第18章 基督的榜样与形式主义
§1
第18章 基督的榜样与形式主义
§2
Chap. 18 - Christs Example In Contrast With Formalism.
§3
圣经论到主耶稣基督年幼时候的见证是：“孩子渐渐长大，强健起来，充满智慧，又有上帝的恩在祂身上。”祂在少年时期访问过耶路撒冷之后，与祂父母一同回去，“回到拿撒勒，并且顺从他们。……耶稣的智慧和身量，并上帝和人喜爱祂的心，都一齐增长”（路2:40,51,52）。{SpTEd 160.1}[1]
§4
Of the Lord Jesus Christ in his youth, the divine testimony is given, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him. After the visit to Jerusalem in his boyhood, he returned with his parents, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. . . . And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. {SpTEd 160.1}[1]
§5
在耶稣的时代，青少年的教师都是形式主义者。耶稣传道期间曾对拉比们说：“你们错了；因为不明白圣经，也不晓得上帝的大能”（太22:29）。祂指责他们“将人的吩咐当作道理教导人”（太15:9）。遗传受到专注、推崇和尊敬，远超过圣经。人的言论，没完没了的仪式，占据了学生生活的大部分时间，使人认识上帝的教育却被忽略了。大教师们不断小题大作，详细说明要遵守的宗教礼节的每一个细节，以遵守这些仪式为最高的义务。他们将“薄荷、茴香、芹菜，献上十分之一，那律法上更重的事，就是公义、怜悯、信实，反倒不行了”（太23:23）。这样就带来了大量垃圾，使青少年看不到侍奉上帝之最重要的事了。{SpTEd 160.2}[2]
§6
In the days of Christ the educators of the youth were formalists. During his ministry, Jesus declared to the rabbis, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. And he charged them with teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Tradition was dwelt upon, amplified, and reverenced far above the Scriptures. The sayings of men, and an endless round of ceremonies, occupied so large a share of the students life, that the education which imparts a knowledge of God was neglected. The great teachers were continually enlarging upon little things, specifying every detail to be observed in the ceremonies of religion, and making its observance a matter of highest obligation. They paid tithe of mint and anise and cummin, while they omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Thus there was brought in a mass of rubbish that hid from the view of the youth the great essentials of the service of God. {SpTEd 160.2}[2]
§7
在这种教育制度中，人们没有机会获得个人经验，亲自认识到“耶和华如此说”的能力，得以依赖那惟独能带来平安和上帝能力的圣言。学生们既忙于一整套的形式，在这些学校中找不到安静的时辰可与上帝交通，聆听祂对他们内心讲话的声音。被拉比们视为高等教育的东西实际上是真教育的最大障碍。它与一切真正的发展背道而驰。在他们的训练之下，青少年的各项能力受到压制，心智也变得狭隘了。{SpTEd 160.3}[3]
§8
In the educational system there was no place for that personal experience in which the soul learns for itself the power of a Thus saith the Lord, and gains that reliance upon the divine word which alone can bring peace, and power with God. Busied with the round of forms, the students in these schools found no quiet hours in which to commune with God and hear his voice speaking to their hearts. That which the rabbis regarded as superior education was in reality the greatest hindrance to true education. It was opposed to all real development. Under their training, the powers of the youth were repressed, and their minds were cramped and narrowed. {SpTEd 160.3}[3]
§9
耶稣的兄弟和姐妹们学了大量遗传和拉比们的礼节，但基督却不受劝诱去对这些事感兴趣。祂虽在各方面再三听到“你要，”“你不可，”行事却不受这些规条的限制。社会的要求总是与上帝的要求相冲突。祂在幼年的时候虽然没有直接攻击饱学教师们的习惯或规则，却没有在他们的学校中作学生。{SpTEd 161.1}[4]
§10
The brothers and sisters of Jesus were taught the multitudinous traditions and ceremonies of the rabbis, but Christ himself could not be induced to interest himself in these matters. While hearing on every hand the reiterated Thou shalt, and Thou shalt not, he moved independently of these restrictions. The requirements of society and the requirements of God were ever in collision; and while in his youth he made no direct attack upon the customs or precepts of the learned teachers, he did not become a student in their schools. {SpTEd 161.1}[4]
§11
耶稣不愿随从任何要祂偏离上帝旨意的风俗习惯，也不愿置身受教于那些推崇人的话在上帝圣言之上的人。祂关闭心门不接受一切不以上帝为根基的观点和礼节。祂不愿给这些事留地步，让它们影响祂。祂就这样教导我们：预防罪恶要比罪恶在心中有了立足之地后再试图纠正它要好。耶稣不愿用自己的榜样领他人到会被败坏之处。祂也不愿不必要地置身于会与拉比们造成冲突的位置，那或许在多年以后会导致削弱祂对百姓的影响。因此祂不能受劝诱去遵守无意义的形式或背诵格言。后来祂在传道时很明确地谴责了那些格言。{SpTEd 161.2}[5]
§12
Jesus would not follow any custom that would require him to depart from the will of God, nor would he place himself under the instruction of those who exalted the words of men above the word of God. He shut out of his mind all the sentiments and formalities that had not God for their foundation. He would give no place for these things to influence him. Thus he taught that it is better to prevent evil than to attempt to correct it after it has gained a foothold in the mind. And Jesus would not by his example lead others to place themselves where they would be corrupted. Nor would he needlessly place himself in a position where he would be brought into conflict with the rabbis, which might in after years result in weakening his influence with the people. For the same reasons he could not be induced to observe the meaningless forms or rehearse the maxims that afterward in his ministry he so decidedly condemned. {SpTEd 161.2}[5]
