Matthew 马太福音 6:16-18 — Fasting without Hypocrisy 无虚伪的禁食

Posted on Feb 7, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Fasting is the humbling of soul (Psalm 35:13). When the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why His disciples did not fast, He replied, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” (Matt. 9:15) Fasting is therefore associated with mourning. Jesus continued, “But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

禁食是在神面前谦卑的表现（诗35:13）。当施洗约翰的门徒试问耶稣祂的门徒为何不禁食，耶稣回答说：“新郎与宾客在一起的时候，难道宾客能悲伤吗？”（太 9：15）因此，禁食与悲伤息息相关。耶稣继续说：“可是日子将要来到：当新郎从他们中间被带走的时候，他们那时就要禁食了。”

 

Fasting is nowhere commanded in the Bible for Christians. The only fast commanded in Scripture is the one connected with the Day of Atonement. On that day all the people were to “humble their souls” (Lev. 16:29; 23:27), a Hebrew expression that included forsaking food as an act of self-denial. Except for the Jewish yearly fast on the Day of Atonement, it is not commanded by God. So fasting is an entirely noncompulsory, voluntary act, not a spiritual duty to be regularly observed. Fasting is never shown in Scripture to be the means to heightened spiritual experience, visions, or special insight.

圣经并没要求基督徒一定要禁食。圣经里唯一叫人禁食的一处是赎罪日之时。在那日，所有的犹太人都要“谦虚降卑自己”（利16:29; 23:27）；这是犹太人通过禁食来表明自舍己的方式。除此以外，神并没有在别处命令人禁食了。因此，禁食是自愿的；它不是个属灵职责。圣经从未显示禁食能让人操练自己，使人更属灵。
 
 
 
  1. Pretentious Fasting 虚假的禁食 (6:16)

When the heart is not right, fasting is a sham and a mockery. Fasting becomes a show; a hypocritical act to present oneself as pious, godly and self-righteous.

当我们不以正确的态度禁食时，那就是个虚假之举，蔑视了神。禁食成为了一场表演，时一个虚伪的行为，为的是体现自己是虔诚、属灵的义人。

 

  1. Proper Fasting 属实的禁食 (6:17-18)

Genuine fasting is simply a part of concentrated, intense prayer and concern for the Lord, His will, and His work.

属实的禁食是因对主、主的旨意，与主的作为有极其关注，想要迫切祷告的结果。

 

 

 


Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. Fasting is the third teaching after giving (6:2–4) and praying (v. 5–15) for which Jesus gives a correction to the hypocritical religious practices typified by the scribes and Pharisees. Are we hypocrites? Are we pretentious? Do we want others to think we are spiritual? Confess and pray that we will be sincere, honest and truthful.

禁食是继施舍（6:2-4）和祷告（6:5-15）后，主耶稣对文士和法利赛人指出所要改正的第三个虚伪假行。我们是假冒为善的人吗？我们是伪君子吗？我们是否盼望别人把我们看作是属灵人？求主赦免我们，叫我们以真诚和诚实的心待人。

 

  1. Although fasting is not commanded in the Bible for NT Christians, it is mentioned some 30 times in the New Testament, almost always favorably. Fasting is an appropriate response in times of trial, testing, struggle or sorrow. It is also appropriate when we are faced with major decisions in life. The intention is that God’s will be done in our lives. Will you fast?
虽然圣经并没有吩咐新约信徒要禁食，但新约提及“禁食”约有30次，而且几乎都是正面例子。在我们面对考验、试探、挣扎、悲伤，或是面对人生中重大的抉择时，禁食是个适当的反应。我们的目的是要神在我们的生命中完成祂的旨意。在适当的时候，你会禁食吗？
 
 
 
 
 

Matthew 马太福音 6:9-15, The Disciples’ Prayer II 主祷文（二）

Posted on Feb 7, 2021 in Uncategorized |

Bible teaches us to cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us (1Pet 5:7). So, it is not wrong to pray for our personal needs.

圣经教导我们要将一切的忧虑卸给神，因为他顾念我们（彼前5:7）。由此可见，为个人的需要祷告并没有错。

 

  1. Provision 供应 (6:11)

Bread is symbolic of our needs, not just food, but all of our physical needs. This verse reminds us that the source of our blessings is from God. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

“饮食”指的不单是食物，而是我们所有的物质需求。这节经文提醒我们所有的福分都源于神。《雅各书》1章17节说：“一切美好的赏赐和各样完美的恩赐，都是从上面、从众光之父降下来的；在他没有改变，也没有转动的影子。”

 

  1. Pardon 宽恕 (6:12)

‘Debt’ is one of five New Testament Greek terms for sin. It is interesting that Jesus gives us the condition for receiving forgiveness. (This is part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus is talking about the characteristics of believers.) The principle is simple but sobering: if we have forgiven, we will be forgiven; if we have not forgiven, we will not be forgiven. Forgiveness is the mark of a truly regenerate heart.

“债”是新约希腊文形容罪的其中五个用词之一。有趣的是，耶稣在这里给予我们被神宽恕的条件。（这节指的是主耶稣在登山宝训中所列出的基督徒标志）你若已被宽恕，必然也会宽恕人；你若不宽恕人，你也不会被宽恕。宽恕是一个真正得了重生的信徒之标志。
 
 
  1. Protection 保守 (6:13)

This is a heart desire that inclines a believer to pray for protection from falling into sin. It is the expression of the redeemed soul who so despises and fears sin that it wants to escape all prospects of falling into it.

信徒内心的渴望就是祈求神的保守，以免自己陷入罪中。这是一个已得救的信徒的表现，因为他万分痛恨，又害怕犯罪，因此想远离所有可能使他落入罪恶的可能。

 

 
 

 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. Do you give thanks daily for all your daily blessing or do you take God’s goodness for granted? Please record your response to God.

你是否为每天的福分向神感恩，或已把神的美善视为理所当然了？请向神做出回应。

 

  1. Forgiveness is the mark of a believer. If you have been forgiven, you will be If you have forgiven, you will be forgiven. Do you notice the sequence of events? Are you forgiving?

宽恕是一个信徒的标志。你若已被宽恕了，必然也会宽恕别人。如果你已宽恕别人，你也将会被主宽恕。你是否留意到这样的顺序？你是否宽恕人？

 

  1. As a believer we need to hate sin so much that we want to have nothing to do with it. Pray that you will stay away from sin as far as you can.
身为信徒，我们需要痛恨罪，叫我们远离它。祷告神使你远离罪恶，越远越好。