兄弟姐妹平安。今天我们的读经进度是申命记第14章的前半段，1至21节。 在这段经文中，我们发现了有关不洁净食物的规定，这些规定在当时有着属灵和属肉体两个层面。这里上帝所强调的不洁净既有属灵层面，也有关于卫生和健康层面的。当我们更仔细地审视这些规定时，我们会发现上帝制定这些法律的背后，还有着保护以色列人身体健康的考量。
3500年前的巴勒斯坦地区并不具备现代烹饪和卫生条件，以色列人生活在野外，依赖拾取木材来生火烹调食物。因此，一些食物难以被彻底清洁，这使得这里记载的规定更加重要。某些动物和肉类容易带有病原体，比如猪肉，它本身容易传播传染病和寄生虫。同样，腐烂的肉对人类来说非常不健康和危险。 到了今天其实腐肉也不是一个好的食物，我们都知道不应该吃已经烂掉的肉。而那些专门吃尸体的比如说老鹰这种动物呢？他其实就在强调最好不要吃这些鸟类的肉，因为他们所吃的是腐肉那种就容易带来更多的病菌在其中。
当时的以色列人尚不了解现代的病理学和细菌知识，所以遵守这些法律有助于降低细菌感染的风险。因此，我们在研究这段经文时，除了属灵的层面外，还应该理解其中的物理卫生背景，这有助于我们更好地理解上帝的计划和心意。
另外一个层面的属灵上的不洁净，是因为这些时候，有一些是跟异教相关的，就是我们的第12第13节提到，上帝提到的是以色列人不能够跟这些迦南地的人一起拜异教。这些异教有一些会使用这些肉或者是使用猪肉等等。所以在这个地方上帝有说是的，在饮食上你们要和迦南人分开来。不能够跟他们吃一样的东西，不能够跟他们做一样的事情，这个部分是宗教上的教训，也是跟我们之前在13章所提到的为了把以色列人跟迦南人分开来所做的一个教训。
而这些不可以吃东西，到了新约的时候又是怎么说的呢？我们看一看新约里面的彼得跟保罗是怎么说的。
在使徒行传第10章中，发生了一个重要的事件，涉及彼得和一位罗马人哥尼流的邀请。在这之前，彼得经历了一个异象，上帝从天上垂下来，布中装满各种各样的食物，并有声音告诉他起来宰了吃。然而，彼得坚守着犹太人的饮食传统，他对上帝说：“主啊，我绝不吃不洁净的物！”这一幕发生了三次，然后这些食物被收回到天上。
后来，我们明白了这个异象的含义。上帝一开始把外邦人的使命交给了彼得，但彼得选择坚守犹太人的饮食和宗教规矩，他没有理解上帝的意图。然而，上帝向他显示，祂所洁净的是无可分割的，不论是外邦人还是犹太人，都可以接近祂的国度。最终，外邦人的使徒职分转交给了保罗。
在希伯来书9:10中，提到：“因为这些只是关于饮食和各种洗净礼，是属肉体的规定，明定到振兴的时候为止。”
9那头一层帐幕作现今的一个表样，所献的礼物和祭物，就着良心说，都不能叫礼拜的人得以完全。 10这些事，连那饮食和诸般洗濯的规矩，都不过是属肉体的条例，命定到振兴的时候为止。希伯來書9:9-10
在歌罗西书的第2章，20-22节中，保罗提到为什么你们要像世界的人一样，遵从那些规条，比如“不可拿、不可摸、不可尝”等等。保罗在这里告诉我们，当我们拥有上帝的恩典和耶稣的救赎时，我们的出发点应该是爱人如己，爱上帝，而不再是守规矩。这意味着我们不再需要遵守旧约中的这些不可拿、不可摸、不可尝等规条。这是因为我们的信仰建立在基督的爱和恩典之上，而不是严格的法律遵守。
20-21 你们若是与基督同死，脱离了世上的小学，为什么仍像在世俗中活着、服从那「不可拿、不可尝、不可摸」等类的规条呢？ 22这都是照人所吩咐、所教导的。说到这一切，正用的时候就都败坏了。 歌罗西书 2:20-22
在羅馬書14章有相當精闢的講解：
14:14 我凭着主耶稣确知深信，凡物本来没有不洁净的；惟独人以为不洁净的，在他就不洁净了。 15你若因食物叫弟兄忧愁，就不是按着爱人的道理行。基督已经替他死，你不可因你的食物叫他败坏。 16不可叫你的善被人毁谤； 17因为 神的国不在乎吃喝，只在乎公义、和平，并圣灵中的喜乐。 18在这几样上服事基督的，就为 神所喜悦，又为人所称许。 19所以，我们务要追求和睦的事与彼此建立德行的事。 20不可因食物毁坏 神的工程。凡物固然洁净，但有人因食物叫人跌倒，就是他的罪了。 21无论是吃肉是喝酒，是什么别的事，叫弟兄跌倒，一概不做才好。 22你有信心，就当在 神面前守着。人在自己以为可行的事上能不自责，就有福了。 23若有疑心而吃的，就必有罪，因为他吃不是出于信心。凡不出于信心的都是罪。
在本质上，一切都是可以做的，但我们要记住，我们的行为应该是为了他人的利益。举例来说，如果我参加一个宴会，有人告诉我某道菜曾经被用作祭品，那我可能会选择不吃，不是因为那道菜本身有什么问题，而是因为我不想在其他基督徒面前做出吃祭品的举动，这可能会使他们感到困惑或对信仰产生疑惑。我的行为考虑的是别人的信心，尤其是那些信仰较软弱或初信的弟兄姐妹（哥林多前书8:13）。
因此，我们应该理解，上帝在这方面的命令有着属灵的层面，目的是让以色列人与迦南人分别开来，同时也是为了保护以色列人的身体健康，以免他们食用当时卫生状况较差的肉类。在今天，我们所作所为，只要凭着信心，就没有问题。但是如果我们注意到有可能会绊倒别人，造成别人信心上的困惑，那么最好的选择就是不要做。
我们刚刚分享了申命记第14章的上半段，明天我们接着分享，关于十一奉献的原则。感谢大家的聆听。
Brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today, our reading is from the first half of Deuteronomy chapter 14, verses 1 to 21.
