They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules

 Matthew 15:1-9

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’

From the first, Jesus' teaching on religion brought him into conflict with the Pharisees. For them 'tradition' the real teaching of the rabbis which supplemented and interpreted scripture was blinding. But Jesus never hesitated to denounce tradition wherever it watered down or undermined scriptural principles.

Why?

Some Pharisees follow the tradition of the elders but forgot the more important way of the Lord, the truth.

If honor the Lord with a lip but the hearts are far from God, this is not the worship, it is a ceremony. God likes to build a close relationship between us.

Am I reading the Bible, praying to the Lord, and worship in the church are ceremony or it may let me have more close relationship with the Lord?

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傳統與真理的問題。

14:33你真是神的兒子。14章上次耶穌平穩風浪：門徒說這人是誰?這麼有能力。門徒終於知道耶穌是神的兒子。

法利賽人不承認耶穌所行的來自神，耶穌所行的沒有照他們的條件，所行的要他們滿意。耶穌是神，卻要耶穌照人的標準，看看是否過關?

我們今天為我們所求的應允而感恩，如果神沒有照我們所求的是否也感恩?

即使耶穌行神蹟，法利賽人也不承認，不照他們要求的就是錯，他們關心的是傳統。因為傳統比較簡單，多數人知道，不會被責備，也是大家習慣的，感覺比較舒服。

傳統如果符合多數人的方式，習慣，因此不願改變，落入舒適圈內，以致落入人的感覺、想法，不是討神的喜悅。

吃飯洗手，奉獻禮物就可以不孝敬父母。洗手不是玩的因為衛生，反而是為了傳統。平常沾染不潔淨，大家不見得看得到，洗手人容易看得到，得到稱讚。奉獻禮物大家看到，照顧家裏外人看不到。用儀式代表生活的信仰、見證。這些是故意要人看見，既舒服又容易得到稱讚。

因此耶穌用以賽亞書的話來描述法利賽人的內心。我們是討神的喜歡，還是討人的喜歡?否則我們又落入舒適圈內，以自我為中心的生活態度。

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How?

Worship and honor the Lord with my heart and with my behavior.

Lord, save me!

 Matthew 14:22-36

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Why?

Jesus may walk on the water, once again proved Jesus is beyond the prophets. No one prophet can walk on the water. 

Peter has the courage to get down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, his focus turned to the environment, he lost his faith, or the fear come up. So he begins to sink.

"Lord, save me" is the basic and short calling to Jesus Christ to help us.

Peter has little faith when he came to Jesus walked on the water. But Peter has the courage to do it, better than other disciples.

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第二次平靜風浪，這次不在船上，有比吃飽飯更重要，有風浪，卻有神的恩典，沒有人喜歡苦難，苦難可以使我們經歷神。這段經歷，門徒如何看暴風雨中的主，以為是鬼，我們在困難中，攪擾中，我們以為是撒旦。在這風雨中，讓門徒遇到暴風雨，以為這自然現象，撒旦作為。是主不要怕，要我們看見神。這次他們認識耶穌是神的兒子。主就在暴風雨中，不是在一旁。危險對耶穌毫無影響力。耶穌在海上如走平地，不會受海浪影響。船會受風雨影響。

政治人物若印災民一樣與他們在一起，全身污泥，另外一種人是坐在車上喊話。

彼得走在水上比埃及人過紅海更偉大。但以理書的火瑤中主與他們三人同在一樣。

耶穌在危險中，危險卻不能傷害他。讓我們經歷神。

在危險中我們看什麼?評估風浪、船都沒有用。彼得看風浪大不大，就沈下去。危險中要看主，如何去面對。這比吃飽更重要。

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How?

Faith and courage are needed to follow the way of Jesus Christ.

Food for 5000

 Matthew 14:14-21

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”  “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Why?

You give them to eat, Jesus asked disciples to give people something to eat.

