各位弟兄姊妹，平安。今天我们的读经进度是申命记16章1到17节。
这段经文记录了以色列的三个重要的节期。让我们来看看这些节期与今天的重要关联，这是一段非常有趣的记载。
逾越节在以色列的故事中具有极其重要的地位，它包含着两个重要的预表。第一个是指被牺牲的羔羊。
当我们翻阅出埃及记的第11章到第12章，我们发现记载了殺長子的灾难，这是十灾中的最后一灾，也是最严重的一灾。在上帝的毁灭天使降临之前，上帝启示给以色列人，每个家庭都要宰杀一只羔羊，并将其血涂在门上。当天使降临时，它会越过 (Passover) 这户人家，只击杀埃及人的长子。
这一段经文提醒我们，逾越节具有深刻的象征意义。正如以色列人透过羔羊的血得以免於神的审判，我们今天也透過耶稣基督，作为上帝為我們安排的贖罪羔羊，我們也得以脱离神 的審判。。
这实际上是一种预表，预示着耶稣有一天将会代替我们受死，这是一个特殊的节期。耶稣在被出卖的那一夜，正好是逾越节的晚上。我们看到耶稣在吃逾越节的晚餐，也是最后的晚餐时，亲自设立了圣餐礼。在这时，上帝完全启示，耶稣就是那个为我们的罪被杀的羔羊，那个要为我们流血受死的祭品。通过圣餐礼，我们蒙受了恩典，因为我们信靠祂的工作，我们得以免去罪孽。因此，逾越节的晚餐后来演变成了復活節的主日圣餐。这是今天基督徒必须理解的事情，耶稣作为那被杀的羔羊代替了我们的罪，在旧约中有了逾越节，而今天的基督徒庆祝的是复活节。
此外，我还看到上帝启示，以色列人被特别要求吃无酵餅，即没有发酵的饼。在第三节中，特别提到了这被称为"困苦餅"。我们可以稍微想象一下没有发酵的饼，它们应该是干硬的，味道可能不是特别好。这样吃的目的是为了一生一世地纪念他们从埃及出来的故事，对于以色列人来说，这代表他们从埃及的奴役中获得自由。对于基督徒呢？我们在圣餐中说要纪念的是，曾经在世界中被罪捆绑。而通过耶稣基督的宝血，我们得以释放，不再被定罪。这是圣餐礼要纪念的重要事情。
這裡有另外一個重要的預表，就是酵。这个重要性在圣经中特别强调，正如在第四节中所述，无论家中是否有任何酵都必须拿出来丢弃，不能留下一点。酵实际上代表着罪恶，而罪恶可能存在于我们看不见的地方，即使只有一点点，也会使整团发酵（参考加拉太书5:9）。耶稣也教导我们要警惕法利赛人和撒都该人的酵。
接下来还有两个重要的节期，分别是七七节和住棚节。七七节是指在逾越节后的七个七，合共四十九天，即七个礼拜。而今天，基督徒更熟悉的名称是五旬节或圣灵降临节。我们所知，在耶稣升天之前，他与门徒共度了四十天的时间。当他离开时，他告诉他们，不久将有一位保惠师被差派来。在五旬节，也就是几天之后，圣灵降临，这一天被认为是教会的诞生，从这一天开始，基督教正式建立。
让我们看到在以色列当时，这是一个秋收的节日会要来举办非常盛大的庆祝活动，是为了庆祝上帝的恩典。同时，我们也看到以色列人要准备许多东西，以向彼此表达慷慨的情感。在第十四节中提到：“你和你儿女、仆人、婢女，以及城里寄居的客旅，与孤兒寡妇都要在耶和华你的神面前欢乐。” 这是一个时刻，可以在上帝面前快乐地度过七天。
然而，今天教会中真正重要的事情是人与人之间的相处，我们的聚会和彼此的互动。教会不仅仅是一个宗教活动场所，它不仅涉及严肃的事情，更重要的是我们能够看到彼此的存在、互相关心和关怀，让我们与我们的弟兄姊妹之间建立更深的情感联系，使我们成为一个大家庭。这才是上帝所喜悦和悦纳的，而不仅仅是执行宗教仪式。在这些聚会和活动中，我们可以活出彼此相愛，每个人都带着一点东西来共同欢庆，共同在上帝面前吃喝快乐。这是我们能够展示给世人的基督教会可愛的地方。
感谢各位的聆听，明天我们将继续了解第16章的下半部分，涉及到法律的审判和审判官的设立。
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today, our reading progress is from Deuteronomy chapter 16, verses 1 to 17. This passage records three important festivals in Israel. Let us examine these festivals and their significant relevance to today; it's a very interesting account.
The Passover feast holds a paramount position in the story of Israel, containing two crucial foreshadows. The first one refers to the sacrificed lamb.
As we turn to chapters 11 to 12 in the Book of Exodus, we find an account of the calamity of the firstborn's death, which is the final and most severe of the ten plagues. Before God's destroying angel arrived, God revealed to the Israelites that each household should sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts. When the angel came, it would "pass over" that house, sparing the firstborn of Israel while striking down the firstborn of Egypt.
This passage reminds us of the profound symbolism of the Passover. Just as the Israelites were saved from God's judgment through the blood of the lamb, we today are redeemed through Jesus Christ, who serves as God's appointed sacrificial lamb. Through the Holy Communion, we receive grace, as we trust in His work, and are set free from sin. Therefore, the Passover feast eventually evolved into the Holy Communion. This is something that Christians today must understand: Jesus, as the sacrificed lamb, took away our sins. In the Old Testament, there was the Passover, and today's Christians celebrate Easter.
Additionally, I see another crucial foreshadowing here, that of yeast. This importance is emphasized by God in the fourth verse, where it is stated that no yeast should be left in the house. Yeast symbolizes sin, which can exist in hidden places, even a tiny amount can cause the entire lump to rise (see Galatians 5:9). Jesus also taught us to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Next, there are two more important festivals: the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Weeks is observed after seven weeks, totaling forty-nine days, or seven weeks. Today, Christians are more familiar with Pentecost or the Day of Pentecost. We know that before Jesus ascended, He spent forty days with His disciples. When He left, He told them that in a few days, the Helper would be sent to them. In a few days, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended, and this day is considered the birthday of the Church. From this day onwards, the Christian Church was officially established.
Let us recognize that in ancient Israel, this was a festival of autumn harvest, marked by grand celebrations to commemorate God's grace. Moreover, we see that the Israelites were required to prepare many things to express generous gestures to their fellow citizens. In verse fourteen, it is mentioned: "You and your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own—all who live among you—must come and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days."
However, what is truly important in today's church is the way people interact with one another, our gatherings, and our interactions. The church is not merely a religious venue; it involves not only serious matters but, more importantly, the opportunity to witness one another's presence, care, and concern. Let us build deeper emotional connections with our brothers and sisters, becoming a family that pleases and is accepted by God. It is not just about performing religious activities. In these gatherings and events, we can live out the love for one another, where everyone brings something to celebrate together before God, eating, drinking, and rejoicing in His presence. This is the endearing aspect of the Christian Church that we can showcase to the world.
Thank you all for your attentive listening. Tomorrow, we will continue to explore the latter part of chapter 16, which deals with the judgment of the law and the appointment of judges.
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