說得很清楚，「你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的。神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的。在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住。」(哥林多前書 10:13) 焉知丈夫的最終同意離婚，不是神開給她最好的一條出路？簡言之，不可離婚是一般的情況，當是特例時，是應該順服神而離婚的。

     我們最後來看這經文，「耶穌對他們說：「凡休妻另娶的，就是犯姦淫，辜負他的妻子；妻子若離棄丈夫另嫁，也是犯姦淫了。」」(馬可福音 10:11-12) 這是一般原則，不是在說特例。神偶而會以我們難以想像的方式促成一段婚姻，我們先前不是說神的工作促成了大衞和拔示巴的婚姻嗎？而且當「大衞安慰他的妻拔示巴，與她同寢。她就生了兒子，給他起名叫所羅門。耶和華也喜愛他，就藉先知拿單賜他一個名字叫耶底底亞，因為耶和華愛他。」(撒母耳記下 12:24-25)  

(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』。)

To look at this controversial issue, we must start from the fundamentals, that is, from the fact that Christians all believe that “both the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God.” Because God is not an ambiguous God, “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” Also because of inspiration, we “will not discount the words of the Bible.” Based on these two principles, when the Triune God opens our eyes, we will see things that we normally would not see. In this article, we will give such examples to illustrate this point.

First, let us look at the text that contains the phrase, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate,” and suggest that we examine what the Bible says from the perspective of “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.” Second, to achieve this goal, let’s consider what this passage mentions. The Mosaic Law permitted unilateral divorce, but Jesus clearly stated, “…Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.”(Mark 10:5). God’s original design was, as Jesus said, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”(Mark 10:9). Third, we know that David was a man after God’s own heart, but the Bible records that God still allowed Satan to tempt him and force him to face his true self. One of these temptations led David to commit adultery and, through concealment of the truth, to murder Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the sons of Ammon. Although God sovereignly pardoned his death penalty, punishment was inevitable, and we will briefly mention this. From God’s pardon of his death penalty, we know that David’s case was a special case from the judgment of the Law. Therefore, when reading the Bible, we must distinguish special cases from general principles. This is related to our main theme, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”(Mark 10:9). Fourth, to illustrate the difference between exceptions and the general case, we move on to the story of the prostitute Rahab. The Bible clearly records her lying but only praises her faith. Since the Bible explicitly prohibits lying which claims Satan as one’s father, we can see this as an exception since there is only one consistent explanation for this, that is, God has absolute sovereignty to forgive David’s death sentence and He also forgave Rahab’s lying. Therefore, the Bible only mentions her as an example of faith. Finally, let’s examine where the traditional concept of absolute prohibition of divorce originates and where it is inconsistent with Scripture. In short, forbidding divorce is the general rule, and when it is an exception, divorce should be done in obedience to God.

1. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate

“Getting up, He went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them. Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” In the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again. And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.””(Mark 10:1-12)

The same incident is recorded in Matthew 19:3-9, which then adds, “The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.””(Matthew 19:10-12) Indeed, only those who can accept it will choose not to marry for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Paul clearly stated, “Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”(1 Corinthians 9:5). Therefore, Paul was definitely not married at that time.

This is a controversial passage, especially since our view differs greatly from traditional beliefs. Therefore, we need to examine the Bible’s teaching in detail, because “What God tells us through the Bible is consistent.”

2. The Law of Moses and God’s arrangement

First, let’s look at what the Law of Moses says: ““When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife, and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife, then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.”(Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

The text states that divorce was unilateral by man. The divorce by woman was not permitted in Jewish society at the time, and the subsequent regulations are also clearly stated. But Jesus made it clear, “…Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.”(Mark 10:5). This is different from God’s original design, for “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”(Mark 10:9).

God’s original design is clearly stated in the book of Genesis: “The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib (H6763) which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”(Genesis 2:22-24). Yes, Adam knew that Eve was taken from him, and that only after the two became one flesh could the complete Adam of creation be formed. As for how to translate the word H6763, I don’t know, but it definitely cannot be translated as “rib” because this word has never been translated as “rib” in other contexts. Previously, in “3. The reason why Eve was not made from the rib and the couple became one” under “1146 Adam’s creation and making Eve and their becoming one – Genesis(2)4-25,” we have discussed this in detail by quoting scriptures. Please go to the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article. 

3. David committed adultery and murder and was spared death penalty with punishment

First, let’s look at David. He was a man after God’s own heart. The Old Testament says, “…The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, …”(1 Samuel 13:14). Soon after, Samuel anointed David. The New Testament explicitly states, “After He had removed him (Saul), He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’”(Acts 13:22)

From the Bible, we see that David’s life was frequently marked by God’s supernatural providence. For example, “Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”(2 Samuel 5:22-25). Yet, God still allowed Satan to tempt him, forcing him to face his true self.

For example, in his later years, regarding the counting of the people, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1). So God still allowed Satan to tempt him. Some might refer to this verse: “Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.””(2 Samuel 24:1). So who provoked David? It was Satan, and it was Jehovah who allowed him to do so, just as the book of Job says, “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” …”(Job 1:12). Satan could never do anything beyond what God allowed. And each time he had to ask God for permission, “Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.””(Job 2:4-6)

Other temptations included: “Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am pregnant.””(2 Samuel 11:2-5) David committed adultery.

Notice that she had just become cleansed from her menstrual period, so how could she possibly have gotten pregnant? Satan couldn’t do that; it was God’s work. David, apparently unaware of this at the time, sought to conceal the matter, to the point “Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.”(2 Samuel 12:9). Under normal circumstances, this would have been a capital offense in the eyes of Jehovah.

But “…Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.””(2 Samuel 12:13) God used His absolute sovereignty to pardon David’s death sentence, but God was fair, and he also received punishment: “However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.”(2 Samuel 12:14) Furthermore, “…the sword shall never depart from your house, …”(2 Samuel 12:10) And “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’”(2 Samuel 12:11-12) His punishment was very severe.

He first acted in accordance with God’s will, and then God allowed him to be tempted. He also suffered punishment in this life for the incidents with counting the people and Bathsheba. God is fair and will not remember past punishments for past mistakes. Therefore, the Bible’s evaluation of David is, “because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.”(1 Kings 15:5)

Does David’s example mean that adultery is permissible? No, absolutely not. This is a special case, while the general principle is clearly stated in the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament: ““You shall not commit adultery.”(Exodus 20:14) The New Testament also consistently states: “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”(Hebrews 13:4).

The Bible generally states general principles, but there are exceptions, and we must distinguish those that are special. Therefore, Jehovah “…made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.”(Psalm 103:7). Let’s examine the story of the prostitute Rahab from the perspective of “What God tells us through Bible is consistent,” and we can see how her lying was forgiven.

4. The prostitute Rahab’s faith and the forgiveness of her lies

First, “And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.”(Joshua 2:3-6)

“Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”(Joshua 2:8-11) We know that “For just as the body without the spirit (G4151) is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”(James 2:26). The faith and actions that accompanied the prostitute Rahab were essentially lying at the cost of her life.

Therefore, some Christians, based on Rahab’s example, ridiculously claim that lying is acceptable and can be practiced. The Bible clearly states that “…Whenever he (Satan) speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”(John 8:44). How could the Triune God require us to acknowledge Satan as our father? If we accidentally tell a lie, we must confess it once we discover it. “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).

So how do we explain the story of the prostitute Rahab consistently? She only heard what Jehovah did, then she had a great faith and was willing to lie without concerning she could be killed. However, the Bible only praises Rahab’s faith, as stated in the book of Hebrews: “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”(Hebrews 11:31). Based on the principle that “What God tells through Bible is consistent,” we can see that this is a special case. There is only one consistent explanation: God has absolute sovereignty to pardon David’s death sentence, and He also forgave Rahab for lying. Therefore, the Bible only mentions her as an example of faith. Therefore, when reading the Bible, it is important to distinguish special cases from general principles. This is related to our main topic: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”(Mark 10:9)

5. The traditional concept of absolutely forbidding divorce and its biblical inconsistency

The traditional concept is fundamentally based on the verse, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”(Genesis 2:24). Therefore, the traditional concept holds that divorce is absolutely forbidden once married. This is certainly not what Moses said, nor is it God’s original will, for Jesus clearly stated, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”(Mark 10:9). How many people truly understand that their marriages are God’s? As far as I know, many believe this, but few truly understand it. When one knows that a marriage is God’s joining together, they naturally wouldn’t consider divorce. Many people use the words of Genesis 2:24 to restrain godly wives from divorce and obey the verse literally, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”(Ephesians 5:22). However, they forget the husband’s responsibility: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”(Ephesians 5:25) Although husbands may not encounter the situation to give up their physical lives in their lifetime, they must have this determination.

This is not to encourage divorce; quite the contrary. God created man and woman in a certain order: “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.”(1 Timothy 2:13). We must understand that husband and wife have different roles, as “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.””(Genesis 2:18). Men and women are equal before salvation. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”(John 3:16). Gender has nothing to do with this. As we mentioned earlier, only after two people become one flesh can they form the complete Adam of creation. Especially when the wife is right, how can we be not “subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”(Ephesians 5:21)? Therefore, not being able to divorce is just a general rule. There are exceptions that clearly demonstrate that some marriages are definitely not arranged by God.

Let’s take a more extreme, but possible, example: a husband and wife are both non-believers to start with. After marriage, the wife converts, while the husband remains an unbeliever and engages in domestic violence. In this situation, some might say that this is God’s gift to the wife, reminding her to remember the verse, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”(Ephesians 5:22). Let us view that fact that a husband who commits domestic violence is definitely not fulfilling his responsibilities. A godly wife knows, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”(Romans 12:17-18). If you should live in peace with everyone, how much more so with your husband? 

Usually, even in cases of domestic violence, a wife won’t immediately seek a divorce. Instead, she might view it as punishment for a wrong decision. She only considers divorce when she is absolutely certain that the marriage is not God’s will. We know the Bible clearly states, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”(1 Corinthians 10:13). How can we be sure that her husband’s ultimate consent to divorce wasn’t God’s best solution for her? In short, not divorcing is the general rule, and when there are exceptions, we should obey God and divorce.