In this passage, we find regulations concerning unclean foods. These regulations had both a spiritual and a physical dimension in their context. God emphasized both the spiritual aspect and the importance of hygiene and health in these dietary laws. When we examine these regulations closely, we realize that behind God's laws, there was a concern for safeguarding the physical health of the Israelites.
3500 years ago, in the region of Palestine, there were no modern cooking and sanitation facilities. The Israelites lived in the wilderness, relying on wood for cooking. Consequently, some foods were difficult to clean thoroughly, making these regulations even more crucial. Certain animals and meats were prone to carry pathogens, such as pork, which was known to be a carrier of diseases and parasites. Similarly, decaying meat was considered very unhealthy and dangerous for consumption.
Even today, decaying meat is not a good choice for food, as we all know. The text also mentions animals like eagles that primarily fed on carrion. This emphasizes the wisdom in avoiding the consumption of such birds because they were exposed to even more disease-carrying bacteria through their diet.
At that time, the Israelites did not have an understanding of modern pathology and bacteria. Therefore, adhering to these laws helped reduce the risk of bacterial infections. So, as we study this passage, we should not only consider the spiritual dimension but also the physical hygiene context, which helps us better understand God's intentions and plans.
Another spiritual aspect of uncleanness was related to the association with foreign religions. In verses 12 and 13, God instructed the Israelites not to worship the same way as the Canaanites, who might have used certain meats or pork in their practices. Thus, God commanded separation in diet and behavior, which had both religious and instructional purposes, aligning with what we discussed in chapter 13, about separating the Israelites from the Canaanites.
So, what does the New Testament say about these dietary restrictions? Let's take a look at what Peter and Paul have to say.
In Acts chapter 10, we find a significant event involving Peter and an invitation from a Roman centurion named Cornelius. Prior to this event, Peter had a vision where God lowered a sheet from heaven filled with various foods and told him to rise, kill, and eat. However, Peter staunchly adhered to Jewish dietary traditions and declared, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." This happened three times before the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Later, we understand the meaning of this vision. God initially entrusted the mission to the Gentiles to Peter, but he chose to stick to Jewish dietary and religious customs. However, God showed him that what He had cleansed was inseparable, and both Jews and Gentiles could draw near to His kingdom. Ultimately, the mission to the Gentiles was passed to Paul.
In Hebrews 9:10, it says, "They (the Old Testament regulations) deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation."
In Colossians 2:20-22, Paul asks why we should follow regulations like "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" as if we were worldly people. Paul explains that when we have the grace of God and the redemption through Jesus, our starting point should be to love one another and love God. We no longer need to adhere to these Old Testament regulations, as our faith is built on Christ's love and grace, not strict adherence to the law.
In essence, everything is permissible, but we should remember that our actions should benefit others. For example, if I attend a banquet and someone tells me that a certain dish was once used in sacrifices, I might choose not to eat it. It's not because there's anything wrong with the dish itself, but because I don't want to set an example of consuming sacrificial offerings in front of other Christians. This could lead to confusion or doubts about their faith, especially among those who are weaker in faith or new believers (1 Corinthians 8:13).
Therefore, they understood that God's commandments in this regard had a spiritual aspect, separating the Israelites from the Canaanites, and also aimed at protecting the physical health of the Israelites from consuming meats that might have been less hygienic given the circumstances of the time.
We've just shared from the first half of Deuteronomy chapter 14, and tomorrow we'll continue to explore the principles of tithing. Thank you all for listening.
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