第三十
我们都属于神,因为我们都是照着他的形象被造的。

Day 37
We Belong to God, for We Are All Created in His Image

今日读经

  • 马可福音 12:13-17

纳税给凯撒的问题

13后来,他们打发几个法利赛人和希律党人到耶稣那里,要用他自己的话陷害他。 14他们来了,就对他说:“老师,我们知道你是诚实的,无论谁你都一视同仁;因为你不看人的面子,而是诚诚实实传上帝的道。纳税给凯撒合不合法? 15我们该不该纳?”耶稣知道他们的虚伪,就对他们说:“你们为什么试探我?拿一个银币来给我看。” 16他们就拿了来。耶稣问他们:“这像和这名号是谁的?”他们对他说:“是凯撒的。” 17耶稣对他们说:“凯撒的归凯撒;上帝的归上帝。”他们对他非常惊讶。

灵修与祷告

耶稣的敌人试图用许多刁钻的问题来陷害他。虽然没有人给他提供建议或帮助,但耶稣处理得绝妙。

宗教领袖们派去几个法利赛人和希律党的人,想要“就着他的话陷害他”(马可福音12:13)。这两个团体互相憎恨,因为他们站在截然相反的原则和价值观上。法利赛人在文化和宗教上极端保守,希律党则奉行自由主义,但现在他们既然有了共同的敌人——耶稣,就联合起来反对他。他们问耶稣,犹太人是否应该向罗马皇帝缴人头税。他们知道有些犹太人拒绝缴税,因为那样就承认他们对罗马的臣服,所以他们是在试图把耶稣逼到墙角。他们“非此即彼”的问题旨在使耶稣无论如何回答都会陷入困境——不是被视为支持罗马,就是被看作反抗罗马。他们奉承耶稣说他是个“诚实”、“不徇情面”的人(马可福音12:14)。

耶稣看穿了他们的虚伪,问他们为什么要陷害他。每个人都对这些人的不良居心心知肚明,只等着看耶稣将如何处理这种情况。耶稣向他们要了一枚罗马银币,问银币上的像是谁。他们回答说是凯撒,耶稣便说:“凯撒的物当归给该撒,神的物当归给神。”(马可福音12:17)当众人看到耶稣巧妙地解答了这个陷阱问题时,就高兴不已,可能还甚至鼓起掌来。

这里有个更重要的教训。就如银币上有凯撒的像一样,人的灵魂上也有神的形象。我们都是照着神的形象被造的(创世记1:26)。虽然这个形象已受损,但它仍然提醒我们,我们属于神,而不是属于自己或其他任何人。当我们认识到这一点,并把自己交还给神,那么神的恩典就会在我们里面做工,通过他的儿子,在我们里面重建他的形象(罗马书8:29;哥林多前书15:49)。那些刁难耶稣的人不该谈论政治,而应该思考他们灵魂的状态和他们与神的关系。


思考

人们对新冠疫情的反应,表现出人性的什么特点?我们该如何用言行向他人表明,我们是按照神的形象被造的?圣灵正如何改变你的内心,使你更像基督?你如何才能顺服他在你身上的恩典工作?

新冠疫情引发了许多关于人生的疑问,而这些疑问的背后潜藏着属灵的需要。我们该如何向人们指出属灵的现实和他们对基督的需要?我们又如何能谨慎又怀着爱心地面对和解答他们的提问?


  • 花点时间向神献上感恩与祈求


Today's Bible Reading

  • Mark 12:13-17

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Devotional and Prayer

Jesus’ enemies tried to entrap Him by asking many trick questions. Although He didn’t have anyone to advise or help Him, Jesus handled the situation exceptionally well.

The religious leaders sent some Pharisees and Herodians “to catch him in his words” (Mark 12:13). These two groups hated each other as they stood for diametrically-opposed principles and values. One was culturally and religiously ultra-conservative and the other was liberal. Now that they had a common enemy, they joined forces against Jesus. They asked Him a question about whether Jews should pay a poll tax to the Roman emperor. Knowing that some Jews refused to pay the tax as it would be acknowledging their subjection to Rome, they attempted to force Jesus into a tight corner. Their “either-or” question was intended to land Jesus in trouble whichever way He answered—as a supporter of Rome or a rebel against it. They flattered Jesus by saying He was a “man of integrity” who was not “swayed by men” (Mark 12:14).

Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus asked them why they were trying to trap Him. Everyone knew that and waited to see how He would handle the situation. He asked for a denarius, a Roman coin, and asked whose portrait was on it. When they replied that it was Caesar’s, He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). The crowd must have been elated, and may even have applauded, when they saw how well Jesus had defeated the trick question.

But there was a more important lesson. Just as the coin had Caesar’s image on it, the human soul has God’s image on it. We were all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Though this image has been marred, it still reminds us that we belong to God, not to ourselves or anyone else. When we recognise this and give ourselves back to God, then His grace will work within us to re-establish His image in us through His Son (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49). Instead of talking politics, the questioners of Jesus should be thinking of the state of their souls and their relationship with God.


Think It Over

What do people’s responses to the COVID-19 outbreak say about human nature? How can we show others that we are created in the image of God with our words and actions? What Christlike changes might the Holy Spirit be making in you, and how can you submit to His work of grace in you?

The coronavirus has sparked many questions about life that indicate underlying spiritual needs. How can we help point people to the spiritual realities and their need for Christ? How can we engage and address their questions sensitively and lovingly?


  • Take a moment to give thanks and prayers to God