11 Mar 2013, Hebrews 希伯来书 4:1-13: Superiority of Jesus Christ over the Sabbath 耶稣超过安息日

Posted on Mar 11, 2013 in Devotions, Expired, Hebrews |

Scripture Reading        : Hebrews 4:1-13

Theme                          : Superiority of Jesus Christ over the Sabbath

 

After showing that Jesus Christ is far superior that Moses, the author of Hebrews proceeded to argue that Jesus is superior compared with the Sabbath, which was a very important weekly day of rest for the Jews, because the Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic Covenant.

  1. Jesus is the true rest. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, but it was Joshua, his successor, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. However, the Promised Land was not to be the true rest for God’s people (Hebrews 4:8), because there is a greater promise, the true rest that is only found in Jesus (Hebrews 4:9).
  1. True believers enter the rest. For believers, God’s rest includes His peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), confidence of salvation (1 John 5:13), and the hope (and fulfillment) of eternal life in heaven. However, entering the rest is not easy, because believers must “strive to enter that rest” (4:11). By believing and obeying God’s Word, believers continue striving in this life.
  1. Disobeying Jesus brings judgment. To disobey God’s Word is the same as disobeying Jesus. Many professing believers are deluded, thinking that by simply calling Jesus “Lord” will give them a ticket to heaven. But the Bible has always been clear that disobedience will bring judgment (e.g. Matthew 7:21-23; James 1:22). Hebrews 4:12-13 shows that the very Word of God that unbelievers rejected/disobeyed will be the standard used to judge them in the end.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. The Israelites thought that by keeping to a strict observance of the Sabbath (including NOT doing good deeds – Mark 3:1-6), they would be resting as God commanded them. In many ways, professing Christians today think that by coming to church every Sunday, it is good enough to earn our salvation. Let us pray that we will not trust in our own works (e.g. coming to church, keeping the Sabbath, etc.), but “enter that rest”, which is the true rest, by trusting fully in Jesus.
  1. We must obey the Word of God (e.g. love one another, serve the church, obey our leaders, etc.), which is how we “strive to enter that rest.” Let us pray that we will not be deluded like the “workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23), but show our faith by our works (James 2:18b).
  1. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) We cannot obey the Word that we do not know. Let us pray that we will be diligent in reading and studying the Bible, so that we may know His Word, in order that we many obey it.

经文：希伯来书4:1-13

主题：耶稣超过安息日

 

在显示耶稣远超过摩西后，希伯来书的作者继而辩说耶稣也是超过安息日的。安息日则是犹太人一周里一个非常重要的休息日，因为它是摩西之约的迹象。

  1. 耶稣是真安息。摩西领以色列人出埃及，但领这国入应许之地的却是他的继承者约书亚。然而，那应许之地不是神子民的真正安息（8节），因为日后有个更大的应许，就是唯有在耶稣里能找到的真安息（9节）。
  1. 真信徒进入到那安息中。对信徒而言，神的安息包括祂“出人意外的平安”（腓4:7），得救的信心（约一5:13）及在天堂的永恒生命之盼望（与成就）。可是，进入那安息是不易的，因为信徒必须“竭力进入那安息”（11节）。借着信靠并遵行神的话，信徒们在这生命中不断竭力这么做。
  1. 悖逆耶稣会遭审判。违背神的话同等于违背耶稣。许多自称是信徒的都在骗自己，因为仅要称耶稣为“主”，便能得到通达天堂的入门票。但是，圣经一向清楚说明悖逆将带来审判（例：太7:21-23；各1:22）。12-13节显示，非信徒所拒绝或悖逆的话语就是日后将用于审判他们的标准。

用经文祷告

  1. 以色列人以为只要严谨遵守安息日（包括不行善事—可3:1-6），他们便是在神里面安息。同样的，今日有许多宣称是基督徒的也以为只要每周日到教会去，就能得取救赎了。让我们祷告我们不会信靠自己的善行（例：到教会、守安息日等），而是借着对耶稣的完全信靠，“进入那安息”。
  1. 若要“竭力进入那安息”，我们必须顺服神的话（例：彼此相爱、服侍教会、顺服领导等）。让我们祷告我们不会像那些“作恶的人”（太7:23）被欺哄，而是借着我们的行为显出自己的信心（各2:18b）。
  1. “可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的”（罗10:17）。我们不能顺服自己不知道的道。让我们祷告我们会勤奋阅读查经，叫我们能晓得神的话，好顺服神。