Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
The Rabbinic Way of Understanding Doctrine
Text: John 7: 17-18
THE RABBINIC WAY OF UNDERSTANDING DOCTRINE
The Jewish Rabbis had their doctrines. They may be summarised thus:
1. They taught traditions.
2. These were the teachings of past rabbis.
3. These teachings were passed from one generation to another.
4. The traditions became rules and commandments.
5. Some of them were in conflict with the teachings of Jesus.
THE WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE DOCTRINES OF JESUS
Jesus taught the multitudes how they may understand His doctrines.
“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God
or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;
but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”John 7:17-18
1. “If anyone wills to do His will”
a. The Jews taught doctrine theoretically/academically.
They offered different views and optional explanations.
b. Jesus’ approach:
i. It is not enough to merely understand the will of God.
ii. One must actually seek to do God’s will.
iii. Only if one does the will of God, will he be able to understand the true word of God.
2. Did Jesus speak of His own authority or with God’s authority?
a. The answer is not to be discovered through debate or discussion.
b. The answer lies in doing the will of God.
c. This was the approach that Jesus advocated.
3. Another way of checking the truth
a. Look at what the teacher is seeking.
b. Jesus did not seek personal glory. There was no unrighteousness in Him.
c. He is easily distinguished from other teachers who in the main sought personal glory when they taught.
经文：约翰福音 7：17-18
以拉比的观点来了解上帝的教训
犹太拉比们有他们自己的教训。以下是他们的教训的摘要：
1. 他们教授传统
2. 这些教训是历代拉比所教的
3. 这些教训一代传一代
4. 这些传统变成了规则和诫命
5. 有些传统与耶稣的教训互相抵触
理解耶稣的教训的方法
耶稣教导众人如何理解祂的教训。
“‘人若立志遵着他的旨意行，就必晓得这教训或是出于神，或是我凭着自己说的。人凭着自己说，是求自己的荣耀；唯有求那差他来者的荣耀，这人是真的，在他心里没有不义。’”
《约翰福音 7：17-18》