Let’s finally look at this passage: “And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.””(Mark 10:11-12) This is a general principle, not addressing exceptions. God sometimes facilitates a marriage in ways we can hardly imagine. Didn’t we previously mention that God’s work facilitated David and Bathsheba’s marriage? And “Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved him and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the LORD’S sake.”(2 Samuel 12:24-25)

(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，我们看变化山上的情景，引用了以前的讨论，加上了那时没讨论过的一个默示的明显矛盾是为什么。第二，我们引用经文说明施洗约翰有以利亚的心志和能力。第三，我们谈到被耶稣治愈的，哑巴鬼附身的人之症状。第四，我们说到了耶稣帮助了那信不足的父亲，从一个默示的明显矛盾中，看到了耶稣是禁食的，和那时的门徒没有一个芥菜种子那么小的信心。第五，我们简短的讨论了耶稣第二次预言自己死三天后复活。第六，我们讨论了耶稣看谁为大，是谦卑的人。最后，经文说得很清楚，为什么不敌挡我们的就是帮助我们的。对基督徒而言，宁可有肉体的残缺，仍要得著属灵的生命而不下地狱。

1. 变化山上的情景       

    「耶稣又对他们说：「我实在告诉你们：站在这里的，有人在没尝死味以前，必要看见神的国大有能力临到。」过了六天，耶稣带著彼得、雅各、约翰暗暗地上了高山，就在他们面前变了形像：衣服放光，极其洁白，地上漂布的，没有一个能漂得那样白。忽然，有以利亚同摩西向他们显现，并且和耶稣说话。彼得对耶稣说：「拉比，我们在这里真好！可以搭三座棚：一座为你，一座为摩西，一座为以利亚。」彼得不知道说甚么才好，因为他们甚是惧怕。有一朵云彩来遮盖他们，也有声音从云彩里出来，说：「这是我的爱子，你们要听他！」门徒忽然周围一看，不再见一人，只见耶稣同他们在那里。」(马可福音 9:1-8)        

    同样的一件事情记载在路加福音 9:28-36 和马太福音 17:1-8，在这里的记载比马太福音详细，基本上是相同的，但马太福音加上了，「门徒听见，就俯伏在地，极其害怕。耶稣进前来，摸他们，说：「起来，不要害怕！」」(马太福音 17:6-7) 他们三人进入了云彩，且听到了从天上来的声音，最开始会害怕是很合理的，于是耶稣就摸了他们，给了他们不再害怕的力量。以前在「2058 变化山上、争谁为大、和扶犂向后 -耶稣(13)」中的「1. 变化山上发生的事情」，我们详细的讨论过路加福音 9:28-36 及讨论了许多扩展到其相关的经文，其中包括为什么我们不要仅仅得救，和从经文看到，启示录所说要降临的新耶路撒冷城，城外有堕落的基督徒。请到我们的网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的网站后，按『对属灵生命的了解』，找到这篇文章。        

    因我们不可能讨论完所有的问题，今天就看一下上次没讨论过的明显矛盾。在路加福音说，「说了这话以后约有八天，耶稣带著彼得、约翰、雅各上山去祷告。正祷告的时候，他的面貌就改变了，衣服洁白放光。」(路加福音 9:28-29) 这是为什么称为变化山。这里是说六天，很显然的默示这明显矛盾的目的，是要我们注意到发生的事情，要我们只注目在那爱子耶稣的身上。我们也知道是，「忽然有摩西、以利亚两个人同耶稣说话；他们在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。」(路加福音 9:30-31)

2. 施洗约翰有以利亚的心志和能力      

    「下山的时候，耶稣嘱咐他们说：「人子还没有从死里复活，你们不要将所看见的告诉人。」门徒将这话存记在心，彼此议论从死里复活是甚么意思。他们就问耶稣说：「文士为甚么说以利亚必须先来？」耶稣说：「以利亚固然先来复兴万事，经上不是指著人子说，他要受许多的苦，被人轻慢呢？我告诉你们：以利亚已经来了，他们也任意待他，正如经上所指著他的话。」」(马可福音 9:9-13)        

    很显然的，耶稣那时是采取低姿态的，所以嘱咐他们三人不要告诉人祂会死里复活。从这经文和事后发生的事，知道那时的门徒根本不信，不是那时的祂不知道这事，而是因为，「现在事情还没有成就，我预先告诉你们，叫你们到事情成就的时候，就可以信。」(约翰福音 14:29)     

    从门徒议论从死里复活是甚么意思，就可以看到他们那时对旧约不太熟，要不然，至少是应该知道人是可以从死里复活的，何况是神的爱子耶稣。因为死人复活，在旧约发生了一次，就是「以利沙死了，人将他葬埋。 到了新年，有一群摩押人犯境，有人正葬死人，忽然看见一群人，就把死人抛在以利沙的坟墓里，一碰著以利沙的骸骨，死人就复活站起来了。」(列王纪下 13:20-21)  当然，他们不会知道耶稣复活后永远不死。顺便一提的是，新约也记录过一次人从死里复活，还是最终会死的事情，就是拉撒路的复活(参约翰福音 11:1-46)        

    关于以利亚已经来了这事，「…是指著施洗的约翰。」(马太福音 17:13) 因「他必有以利亚的心志(G4151, spirit)能力，行在主的前面，叫为父(G3962, 复数)的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧，又为主预备合用的百姓。」(路加福音 1:17) 所以不是说施洗约翰就是以利亚，而是在他的灵里和能力中。

3. 耶稣治愈被哑巴鬼附身的人之症状      

    「耶稣到了门徒那里，看见有许多人围著他们，又有文士和他们辩论。众人一见耶稣，都甚希奇，就跑上去问他的安。耶稣问他们说：「你们和他们辩论的是甚么？」众人中间有一个人回答说：「夫子，我带了我的儿子到你这里来，他被哑巴鬼附著。无论在哪里，鬼捉弄他，把他摔倒，他就口中流沫，咬牙切齿，身体枯干。我请过你的门徒把鬼赶出去，他们却是不能。」耶稣说：「嗳，不信的世代啊！我在你们这里要到几时呢？我忍耐你们要到几时呢？把他带到我这里来吧。」他们就带了他来。他一见耶稣，鬼便叫他重重地抽风，倒在地上，翻来覆去，口中流沫。耶稣问他父亲说：「他得这病有多少日子呢？」 回答说：「从小的时候。鬼屡次把他扔在火里、水里，要灭他。你若能做甚么，求你怜悯我们，帮助我们！」」(马可福音 9:14-22)          

    同样的一件事情在马太福音 17:14-21 也有较简单的记载，那孩子的症状在这些经文中说明非常清楚，那鬼想要灭那儿子，并没有成功，让他的父亲有机会寻求主的怜悯。门徒不能把鬼赶出去，是因为信心小的缘故，这就是马太福音所说的，「门徒暗暗地到耶稣跟前说：「我们为甚么不能赶出那鬼呢？」耶稣说：「是因你们的信心小。…」(马太福音 17:19-20) 等下我们会再讨论这些经文，看这些经文到底意思为何。     

    在这次说到了那鬼被赶出前对那儿子有伤害，但不是每次鬼被赶出来时都会伤害人的， 如经文记载说，「耶稣责备他说：「不要做声，从这人身上出来吧！」鬼把那人摔倒在众人中间，就出来了，却也没有害他。」(路加福音 4:35)

4. 耶稣帮助信不足的父亲       

    「耶稣对他说：「你若能信，在信的人，凡事都能。」孩子的父亲立时喊著说：「我信，但我信不足，求主帮助！」耶稣看见众人都跑上来，就斥责那污鬼说：「你这聋哑的鬼，我吩咐你从他里头出来，再不要进去！」那鬼喊叫，使孩子大大地抽了一阵风，就出来了。孩子好像死了一般，以致众人多半说：「他是死了。」但耶稣拉著他的手，扶他起来，他就站起来了。耶稣进了屋子，门徒就暗暗地问他说：「我们为甚么不能赶出他去呢？」耶稣说：「非用祷告，这一类的鬼总不能出来。」」(马可福音 9:23-29)        

    我们又一次看到耶稣是有怜悯有恩典的，当孩子的父亲知道自己信不足而求祂帮助时，衪就帮助了他，赶出了那恶鬼。我们又一次看到祂有属灵的权柄，聋哑的鬼听祂的。        

    关于赶出那鬼，马太福音是这样说的，「门徒暗暗地到耶稣跟前说：「我们为甚么不能赶出那鬼呢？」耶稣说：「是因你们的信心小。我实在告诉你们：你们若有信心像一粒芥菜种，就是对这座山说，『你从这边挪到那边』，它也必挪去，并且你们没有一件不能做的事了。至于这一类的鬼，若不祷告禁食，他就不出来。」」(马太福音 17:19-21) 马太福音和马可福音有明显的矛盾，因为一个人可能会问，要赶出这一类的鬼到底要不要禁食？要的。耶稣能赶出那鬼，我们就知道耶稣是禁食的，这是我们从这明显的矛盾第一会注意到的。        

    门徒没有禁食，当然赶不出那鬼，因经文说得很清楚，「那时，约翰的门徒来见耶稣，说：「我们和法利赛人常常禁食，你的门徒倒不禁食，这是为甚么呢？」耶稣对他们说：「新郎(耶稣)和陪伴之人同在的时候，陪伴之人岂能哀恸呢？但日子将到，新郎要离开他们，那时候他们就要禁食。」(马太福音 9:14-15) 所以第二要注意到的是耶稣告诉门徒，他们那时没有一粒芥菜种的信心，这点以后被证实了。当耶稣被捕时，「门徒都离开他，逃走了。」(马可福音 14:50)    

    我们注意到，圣经没有记载，耶稣从没有对任何一座(物理的)山说，「…『你从这边挪到那边』，它也必挪去，…」(马太福音 17:20) 难道耶稣没有一粒芥菜种的信心吗？这显然是不对的，所以这里是指属灵的事。在大使命中说，「所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，…」(马太福音 28:19) 我们要传，但不是每一个都相信。当一个人相信时，不就是他面前的属灵大山被移走了吗？

5. 耶稣第二次预言死后三天复活       

    「他们离开那地方，经过加利利，耶稣不愿意人知道。于是教训门徒，说：「人子将要被交在人手里，他们要杀害他；被杀以后，过三天他要复活。」门徒却不明白这话，又不敢问他。」(马可福音 9:30-32)        

    关于预言死后三天复活，有三次，第一次就是上次所谈的马可福音 8:31-33，也在马太福音 16:21-23 和路加福音 9:22。这是第二次，很清楚的说到是经过加利利发生的，即使这是第二次了，门徒仍是不知所云。所以要知道这预言的全部情况，我们必须去看所有的福音书，也就是取其联集。  

6. 耶稣看谁为大       

    「他们来到迦百农。耶稣在屋里问门徒说：「你们在路上议论的是甚么？」门徒不做声，因为他们在路上彼此争论谁为大。耶稣坐下，叫十二个门徒来，说：「若有人愿意作首先的，他必作众人末后的，作众人的用人。」于是领过一个小孩子来，叫他站在门徒中间，又抱起他来，对他们说：「凡为我名接待一个像这小孩子的，就是接待我；凡接待我的，不是接待我，乃是接待那差我来的。」」(马可福音 9:33-37)    

