This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!

 Matthew 17:1-13

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Why?

Jesus let his three disciples, Peter, Jame, and John, the most closer disciple up a high mountain, let them see the vision of Jesus talking with Elijah and Moses.

Jesus has crossed the time, for Elijah and Moses are in different time scales, but Jesus may talk with them.

And under the cloud the sound they heard "This is my son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!" This is one more time approved Jesus is the son of the Lord.

All the prophets said about Messiah were come truth.

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16:21-17:8  跟隨的意義： 受苦的基督。做門徒的意義。基督的身份： 榮耀的基督。

v1-8:耶穌的身份 -  榮耀的基督。

耶穌只帶三個門徒，他們有特別經歷、教導、使命。見到他榮耀的形象。摩西、以利亞在耶穌兩旁，表示耶穌才是中心。摩西是律法的代表，以利亞是先知的代表。這三個有此特殊的經歷當然更要聽他。這次比上次耶穌受洗，多一句「你們要聽他」。我們除了經歷神權能後，更要聽神的話。不是要求耶穌做什麼?在這榮耀中是美好的，所以彼得希望永遠住下來。雲彩把光遮蔽了，異象的後面帶出神的使命。不要沉迷於氣氛中。讓我們享受這些敬拜的美好氣氛中，不要忘記神交待的使命。我們願意離開舒適圈嗎？

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How?
Jesus is the Lord, Jesus is the Son of the Lord, so listen to him! This it the order of the Lord and the fountain of blessing!

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me

 Matthew 16:21-28

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Why?

Jesus talking to his disciple what will happen on him, but Peter didn’t know the plan of the Lord so he said don’t do it. Then Jesse rebuked peter you do not have I’m mind it concerns of God, but merely human concerns. We are easily concern our concerns, human concern.

Nothing can exchange for our soul, so Jesus says whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

To be a Christian is a blessing and it is a hard road to walk forward, for it is difficult on the way to kingdom of the Lord. But God will be with us, when we focus on the Lord, instead of look down on the road, when we crossed the difficulty we may discovered the grace of the Lord is greater than the difficulty.

The grace of the Lord us enough to all his follower.

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耶穌來世上

A:受苦的基督：門徒對於基督的使命、不清楚，容易誤導其他人。要有正確的基督觀，才能有正確的門徒觀。彼得認為耶穌是君王，怎麼可以去受死呢?彼得關心人國的事，不關心神的事。

B:正確的門徒觀：捨己是放下自己，方法是捨命，不是去爭榮耀。這才是做門徒，要透過受苦來榮耀。所以禁食禱告，就是關心神的事，比自己的吃更重要。當門徒不是關心自己的感覺，而是關心神的心意，神的事情。

C:榮耀的基督

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How?

Take up my cross and follow Jesus Christ.

Peter says Jesus is the Meaaish, the Son of the living God

Matthew 16:13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Why?

Jesus asked disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? Then Who do you say I am?

People did not really know who Jesus is, but most disciples did not know who Jesus is at that moment. Only Peter knew Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

This the Lord revealed to Peter, and Peter was chosen will be a rock to build church. The rock is the truth, Jesus is the foundation of the Church.

The church is higher than Hades, and Jesus gives the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Peter has more power to overcome the evil and connect to the heaven. This is great authroithy overcome the world, for all of us may overcome the world, if we follow the command of the Lord, it is not us but the authority of the Jesus Christ name.

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耶穌問門徒他是誰？等於是期末考試。有人認為耶穌是以利亞，爲耶穌行許多神蹟。他們爲什麼不知道耶穌的身份？因爲律法主義的影響。

此地在該撒利亞，是外邦人的地，希望門徒不要受猶太人傳統影響。彼得在聖靈感動中明日說出耶穌是彌賽亞。

耶穌要門徒繼續去傳揚福音。

教會的權柄建立在神的道上，也就是先知和使徒上。建立在對耶穌正確的認上。

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How?

Let me be a rock of the truth and have close relationship with Jesus Christ, fot what I have is God‘s grace come upon me. No matter what I have, God’s way is beyond then mine.

On your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

 Matthew 16;1-12

The Demand for a Sign: You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Pharisees had demanded a sign once before. Now the Sadducees, the ultra-conservatives, join them in putting Jesus to test. But his answer is still the same.

Why?

The foreigners knew what Jesus did and gave honor to the God of Israel. But Pharisees and Sadducees don't know Jesus is the Son of the Lord.

When they don't believe Jesus, what Jesus did is nonsense to them. So Jesus refuses to make any miracle to them.

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防犯法利賽人的酵，聽什麼比吃什麼重要。

分辨天氣都可以卻看不懂耶穌的神跡。我們豈可因爲一點小事離家教會。人若不願意悔改是看不到神蹟。

已經不信了，耶穌行的豈會相信？他們要求按照他們指定的行爲，這就是行爲主義。門徒承認耶穌行的神蹟，對於還沒發生事卻擔心。我們都相信，耶穌是全能的主，但是遇困難時，卻會憂慮，現在沒有餅時該怎麼辦？不·要受理性主義影響，行爲主義影響。神蹟是神的工作，超越我們的想法。不要認為我們要做什麼？憂慮？神要我們完全放下。

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How?

Be humble trust in the Lord and Jesus Christ. And be careful about the yeast of Pharisees. 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

 Matthew 15:29-39

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”

He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 

The differences of detail between this passage and the fact that Mark also records both miracles, make it unlikely that this is a second account of the same event, despite the basic similarity. The context suggests that on this occasion non-Jews were fed.