Jesus looking up to heaven and he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Jesus gets power and multiple foods from 5 loaves to many. It shows the supernature power of Jesus Christ.

The sequence of giving is Jesus to disciples, then to the people. The blessing of the Lord is from Christian to others. We are the median person between the Lord and others to witness the greatness of Jesus Christ.

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希律認識的耶穌以為是死裏復活的約翰，耶穌的回應是退到曠野。

耶穌所行的能力超過摩西、以利沙。摩西是求神賜食物，耶穌是主動提供百姓食物，這些人還沒有認識耶穌就在憐憫我們，保護我們。

透過門徒來發餅，餅一直在增加，門徒也驚訝他們手中的餅一直經歷神蹟，門徒當時是疲累的，但是經歷這些神蹟時，他們的疲憊已經消失，而且成為令人興奮的事。如果說現場有6000人，12個門徒來發，平均一個人發500份，經歷500次神蹟。參加在神的工作中，與神同工，關心主所關心的人，還超過我們放幾天假。

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How?

Do my best to witness the love and great way Jesus has given to me to my surrounding people.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place

 Matthew 14:1-13

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. 

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

Why?

King Herod was distressed to kill John the Baptist, but if he doesn't like to do it, he has the authority to let John free from prison. But he didn't.

This is the end of the mission to John on the world. Jesus Christ started his mission.

When heard the distress message, Jesus left the crowd and withdrew privately to a solitary place, to calm down the emotion, to pray, and to face himself.

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希律的反應代表掌權者的反感。希律怕百姓。怕王的形象受損。又怕同席的人，怕女兒的話。這樣子怎麼是王?愈在乎自己的權柄，反而什麼都怕。希律知道施洗約翰從神而來的。王為施洗約翰憂愁：希律其實尊重施洗約翰，希律夾在兩者中間，有點像舊約的亞哈王，想討好兩邊。我們也是常常夾在世界和神中間。我們常常受到既得利益的影響，受到世界、受到己的影響。亞哈想討好以利亞卻又放不下耶洗別。這就是9耶穌所說的，不能愛神又愛瑪門。希律最後是被自己打敗了。同樣我們不可能腳踏兩條船，兩邊都要。最聰明是選擇神這邊，只有神可以使我們滿足需要。

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How?

We don't know how long is our life, but we believe our life is in hands of the Lord. Be encourage and have faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith

 Matthew 13:47-58

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

The fisherman's net. This describes the sorting out of good and bad at the end of time.

Why?

The final judgment will separate the good and evil ones, so like the good and bad fishes.

Bring out the new treasure as well as old, it means old figure and new truth. The figure is an image and truth is the reality in our life. Both are good to our faith in Christ.

The home town of Jesus could not trust in Jesus' teaching for they knew Jesus as their neighbor, so they dispised the good message and blessing from the Lord.

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不同的人對神的國有不同的反應！人應當如何正確看天國的價值。

正面反應的人被揀選，負面反應的人被丟棄。現在好像我們在選擇，未受末後是神在選擇。

文士對舊約律法很熟悉，所教導的不過是人的想法。如果文士不受教，講的都是舊的，如果文士受教，才能拿出新的。舊的常常是人為的，新的是真理，正確的律法詮釋。從神來的永遠是新的，人的東西一直變來變去。神的話語每次看都有新的認識，已經2000多年了，在這個時代還是新的，可以不斷成長，發現。聖經是最古老的，卻也一直是新的，領受不同。如老詩歌一百年了卻可以一直感動人，有神的同在。這就是文士從倉庫中拿出新東西來。人若不願意更新改變，就像耶穌家鄉的人用過去的經驗來看他，不願意接受改變，不願意接受新的，不願意接受耶穌是先知，願意接受耶穌是他們鄰居、木匠兒子，認為不可能是先知，無法接受這樣的感受，啟示受不了這樣子的衝擊。我們願意成長，願意改變就能夠成長更多，最後的結局是哀哭切齒了。

求神讓我們能夠改變成長，放下舊的，接受新所賜新的生命。

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How?