    的确，从人的角度看，门徒是会彼此争论谁为大的。关于谁为大这个问题，耶稣的立场是和这里说的是一致的。当一个人物理上长大了，不可能再回到物理上小孩子的状态，又长小了，所以这里到底是指什么呢？耶稣说，「你们中间谁为大，谁就要作你们的用人。凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。」(马太福音 23:11-12) 这里并没有说这小孩子有多大，猜不出来的。不过他显然是还在自卑的年龄，要不耶稣就不会抱著他以他为榜样说话。他一切都靠父母，就如我们一样，一切都要仰望天父，所以是要像这小孩。耶稣不祇是说说而已，衪是以身作则，在最后的晚餐时，祂不是帮门徒洗脚吗？(参约翰福音 13:1-17)        

    「耶稣说：「外邦人有君王为主治理他们，那掌权管他们的称为恩主。但你们不可这样。你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服事人的。是谁为大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大吗？然而，我在你们中间如同服事人的。」(路加福音 22:25-27) 这不又是一致的在说这概念吗？只是使徒并没有体会到祂的心意，我们会在未来要讨论的经文中看到这一点。

7. 不敌挡我们的就是帮助我们的         

    「约翰对耶稣说：「夫子，我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼，我们就禁止他，因为他不跟从我们。」耶稣说：「不要禁止他，因为没有人奉我名行异能，反倒轻易毁谤我。不敌挡我们的，就是帮助我们的。凡因你们是属基督，给你们一杯水喝的，我实在告诉你们：他不能不得赏赐。」「凡使这信我的一个小子跌倒的，倒不如把大磨石拴在这人的颈项上，扔在海里。倘若你一只手叫你跌倒，就把它砍下来；你缺了肢体进入永生，强如有两只手落到地狱(G1067)，入那不灭的火里去。倘若你一只脚叫你跌倒，就把它砍下来；你瘸腿进入永生，强如有两只脚被丢在地狱(G1067)里。倘若你一只眼叫你跌倒，就去掉它；你只有一只眼进入神的国，强如有两只眼被丢在地狱(G1067)里。在那里，『虫是不死的，火是不灭的。』因为必用火当盐腌各人。「盐本是好的，若失了味，可用甚么叫它再咸呢？你们里头应当有盐，彼此和睦(G1514)。」」(马可福音 9:38-50)        

    关于「不敌挡我们的就是帮助我们的」，在别的经节也说过，「约翰说：「夫子，我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼，我们就禁止他，因为他不与我们一同跟从你。」耶稣说：「不要禁止他，因为不敌挡你们的，就是帮助你们的。」」(路加福音 9:49-50) 这里更清楚的解释了为什么不敌挡我们的就是帮助我们的，并赏赐那些直接帮忙的。        

    对我们而言，宁可有肉体的残缺，仍要得著属灵的生命而不下地狱，这里描述了地狱的可怕。有些人真是为了属灵的生命而有肉体的残缺，但绝不是每一个人都如此。因为在模成耶稣的路上，那一个人没有跌倒过，如果一跌倒就有肉体的残缺，那教会都是由有残缺的人所构成，而这是不真实的叙述。     

    我们谈过犹太人那时所用的岩盐是会失味的，经文说，「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。」(马太福音 5:13) 要作一个有盐，彼此和睦(G1514)的人。        

    这就是保罗所说的，「还有末了的话：愿弟兄们都喜乐！要作完全人，要受安慰，要同心合意，要彼此和睦(G1514)。如此，仁爱和平的神必常与你们同在。」(哥林多后书 13:11) 他又说，「弟兄们，我们劝你们敬重那在你们中间劳苦的人，就是在主里面治理你们、劝戒你们的。又因他们所做的工，用爱心格外尊重他们。你们也要彼此和睦(G1514)。」(帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:12-13) 也强调，「若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦(G1514)。」(罗马书 12:18) 这个字G1514只出现了四次，都在这里了。

(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，我們看變化山上的情景，引用了以前的討論，加上了那時沒討論過的一個默示的明顯矛盾是為什麼。第二，我們引用經文說明施洗約翰有以利亞的心志和能力。第三，我們談到被耶穌治癒的，啞巴鬼附身的人之症狀。第四，我們說到了耶穌幫助了那信不足的父親，從一個默示的明顯矛盾中，看到了耶穌是禁食的，和那時的門徒沒有一個芥菜種子那麼小的信心。第五，我們簡短的討論了耶穌第二次預言自己死三天後復活。第六，我們討論了耶穌看誰為大，是謙卑的人。最後，經文說得很清楚，為什麼不敵擋我們的就是幫助我們的。對基督徒而言，寧可有肉體的殘缺，仍要得著屬靈的生命而不下地獄。

1. 變化山上的情景

       「耶穌又對他們說：「我實在告訴你們：站在這裏的，有人在沒嘗死味以前，必要看見神的國大有能力臨到。」過了六天，耶穌帶着彼得、雅各、約翰暗暗地上了高山，就在他們面前變了形像：衣服放光，極其潔白，地上漂布的，沒有一個能漂得那樣白。忽然，有以利亞同摩西向他們顯現，並且和耶穌說話。彼得對耶穌說：「拉比，我們在這裏真好！可以搭三座棚：一座為你，一座為摩西，一座為以利亞。」彼得不知道說甚麼才好，因為他們甚是懼怕。有一朵雲彩來遮蓋他們，也有聲音從雲彩裏出來，說：「這是我的愛子，你們要聽他！」門徒忽然周圍一看，不再見一人，只見耶穌同他們在那裏。」(馬可福音 9:1-8)

        同樣的一件事情記載在路加福音 9:28-36 和馬太福音 17:1-8，在這裏的記載比馬太福音詳細，基本上是相同的，但馬太福音加上了，「門徒聽見，就俯伏在地，極其害怕。耶穌進前來，摸他們，說：「起來，不要害怕！」」(馬太福音 17:6-7) 他們三人進入了雲彩，且聽到了從天上來的聲音，最開始會害怕是很合理的，於是耶穌就摸了他們，給了他們不再害怕的力量。以前在「2058 變化山上、爭誰為大、和扶犂向後 -耶穌(13)」中的「1. 變化山上發生的事情」，我們詳細的討論過路加福音 9:28-36 及討論了許多擴展到其相關的經文，其中包括為什麼我們不要僅僅得救，和從經文看到，啓示錄所說要降臨的新耶路撒冷城，城外有墮落的基督徒。請到我們的網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/ 』的網站後，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』，找到這篇文章。

        因我們不可能討論完所有的問題，今天就看一下上次沒討論過的明顯矛盾。在路加福音說，「說了這話以後約有八天，耶穌帶着彼得、約翰、雅各上山去禱告。正禱告的時候，他的面貌就改變了，衣服潔白放光。」(路加福音 9:28-29) 這是為什麼稱為變化山。這裏是說六天，很顯然的默示這明顯矛盾的目的，是要我們注意到發生的事情，要我們衹注目在那愛子耶穌的身上。我們也知道是，「忽然有摩西、以利亞兩個人同耶穌說話；他們在榮光裏顯現，談論耶穌去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷將要成的事。」(路加福音 9:30-31)

2. 施洗約翰有以利亞的心志和能力

       「下山的時候，耶穌囑咐他們說：「人子還沒有從死裏復活，你們不要將所看見的告訴人。」門徒將這話存記在心，彼此議論從死裏復活是甚麼意思。他們就問耶穌說：「文士為甚麼說以利亞必須先來？」耶穌說：「以利亞固然先來復興萬事，經上不是指着人子說，他要受許多的苦，被人輕慢呢？我告訴你們：以利亞已經來了，他們也任意待他，正如經上所指着他的話。」」(馬可福音 9:9-13)

        很顯然的，耶穌那時是採取低姿態的，所以囑咐他們三人不要告訴人祂會死裏復活。從這經文和事後發生的事，知道那時的門徒根本不信，不是那時的祂不知道這事，而是因為，「現在事情還沒有成就，我預先告訴你們，叫你們到事情成就的時候，就可以信。」(約翰福音 14:29)

     從門徒議論從死裏復活是甚麼意思，就可以看到他們那時對舊約不太熟，要不然，至少是應該知道人是可以從死裏復活的，何況是神的愛子耶穌。因為死人復活，在舊約發生了一次，就是「以利沙死了，人將他葬埋。 到了新年，有一羣摩押人犯境，有人正葬死人，忽然看見一羣人，就把死人拋在以利沙的墳墓裏，一碰着以利沙的骸骨，死人就復活站起來了。」(列王紀下 13:20-21)  當然，他們不會知道耶穌復活後永遠不死。順便一提的是，新約也記錄過一次人從死裏復活，還是最終會死的事情，就是拉撒路的復活(參約翰福音 11:1-46)

        關於以利亞已經來了這事，「…是指着施洗的約翰。」(馬太福音 17:13) 因「他必有以利亞的心志(G4151, spirit)能力，行在主的前面，叫為父(G3962, 複數)的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧，又為主預備合用的百姓。」(路加福音 1:17) 所以不是說施洗約翰就是以利亞，而是在他的靈裏和能力中。

3. 耶穌治癒被啞巴鬼附身的人之症狀

       「耶穌到了門徒那裏，看見有許多人圍着他們，又有文士和他們辯論。眾人一見耶穌，都甚希奇，就跑上去問他的安。耶穌問他們說：「你們和他們辯論的是甚麼？」眾人中間有一個人回答說：「夫子，我帶了我的兒子到你這裏來，他被啞巴鬼附着。無論在哪裏，鬼捉弄他，把他摔倒，他就口中流沫，咬牙切齒，身體枯乾。我請過你的門徒把鬼趕出去，他們卻是不能。」耶穌說：「噯，不信的世代啊！我在你們這裏要到幾時呢？我忍耐你們要到幾時呢？把他帶到我這裏來吧。」他們就帶了他來。他一見耶穌，鬼便叫他重重地抽風，倒在地上，翻來覆去，口中流沫。耶穌問他父親說：「他得這病有多少日子呢？」 回答說：「從小的時候。鬼屢次把他扔在火裏、水裏，要滅他。你若能做甚麼，求你憐憫我們，幫助我們！」」(馬可福音 9:14-22)

        同樣的一件事情在馬太福音 17:14-21 也有較簡單的記載，那孩子的症狀在這些經文中說明非常清楚，那鬼想要滅那兒子，並沒有成功，讓他的父親有機會尋求主的憐憫。門徒不能把鬼趕出去，是因為信心小的緣故，這就是馬太福音所說的，「門徒暗暗地到耶穌跟前說：「我們為甚麼不能趕出那鬼呢？」耶穌說：「是因你們的信心小。…」(馬太福音 17:19-20) 等下我們會再討論這些經文，看這些經文到底意思為何。