Why?

When we search the Lord and follow Jesus Christ, what we needed Jesus has compassion for us so we don't worry about what we eat and clothes. Pray for his kingdom and his righteousness first.

The mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing are the symbols that Jesus is the Lord, who loves everyone come before him. So their request is full-filled.

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And they praised the God of Israel：這表示說這話的是外邦人。這迦南婦人的事，周圍的外邦人來跟隨耶穌，他們真的看見耶穌的作為。迦南婦人不是第一次，上次是百夫長。這次是在迦南地，是在神本來要減掉的地方，又是婦女，地位低落，卻認識耶穌才是她的道路，所以她的影響力超過百夫長。他們不僅歸榮耀給以色列的神，且追隨耶穌。神給我們信心不僅自己蒙福，而是要讓更多的人蒙福，神的名得著榮耀。

這些人一直跟隨耶穌三天，第一天醫治好的人，可能沒有馬上離開，因為他們還想看耶穌更多話語，更認識耶穌，更多與耶穌相處。通常人多在自己的問題解決後就離開回家了，就認為沒有那麼需要神。他們沒有考慮到自己可能沒有東西吃了，願意繼續跟隨耶穌。門徒似乎沒有學會，怕這些人失望，沒有因為神蹟被教會。第一次行在以色列當中，第二次在外邦人當中。第一次剩下12籃，第二次七籃剩下。12籃是12支派都會得到神的供應，7籃是創造的第七天，代表完整的祝福。代表不會只有一次。將來萬國萬民都要經歷耶穌給4千人吃飽的神蹟。都會經歷到耶穌基督的供應，耶穌來不僅3給猶太人，更是到萬族萬邦。門徒是怕耶穌無法供應，門徒對耶穌還是沒有信心。這群後受到迦南婦人激勵的外邦人，值得他們放下一切來跟隨的耶穌。

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How?

Jesus is the Lord, praise the son of the Lord.

Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted

 Matthew 15:21-28

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Tyre and Sidon lay outside Jewish territory. The Canaanite woman is quick to seize her opportunity. The case of the centurion's servant makes it clear the race is not a barrier; God's kingdom is inclusive. So the harsh response would seem to be a test of faith. Quick as a flash, the woman quips back, And Jesus will not refuse a request made with such tenacious faith.

Why?

Here it is a test to the woman: How strong the faith she has? And encouraged the faith of his disciples.

When she passed the test, Jesus gave her a positive response. And healed his daughter, the request is granted.

Am I have the same faith to Jesus Christ? If we believe we should have the action like this woman came to Jesus and request to Jesus Christ.

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信心的榜樣

在推羅西頓境內，迦南婦人是以舊約方式稱呼外邦人，即應該被剪除的人，她卻不斷的呼喊。打發她走兩個意思1)趕走 2)滿足她的請求 耶穌卻沒有如此之，門徒的目的是怕麻煩，不是憐憫婦人，而是自己需要。我奉差遣是到以色列人家去，這是為門徒說的，這是神傳福音的順序，不可為自己的原則上，破壞神的原則。這就是給會堂奉獻而不照顧父母就是為自己。

耶穌提到門徒、狗，怎麼這樣說? 耶穌提出一個解套的辦法，婦人的回答讓耶穌醫治，耶穌提出一個場景讓婦人找到解套的辦法。既滿足神的原則，又滿足婦人的請求。耶穌不是在打發這個婦人，而是在不違背神的原則下，為婦人舖路。耶穌為我們也一樣。神的原則是救恩先臨到猶太人。

婦人信心是大的，因為1)稱耶穌為大衛 的子孫，2)大聲呼求，不怕別人 3)婦人知道自己不配。一般如果有信心反而變成驕傲。婦人只要一點點碎雜就好了。這是我們基督徒該學習的榜樣。我們自己本來是不配的。信心的功課是1)神的心意絕不改變，尊主為大，2)謙卑，3)除了主以外沒有別的方法了。

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How?

Faith is our foundation of behaviour. If we have faith in Chris, we don't fear and have peace in us.

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them

 Matthew 15:10-20

“Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

Jesus never hesitated to denounce tradition wherever it watered down or undermined scriptural principles. The ruling on vows is a case in point. People were allowed exemption from their duty to maintain their parents if they dedicated the money to God. That way they could still enjoy the proceeds. It is not simply 'clean hands' but a 'clean heart' (motive and intent) that matters.

Why?

Everyone should keep their heart clean, follow the way of the Lord and let the Holy Spirit to remind us get rid of evil mind or grief mind.

Wash hands before eating are good for our health, but more important is the motivation and intention, what we like to show up or to honor the name of the Lord.

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法利賽人質疑耶穌的門徒吃飯不洗手。

吃的東西會排出來。出口的言語因為人的心顯出人的污穢，使人變壞。人的好壞是看人的心。耶穌關心人的內心如何?守禁令不能代表人內心的是否潔淨。

法利賽人所行的守規定，卻不能叫人變好，所以這是指人的栽種，用人外在的行為企圖得神喜悅。這是浪費時間、金錢，沒有好結果，都要被拔除，不是神栽種的，又好像瞎子帶瞎子都要掉在坑裏。

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How?

Be aware in this generation to show our love to people and with a pure heart before the Lord.