Scripture Reading : Mark 7:1-23
Theme : External vs. Internal
- External Behaviour. The Pharisees focused on external behavior, rituals and human tradition, thinking that by so doing, it made them right before God. However, external behavior not resulting from an inward regeneration of the heart is the same as hypocrisy (Mark 7:6). The Pharisees were guilty of making such legalistic teachings higher than God’s Word.
- Internal Defilement. Jesus spoke yet another parable about what truly defiles a person, extending the judgment against His hearers, because speaking in parables was an act of judgment (Mark 4:11-12). Jesus explained to the disciples that it is from the heart that sin arises, and a person does not commit any sin due to eating any food.
Praying the Scripture
- Pray that we will not just focus on external behavior, but truly ask God to cleanse our hearts of all unrighteousness.
- Do we abstain from eating certain food (e.g. blood of animals) and teach others to do the same, quoting Scripture to prove our point? According to the Bible in this passage, such teachings are legalistic traditions of man that displeases God. Let us pray that God strengthen our conscience to accept eating all kinds of food.
经文：马可福音7:1-23
主题：外在与内在
- 外在行为。法利赛人注重外在行为、礼仪及人文传统，以为这么做就能在神面前称义。可是，不因内在重生的心而发的外在行为却是与假冒为善同等的（6节）。法利赛人将他们的律法主义思想抬高过于神的话——他们有罪了。
- 内在污秽。耶稣叙述另一个比喻，说明什么才是真正污秽人的，从而扩展了审判的对象，因为用比喻说话即是审判之举（4:11-12）。耶稣向门徒解释，罪是由心而生的，所以人不能因吃了什么而犯罪。
用经文祷告
- 求神让我们不要专注于外在行为，乃祷告神确实洁净我们心中所有的不义。
- 我们是否戒除吃某种食物（如动物的血），并教导人这么做，甚至引用圣经做凭证呢？根据这段经文，此类教导属人的律法主义思想，是神不喜悦的。让我们求神坚固我们的良心，能接受各样的食物。
