“凡他们所吩咐你们的，你们都要谨守遵行。但不要效法他们的行为；因为他们能说，不能行。” - 太 23:3

律法师和法利赛人是犹太人中的领袖人物。他们知道神的律法，还可以告诉人们如何应用律法。但他们是假冒为善的人。他们在神的律法之上加上自己的律法，以为这样可以“保护”神的律法不被违背。但这样做，正正违反了律法的精义，就是爱。

如果基督徒在神的律法上加上自己的社会标准，他们所行也会和法利赛人一样。“基督徒当然不会听那种音乐，或穿那种衣服，或者跳舞，或者……” 我们可能会认为，我们添加这样的限制是对神的律法特别热心。但神渴望的是爱，而不是对祂的律法添油加醋。

遵循人的标准而忽视神对爱的呼召，会导致可怕的结果。是它导致了种族主义。“我们只是遵循种族隔离制度的规则！”是它导致了性别歧视：“她应该知道最好不要穿这样的衣服。”是它导致了民族主义：“我们只是听领导的命令。”

这种假冒为善，会在审判日受罚。不以爱众人为目标的律法不是神的律法。掌管天地的治理者不会被歪曲的规章制度所操纵。

祷告

父啊，我们若设立了错误的标准，请赦免我们。如果我们缺乏爱心地评判他人，请赦免我们。帮助我们像你一样爱每一个人。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

马太福音 23:1-15

1那时，耶稣对众人和门徒讲论，
2说：“文士和法利赛人坐在摩西的位上，
3凡他们所吩咐你们的，你们都要谨守遵行，但不要效法他们的行为，因为他们能说不能行。
4他们把难担的重担捆起来，搁在人的肩上，但自己一个指头也不肯动。
5他们一切所做的事都是要叫人看见，所以将佩戴的经文做宽了，衣裳的穗子做长了；
6喜爱筵席上的首座、会堂里的高位，
7又喜爱人在街市上问他安，称呼他‘拉比’。
8但你们不要受拉比的称呼，因为只有一位是你们的夫子，你们都是弟兄。
9也不要称呼地上的人为父，因为只有一位是你们的父，就是在天上的父。
10也不要受师尊的称呼，因为只有一位是你们的师尊，就是基督。
11你们中间谁为大，谁就要做你们的用人。
12凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。
13“你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们正当人前把天国的门关了，自己不进去，正要进去的人你们也不容他们进去。
15“你们这假冒为善的文士和法利赛人有祸了！因为你们走遍洋海陆地，勾引一个人入教，既入了教，却使他做地狱之子，比你们还加倍。

Our Laws Can Be Too Much

"You must be careful to do everything [the teachers of the law] tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." - Matthew 23:3

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were the leading citizens among the Jews. They knew what God’s law said, and they could tell people how to apply it. But they were hypocrites. They added their own laws on top of God’s laws, thinking that would “protect” the law of God from being disobeyed. But in doing so, they violated the spirit of the law, which is love.

Christians can do the same as the Pharisees if they add their own social standards to God’s law. “Surely a Christian would never listen to that kind of music, or wear those clothes, or dance, or . . .” We might think we are being especially zealous for the law of God by adding such restrictions. But God desires love, not legalistic additions to his law.

Following human standards while ignoring God’s call to love can lead to terrible results. It has led to racism: “We just followed the rules of apartheid!” It has led to sexism: “She should have known better than to wear that.” It has lead to nationalism: “We were just following our leaders’ orders.”

Such hypocrisy will condemn us on the day of judgment. Laws that do not aim at love for all people are not God’s laws. The Ruler of heaven and earth is not fooled by distorted rule-following.

Prayer

Father, forgive us when we set up false standards. Forgive us if we have judged others unlovingly. Help us to love everyone as you do. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.