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利未记生命读经 · 第36篇

饮食上的分别

Discernment in Diet
1读经:利未记11:1-24上,26-27上,29-31上,41-44,使徒行传10:9下-14,27-29。
1Scripture Reading: Lev. 11:1-24a, 26-27a, 29-31a, 41- 44; Acts 10:9b-14, 27-29
2利未记这卷书可分为两大段。头一段包括一至十章,说到供物与祭司体系。第二段包括十一至二十七章,说到神圣别子民的圣别生活。这第二段乃是说到祂整体子民的生活;不只祭司该有圣别的生活;祭司在其间所事奉之神的子民,也该是圣别的。利未记是一卷豫表的书。头七章说到的各种供物,全是豫表。八至十章的祭司体系,也该视为豫表。不仅如此,十一至二十七章所论到神圣别子民圣别生活的一切事,也该视为豫表。这些章节虽是说到神旧约的子民,以色列人的生活。然而,我们若对这些豫表有正确的领会,就会看见这一切都是豫表新约信徒的生活。利未记既是一卷豫表的书,就需要加以解释。没有正确的解释,就很难认识这卷书。但是有人宣称圣经不需要解释。按照他们的观念,我们读一段圣经若是不明白,就该一再的读,直到明白。然而,对于利未记这类的书却不是这样。我担保你即使将利未记读上百遍,仍然无法明白。我们若要认识这卷书,必须藉著正确的解释,使其向我们打开。因神子民集体努力,利未记已经被解开。这卷书是为著神的子民,也是被神的子民所解开的。首先解开的,是在使徒保罗,他写希伯来书时,解释了利未记。彼得也在行传十章里藉所给他的异象,对利未记有了一点领会。他看见有一器皿,好像一块大布,(徒十11,)里面有各样动物;这异象乃是利未记十一章的应验。所以,行传十章乃是利未记十一章的解释。我们由此看见,利未记这卷书的解释,是开始于使徒们。
2The book of Leviticus may be divided into two main sections. The first section, comprising chapters one through ten, covers the offerings and the priesthood. The second section, comprising chapters eleven through twenty-seven, covers the holy living of God’sho ly people. After God speaks in the first section concerning the offerings and the priesthood, He speaks in the second section concerning His people in their entirety. The priests are not the only ones who should have a holy life and a holy living. The people of God, among whom the priests serve, should also be holy. Leviticus is a book of types, a book of typology. In the first seven chapters we have the different kinds of offerings, all of which are types. The priesthood in chapters eight through ten should also be considered a type. Furthermore, all the matters in chapters eleven through twenty-seven concerning the holy living of God’s holy people should also be regarded as types. These chapters cover the living of the Israelites, God’s people in the Old Testament. However, if we have the proper understanding of the types, we shall realize that all the types in these chapters are types of the living of the New Testament believers. Because Leviticus is a book of types, there is the need for it to be expounded. Without the proper expounding, it is difficult for anyone to know this book. Nevertheless, some have claimed that there is no need for the exposition of the Bible. According to their concept, if we do not understand a certain portion of the Word the first time we read it, we should read it again and again until we do understand it. However, this is not true of a book like Leviticus. I assure you, even if you were to read Leviticus hundreds of times, you would still be unable to understand it. If we are to know this book, it must be opened to us through the proper expounding. The book of Leviticus has been opened by God’s people collectively. It has been opened by God’s people for God’sp eople. This opening began with the Apostle Paul, who expounded Leviticus while writing the Epistle to the Hebrews. Peter also received some understanding of Leviticus through the vision given to him in Acts 10. The vision of a “certain vessel like a great sheet” (v. 11) in which were all kinds of animals was a fulfillment of Leviticus 11. Acts 10, therefore, is an exposition of Leviticus 11. From this we see that the expounding of the book of Leviticus began with the apostles.
