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申命记［第十四章］
Book of Deuteronomy 14

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申命记 第十四章|Book of Deuteronomy 14

【圣徒的使命】

主讲：陈炎明牧师

26/10/2022

引言：什么人就做什么事！

一、作分别为圣的选民（14:1-20）

1.不要效法异教葬礼（V1-2）

在迦南地异教徒中，一有死亡的事件与葬礼，迷信的异教作风就会认为是得罪了神明，需要在礼仪中要刀割自己，以流血作为葬礼过程的仪式，免得神明发怒致死更多人。将额头上的毛发剃光也是异教中的礼仪之一。神如此吩咐的目的显然就是要祂的子民与外邦人有别。自古以来，以自残为宗教仪式的作风一直都有。

2.饮食上要分别为圣（V3-20）

饮食上的洁净与不洁净事情，似乎和我们现代人的饮食习惯很不同。尤其在吃猪肉和无鳞无翅的海产鱼类方面有很大的不同。按照犹太人文化，他们到今天仍然不吃这一类的食物。但是对于非犹太裔的基督徒而言，是否这也是我们必须严格遵守的规条呢？从《使徒行传》的记载，使徒们怎样判断外邦人成为基督徒的例子上，就可以理解个中的原则。使徒彼得为此事作了总结：“所以我认为不可难为这些归服神的外族人，只要写信叫他们禁戒偶像的污秽、淫乱，勒死的牲畜和血。”（徒15:19-20）

比起饮食的条例，割礼不更加是与神立约的命令吗？然而对于外邦基督徒，这并非成为我们的条例。或者有更敬虔的基督徒就选择进行割礼吗？显然真理的应用并非如此。然而当神说了什么是洁净和不洁净，显然背后必有其绝对性的准确度，人能遵守是好的。正如人知道油炸食物是健康不好的，但是许多人都很喜欢吃；即使寿命会因此缩短几年也在所不惜！（其实是不得而知。）

3.不要效法异教祭祀（V21）

山羊羔既是还在喝母奶的小羊，山羊羔母的奶汁如果不是用来喂养小羊，而是拿来煮小羊羔。这是不合理和残忍的行径，因此神给予禁止。再加上这正是外邦异教徒所做的事，因此神就申明禁止这事。意思说：外邦异教徒所采用的祭拜仪式，不要把它变成是基督徒也模仿的敬拜仪式。

二、作蒙福十一奉献者（14:22-26）

十分之一奉献的圣经原则自古以来都存在的。你所撒的、所种的、所得的都理当献上十分之一。而且奉献的对象是【立神之名的居所】，然后自己也得以在其中享用。吃在耶和华你神面前，这是神自己说的。最实际的献上就是以钱币作单位奉献。如此一来，全家就得享欢喜快乐。

三、顾念无业与弱势者（14:27-29）

当年的利未人不但没有产业，而且还是神特别拣选作为服事神的人。然而神在这里所顾念的显然不单是无产业的利未人，更加是顾念外来寄居的，贫困孤寡的。可见神顾念弱势群体，而我们的使命不正是要成为神的代表，祝福之手的延伸吗？

总结：分别为圣服事神

我们是神所拣选而分别为圣的人；第一不要效法这个世界、第二要献上十分之一，成为蒙福的人、第三是延伸自己的生命成为别人的祝福。

Deuteronomy 14: The Mission of the Saints
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/10/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction: What kind of person will do what kind of things

1. To be a separate and holy elect (14:1-21)

(1) Do not follow the pagan funeral (V1-2)

Among the pagans in the land of Canaan, as soon as there was a death event with the funeral, the superstitious pagan style would consider it as an offense to the gods and needed to cut themselves with a knife in the ritual to shed blood as a ritual of the funeral process, lest the gods become angry and kill more people. Shaving the hair on the forehead is also one of the rituals in paganism. God's purpose in so commanding was clearly to set His people apart from the Gentiles. The practice of self-mutilation as a religious rite has been practiced since ancient times.

(2) Eat and drink to be set apart (V3-20)

The clean and unclean things in eating seem to be very different from our modern eating habits. There is a big difference especially in eating pork and seafood without scales or fins. According to the Jewish culture, they still do not eat these types of foods to this day. But for non-Jewish Christians, is this also a rule we must strictly follow? The principle can be understood from the example of how the apostles judged Gentiles to be Christians, as recorded in the book of Acts. The apostle Peter summed up the matter: " Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood." (Acts 15:19-20)

Isn't circumcision more of a covenant command with God than a dietary one? However, for Gentile Christians, this is not an ordinance for us. Or are there more godly Christians who choose to circumcise? Obviously this is not the application of the truth. However, when God has said what is clean and unclean, it is clear that there is an absolute accuracy behind it, and it is good for man to observe it. Just as one knows that fried food is bad for health, but many people enjoy it; even if their life expectancy is shortened by a few years as a result! (Actually it is not known.)

(3) Do not follow the example of pagan sacrifices (V21)

A goat lamb is a lamb that is still drinking its mother's milk, and if the milk of the mother of the goat lamb is not used to feed the lamb, but to cook the lamb. This was an unreasonable and cruel practice, and therefore God forbade it. In addition, this is exactly what the Gentile pagans did, and therefore God forbade it. This means that the worship rituals used by the Gentile pagans should not be turned into worship rituals that are imitated by Christians as well.

2. Being a Blessed Tithing Giver (V22-26)

The biblical principle of tithing has existed since the beginning of time. You should give a tenth of what you have sown, what you have planted, and what you have received. And the object of the offering is [to establish the dwelling place of God's name], and then to enjoy yourself in it. Eat in the presence of the LORD your God, as God himself said. The most practical offering is to give in coins as a unit. In this way, the whole family will enjoy joy and happiness.

3.Consideration for the people with no inheritance and disadvantaged (V27-29)

The Levites in those days not only had no property, but were also chosen by God to serve Him. However, God's concern here is not only for the jobless Levites, but also for the foreigners, the poor and the widowed. It is clear that God cares for the underprivileged, and is it not our mission to be God's representative and an extension of His hand of blessing?

Conclusion: To serve God in a separate and holy way

We are God's chosen and set apart people; first, not to be imitators of the world; second, to give a tenth and become blessed; and third, to extend our lives to be a blessing to others.