     在這次說到了那鬼被趕出前對那兒子有傷害，但不是每次鬼被趕出來時都會傷害人的， 如經文記載說，「耶穌責備他說：「不要做聲，從這人身上出來吧！」鬼把那人摔倒在眾人中間，就出來了，卻也沒有害他。」(路加福音 4:35) 

4. 耶穌幫助信不足的父親

       「耶穌對他說：「你若能信，在信的人，凡事都能。」孩子的父親立時喊着說：「我信，但我信不足，求主幫助！」耶穌看見眾人都跑上來，就斥責那污鬼說：「你這聾啞的鬼，我吩咐你從他裏頭出來，再不要進去！」那鬼喊叫，使孩子大大地抽了一陣風，就出來了。孩子好像死了一般，以致眾人多半說：「他是死了。」但耶穌拉着他的手，扶他起來，他就站起來了。耶穌進了屋子，門徒就暗暗地問他說：「我們為甚麼不能趕出他去呢？」耶穌說：「非用禱告，這一類的鬼總不能出來。」」(馬可福音 9:23-29)

        我們又一次看到耶穌是有憐憫有恩典的，當孩子的父親知道自己信不足而求祂幫助時，衪就幫助了他，趕出了那惡鬼。我們又一次看到祂有屬靈的權柄，聾啞的鬼聽祂的。

        關於趕出那鬼，馬太福音是這樣說的，「門徒暗暗地到耶穌跟前說：「我們為甚麼不能趕出那鬼呢？」耶穌說：「是因你們的信心小。我實在告訴你們：你們若有信心像一粒芥菜種，就是對這座山說，『你從這邊挪到那邊』，它也必挪去，並且你們沒有一件不能做的事了。至於這一類的鬼，若不禱告禁食，他就不出來。」」(馬太福音 17:19-21) 馬太福音和馬可福音有明顯的矛盾，因為一個人可能會問，要趕出這一類的鬼到底要不要禁食？要的。耶穌能趕出那鬼，我們就知道耶穌是禁食的，這是我們從這明顯的矛盾第一會注意到的。

        門徒沒有禁食，當然趕不出那鬼，因經文說得很清楚，「那時，約翰的門徒來見耶穌，說：「我們和法利賽人常常禁食，你的門徒倒不禁食，這是為甚麼呢？」耶穌對他們說：「新郎(耶穌)和陪伴之人同在的時候，陪伴之人豈能哀慟呢？但日子將到，新郎要離開他們，那時候他們就要禁食。」(馬太福音 9:14-15) 所以第二要注意到的是耶穌告訴門徒，他們那時沒有一粒芥菜種的信心，這點以後被證實了。當耶穌被捕時，「門徒都離開他，逃走了。」(馬可福音 14:50)

    我們注意到，聖經沒有記載，耶穌從沒有對任何一座(物理的)山說，「…『你從這邊挪到那邊』，它也必挪去，…」(馬太福音 17:20) 難道耶穌沒有一粒芥菜種的信心嗎？這顯然是不對的，所以這裏是指屬靈的事。在大使命中說，「所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，…」(馬太福音 28:19) 我們要傳，但不是每一個都相信。當一個人相信時，不就是他面前的屬靈大山被移走了嗎？

5. 耶穌第二次預言死後三天復活

       「他們離開那地方，經過加利利，耶穌不願意人知道。於是教訓門徒，說：「人子將要被交在人手裏，他們要殺害他；被殺以後，過三天他要復活。」門徒卻不明白這話，又不敢問他。」(馬可福音 9:30-32)

        關於預言死後三天復活，有三次，第一次就是上次所談的馬可福音 8:31-33，也在馬太福音 16:21-23 和路加福音 9:22。這是第二次，很清楚的說到是經過加利利發生的，即使這是第二次了，門徒仍是不知所云。所以要知道這預言的全部情況，我們必須去看所有的福音書，也就是取其聯集。

6. 耶穌看誰為大

       「他們來到迦百農。耶穌在屋裏問門徒說：「你們在路上議論的是甚麼？」門徒不做聲，因為他們在路上彼此爭論誰為大。耶穌坐下，叫十二個門徒來，說：「若有人願意作首先的，他必作眾人末後的，作眾人的用人。」於是領過一個小孩子來，叫他站在門徒中間，又抱起他來，對他們說：「凡為我名接待一個像這小孩子的，就是接待我；凡接待我的，不是接待我，乃是接待那差我來的。」」(馬可福音 9:33-37)

     的確，從人的角度看，門徒是會彼此爭論誰為大的。關於誰為大這個問題，耶穌的立場是和這裏說的是一致的。當一個人物理上長大了，不可能再回到物理上小孩子的狀態，又長小了，所以這裏到底是指什麼呢？耶穌說，「你們中間誰為大，誰就要作你們的用人。凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。」(馬太福音 23:11-12) 這裏並沒有說這小孩子有多大，猜不出來的。不過他顯然是還在自卑的年齡，要不耶穌就不會抱著他以他為榜樣說話。他一切都靠父母，就如我們一樣，一切都要仰望天父，所以是要像這小孩。耶穌不祇是說說而已，衪是以身作則，在最後的晚餐時，祂不是幫門徒洗腳嗎？(參約翰福音 13:1-17)

        「耶穌說：「外邦人有君王為主治理他們，那掌權管他們的稱為恩主。但你們不可這樣。你們裏頭為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。是誰為大？是坐席的呢？是服事人的呢？不是坐席的大嗎？然而，我在你們中間如同服事人的。」(路加福音 22:25-27) 這不又是一致的在說這概念嗎？衹是使徒並沒有體會到祂的心意，我們會在未來要討論的經文中看到這一點。

7. 不敵擋我們的就是幫助我們的

       「約翰對耶穌說：「夫子，我們看見一個人奉你的名趕鬼，我們就禁止他，因為他不跟從我們。」耶穌說：「不要禁止他，因為沒有人奉我名行異能，反倒輕易毀謗我。不敵擋我們的，就是幫助我們的。凡因你們是屬基督，給你們一杯水喝的，我實在告訴你們：他不能不得賞賜。」「凡使這信我的一個小子跌倒的，倒不如把大磨石拴在這人的頸項上，扔在海裏。倘若你一隻手叫你跌倒，就把它砍下來；你缺了肢體進入永生，強如有兩隻手落到地獄(G1067)，入那不滅的火裏去。倘若你一隻腳叫你跌倒，就把它砍下來；你瘸腿進入永生，強如有兩隻腳被丟在地獄(G1067)裏。倘若你一隻眼叫你跌倒，就去掉它；你只有一隻眼進入神的國，強如有兩隻眼被丟在地獄(G1067)裏。在那裏，『蟲是不死的，火是不滅的。』因為必用火當鹽醃各人。「鹽本是好的，若失了味，可用甚麼叫它再鹹呢？你們裏頭應當有鹽，彼此和睦(G1514)。」」(馬可福音 9:38-50) 

        關於「不敵擋我們的就是幫助我們的」，在別的經節也說過，「約翰說：「夫子，我們看見一個人奉你的名趕鬼，我們就禁止他，因為他不與我們一同跟從你。」耶穌說：「不要禁止他，因為不敵擋你們的，就是幫助你們的。」」(路加福音 9:49-50) 這裏更清楚的解釋了為什麼不敵擋我們的就是幫助我們的，並賞賜那些直接幫忙的。

        對我們而言，寧可有肉體的殘缺，仍要得著屬靈的生命而不下地獄，這裏描述了地獄的可怕。有些人真是為了屬靈的生命而有肉體的殘缺，但絕不是每一個人都如此。因為在模成耶穌的路上，那一個人沒有跌倒過，如果一跌倒就有肉體的殘缺，那教會都是由有殘缺的人所構成，而這是不真實的敍述。

     我們談過猶太人那時所用的岩鹽是會失味的，經文說，「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。」(馬太福音 5:13) 要作一個有鹽，彼此和睦(G1514)的人。

        這就是保羅所說的，「還有末了的話：願弟兄們都喜樂！要作完全人，要受安慰，要同心合意，要彼此和睦(G1514)。如此，仁愛和平的神必常與你們同在。」(哥林多後書 13:11) 他又說，「弟兄們，我們勸你們敬重那在你們中間勞苦的人，就是在主裏面治理你們、勸戒你們的。又因他們所做的工，用愛心格外尊重他們。你們也要彼此和睦(G1514)。」(帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:12-13) 也强調，「若是能行，總要盡力與眾人和睦(G1514)。」(羅馬書 12:18) 這個字G1514衹出現了四次，都在這裏了。

(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 looked at the scene on the Mount of Transfiguration, citing previous discussions and adding the discussion of an apparent contradiction that was not discussed at that time. Second, we quoted scriptures to explain that John the Baptist is in the spirit and power of Elijah. Third, we talked about the symptoms of the boy who was possessed by a demon and was healed by Jesus. Fourth, we talked about Jesus helping his father who didn’t have enough faith. From an apparent contradiction in verses, we saw that Jesus was fasting and that the disciples at that time had no faith as small as a mustard seed. Fifth, we briefly discussed Jesus’ second prophecy of his resurrection after three days of death. Sixth, we discussed who Jesus considers the greatest, and that is the humble people. Finally, the verses clearly state why those who are not against us are those who help us. For Christians, it is better to have physical deformities in order to have spiritual life and avoid hell.

1. The scene on the Mount of Transfiguration

“And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.” Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.”(Mark 9:1-8) 

The same event is recorded in Luke 9:28-36 and Matthew 17:1-8. The record here is more detailed than that in the book of Matthew. It is basically the same, but the book of Matthew adds, “When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.””(Matthew 17:6-7) The three of them entered the cloud and heard the voice from heaven. It was reasonable for them to be afraid at first, so Jesus touched them and gave them the strength to no longer be afraid. Previously, in “1. What happened in the Mount of Transfiguration” under “1058 Mount of Transfiguration, who is greater, and looking back -Jesus (13),” we discussed in detail Luke 9:28-36 and many other related scriptures, including why we should not just be saved, and from the scriptures we can see that there are fallen Christians outside the New Jerusalem that is coming as mentioned in the book of Revelation. Please visit our website, https://a-christian-voice.com/, and click on “On spiritual understanding about life” to find this article.