3历代以来一直有人解释这卷书,现今我们乃是站在前面那些解经家的肩头上。我们特别感激一个半世纪前,主在英国所兴起的弟兄们。我得救后,曾在弟兄会中七年半。在那些年间,我从他们学到许多关于豫表和豫言的事。弟兄会的教师对利未记十一章的动物有许多可说的。若没有从他们领受帮助,我无法明白这一章所说的。我是站在弟兄们的肩头上;照样,你们是站在我的肩头上。我盼望将来你们这些站在我肩头上的人,看见得比我更多。因为利未记完全是用豫表写的,所以有些点非常难懂。十一章三节上半说到分蹄裂趾。七节又告诉我们,猪是分蹄裂趾的。这里说到两件事:分蹄和裂趾。这二者有甚么分别?我不知道。中文和合本圣经将分蹄、裂趾混为一谈。那些繙译圣经的学者,以为分蹄就是裂趾。分蹄和裂趾的分别,需要进一步的研究。本篇信息的题目是『饮食上的分别。』饮食上的分别,就是我们在食物上,在所吃的东西上,有所分别。吃并不是甚么大事,但为甚么我们要过圣别的生活,必须顾到我们的饮食?要回答这问题,我们就需要记得,利未记是一卷豫表的书,而在豫表里有的表号有表征的意义。利未记十一章所说到的动物就是这样。这些动物都有重大的意义,牠们乃是表征各类的人。这由行传十章九节下半至十四节,二十七至二十九节可得证明。彼得『看见天开了。有一器皿降下,好像一块大布,系著四角,缒在地上,里面有地上各样四足的走兽和爬物,并天空的飞鸟。』(徒十11~12。)起初,彼得不明白这些走兽、爬物和飞鸟表征人;最后他终于明白这点,因为在哥尼流家里的乃是人,不是走兽。(徒十28~28。)
3This expounding has continued throughout the centuries, and now we are standing on the shoulders of the expositors who have preceded us. In particular, we are indebted to the Brethren, who were raised up by the Lord in England a century and a half ago. After I was saved, I was with the Brethren for seven and a half years. During those years, I learned much from them concerning typology and prophecy. The Brethren teachers had a lot to say about the animals in Leviticus 11. Without the help I received from the Brethren, I could not understand what is covered in this chapter. Just as I am standing on the shoulders of the Brethren, you are standing on my shoulders. I hope that in the years to come you who are standing on my shoulders will see more than I have seen. Since the book of Leviticus is written fully in types, certain points are very difficult to understand. One extremely difficult point is found in 11:3a, which speaks of whatever “divides the hoof and is cloven-footed.” Here we have two matters: dividing the hoof and being cloven- footed. In verse 7 we are told that the pig divides the hoof and is cloven - footed. What is the difference between these two things? I do not know. The Chinese version of the Bible makes dividing the hoof and being cloven- footed into one thing. In other words, the scholars who prepared that translation thought that to divide the hoof was to be cloven-footed. The difference between dividing the hoof and being cloven-footed requires further study. The title of this message is “Discernment in Diet.” Discernment in diet is a matter of discernment in food-stuffs, of discernment in what we eat. Eating is not a great thing. Why, then, must we take care of our eating if we are to live a holy life? In order to answer this question, we need to remember that Leviticus is a book of types, and in types there are figures which bear a particular significance. The significance is different from the thing itself. This is true of the animals mentioned in Leviticus 11. All these animals bear a great significance, for they typify persons; they are figures that describe different kinds of persons. This is proved by Acts 10:9b-14, 27-29. Peter “beheld heaven opened, and a certain vessel like a great sheet descending, being let down by four corners onto the earth, in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the heaven” (vv. 11-12). At first, Peter did not understand that these animals, reptiles, and birds were figures of people. Eventually he came to understand this, for in the house of Cornelius there were people, not beasts (vv. 27-28).
