The children of the Lord must not be like the people of the world. The basic meaning of the Hebrew word translated “holy” is “to be different.” God’s people are different.
主的儿女不能像属世的人一样。“圣洁”的希伯来文原意是“不相同”。神的子民是不同的。
Although the Jewish dietary code does not apply to God’s people today (1 Tim. 4:1–5), the spiritual principle remains: we must be a separated and obedient people. The lists of “clean” and “unclean” foods were reminders that the people must learn to distinguish between what God accepts and what He rejects (Lev 11:41–47).
虽然神今世的子民无需遵从犹太人的饮食条规（提前4:1-5），但其属灵原则仍然保留：我们必须分别为圣，顺服神的话。“清洁”和“不洁”之食的清单，提醒百姓要学会区分神所接受与拒绝的东西（利11:41-47）。
We should glorify God in what we receive and also in what we give (vv. 22–29). A tithe was 10 percent of the produce, which could be used as a sacrifice for joyful feasting before the Lord. A special tithe every third year supported the Levites and helped the poor.
我们要在一切所领受与所奉献之物都将荣耀归于神（22-29节）。奉献的计量是土产的十分之一；这能作主前快乐飨宴的祭品。每三年所作的特殊奉献是用来供养利未人和救济贫穷的。
In our receiving and in our giving, we should glorify God and joyfully serve Him. (1 Cor. 10:31.)
无论是所领受或奉献的，我们都要荣耀神，以喜乐的心事奉祂。（林前10:31）
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- The ground for the prohibitions of the eating of certain animals was that Israel was to be holy to the Lord (vv. 2, 21). These special dietary laws were to separate them from socially mixing with pagan idolatrous people and to prevent them from being lured into idolatry. Some of these practices include cutting themselves, making baldness on their foreheads for the dead and boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk (Deu 14:1 and 21). These were the pagan practices of Canaanites. Let’s pray that we separate ourselves from the religious practices of our days so that we can be holy for the Lord.
以色列之所以不能吃某种牲畜，是因为他们当为主分别为圣（2, 21节）。这些特殊的饮食条规将阻止他们与崇拜偶像的异教徒交际，从而防止他们被引诱拜偶像。迦南人异教徒拜偶像的做法包括：为死人用刀划身、将额上剃光和用山羊羔母的奶煮山羊羔（申14:1和21）。让我们祈祷能与今世的宗教习俗分别，叫我们能作主圣洁的儿女。
- As a general rule, a tithe of 10 percent of their income is to be set aside as offering to the Lord. Are you faithful in your giving? Let’s pray that we give with a cheerful heart as this is what pleases the Lord (2 Cor. 9:7).
一般来说，我们需将收入的十分之一奉献给主。你是否忠于奉献？让我们祈祷能捐得乐意，因这是神所喜爱的（林后9:7）。