Because we can’t possibly discuss all the issues, today we’ll look at an apparent contradiction that we didn’t discuss last time. The book of Luke says, “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.”(Luke 9:28). Here, it says six days. Clearly, the purpose of this apparent contradiction is to draw our attention to what is happening and to focus solely on the beloved Son, Jesus. We also know that “…while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming.”(Luke 9:29) This is why it is called the Mount of Transfiguration. “And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”(Luke 9:30-31)

2. John the Baptist being in the spirit and power of Elijah

“As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.””(Mark 9:9-13)

Clearly, Jesus was taking a low profile at that time, instructing the three men not to tell anyone that He would be resurrected from the dead. From this passage and subsequent events, we know that the disciples were completely unconvinced. It wasn’t that He didn’t know about this, but rather, “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.”(John 14:29)

The disciples’ discussion of the resurrection from the dead reveals that they were not very familiar with the Old Testament at the time. Otherwise, they would have at least known that humans could be resurrected from the dead, let alone Jesus, God’s beloved Son. Because the dead were resurrected, there was an incident in the Old Testament where “Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites would invade the land in the spring of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet.”(2 Kings 13:20-21) Of course, they didn’t know that Jesus would never die after His resurrection. Incidentally, the New Testament also records a resurrection from the dead, though ultimately mortal, of Lazarus (see John 11:1-46).

Regarding the coming of Elijah, “Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.”(Matthew 17:13). For “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(Luke 1:17). Therefore, John the Baptist is not identical to Elijah, but rather in his spirit and power.

3. The symptoms of the boy possessed by a demon but healed by Jesus 

“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!””(Mark 9:14-22)

The same incident is briefly recorded in Matthew 17:14-21. The child’s symptoms are clearly described in these verses. The demon tried to kill the son but failed, giving his father an opportunity to seek the Lord’s mercy. The disciples were unable to cast out the demon because of their lack of faith, as the book of  Matthew mentioned: “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; …”(Matthew 17:19-20) We will discuss these verses later to see what they truly mean.

This time, it mentions that the demon harmed the son before being cast out. However, not every demon that is cast out will harm someone. As the Scripture records, “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.”(Luke 4:35)

4. Jesus helps the father not believing enough

“And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.””(Mark 9:23-29)

Once again, we see Jesus’ compassion and grace. When the child’s father, realizing his lack of enough faith, asked for His help, He helped him and cast out the evil spirit. Once again, we see His spiritual authority; the deaf and mute demon obeyed Him.

Regarding the casting out of the demon, the book of Matthew says, “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. [But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”]”(Matthew 17:19-21) There is an obvious contradiction between the books of Matthew and Mark, as one might ask, is fasting necessary to cast out this kind of demon? Yes. Since Jesus was able to cast out the demon, we know that he fasted. This is the first thing we notice about this apparent contradiction.

Since the disciples did not fast, they certainly could not cast out the demon, as the Scripture clearly states: “Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom (Jesus) cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”(Matthew 9:14-15) Therefore, the second thing to note is that Jesus told the disciples that they did not have the faith of a mustard seed at that time, a fact later confirmed. When Jesus was arrested, “…they all left Him and fled.”(Mark 14:50)

We note that the Bible does not record Jesus saying to any (physical) mountain, “…Move from here to there,’ and it will move; …”(Matthew 17:20) Did Jesus not have the faith of a mustard seed? This is obviously wrong, so the reference here is to spiritual matters. The Great Commission says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, …”

(Matthew 28:19). We are to preach, but not everyone will believe. When a person believes, isn’t the spiritual mountain removed from him?

5. Jesus’ second prophecy of His resurrection three days after death

“From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.”(Mark 9:30-32)

The prophecy of resurrection three days after death occurs three times. The first is in Mark 8:31-33, discussed last time, as well as in Matthew 16:21-23 and Luke 9:22. This second prophecy clearly states that it will take place in Galilee. Even then, the disciples still did not understand this statement. To understand the full situation of this prophecy, we must read all the Gospels, or in other words, we have to take the union of them.

6. Whom Jesus considers the greatest

“They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.””(Mark 9:33-37)

Indeed, from a human perspective, the disciples would have argued among themselves about who was the greatest. Jesus’ position on the question of who is greatest is consistent with what is said here. When a person grows up physically, it is impossible to return to the physical state of a child and become smaller again. So, what is the true meaning here? Jesus said, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”(Matthew 23:11-12) It does not say here how old the child was, so it is impossible to guess. However, he was obviously still at the age of being humble, otherwise Jesus would not hold him in His arms and use him as an example to speak. He relied on his parents for everything, just like us, and we must look to the heavenly Father for everything, so we had to be like this child. Jesus did not just say it, he set an example by His own actions. Didn’t He wash the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper? (See John 13:1-17)

“And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”(Luke 22:25-27) Doesn’t this again align with the same concept? It’s just that the apostles didn’t understand His intention, as we will see in the passages we will discuss in the future.

7. Those who are not against us are for us 

“John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another (G1514).””(Mark 9:38-50)

Regarding the saying “For he who is not against us is for us,” another verse also states: “John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.””(Luke 9:49-50) Here more clearly explains why those who are not against us are for us, and rewards those who directly help us.

For us, it’s better to have physical defects in order to have spiritual life than to go to hell. This describes the horror of hell. Some truly accept physical defects for the sake of spiritual life, but not everyone does. On the path to be conformed to the image of Jesus, who hasn’t stumbled? If a fall resulted in physical defects, then the church would be composed of people with physical defects, which is not true.

We’ve discussed how the rock salt used by the Jews at the time would lose its flavor. The Bible 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.”(Matthew 5:13). We should be salty people who live in peace with one another (G1514).

This is what Paul said, “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace (G1t14); and the God of love and peace will be with you.”(2 Corinthians 13:11) He also said, “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another (G1514).”(1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) and emphasize, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (G1514).”(Romans 12:18). This word G1514 only appears four times, all here.

(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，讲到了七饼几小鱼喂四千人的神迹，因其与五饼二鱼的神迹类似，我们就引用了过去的讨论。第二，说到法利赛人的求神迹不得，预言人子也要如约拿般三日三夜在地里头，简短的讨论了约拿的神迹。第三，我们说到防备法利赛人和希律的酵是什么意思。第四，谈到耶稣吐唾沫去治愈瞎子的详情。第五，谈谈彼得认耶稣为基督这事情，从经文中看到这个希腊字G4073有两个意义， 磐石和小石。因用的是双关语，所以彼得只是小石，不是磐石。第六，谈到耶稣第一次预言死三天后而复活，也顺便提到另外二次是什么。最后，讲到要治死那属世的生命而得到属灵的生命，有耳可听的，就应当听！

1. 七饼几小鱼喂四千人       

    「那时，又有许多人聚集，并没有甚么吃的。耶稣叫门徒来，说：「我怜悯这众人，因为他们同我在这里已经三天，也没有吃的了。我若打发他们饿著回家，就必在路上困乏，因为其中有从远处来的。」门徒回答说：「在这野地，从哪里能得饼，叫这些人吃饱呢？」耶稣问他们说：「你们有多少饼？」 他们说：「七个。」他吩咐众人坐在地上，就拿著这七个饼祝谢了，擘开，递给门徒，叫他们摆开，门徒就摆在众人面前。又有几条小鱼，耶稣祝了福，就吩咐也摆在众人面前。众人都吃，并且吃饱了；收拾剩下的零碎，有七筐子。人数约有四千。耶稣打发他们走了，随即同门徒上船，来到大玛努他境内。」(马可福音 8:1-10)        

    同一件事也记载在马太福音 15:32-39，但说「耶稣叫众人散去，就上船，来到马加丹的境界。」(马太福音 15:39) 所以大玛努他和马加丹是指同一个区域。     

    这和五饼二鱼的神迹类似，是「…拿著这七个饼和几条鱼，祝谢了，擘开，递给门徒，门徒又递给众人。」(马太福音 15:36) 这里不是为著祝谢饼和鱼，而是像擘饼礼中代表擘开自己的身体，供应他们灵粮，等下我们讨论马可福音 8:19-21，就知道我们以前在「3118 五饼二鱼, 平静风和海, 及灵粮 – 约(6)1-33」中的「1. 五饼二鱼的神迹」，这样的讨论是对的。就像我们在那篇文章所说的，很显然他们在五饼二鱼的神迹中并没有体会到耶稣的心意！因为我们详细的讨论过五饼二鱼的神迹，这里就不讨论类似的七饼几小鱼喂饱四千人的神迹了。对这篇文章有兴趣的人，请到网站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，按『对属灵生命的了解』。

2. 法利赛人求神迹       

    「法利赛人出来盘问耶稣，求他从天上显个神迹给他们看，想要试探他。耶稣心里深深地叹息，说：「这世代为甚么求神迹呢？我实在告诉你们，没有神迹给这世代看！」」(马可福音 8:11-12)        

    耶稣那时早已行了许多神迹了，他们只是要找祂的把柄。对求神迹这件事，也记载在路加福音 11:29-32 和马太福音 12:38-42。后者很清楚的说，「当时，有几个文士和法利赛人对耶稣说：「夫子，我们愿意你显个神迹给我们看。」耶稣回答说：「一个邪恶、淫乱的世代求看神迹，除了先知约拿的神迹以外，再没有神迹给他们看。约拿三日三夜在大鱼肚腹中，人子也要这样三日三夜在地里头。当审判的时候，尼尼微人要起来定这世代的罪，因为尼尼微人听了约拿所传的，就悔改了；看哪，在这里有一人比约拿更大。当审判的时候，南方的女王要起来定这世代的罪，因为她从地极而来，要听所罗门的智慧话；看哪，在这里有一人比所罗门更大。」(马太福音 12:38-42)        

    约拿的神迹很清楚的记载在约拿书 1:1-2:10，其中说到「耶和华安排一条大鱼吞了约拿，他在鱼腹中三日三夜。」(约拿书 1:17) 这里也很清楚的预言，「约拿三日三夜在大鱼肚腹中，人子也要这样三日三夜在地里头。」(马太福音 12:40) 这也是祂在不同的情况下预言的，「他们还住在加利利的时候，耶稣对门徒说：「人子将要被交在人手里。他们要杀害他，第三日他要复活。」…」(马太福音 17:22-23)     

    我们知道耶稣是真正死了三天，在约拿书中，「约拿在鱼腹中祷告耶和华他的神，说：「我遭遇患难求告耶和华，你就应允我；从阴间的深处呼求，你就俯听我的声音。」」(约拿书 2:1-2) 虽然有人说约拿不过是从阴间的深处呼求，并没有说他死了，但一个人到了阴间，不是死了是什么，所以约拿是在鱼腹中死透了，然后复活，这就犹如新约的拉撒路死而复活，终究还是会死的。另外，我们「从借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看，约拿如果不是死后三天而复活，耶稣就不会说，「人子也要这样三日三夜在地里头。」当然，只有这点类似，耶稣是复活后永远不死。

