Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
The Sabbath
Text: John 9:17
THE SABBATH
The Pharisees saw themselves as keepers of the laws of Moses. The Sabbath Law was one of the Ten Commandments of God.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work”
Exodus 20:8-10
THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH ACCORDING TO THE PHARISEES
The Rabbis of Israel over the years formulated many laws around the Sabbath. Hundreds of restrictive rules governed the Sabbath. The Pharisees insisted that even the performance of a miracle was simply “work!” Thus, Jesus was a Sabbath breaker and a sinner!
JESUS’ TEACHING ON THE SABBATH
Jesus had a totally different understanding of the Sabbath law! We may summarise His teaching on the Sabbath law along the following lines:
1. Mercy was to be practised
a. God desires the practice of mercy and not sacrifice (Matthew 12:7).
b. Jesus showed mercy when He healed the blind man.
He was therefore not a law-breaker!
2. To do good on the Sabbath
a. It is always correct to do good.
To heal a person was a good thing to do.
b. To heal on the Sabbath was therefore not displeasing in the sight of God (Mark 3:4).
3. Jesus was the Lord
a. He was the “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).
He was teaching the true meaning of the Sabbath law.
b. The Sabbath law was given to man so that he may have rest from his labour.
c. Man was not made for the Sabbath but the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27).
TURNING TO THE BLIND MAN AGAIN
The Pharisees turned to the blind man again. They had spoken to him earlier (John 9:15).
“They said to the blind man again, ‘What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’”
John 9:17
1. The Pharisees asked for the opinion of the former blind man.
2. The former blind man’s reply to the Pharisees was firm and straightforward.
He thought highly of Jesus. He had been wondrously healed. He was certainly not less than a prophet!
经文：约翰福音 9：17
安息日
法利赛人把自己当做严谨遵守摩西律法的。安息日的律法是上帝十诫的其中之一。
“当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌做你一切的工，但第七日是向耶和华你神当守的安息日。这一日你和你的儿女、仆婢、牲畜，并你城里寄居的客旅，无论何工都不可做。”
《出埃及记 20：8 – 10》
法利赛人对于遵守安息日的理解
以色列的拉比们在多年来制定了许多关于安息日的律法。安息日被数百道富约束的条规管治着。法利赛人坚持就算行神也是 “工”！因此，耶稣违犯了安息日的律法且是个罪人！
耶稣对于安息日的教训
耶稣对于安息日的律法有着完全不同的理解！我们能够把耶稣对于安息日的教训简述成：
1. 体现怜恤
a. 上帝喜爱怜恤而不喜爱祭祀 《马太福音 12：7》
b. 耶稣医治瞎子时，体现了怜恤
祂因此不是律法的违犯者！
2. 在安息日行善
a. 行善永远是对的，医治人就是行善
b. 因此，在安息日医治并不会让上帝感到不满 《马可福音 3：4》
3. .稣是主
a, 祂是“安息日的主”《马可福音 2：28》
祂在教训人安息日律法的真正含义
b. 赐予人安息日的律法是为了让人能在劳作中得安息
c. “安息日是为人设立的，人不是为安息日设立的” 《马可福音 2：27》
再次转向瞎子
法利赛人再次转向瞎子。他们之前已与他对话《约翰福音 9：15》
“他们又对瞎子说：‘他既然开了你的眼睛，你说他是怎样的人呢？’ 他说：‘是个先知。’”
《约翰福音 9：17》