壹 吃的意义
I. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EATING
4关于饮食上的分别,我们首先要来看吃的意义。认识这意义,就认识利未记十一章里吃的真正意思。
4The first thing we need to consider in relation to discernment in diet is the significance of eating. To know this significance is to know the real meaning of eating in Leviticus 11
一 接触那在我们外面,却能影响我们里面的东西
A. To Contact the Things outside of Us That Could Affect Us Inside
5吃乃是接触那在我们外面,却能影响我们里面的东西,特指我们与人的接触。我们吃的时候,是接触那在我们外面,原来与我们无关的食物。然而,我们若将牠吃下去,牠就能影响我们里面。在利未记十一章,我们所吃的东西表征人,而吃就表征我们与人的接触。二接受那在外面,却能消化在我们里面,成为我们的构成,彰显在
5To eat is to contact the things outside of us that could affect us inside. This especially refers to our contacting of people. When we eat we contact something that is outside of us, something that has nothing to do with us. However, if we eat that thing, it can affect us inside. In Leviticus 11 the things we eat signify people, and eating signifies our contacting of people. B. To Receive Things from the Outside That Can Be Digested Inside to Become Our Constituent
我们生活中的东西
Expressed in Our Living
6吃不仅是接触食物,更是将食物接受到里面;食物一旦接受到里面,就能在里面消化,成为我们的构成成分,就是我们的所是,我们的构成。我们都是我们所吃并消化之食物的构成。至终,我们所消化的成了我们;这些东西成了我们的构成。这指明接触人是重要的事。我们若想要过圣别之神所要求的圣别生活,就需要谨慎我们与人的接触。我们与某种人接触,就能叫我们被重组,因而变成那一种人。凡我们所接触的,我们就接受;凡我们所接受的,就重组我们,使我们与现在不一样。
6To eat is not merely to contact something but also to receive something into us. Once a thing is received into us, that thing can be digested inside to become our constituent, that is, our being, our constitution. We all are a constitution of the food we eat and digest. Eventually, what we digest becomes us; it becomes our very constitution. This indicates that contacting people is an important matter. If we intend to live a holy life as required by the holy God, we need to be careful about our contact with people. Our contact with certain kinds of people can cause us to be reconstituted and thus make us another kind of person. Whatever we contact we will receive, and whatever we receive will reconstitute us, making us a different kind of person from what we are now
贰 与饮食有关,
II. THE CATEGORIES OF LIVING CREATURES
洁净之活物的种类
THAT ARE CLEAN WITH RESPECT TO DIET
7利未记十一章说到五类动物:首先是走兽,包括牲畜;其次是水族,就是在水里的动物;第三是飞鸟,就是在空中的动物;第四是昆虫;最后是爬物。所有的爬物都是不洁净的,但在其他四个类别里,都有一些动物洁净,另有一些动物不洁净。现在我们来看四类与饮食有关的洁净活物。一分蹄、倒嚼的走兽
7In chapter eleven of Leviticus five categories of animals are covered: first, the beasts, including cattle; second, the aquatic animals, the animals in the water; third, the birds, the animals in the air; fourth, the insects; and finally, the creeping things. All creeping things are unclean, but in the other four categories some animals are clean and others are unclean. Let us now consider the four categories of living creatures that are clean with respect to diet. A. Beasts That Divide the Hoof and Chew the Cud
8分蹄、倒嚼的走兽,(利十一2~,)表征在行动上有分别,并接受神的话,反覆思想的人。分蹄表征有分别。马的蹄是整个的,不是分开的。因此,马表征没有分别事物之能力和力量的人。这样的人无法分别神的事物与撒但的事物、属天的事物与属地的事物,属灵的事物与属肉体的事物。我们不仅需要分别甚么是好的、甚么是坏的,也需要分别甚么是出于我们的灵、甚么是出于我们的肉体,以及甚么是属于新人、甚么是属于旧人。我们可用上电影院与去召会聚会的分别来说明。上电影院是作属地的事,但去召会聚会是作属天的事。然而对于没有分蹄的人,甚至是基督徒,上电影院与去召会聚会没有多大分别。这样的人在行动上缺少分别。他在行动上没有分别的能力。我们接触这种人时应当谨慎,因为与这种人接触会叫我们受玷污。我们需要有分蹄,有能力和力量,分别甚么是出于神、甚么不是出于神,甚么是我们该作的、甚么是我们不该作的。倒嚼表征接受神的话,反覆加以思想。如同牛咀嚼反刍的食物,我们该一再反覆思想神的话。早晨祷读的时候,我们可以反覆思想所读的话。这就是倒嚼,藉著反覆思想从神的话所领受的,来得著𫗪养。
8Beasts that divide the hoof and chew the cud (vv. 2-3) signify persons who have discernment in their3 activities and who receive the word of God with much reconsideration. A divided hoof signifies discernment. A horse has whole hooves, not divided hooves. Hence, a horse signifies a person who does not have the power, the strength, to discern things. Such a person cannot discern what things are of God and what things are of Satan, what things are heavenly and what things are earthly, what things are spiritual and what things are fleshly. We need to discern not only what is good and what is bad but also what is of our spirit and what is of our flesh, as well as what things are of the new man and what things are of the old man. Let us use as an illustration the difference between going to a theater and going to a church meeting. To go to a theater is to do something earthly, but to go to a church meeting is to do something heavenly. However, to a person, even a Christian, who does not have divided hooves there is little difference between going to a theater and going to a church meeting. Such a person lacks discernment in his activities. In his activities he does not have the discerning ability. We should be careful in contacting this kind of person, for contact with him may defile us. We need to have divided hooves, the ability and strength to discern what is of God and what is not of God, what we should do and what we should not do. Chewing the cud signifies receiving the word of God with much consideration and reconsideration. Just as a cow chews its cud, we should consider and reconsider the word of God. We may do this while we pray-read early in the morning. As we are pray- reading, we may consider and reconsider the word. This is to chew the cud to receive nourishment by reconsidering what we receive from God’sword.
