2022年5月1日
宗教或救恩?

粵語 國語

第1天


讀經:   

馬可福音七章1至13節

1有法利賽人和幾個文士從耶路撒冷來,到耶穌那裡聚集。

2他們曾看見他的門徒中有人用俗手,就是沒有洗的手,吃飯。

3(原來法利賽人和猶太人都拘守古人的遺傳,若不仔細洗手就不吃飯;

4從市上來,若不洗浴也不吃飯;還有好些別的規矩,他們歷代拘守,就是洗杯、罐、銅器等物。)

5法利賽人和文士問他說:你的門徒為甚麼不照古人的遺傳,用俗手吃飯呢?

6耶穌說:以賽亞指著你們假冒為善之人所說的預言是不錯的。如經上說:這百姓用嘴唇尊敬我,心卻遠離我。

7他們將人的吩咐當作道理教導人,所以拜我也是枉然。

8你們是離棄神的誡命,拘守人的遺傳;

9又說:你們誠然是廢棄神的誡命,要守自己的遺傳。

10摩西說:當孝敬父母;又說:咒罵父母的,必治死他。

11你們倒說:人若對父母說:我所當奉給你的,已經作了各耳板(各耳板就是供獻的意思),

12以後你們就不容他再奉養父母。

13這就是你們承接遺傳,廢了神的道。你們還做許多這樣的事。

耶路撒冷與加利利相距超過115公里;而一些法利賽人卻不惜遠道而來,為的只是攻擊耶穌。法利賽人雖然相信神,但他們卻在神頒布的律法以外,制定了許多繁文縟節,要求眾人去遵守。他們相信,他們只要做足這些表面的工夫,就能贏得神的稱讚。因此,他們只關注外表的禮儀守則,卻沒有留意自己的內心是否與神和好。

有人以為自己一生謹言慎行,就必能得著神的喜悅;但其實神的心意,卻是渴望人能夠全心全意地去愛祂和敬拜祂。這種誤解實在令人感到可悲。

由於法利賽人在神頒布的律法以外,加添了很多新的規條,因此,他們的規條至終便取代了神的律法。基督指出他們如何虧待父母,就是一個明確的事例。(9節)

基督只想破除法利賽人所制定的種種人為法則,幫助百姓明白到,他們只需要遵從神的教導,並與神建立和好的關係,就能討神的喜悅。基督經常教導人說,神最想與人相交,不希望我們與祂之間被罪所阻隔。

但法利賽人卻認為,人若不遵守他們的規則,就是犯罪。他們所關注的是人的行為。然而,基督卻指出,罪是關乎我們內心的污穢──那不是我們雙手表面所看到的污垢,而是隱藏在內心深處的罪污。

你明白到兩者的分別嗎?宗教只是關注我們的行為,然而,救恩卻是要處理我們心中的罪,而只有神才能為我們徹底清除罪污。

  「怎能洗去我的罪?
  只有靠耶穌寶血。
  怎能使我變得完全?
  只有靠耶穌寶血。」

經訓:

「我們若認自己的罪…神必要赦免我們的罪。」約翰壹書一章9節

 

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RELIGION OR SALVATION?
Day 1


Bible Reading:   

Mark 7:1-13

1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.

2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.

3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.

4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? ”

6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘ This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God),

12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.And many such things you do.”

It is over 115 kms from Jerusalem to Galilee. Yet some of the Pharisees walked that distance just to criticise Jesus. The Pharisees were a group of men who, while they were believed in God, made a great many more laws or rules than God ever gave to his people. They thought that by doing certain things they scored points with God. All they cared about were outward things. But their hearts were not right with God.

It is tragic when men or women go through life doing things which they think will pleased God when all the time God is looking for the love and worship of their hearts.

Because the Pharisees had added so many rules of their own to the law which God had given, their rules had taken the place of God's law. Christ mentioned this when pointing out what they had done to the commandment regarding parents (v.9).

Christ wanted to cut through their man-made rules and help people see the need of obeying God and having a right relationship with him. Christ always taught that God wants our fellowship, with no sin between us and him.

The Pharisees thought sin was a failure to keep their rules. It was something on the outside of a person. But Christ said sin is in the heart. It is not just common dirt on our hands, but the stain of sin deep within our hearts.

Do you understand the difference? Religion is only something we do. Salvation is something which deals with the heart and only God can do that.

'What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.'

A VERSE FOR TODAY:

If we confess our sins he [God] will forgive our sins. - 1 John 1:9