更美好的做法

诗篇101篇开首时不会令我想起耶稣。诗人听起来以他自己的圣洁为荣，他以乎有点自以为义，他说：“我要用智慧行完全的道”（2节）。

随后，诗人表达他以各种方法与那些不符合他标准的人保持距离，他不单是被动地避开他们，他乃是试图驱逐那些不配的人（8节），他只与那些像他自己一样诚实的人交往（6节）。

这时我便开始想到耶稣了，藉着彻底改变诗人的做法，耶稣补足了这篇诗篇，使其完全。

路加福音7章的法利赛人很可能特别喜欢诗篇 101篇，他肯定不甚好客，耶稣显然也达不到他的标准呢！这法利赛人没有给耶稣水洗脚（44节），招呼衪时没有与衪亲嘴（45节），也没有用油抹衪的头（46节）。

然而，耶稣却接受被视为不配的妇人的眼泪、亲嘴、和香膏。当衪赐下宽宏的接纳和赦免之恩时，妇人便对衪表达出无比的爱。

完美无瑕的耶稣不单帮助那妇人，衪更顾及那高傲的主人的需要。耶稣的做法是更美好的做法。

耶稣啊，愿你的怜悯常敦促我对人流露爱心，即便是对不配的人也能如此。阿们。

36有一个法利赛人请耶稣和他吃饭，耶稣就到法利赛人家里去坐席。
37那城里有一个女人，是个罪人，知道耶稣在法利赛人家里坐席，就拿着盛香膏的玉瓶，
38站在耶稣背后，挨着他的脚哭，眼泪湿了耶稣的脚，就用自己的头发擦干，又用嘴连连亲他的脚，把香膏抹上。
39请耶稣的法利赛人看见这事，心里说：“这人若是先知，必知道摸他的是谁，是个怎样的女人，乃是个罪人！”
40耶稣对他说：“西门，我有句话要对你说。”西门说：“夫子，请说。”
41耶稣说：“一个债主有两个人欠他的债，一个欠五十两银子，一个欠五两银子。
42因为他们无力偿还，债主就开恩免了他们两个人的债。这两个人哪一个更爱他呢？”
43西门回答说：“我想是那多得恩免的人。”耶稣说：“你断的不错。”
44于是转过来向着那女人，便对西门说：“你看见这女人吗？我进了你的家，你没有给我水洗脚，但这女人用眼泪湿了我的脚，用头发擦干；
45你没有与我亲嘴，但这女人从我进来的时候就不住地用嘴亲我的脚；
46你没有用油抹我的头，但这女人用香膏抹我的脚。
47所以我告诉你：她许多的罪都赦免了，因为她的爱多；但那赦免少的，他的爱就少。”
48于是对那女人说：“你的罪赦免了！”

The More Excellent Way

"The one whose walk is blameless will minister to me." - Psalm 101:6

英语音频 English Audio

Psalm 101 doesn't make me think of Jesus—not at first. The poet sounds proud of his personal holiness. He seems a bit full of himself. "I will be careful to lead a blameless life," he says (v. 2).

From there, the poet expresses all the ways he will distance himself from people who don't measure up to his standards. And it's not just a passive distancing. He intends to drive unworthy people away (v. 8). And he will only exchange hospitality with people who are faithful, like himself (v. 6).

This is when I start thinking of Jesus. Because Jesus fills out the meaning of this psalm by turning it on its head.

The Pharisee in Luke 7 might well have had a special affection for Psalm 101. He certainly limited his hospitality. Apparently even Jesus didn't measure up! The Pharisee provided no water to wash Jesus' feet (v. 44), no kiss to greet him (v. 45), and no oil to anoint him (v. 46).

But Jesus welcomed tears and kisses and perfume from a woman who was considered unworthy. And when he offered the generous hospitality of forgiveness, it brought forth an outpouring of love from the woman.

Jesus, the blameless one, ministered not only to the woman but also to his proud host. Jesus' way is the more excellent way.

Prayer

Jesus, may your mercy always summon an outpouring of love from me—and not just for people who might seem worthy. Amen.