3. 防备法利赛人和希律的酵       

    「他就离开他们，又上船往海那边去了。门徒忘了带饼，在船上除了一个饼，没有别的食物。耶稣嘱咐他们说：「你们要谨慎，防备法利赛人的酵和希律的酵。」他们彼此议论说：「这是因为我们没有饼吧？」耶稣看出来，就说：「你们为甚么因为没有饼就议论呢？你们还不省悟，还不明白吗？你们的心还是愚顽吗？你们有眼睛，看不见吗？有耳朵，听不见吗？也不记得吗？我擘开那五个饼分给五千人，你们收拾的零碎装满了多少篮子呢？」 他们说：「十二个。」「又擘开那七个饼分给四千人，你们收拾的零碎装满了多少筐子呢？」 他们说：「七个。」耶稣说：「你们还是不明白吗？」」(马可福音 8:13-21)        

    同样的一件事情在马太福音 16:5-12 也有记载，并明说了，「我对你们说：『要防备法利赛人和撒都该人的酵』，这话不是指著饼说的，你们怎么不明白呢？」门徒这才晓得他说的，不是叫他们防备饼的酵，乃是防备法利赛人和撒都该人的教训。」(马太福音 16:11-12) 门徒还以为是没有带饼的缘故，所以耶稣会说：「…你们这小信的人，…」(马太福音 16:8) 请注意，耶稣所强调的是擘开，其余的经文非常清楚，就不多谈了。

4. 耶稣吐唾沫治愈瞎子       

    「他们来到伯赛大，有人带一个瞎子来，求耶稣摸他。耶稣拉著瞎子的手，领他到村外，就吐唾沫在他眼睛上，按手在他身上，问他说：「你看见甚么了？」他就抬头一看，说：「我看见人了，他们好像树木，并且行走。」随后又按手在他眼睛上，他定睛一看，就复了原，样样都看得清楚了。耶稣打发他回家，说：「连这村子你也不要进去。」」(马可福音 8:22-26)       

    请注意，耶稣治愈瞎子会使用不同的方式，譬如「耶稣说了这话，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，对他说：「你往西罗亚池子里去洗。」（「西罗亚」翻出来就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回头就看见了。」(约翰福音 9:6-7) 这次是用两段式的，并在村外进行，显然这村子有问题，因「耶稣打发他回家，说：「连这村子你也不要进去。」」(马可福音 8:26)

5. 彼得认耶稣为基督       

    「耶稣和门徒出去，往凯撒利亚腓立比的村庄去。在路上问门徒说：「人说我是谁？」他们说：「有人说是施洗的约翰，有人说是以利亚，又有人说是先知里的一位。又问他们说：「你们说我是谁？」 彼得回答说：「你是基督。」耶稣就禁戒他们，不要告诉人。」(马可福音 8:27-30)       

    同样的一件事情在路加福音 9:18-20 简短的记载著，也记录在马太福音 16:13-20，并说，「西门彼得回答说：「你是基督，是永生神的儿子。」耶稣对他说：「西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。我还告诉你：你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石(rock, G4073)上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他。我要把天国的钥匙给你，凡你在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。」」(马太福音 16:16-19)       

    有争议的是这个字G4073， 这个字出现了16次，我们先看这经文，「…所喝的是出于随著他们的灵磐石(G4073)，那磐石(G4073)就是基督。」(哥林多前书 10:4) 很显然的，在这经文的 G4073 是指基督那大磐石，那真正不能动摇的磐石。再看另两节经文，「所以，凡听见我这话就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石(G4073)上。雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞著那房子，房子总不倒塌，因为根基立在磐石(G4073)上。」(马太福音 7:24-25) 和「有落在磐石(G4073)上的，一出来就枯干了，因为得不著滋润。」(路加福音 8:6) 这两者的G4073绝对不是指像耶稣般的大磐石，相比起来只能说是小石，所以G4073有两个意义， 磐石和小石。     

    那么在这经文，「我还告诉你：你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石(G4073)上，阴间的权柄不能胜过他。」(马太福音 16:18) 这G4073究竟是磐石或小石?「从神借著圣经告诉我们是一致的」来看就很清楚了，「…那已经立好的根基就是耶稣基督，此外没有人能立别的根基。」(哥林多前书 3:11) 所以彼得只是小石，不是磐石。这是双关语，在其他的地方也用过，「就是为我在捆锁中所生的儿子阿尼西母求你。他从前与你没有益处，但如今与你我都有益处。」(腓利门书 1:10-11) 阿尼西母这名字就是有益处的意思。

6. 预言死三天后而复活       

    「从此，他教训他们说：「人子必须受许多的苦，被长老、祭司长和文士弃绝，并且被杀，过三天复活。」耶稣明明地说这话，彼得就拉著他劝他。耶稣转过来，看著门徒，就责备(斥责, G2008, rebuked)彼得说：「撒但，退我后边去吧！因为你不体贴神的意思，只体贴人的意思。」」(马可福音 8:31-33)       

    这是第一次耶稣死三天后复活的预言，在马太福音 16:21-23 和路加福音 9:22 也有记载。虽然耶稣说：「西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。」(马太福音 16:17) 但当彼得只体贴人的意思，而不体贴神的意思时，耶稣知道是从撒但来的，就斥责彼得。        

    顺便一提其他的两次的预言，第二次是「他们还住在加利利的时候，耶稣对门徒说：「人子将要被交在人手里。他们要杀害他，第三日他要复活。」门徒就大大地忧愁。」(马太福音 17:22-23) 第三次是在耶稣上耶路撒冷去的时候对十二个门徒说：「看哪，我们上耶路撒冷去，人子要被交给祭司长和文士。他们要定他死罪，又交给外邦人，将他戏弄、鞭打、钉在十字架上，第三日他要复活。」(马太福音 20:18-19)

7. 治死那属世的生命而得到属灵的生命       

    「于是叫众人和门徒来，对他们说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为，凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我和福音丧掉生命的，必救了生命。人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有甚么益处呢？人还能拿甚么换生命呢？凡在这淫乱罪恶的世代，把我和我的道当作可耻的，人子在他父的荣耀里，同圣天使降临的时候，也要把那人当作可耻的。」」(马可福音 8:34-38)        

    关于基督徒要背十字架，在马太福音 10:38-39和马太福音 16:24-27也说到。后者更讲到，「人子要在他父的荣耀里，同著众使者降临；那时候，他要照各人的行为报应各人。」(马太福音 16:27) 是的，基督徒要有信心的行为。这里说要治死老我，就是「你们若顺从肉体活著，必要死；若靠著圣灵治死身体的恶行，必要活著。」(罗马书 8:13) 治死那属世的生命，而得到那属灵的生命。在一个人相信的时候，就有了一个新灵和内住的圣灵(参以西结书 36:26-27，哥林多前书 6:19) 身体的得赎是在主第二次来时(参哥林多前书 15:35-54) 因人由灵魂体构成(参帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:23)， 所以我们要治死老我的是魂生命。虽然圣经没有用过老我或魂生命这些辞，但如我们以上所讨论的，圣经绝对有这概念，就犹如圣经没有用过三位一体这辞，绝对有神是三位一体的神的观念。       

    路加福音 9:23-26说到同样的事情，路加福音 14:27-35 也说到这点，并加上，「凡不背著自己十字架跟从我的，也不能作我的门徒。」(路加福音 14:27) 并举例说明这一点，最后还加上了，「…有耳可听的，就应当听！」(路加福音 14:35) 真要有一个能听的耳。

(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，講到了七餅幾小魚餵四千人的神蹟，因其與五餅二魚的神蹟類似，我們就引用了過去的討論。第二，說到法利賽人的求神蹟不得，預言人子也要如約拿般三日三夜在地裏頭，簡短的討論了約拿的神蹟。第三，我們說到防備法利賽人和希律的酵是什麼意思。第四，談到耶穌吐唾沫去治癒瞎子的詳情。第五，談談彼得認耶穌為基督這事情，從經文中看到這個希臘字G4073有兩個意義， 磐石和小石。因用的是雙關語，所以彼得衹是小石，不是磐石。第六，談到耶穌第一次預言死三天後而復活，也順便提到另外二次是什麼。最後，講到要治死那屬世的生命而得到屬靈的生命，有耳可聽的，就應當聽！

1. 七餅幾小魚餵四千人

       「那時，又有許多人聚集，並沒有甚麼吃的。耶穌叫門徒來，說：「我憐憫這眾人，因為他們同我在這裏已經三天，也沒有吃的了。我若打發他們餓着回家，就必在路上困乏，因為其中有從遠處來的。」門徒回答說：「在這野地，從哪裏能得餅，叫這些人吃飽呢？」耶穌問他們說：「你們有多少餅？」 他們說：「七個。」他吩咐眾人坐在地上，就拿着這七個餅祝謝了，擘開，遞給門徒，叫他們擺開，門徒就擺在眾人面前。又有幾條小魚，耶穌祝了福，就吩咐也擺在眾人面前。眾人都吃，並且吃飽了；收拾剩下的零碎，有七筐子。人數約有四千。耶穌打發他們走了，隨即同門徒上船，來到大瑪努他境內。」(馬可福音 8:1-10)

        同一件事也記載在馬太福音 15:32-39，但說「耶穌叫眾人散去，就上船，來到馬加丹的境界。」(馬太福音 15:39) 所以大瑪努他和馬加丹是指同一個區域。

     這和五餅二魚的神蹟類似，是「…拿着這七個餅和幾條魚，祝謝了，擘開，遞給門徒，門徒又遞給眾人。」(馬太福音 15:36) 這裡不是為著祝謝餅和魚，而是像擘餅禮中代表擘開自己的身體，供應他們靈糧，等下我們討論馬可福音 8:19-21，就知道我們以前在「2118 五餅二魚, 平靜風和海, 及靈糧 – 約(6)1-33」中的「1. 五餅二魚的神蹟」，這樣的討論是對的。就像我們在那篇文章所說的，很顯然他們在五餅二魚的神蹟中並沒有體會到耶穌的心意！因為我們詳細的討論過五餅二魚的神蹟，這裡就不討論類似的七餅幾小魚餵飽四千人的神蹟了。對這篇文章有興趣的人，請到網站『 https://a-christian-voice.com/』，按『對屬靈生命的瞭解』。

2. 法利賽人求神蹟

       「法利賽人出來盤問耶穌，求他從天上顯個神蹟給他們看，想要試探他。耶穌心裏深深地歎息，說：「這世代為甚麼求神蹟呢？我實在告訴你們，沒有神蹟給這世代看！」」(馬可福音 8:11-12)