§13
耶稣虽顺从祂的父母，却在很小的年纪就开始独立行事，塑造祂的品格。祂的母亲虽是祂的第一位人间教师，祂却在不断从祂的天父受教育。耶稣非但没有注视拉比们世纪相传的学问，反而在那神圣教师的手下学习纯洁而未受败坏的上帝的道，也研究自然界的大课本。“耶和华如此说”总是在祂口中，“经上记着说”乃是祂每一个与家庭习惯不同的行为的理由。祂给家庭生活带来了更纯净的气氛。祂虽然没有置身于拉比们的教导之下，在他们的学校中作学生，却常常不得不与他们接触，而祂好像一个学习者所问的问题，却令智者们为难；因为他们的行为与圣经不符，他们没有来自上帝的智慧。甚至对那些恼怒祂不顺从流行习惯的人来说，祂所受的教育似乎也比他们更高尚。{SpTEd 162.1}[6]
§14
Though Jesus was subject to his parents, he began at a very early age to act for himself in the formation of his character. While his mother was his first human teacher, he was constantly receiving an education from his Father in heaven. Instead of poring over the learned lore handed down by the rabbis from century to century, Jesus, under the Divine Teacher, studied the words of God, pure and uncorrupted, and studied also the great lesson-book of nature. The words, Thus saith the Lord, were ever upon his lips, and It is written, was his reason for every act that varied from the family customs. He brought a purer atmosphere into the home life. Though he did not place himself under the instruction of the rabbis by becoming a student in their schools, yet he was often brought in contact with them, and the questions he asked, as if he were a learner, puzzled the wise men; for their practises did not harmonize with the Scriptures, and they had not the wisdom that comes from God. Even to those who were displeased at his non-compliance with popular customs, his education seemed of a higher type than their own. {SpTEd 162.1}[6]
§15
耶稣的生活证明祂期望的多，所以祂尝试的也多。祂从很小的时候就是照在世上道德黑暗中的真光。祂显明自己是真理，是人们的向导。祂关于真理的观念和祂抵抗试探的能力与祂对圣经的顺从相称。圣经本是祂亲自默示神人们写下来的。耶稣人生的标志是与上帝交通，完全将心灵投诚于祂，履行祂的话而不顾虚伪的教育或当时的风俗及遗传。?{SpTEd 162.2}[7]
§16
The life of Jesus gave evidence that he expected much, and therefore he attempted much. From his very childhood he was the true light shining amid the moral darkness of the world. He revealed himself as the truth, and the guide of men. His conceptions of truth and his power to resist temptation were proportionate to his conformity to that word which he himself had inspired holy men to write. Communion with God, a complete surrender of the soul to him, in fulfilling his word irrespective of false education or the customs or traditions of his time, marked the life of Jesus. {SpTEd 162.2}[7]
§17
在拉比们看来，宗教的全部内容就是不断忙于活动，谋求藉着某种外在的行为表明他们出众的虔诚；同时，他们却藉着不断违背上帝的话曲解主的作为。但那有上帝作后盾的教育，却会引人寻求上帝，“或者可以揣摩而得”（徒17:27）。无限的主绝不会被人的组织或人的计划所束缚。每一个人都必须在认识上帝的旨意和作为上有个人的经验。在所有受训于上帝之人的身上，都要彰显一种与世界及其风俗习惯或经验不和谐的生活。藉着研究圣经，藉着恳切祈祷，他们可以听见祂给他们的信息：“你们要休息，要知道我是上帝”（诗46:10）。当一切其它声音都止息，地上的所有利益都撇在一边时，心灵的静默便使上帝的声音更加清晰。此时便在祂里面得到安息。上帝乃是心灵的平安、喜乐和生命。{SpTEd 163.1}[8]
§18
To be ever in a bustle of activity, seeking by some outward performance to show their superior piety, was, in the estimation of the rabbis, the sum of religion; while at the same time, by their constant disobedience to Gods word, they were perverting the way of the Lord. But the education that has God back of it, will lead men to seek after God, if haply they might feel after him, and find him. The infinite is not, and never will be, bound about by human organizations or human plans. Every soul must have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will and ways of God. In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, its practise, or its experiences. Through study of the Scriptures, through earnest prayer, they may hear His message to them, Be still, and know that I am God. When every other voice is hushed, when every earthly interest is turned aside, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. Here rest is found in him. The peace, the joy, the life of the soul, is God. {SpTEd 163.1}[8]
§19
当孩子努力与自己的父亲最亲近，过于其他任何人时，便显出他的爱、他的信心和完全的信任。孩子安然倚靠父亲的智慧和力量。上帝的儿女也是这样。主吩咐我们：“仰望我，就必得救”（赛45:22）！“到我这里来，我就使你们得安息”（太11:28）。“你们中间若有缺少智慧的，应当求那厚赐与众人、也不斥责人的上帝，主就必赐给他”（雅1:5）。?{SpTEd 163.2}[9]
§20
When the child seeks to get nearest to his father, above every other person, he shows his love, his faith, his perfect trust. And in the fathers wisdom and strength the child rests in safety. So with the children of God. The Lord bids us, Look unto me, and be ye saved! Come unto me,...and I will give you rest. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. {SpTEd 163.2}[9]
§21
“耶和华如此说：倚靠人血肉的膀臂，心中离弃耶和华的，那人有祸了！因他必象沙漠的杜松，不见福乐来到，却要住旷野干旱之处，无人居住的碱地。倚靠耶和华、以耶和华为可靠的，那人有福了！他必象树栽于水旁，在河边扎根，炎热来到，并不惧怕，叶子仍必青翠，在干旱之年毫无挂虑，而且结果不止”（耶17:5-7）。{SpTEd 164.1}[10]
§22
Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. - {SpTEd 164.1}[10]