QT 18/03/2024 Monday Read Luke 19. Zacchaeus & True Purity. 撒该与真正的纯洁.
QT 18/03/2024 Monday Read Luke 19
http://www.esvbible.org/luke19
REFLECTION (1): To you, is there any one "too far" from God to be saved? Zacchaeus?
Zacchaeus was a tax collector (Luke 19:2), an appointment that was despised and looked upon as traitors. In fact, he was "a chief tax collector" and rich (Luke 19:2).
Yet, his name means "pure". What a contrast! Indeed, others called him "a man who is a sinner" (Luke 19:7).
He lived in a city that has a less than blessed history. Joshua 6:26 notes that Jericho is a city that comes with a curse if anyone attempts to rebuild it.
He was a man of small stature and had to climb a tree to see Jesus pass by (Luke 19:3). He might be considered as "a nobody" socially, morally and relationally.
Yet Jesus singled him out for visitation, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5 ESV). By going to Zacchaeus' house, it signified Jesus' acceptance of this social outcast.
The word "must" points to the initiative of Jesus to make Zacchaeus a model of those who respond positively: Zacchaeus responded quickly (Luke 19:6) with joy (Luke 19:6), even when unkind remarks and condemnation opposed his action (Luke 19:7). His repentance marked his acceptance of Jesus Christ into his life.
APPLICATION (1): Let's not exclude nor prejudge anyone for being too rotten to come to Christ. For Christ's purpose was to seek the lost (Luke 19:10).
APPLICATION (2): Let's respond to Christ by welcoming Him into our homes and hearts. Let's also seek to restore broken relationships, especially those whom we have wronged through our less than honourable dealings.
星期一 2024年3月18日 今日读经：路加福音19章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Luk/19/
反思(1):对你而言，有没有人是离神“太远”无法得救的？撒该？
撒该是个税吏(路19:2)，一个被瞧不起并被看为是“汉奸”的职位。事实上，他是“税吏长”且很富有(路19:2)。
然而，他的名字是“纯洁”的意思。好强烈的对比！确实，其他人都叫他是“罪人”(路19:7)。
他住在一个不被祝福的城市。约书亚6:26提到，若有人想重建耶利哥城，要知道这是一个被诅咒的城。
他是个个子矮小的人而且得爬上树去才能看到耶稣经过(路19:3)。他无论在社会上、道德上或关系上都是个“没啥了不起”的人。
然而耶稣却指定要到他家做客，“撒该，快下来，今天我要住在你家里。”(路19:5新译本)。去撒该家这个举动，表明耶稣接受了这个被社会排挤的人。
“我要”这词指向耶稣自愿以撒该为正面回应的典范:撒该很快地回应，(路19:6)并“欢欢喜喜“地接待耶稣(路19:6)，尽管不好听的言论和反对他行为的声浪不绝于耳(路19:7)。他的悔改标志着耶稣基督进入了他的生命。
应用(1):我们不要排除也不要断定某人因太烂而无法来到基督那里。因为人子来，是要寻找拯救失丧的人(路19:10)。
应用(2):让我们迎接基督到我们的家、我们的心里，以作为回应。也让我们寻求修复破碎的关系，尤其是那些因为我们处理不得当而被我们伤害到的人。