Do not dispised anyone for his background or his altitude. Be humble for all are under the authority of the Lord.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls

 Matthew 13:31-46

The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world. Psalm 78:2

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

The mustard-seed, and the yeast. From small beginnings, quietly and unnoticed, the kingdom will make great growth.

The treasure, and the pearl. So valuable is the kingdom, it is worth all we have to make sure of it.

Why?

Once more Matthew proved that Jesus' teaching is right as the prophet has said by parables.

The seed and the weeds are growing together but the destinations are different. Jesus gives everyone has an opportunity to growing and turn to the Lord. If they keep hardening their heart will be put on the fire.

The kingdom of heaven is a great treasure, it costs a man to get it by what he has. To enter the kingdom needs efforts of our whole life.

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四個比喻：

芥菜種和麵酵的比喻： 原來體積土很小，內部卻力量很大。天國如果長成可以供養許多人。人看到的是樹不是種子，看到的是麵包卻看不到酵。可以說是神的做為，或是沒有什麼恩賜的弟兄姊妹，看似隱藏的卻影響很大。也不要看自己可有可無。這個過程需要時間，卻有好的結果。

買地和買珠寶的比喻，要有眼光的心才看出地的價值。外表看來是荒地，一般人看來是沒有價值。世人看不出價值，只有基督徒看到這價值。有眼光的人才能看出這珍珠的價值。這些都是量的微小，我們常以量來看價值，但是其價值卻是很高的，值得放下所有來跟隨主，別人看來以為是宗教狂熱份子。保羅看萬事為糞土，萬事是他在猶太人中的地位、知識、頭銜等，願意放下。但願我們眼睛明亮，有屬靈的眼光，看到神無以倫比的福份。

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How?

Do I enter the kingdom of heaven? I don't know, but it costs me spent all my life to get in.

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field

 Matthew 13:18-30

1.This is the seed sown along the path: who does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.

2.The seed falling on rocky ground: since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away

3.The seed falling among the thorns: someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful

4.the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’

The wheat and the weeds. This story is concerned with the mixture of good and bad in this life, to be sorted out at the judgment.

Why?

The Lord allowed evil to exist in the world with us. When the judgment comes they will be discarded and be burned.

Do not angry with the evil one. All of these are under the hands of the Lord.

Watch out myself does my heart is good soil to the seed of gospel? Don't let the world affect my faith and my mind close to the Lord.

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耶穌對願意聽且遵行的人，講的清楚明白。對其他人則用比喻。

撒在路邊： 不明白的人。因為不想明白，不當一回事。

撒在土淺處：聽到有好處，聽到他想聽的。其他的不想聽。只想要得到自己成功，不想受苦、不想遵行主的心意，還要背十字架。信主後病怎麼沒有好，生活沒有比較好……往上長人家可以看見，但是要往上長，必須先向下扎根。在危難時是否能夠堅守主的道。不要急著結果子。

荊棘地： 是來自世上的思慮，注重吃什麼，穿什麼，開什麼、住什麼，神沒有要人過苦日子，但是不要被錢財迷惑。你是看重荊棘，還是結出的果子。荊棘最後會刺上我們。這就是愛主又愛又愛瑪門。不可能荊棘和種子都長的好，一定要剷除荊棘才能長出果子。以神為樂！才是好土。

稗子和麥子生長在一起。現在還不是公義完全彰顯的時候，否則連基督徒也要受審判。教會當前的使命是使麥子好好長，長大更好，不急著除去其他人，因為我們不知道教會中誰是麥子，稗子

耶穌不放棄每個人，要讓每個人有機會成長，我們不要以為某人不合適，不會正面反應，怕我們看錯人。

把握成長的機會，否則我們就會成為稗子，最後被除掉。

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How?

Be careful the evil like a lion on the road to search the weak one. Be strong and rely on the Lord! God is with us.