第十五章
最好能將全章略讀一遍,再專注於以下經文段落:
10耶穌就叫了眾人來,對他們說:「你們要聽,也要明白。11入口的不能污
穢人,出口的乃能污穢人。」12當時,門徒進前來對他說:「法利賽人聽見
這話,不服(原文是跌倒),你知道嗎?」13耶穌回答說:「凡栽種的物,
若不是我天父栽種的,必要拔出來。14任憑他們吧!他們是瞎眼領路的;若
是瞎子領瞎子,兩個人都要掉在坑裏。」15彼得對耶穌說:「請將這比喻講
給我們聽。」16耶穌說:「你們到如今還不明白嗎?17豈不知凡入口的,是
運到肚子裏,又落在茅廁裏嗎?18惟獨出口的,是從心裏發出來的,這才污
穢人。19因為從心裏發出來的,有惡念、凶殺、姦淫、苟合、偷盜、妄證、
謗讟。20這都是污穢人的;至於不洗手吃飯,那卻不污穢人。」
默想:
1. 耶穌有時用很尖銳的話語來惹怒法利賽人,但是這些人卻是全國中最敬
虔的宗教領袖。我們很可能也會認為「我很慶幸我不像他們」,但事實
上,我與法利賽人有很多類似之處。
2. 你是否也像法利賽人,非常專注外表整潔體面的裝扮,卻忽略了從心裡
出來的言語和思想的清潔?非常嚴格地遵守律法——各項規定守則,卻
不看重對主的忠心,以及對聖靈的敏銳感?
3. 仔細逐個的讀耶穌在19節所列的各種罪,求至高聖潔神的光,照亮你
的內心,讓你看見自己裡面的污穢、黑暗;求神赦免,並將內心洗滌乾
凈。
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前聆聽神,並將你的的思想、問題、觸動你的字、詞、圖
畫,或是與神的禱告,寫在你的靈程筆記簿上面。
今日箴言:3:5-8
5你要專心仰賴耶和華,不可倚靠自己的聰明,6在你一切所行的事上都
要認定他,他必指引你的路。7不要自以為有智慧,要敬畏耶和華,遠
離惡事。8這便醫治你的肚臍,滋潤你的百骨。
Chapter 15
If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here.
Then focus on the following section:
10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11What goes into
a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that
is what makes him ‘unclean.’ “ 12Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you
know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” 13He replied, “Every
plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14Leave
them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
15Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16”Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.
17”Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then
out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart,
and these make a man ‘unclean.’ 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder,
adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make
a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’ “
Meditation:
1. Jesus seems to spend a lot of time provoking the Pharisees by speaking harshly
to them. Yet, these are supposed to be the most devout leaders in the entire
nation. We may very likely be tempted to think likewise, “I’m glad I’m not like
them”. Actually, we are much similar to the Pharisees than we’d like to admit.
2. Are you like the Pharisees, caring much about how you look on the outside, but
neglect the purity on the inside; focusing on legalism/following the rules instead
of being faithful to God and sensitive to his Spirit?
3. Read through the sins listed in v19. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine in your heart for
you to see the filth and darkness there. Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing
of your heart.
Prayer & Journaling:
On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions,
words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
Proverbs for Today: Prov 3:5-8
Family Time:
Talk about where sin begins. If the conclusion is the heart, discuss how the seed
of sin gets there. Do we open our heart to those seed by what we read, what
we watch, and what we listen to? What part do our friends play in our hearts
being open to the seeds of sin? Pray that God will give you wisdom as you make
your choices.