基督使我们不受一些律法限制
为什么圣经中会有这些奇怪的命令呢?我们需要遵守吗?
不。旧约中的许多律法,今天的基督徒都不需要遵守。虽然它们仍然是圣经的组成部份,但它们的要求后来已经被基督成全了。这类诫命被称为礼仪性或仪式性的律法。
礼仪性律法划分了不洁、洁净和圣洁生活的类别。事物的正常状态是洁净的。腐败导致不洁,但牺牲或献祭会带来圣洁。当某物腐败或被污染时,它就是不洁净的。当某物特别奉献给神时,它就成为圣洁。
我们今天读到的一些命令是为了防止神的子民效法他们的异教徒邻邦的做法来败坏自己。其他国家的一些宗教习俗包括为死者举行的用刀划身仪式。还有人坚持用纹身来表明自己归属于哪个神明或部落。
由于基督牺牲自己使我们成为圣洁,我们不必担心因为纹身、饮食习俗等而变得不洁净。但我们对所有人表达爱和尊重,并诚恳地对待每一个人,仍然是很重要的。耶稣是我们最好的榜样,圣灵则是我们的向导。
亲爱的神,请藉着你的圣灵,帮助我们过圣洁的生活,彰显出我们里面基督的生命。奉耶稣的名,阿们。
利未记 19:18-37
18不可报仇,也不可埋怨你本国的子民,却要爱人如己。我是耶和华。
19“你们要守我的律例,不可叫你的牲畜与异类配合,不可用两样掺杂的种种你的地,也不可用两样掺杂的料做衣服穿在身上。
20婢女许配了丈夫,还没有被赎得释放,人若与她行淫,二人要受刑罚,却不把他们治死,因为婢女还没有得自由。
21那人要把赎愆祭,就是一只公绵羊,牵到会幕门口,耶和华面前。
22祭司要用赎愆祭的羊在耶和华面前赎他所犯的罪,他的罪就必蒙赦免。
23“你们到了迦南地,栽种各样结果子的树木,就要以所结的果子如未受割礼的一样。三年之久,你们要以这些果子如未受割礼的,是不可吃的。
24但第四年所结的果子全要成为圣,用以赞美耶和华。
25第五年,你们要吃那树上的果子,好叫树给你们结果子更多。我是耶和华你们的神。
26“你们不可吃带血的物,不可用法术,也不可观兆。
27头的周围不可剃,胡须的周围也不可损坏。
28不可为死人用刀划身,也不可在身上刺花纹。我是耶和华。
29“不可辱没你的女儿,使她为娼妓,恐怕地上的人专向淫乱,地就满了大恶。
30你们要守我的安息日,敬我的圣所。我是耶和华。
31“不可偏向那些交鬼的和行巫术的,不可求问他们,以致被他们玷污了。我是耶和华你们的神。
32“在白发的人面前你要站起来,也要尊敬老人,又要敬畏你的神。我是耶和华。
33“若有外人在你们国中和你同居,就不可欺负他。
34和你们同居的外人,你们要看他如本地人一样,并要爱他如己,因为你们在埃及地也做过寄居的。我是耶和华你们的神。
35“你们施行审判,不可行不义,在尺、秤、升、斗上也是如此。
36要用公道天平、公道法码、公道升斗、公道秤。我是耶和华你们的神,曾把你们从埃及地领出来的。
37你们要谨守遵行我一切的律例、典章。我是耶和华。”
Christ Has Freed Us From Some Laws
"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:28
Why are strange commands like these in the Bible? Do we have to obey them?
No. Many of the laws found in the Old Testament need not be kept by Christians today. Though they remain part of Scripture, their demands were satisfied later by Christ. Such commands are called ceremonial or ritual laws.
Ceremonial laws created categories of unclean, clean, and holy living. The normal state of things was cleanliness. Corruption led to uncleanness, but sacrifice or offering led to holiness. When something became corrupted or polluted, it was unclean. When something was specially dedicated to God, it became holy.
Some of the commands in our reading for today were meant to keep God’s people from corrupting themselves with the practices of their pagan neighbors. Some of the religions of other nations included rituals for the dead that called for cutting oneself. Others insisted on marking themselves with tattoos to show which god or tribe you belonged to.
Since Christ sacrificed himself to make us holy, we need not worry about becoming unclean because of tattoos, dining customs, and so on. But it is still important to show love and respect to all people, and to deal honestly with everyone. Jesus is our best example, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.
Dear God, by your Holy Spirit, help us to live holy lives that reflect the life of Christ within us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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