        耶穌那時早已行了許多神蹟了，他們衹是要找祂的把柄。對求神蹟這件事，也記載在路加福音 11:29-32 和馬太福音 12:38-42。後者很清楚的說，「當時，有幾個文士和法利賽人對耶穌說：「夫子，我們願意你顯個神蹟給我們看。」耶穌回答說：「一個邪惡、淫亂的世代求看神蹟，除了先知約拿的神蹟以外，再沒有神蹟給他們看。約拿三日三夜在大魚肚腹中，人子也要這樣三日三夜在地裏頭。當審判的時候，尼尼微人要起來定這世代的罪，因為尼尼微人聽了約拿所傳的，就悔改了；看哪，在這裏有一人比約拿更大。當審判的時候，南方的女王要起來定這世代的罪，因為她從地極而來，要聽所羅門的智慧話；看哪，在這裏有一人比所羅門更大。」(馬太福音 12:38-42)

        約拿的神蹟很清楚的記載在約拿書 1:1-2:10，其中說到「耶和華安排一條大魚吞了約拿，他在魚腹中三日三夜。」(約拿書 1:17) 這裡也很清楚的預言，「約拿三日三夜在大魚肚腹中，人子也要這樣三日三夜在地裏頭。」(馬太福音 12:40) 這也是祂在不同的情況下預言的，「他們還住在加利利的時候，耶穌對門徒說：「人子將要被交在人手裏。他們要殺害他，第三日他要復活。」…」(馬太福音 17:22-23)

     我們知道耶穌是真正死了三天，在約拿書中，「約拿在魚腹中禱告耶和華他的神，說：「我遭遇患難求告耶和華，你就應允我；從陰間的深處呼求，你就俯聽我的聲音。」」(約拿書 2:1-2) 雖然有人說約拿不過是從陰間的深處呼求，並沒有說他死了，但一個人到了陰間，不是死了是什麼，所以約拿是在魚腹中死透了，然後復活，這就猶如新約的拉撒路死而復活，終究還是會死的。另外，我們「從藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看，約拿如果不是死後三天而復活，耶穌就不會說，「人子也要這樣三日三夜在地裏頭。」當然，衹有這點類似，耶穌是復活後永遠不死。

3. 防備法利賽人和希律的酵

       「他就離開他們，又上船往海那邊去了。門徒忘了帶餅，在船上除了一個餅，沒有別的食物。耶穌囑咐他們說：「你們要謹慎，防備法利賽人的酵和希律的酵。」他們彼此議論說：「這是因為我們沒有餅吧？」耶穌看出來，就說：「你們為甚麼因為沒有餅就議論呢？你們還不省悟，還不明白嗎？你們的心還是愚頑嗎？你們有眼睛，看不見嗎？有耳朵，聽不見嗎？也不記得嗎？我擘開那五個餅分給五千人，你們收拾的零碎裝滿了多少籃子呢？」 他們說：「十二個。」「又擘開那七個餅分給四千人，你們收拾的零碎裝滿了多少筐子呢？」 他們說：「七個。」耶穌說：「你們還是不明白嗎？」」(馬可福音 8:13-21)

        同樣的一件事情在馬太福音 16:5-12 也有記載，並明說了，「我對你們說：『要防備法利賽人和撒都該人的酵』，這話不是指着餅說的，你們怎麼不明白呢？」門徒這才曉得他說的，不是叫他們防備餅的酵，乃是防備法利賽人和撒都該人的教訓。」(馬太福音 16:11-12) 門徒還以為是沒有帶餅的緣故，所以耶穌會說：「…你們這小信的人，…」(馬太福音 16:8) 請注意，耶穌所强調的是擘開，其餘的經文非常清楚，就不多談了。

4. 耶穌吐唾沫治癒瞎子

       「他們來到伯賽大，有人帶一個瞎子來，求耶穌摸他。耶穌拉着瞎子的手，領他到村外，就吐唾沫在他眼睛上，按手在他身上，問他說：「你看見甚麼了？」他就抬頭一看，說：「我看見人了，他們好像樹木，並且行走。」隨後又按手在他眼睛上，他定睛一看，就復了原，樣樣都看得清楚了。耶穌打發他回家，說：「連這村子你也不要進去。」」(馬可福音 8:22-26)

       請注意，耶穌治癒瞎子會使用不同的方式，譬如「耶穌說了這話，就吐唾沫在地上，用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上，對他說：「你往西羅亞池子裏去洗。」（「西羅亞」翻出來就是「奉差遣」。）他去一洗，回頭就看見了。」(約翰福音 9:6-7) 這次是用兩段式的，並在村外進行，顯然這村子有問題，因「耶穌打發他回家，說：「連這村子你也不要進去。」」(馬可福音 8:26)

5. 彼得認耶穌為基督

       「耶穌和門徒出去，往凱撒利亞腓立比的村莊去。在路上問門徒說：「人說我是誰？」他們說：「有人說是施洗的約翰，有人說是以利亞，又有人說是先知裏的一位。又問他們說：「你們說我是誰？」 彼得回答說：「你是基督。」耶穌就禁戒他們，不要告訴人。」(馬可福音 8:27-30)

       同樣的一件事情在路加福音 9:18-20 簡短的記載著，也記錄在馬太福音 16:13-20，並說，「西門彼得回答說：「你是基督，是永生神的兒子。」耶穌對他說：「西門巴約拿，你是有福的！因為這不是屬血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。我還告訴你：你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石(rock, G4073)上，陰間的權柄不能勝過他。我要把天國的鑰匙給你，凡你在地上所捆綁的，在天上也要捆綁；凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要釋放。」」(馬太福音 16:16-19)

       有爭議的是這個字G4073， 這個字出現了16次，我們先看這經文，「…所喝的是出於隨着他們的靈磐石(G4073)，那磐石(G4073)就是基督。」(哥林多前書 10:4) 很顯然的，在這經文的 G4073 是指基督那大磐石，那真正不能動搖的磐石。再看另兩節經文，「所以，凡聽見我這話就去行的，好比一個聰明人，把房子蓋在磐石(G4073)上。雨淋，水沖，風吹，撞着那房子，房子總不倒塌，因為根基立在磐石(G4073)上。」(馬太福音 7:24-25) 和「有落在磐石(G4073)上的，一出來就枯乾了，因為得不着滋潤。」(路加福音 8:6) 這兩者的G4073絕對不是指像耶穌般的大磐石，相比起來衹能說是小石，所以G4073有兩個意義， 磐石和小石。

     那麼在這經文，「我還告訴你：你是彼得，我要把我的教會建造在這磐石(G4073)上，陰間的權柄不能勝過他。」(馬太福音 16:18) 這G4073究竟是磐石或小石?「從神藉著聖經告訴我們是一致的」來看就很清楚了，「…那已經立好的根基就是耶穌基督，此外沒有人能立別的根基。」(哥林多前書 3:11) 所以彼得衹是小石，不是磐石。這是雙關語，在其他的地方也用過，「就是為我在捆鎖中所生的兒子阿尼西母求你。他從前與你沒有益處，但如今與你我都有益處。」(腓利門書 1:10-11) 阿尼西母這名字就是有益處的意思。

6. 預言死三天後而復活

       「從此，他教訓他們說：「人子必須受許多的苦，被長老、祭司長和文士棄絕，並且被殺，過三天復活。」耶穌明明地說這話，彼得就拉着他勸他。耶穌轉過來，看着門徒，就責備(斥責, G2008, rebuked)彼得說：「撒但，退我後邊去吧！因為你不體貼神的意思，只體貼人的意思。」」(馬可福音 8:31-33)

       這是第一次耶穌死三天後復活的預言，在馬太福音 16:21-23 和路加福音 9:22 也有記載。雖然耶穌說：「西門巴約拿，你是有福的！因為這不是屬血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。」(馬太福音 16:17) 但當彼得只體貼人的意思，而不體貼神的意思時，耶穌知道是從撒但來的，就斥責彼得。

        順便一提其他的兩次的預言，第二次是「他們還住在加利利的時候，耶穌對門徒說：「人子將要被交在人手裏。他們要殺害他，第三日他要復活。」門徒就大大地憂愁。」(馬太福音 17:22-23) 第三次是在耶穌上耶路撒冷去的時候對十二個門徒說：「看哪，我們上耶路撒冷去，人子要被交給祭司長和文士。他們要定他死罪，又交給外邦人，將他戲弄、鞭打、釘在十字架上，第三日他要復活。」(馬太福音 20:18-19)

7. 治死那屬世的生命而得到屬靈的生命

       「於是叫眾人和門徒來，對他們說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為，凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了生命。人就是賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿甚麼換生命呢？凡在這淫亂罪惡的世代，把我和我的道當作可恥的，人子在他父的榮耀裏，同聖天使降臨的時候，也要把那人當作可恥的。」」(馬可福音 8:34-38)

        關於基督徒要背十字架，在馬太福音 10:38-39和馬太福音 16:24-27也說到。後者更講到，「人子要在他父的榮耀裏，同着眾使者降臨；那時候，他要照各人的行為報應各人。」(馬太福音 16:27) 是的，基督徒要有信心的行為。這裡說要治死老我，就是「你們若順從肉體活着，必要死；若靠着聖靈治死身體的惡行，必要活着。」(羅馬書 8:13) 治死那屬世的生命，而得到那屬靈的生命。在一個人相信的時候，就有了一個新靈和內住的聖靈(參以西結書 36:26-27，哥林多前書 6:19) 身體的得贖是在主第二次來時(參哥林多前書 15:35-54) 因人由靈魂體構成(參帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:23)， 所以我們要治死老我的是魂生命。雖然聖經沒有用過老我或魂生命這些辭，但如我們以上所討論的，聖經絕對有這概念，就猶如聖經沒有用過三位一體這辭，絕對有神是三位一體的神的觀念。

       路加福音 9:23-26說到同樣的事情，路加福音 14:27-35 也說到這點，並加上，「凡不背着自己十字架跟從我的，也不能作我的門徒。」(路加福音 14:27) 並舉例說明這一點，最後還加上了，「…有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」(路加福音 14:35) 真要有一個能聽的耳。

(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 discussed the miracle of seven loaves and a few small fish feeding four thousand people. Because it is similar to the miracle of five loaves and two fish, we quoted the previous discussion. Second, we talked about the Pharisees’ unsuccessful request for a miracle and the prophecy that the Son of Man would be like Jonah, dead for three days and three nights. We briefly discussed Jonah’s miracle. Third, we talked about the meaning of guarding against the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Fourth, we talked about the details of Jesus spitting to heal the blind man. Fifth, we talked about Peter’s confessing Jesus as the Christ. From the text, we can see that the Greek word G4073 has two meanings, rock and small stone. Because it is a pun, Peter is just a small stone, not a rock. Sixth, we talked about Jesus’ first prophecy of resurrection after three days of death, and also mentioned the other two times. Finally, regarding the need to put to death the worldly life and have spiritual life, those with ears to hear should listen!

