Scripture Reading : Mark 3:21-35
Theme : Friend vs. Foe II
- Absolute Sin of the Pharisees. When the Pharisees (and scribes) failed in their bid to discredit Jesus based on their legalistic interpretation of the Law, they resorted to character assassination. So serious is the blasphemy (they charged that Jesus’ authority came from Satan) that Jesus said such a sin is unforgiveable. Mark 3:23 is the beginning that Jesus spoke parables to those whose hearts were hardened, which is a sign of judgment (Mark 4:11-12).
- Adoption of the Obedient. Jesus’ mother, Mary, and His brothers (naturally born children after Joseph married Mary) came to look for Jesus. It is very possible that they were trying to stop Jesus from what He was doing (Mark 3:21). To stop Jesus was clearly going against the will of God, and that is why Jesus answered by saying that those who do the will of God are His “brother, sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). Jesus was not advocating that Christians disown their parents, for that would contradict His teaching in Mark 7:9-13. Jesus is emphasizing that obeying God the Father is more important than obeying earthly parents.
Praying the Scripture
- Do we believe Jesus and His Word, the Bible? If we reject Jesus and His Word, we are also guilty of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. If we keep hardening our hearts like Pharaoh, God will harden our hearts one day (Exodus 9:34; 10:1). Let us repent from this sin and beg Jesus for forgiveness, while there is still opportunity.
- Jesus said, “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:36-39) Even though we are to honor our parents (Mark 7:9-13), it is more important to obey God. Let us pray that our earthly relationships will not be a hindrance to us as we follow Christ.
经文：马可福音3:21-35
主题：友与敌（二）
- 法利赛人确切的罪。当法利赛人（和文士）无法凭他们律法主义的标准污蔑耶稣时，他们便尝试人身攻击。他们亵渎的话如此严重（即告指耶稣的权柄来自撒旦），叫耶稣说这等罪是不得赦免的。马可福音3:23是耶稣向硬心之人说比喻的开端，而这是审判的象征（可4:11-12）。
- 领养顺服的人。耶稣的母亲马利亚和祂的弟兄来找耶稣。他们很有可能想阻止耶稣在做的事（21节）。阻止耶稣就是逆着神的旨意行，而那就是为何耶稣回答说凡遵行神旨意的人是祂的“弟兄、姐妹和母亲了”（35节）。耶稣并非在提倡信徒不要认自己的父母，因为那便是与祂在马可福音7:9-13的教导背道而驰。耶稣强调的是遵行天父比听从父母更重要。
用经文祷告
- 我们是否相信耶稣、祂的话和圣经呢？我们若拒绝耶稣和祂的话，便是亵渎圣灵了。我们若持续硬着心，如法老一样，神总有一日也会使我们的心刚硬（出9:34；10:1）。让我们趁还有机会的时候从这罪中悔改，求耶稣赦免。
- 耶稣说：“人的仇敌就是自己家里的人。爱父母过于爱我的，不配做我的门徒；爱儿女过于爱我的，不配做我的门徒；不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配做我的门徒。得着生命的，将要失丧生命；为我失丧生命的，将要得着生命”（太10:36-39）。虽然我们当孝敬父母（7:9-13），但遵从神更为重要。让我们祷告我们在地上所拥有的关系不会成为我们跟从基督的阻碍。