1. Seven loaves and a few small fishes to feed four thousand

“In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand were there; and He sent them away. And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha.”(Mark 8:1-10)

The same incident is recorded in Matthew 15:32-39, but it says, “And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.”(Matthew 15:39) Therefore, the regions of Dalmanutha and Magadha refer to the same area.

This is similar to the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, which is “…He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”(Matthew 15:36) This is not about blessing the loaves and fishes, but rather, like the breaking of bread, the representative broke His body to provide them with spiritual food. When we discuss Mark 8:19-21 later, we will know that our previous discussion in “1. The miracle of five loaves and two fish” under “1118 Five loaves and two fish, calm wind in sea, and spiritual food – John (6) 1-33” is correct. As we said in that article, it is obvious that they did not understand Jesus’ intention in the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes! Because we have discussed the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes in detail, we will not discuss the similar miracle of feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fishes here. For those interested in this article, please visit the website “https://a-christian-voice.com/” and click on “On spiritual understanding about life.”

2. The Pharisees asked for a miracle

“The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.””(Mark 8:11-12)

Jesus had already performed many miracles at that time; they simply wanted to find fault with Him. The request for a miracle is also recorded in Luke 11:29-32 and Matthew 12:38-42. The latter states very clearly, “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”(Matthew 12:38-42)

The miracle of Jonah is clearly recorded in Jonah 1:1-2:10, which states, “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.”(Jonah 1 :17) This prophecy is also clear here: “for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”(Matthew 12:40). This was also prophesied under different circumstances: “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” …”(Matthew 17:22-23) on

We know that Jesus truly died for three days. In the Book of Jonah, “Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me.

I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.”(Jonah 2:1-2). Although some say Jonah merely cried from the depths of Sheol and did not die, if a person goes to Sheol, what else is there besides death? Therefore, Jonah died completely in the fish’s belly and then was resurrected. This is just like Lazarus in the New Testament who died and was resurrected; ultimately, he will die. Furthermore, according to “what God tells us through the Bible is consistent,” if Jonah had not been resurrected after three days, Jesus would not have said, “so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Of course, this is the only similarity; Jesus is immortal after His resurrection.

3. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod

“Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?””(Mark 8:13-21)

The same incident is recorded and clearly stated in Matthew 16:5-12: “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The disciples thought it was because they had not brought bread, so Jesus said, “…You men of little faith, …”(Matthew 16:8) Please note that Jesus emphasized breaking. The rest of the Scripture is very clear, so I will not elaborate on it.

4. Jesus spits to heal the blind man

“And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.””(Mark 8:22-26)

Notice that Jesus healing blind men used different methods in different occasions. For example, “When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.”(John 9:6-7) This time, the healing took place in two parts outside the village. Apparently, there was something wrong with the village, for “…He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.””(Mark 8:26)

5. Peter recognizing Jesus as the Christ

“Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him.”(Mark 8:27-30)

The same incident is briefly recorded in Luke 9:18-20 and also in Matthew 16:13-20, where Matthew 16:16-19 states, “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock (G4073) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.””(Matthew 16:16-19)

The controversial word is G4073. This word appears 16 times. Let’s first look at this verse, “…they were drinking from a spiritual rock (G4073) which followed them; and the rock (G4073) was Christ.”(1 Corinthians 10:4) Obviously, G4073 in this verse refers to Christ, the great Rock, the truly unshakable Rock. Let’s look at two other verses: ““Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock (G4073).”(Matthew 7:24-25) and “Other seed fell on rocky soil (G4073), and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.”(Luke 8:6). In these two passages, the rock is definitely not a large rock like Jesus. In comparison, it can only be described as a small stone. Therefore, the word G4073 has two meanings: rock and small stone.

So in this verse, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock (G4073) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”(Matthew 16:18). Is this G4073 a rock or a small stone? This is clear from the agreement of God’s words through the Scriptures: “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”(1 Corinthians 3:11). So Peter is just a small stone, not a rock. This is a pun, also used in other places: “I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”(Philemon 1:10-11). The name Onesimus means ‘useful.’

6. Prophecy of resurrection after three days

“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.””(Mark 8:31-33)

This is the first prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection after three days, also recorded in Matthew 16:21-23 and Luke 9:22. Although Jesus said, “…Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 16:17), when Peter considered only the will of man and not God, Jesus knew it came from Satan and rebuked Peter.

By the way, let’s mention two other prophecies. The second one is: “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” …”(Matthew 17:22-23) The third time was when Jesus was going up to Jerusalem and said to the twelve disciples, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”(Matthew 20:18-19)

7. Putting the worldly life to death and having the spiritual life

“And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.””(Mark 8:34-38)

The fact that Christians must bear the cross is also mentioned in Matthew 10:38-39 and Matthew 16:24-27. The latter further states, “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.”(Matthew 16:27) Yes, christians must have act of faith. Here, it says we must put to death the old self: “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”(Romans 8:13). Putting to death the earthly life allows us to have spiritual life. When a person believes, they receive a new spirit and the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Ezekiel 36:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:19). The body’s redemption occurs at the Lord’s second coming (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-54). Since man is composed of a spirit, soul, and body (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23), it is the soul-life of the old self that we must put to death. Although the Bible does not use the terms “old self” or “soul-life,” as we have discussed above, they are definitely present in the Bible, just as the Bible does not use the term “Trinity” but definitely has the concept of God as a Triune God.

Luke 9:23-26 says the same thing. Luke 14:27-35 also says this, with saying, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27) It gives an example to illustrate this point and finally ends, “…He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”(Luke 14:35) It is really a must to have ears that can hear.

(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.”)

First, we talked about not abandoning God’s commandments and holding fast to human traditions. We saw that Jesus’s evaluation of the Pharisees as blind was consistent. We discussed how the word G5091 should be in Union Version should be ‘honor’ in the way described as in the Bible. We also mentioned the difference between filial piety and stupidly filial in Chinese tradition. We must follow the teachings of the Bible. Second, Jesus said that all foods are clean. We also explained an obvious contradiction in the book of Acts regarding food. We know that the description in the book of Acts is wrong because the words of the Holy Spirit will never contradict what Jesus said. Third, we talked about the remote healing of the Greek woman’s daughter. Finally, we talked about Jesus healing a man who was deaf and with the impediment of his tongue.

1. Don’t setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep the tradition

“The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors (G5091) Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor (G5091) your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.””(Mark 7:1-13)

The same incident is briefly recorded in Matthew 15:1-6, but with the addition: “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’” After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.””(Matthew 15:7-14) In the following verses, it says, “Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”(John 9:40-41) We see that Jesus’ evaluation of the Pharisees as blind is consistent.

Mark 7:1-13 clearly states that we should not abandon God’s commandments and cling to human traditions, and gives the example of the Pharisees who was “thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”(Mark 7:13) We will not elaborate on this point. 

Here, we need to discuss in the Union Version the translation of “…Moses said, ‘Honor (G5091) your father and your mother’; …”(Mark 7:10). This is because the preceding verse, “…This people honors (G5091) Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.”(Mark 7:6), uses the same word, G5091, but has different translations in Union Version. So, what does this word G5091 mean?

This word appears 22 times. If you read all the relevant verses, you will find that these two verses clearly explain its meaning. That is, “so that all will honor (G5091) the Son even as they honor (G5091) the Father. He who does not honor (G5091) the Son does not honor (G5091) the Father who sent Him.”(John 5:23) and “Honor (G5091) all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor (G5091) the king.”(1 Peter 2:17) Because God has absolute sovereignty and cannot make mistakes, thus “…Peter and John answered and said to them, “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) Under the condition of obeying God, we must honor (G5091) everyone and the king, so this word should be translated as ‘honor’ in Union Version.

The Union Version in Mark 7:10 translates G5091 as ‘filial piety,’ because Chinese tradition advocates filial piety and promotes the incorrect, ‘stupidly filial’ found in the “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars.” Using the term ‘filial piety’ is to distinguish it from ‘stupidly filial,’ which is better, but we must understand that its true meaning is ‘honor’ and follow the Bible’s teachings.

2. All foods are clean

“After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”] When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.””(Mark 7:14-23)

Jesus clearly stated that all foods are clean, “because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” …”(Mark 7:19) He further illustrated this by examples saying, “…That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.'(Mark 7:20). This point is very clear. Therefore, Paul said, “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”(Romans 14:14). He also 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)

This is in clear contradiction with the following verse: “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”(Acts 15:28-29). This verse states that there are things that cannot be eaten. However, the Bible is inspired by God. We see this obvious contradiction here to remind us that this verse is spoken by man and definitely not by the Holy Spirit, because the words of the Holy Spirit would never contradict what Jesus said. The Scripture says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”(John 14:26) On the other hand, if the disciples were 100% certain that it came from the Holy Spirit, they would have simply said, ‘For it was good to the Holy Spirit,’ without having to say, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” Therefore, they established this law based on their understanding at the time.

This wasn’t the first time the disciples made a wrong decision based on their understanding at the time. Let’s look at what happened before the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection. At a gathering of about 120 brothers (see Acts 1:15), “So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.”(Acts 1:23-26) So Matthias was chosen by lot, not by Jesus, the Lamb, like the other eleven apostles. Some might say that the crowd prayed! Yes, but the New Testament doesn’t say that this prayer was answered. The promise of answered prayers is explicit. “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.”(Hebrews 5:7)

In contrast, Paul was personally chosen by Jesus after He was resurrected in great light (see Acts 22:6-16). Therefore, Paul is an apostle of the Lamb, while Matthias is not. In the New Jerusalem, “…the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ” (Revelation 21:14). Paul’s name is among them.

Please note that Mark 7:16 refers to the passage added by some ancient manuscripts in brackets, which has the same meaning like as “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:15) It is not found in the main text of every New Testament translation. It doesn’t matter if it’s not there, because the New Testament mentions the same phrase many times.

3. Remote healing of the faithful Greek woman’s daughter

“Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.”(Mark 7:24-30)

Once again, we see Jesus adopting a low-profile attitude when His time is not up, for “Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice.”(Mark 7:24). We also see the Gentile woman’s strong faith, believing that Jesus could heal her absent little daughter from afar. Even when she was compared to a dog, her faith remained unwavering. Because of her faith, Jesus cast out the demon from afar. She truly believed His words and returned home, only to later confirm that what Jesus had said was true.

4. Healing the deaf and tongue-tied man

“Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.””(Mark 7:31-37)

We see that Jesus did not lay his hands on the man as requested, but instead healed him in His own way. The Bible does not explain why He chose this method, so there is no way to guess. We also see that He had spiritual authority to make demons listen to Him, but He had no earthly authority over crowds. Finally, we see Himself “…said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.”(Luke 7:22). Making the deaf hear was only a small part of His work.

(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.”)