9我们在利未记十一章二、三节看见神的智慧。『分蹄、』『倒嚼』这两个辞非常有意义。一面,我们需要倒嚼,一再咀嚼神的话;另一面,我们的行事为人需要满有分别。今天许多人没有分蹄,也没有倒嚼;他们甚至从未摸过神的话。我们不该接触那些没有分蹄或倒嚼的人。我们需要避开这样的人,免得受他们的影响和感染。
9In verses 2 and 3 we see God’s wisdom. The two phrases “divides the hoof” and “chews the cud” are very meaningful. On the one hand, we need to chew the cud, eating the word of God by chewing it again and again. On the other hand, we need to have a walk that is full of discernment. However, many people today do not have divided hooves, and they do not chew the cud. They never even touch the word of God. We should not contact those who do not have divided hooves or chew the cud. We need to avoid such people, lest they affect us and influence us.
二 有翅有鳞的水族
B. Aquatic Animals Having Fins and Scales
10有翅有鳞的水族,(利十一9,)表征能在世界中自由行动,同时能抗拒其影响的人。翅帮助鱼在水中随意行动、活动。鱼因著有翅,甚至能逆流而上。
10Aquatic animals having fins and scales (v. 9) signify persons who can move and act freely in the world and at the same time resist its influence. Fins help fish to move, to act, in water according to their wishes. Because they have fins, fish may even swim against the current
11鳞保护鱼,使活在海水中的鱼不致变咸。鱼可以多年活于盐水中而不咸,因为鱼有鳞把盐隔开。所以,翅使鱼有力量行动,鳞保护鱼不致变咸。在圣经里,海表征堕落、败坏的世界。今天全世界是个大海,许多活在这海中的人,没有翅也没有鳞。他们无法在世界中自由行动,同时抗拒其影响。但我们这些在基督里的信徒,该有翅也有鳞,使我们能在世界的海中自由行动,并且不因此变咸。一面,我们该有翅有鳞;另一面,我们接触那些没有翅没有鳞的人时应当谨慎。当心那些没有翅没有鳞的朋友、邻居、甚至亲戚。有人听到这话可能说,『到人家中访人传福音怎么样?我们是否只该叩那有鳞之人的门?』我要回答说,这样的叩门本身就是保护我们的大鳞。不过,甚至在传福音的事上,我们也需要谨慎与人的接触。我们不要因世界的盐而变咸。三有翅能飞,吃生命种子为食物
11Scales protect the fish and keep those fish which live in salt water from being salted. Fish may live in salt water for years without being salted because they have scales to keep the salt away. Therefore, fins strengthen the fish to move, and scales protect them from being salted. In the Bible, the sea signifies the fallen, corrupted world. The whole world today is a vast sea, and many of those living in this sea do not have fins or scales. They cannot move freely in the world and at the same time resist its influence. As believers in Christ, we should have fins and scales and therefore be able to act freely in the sea of the world without being salted by it. On the one hand, we should have fins and scales. On the other hand, we should be careful in contacting those who do not have fins and scales. Be careful of friends, neighbors, and even relatives who do not have fins and scales. When some hear this, they may say, “What about preaching the gospel to people by visiting them in their homes? Should we knock on the doors of only those who have scales?” I would answer that such door knocking in itself is a big scale that shields us. Nevertheless, even in preaching the gospel we need to be careful in our contact with people. We do not want to be salted with worldly salt. C. Birds That Have Wings for Flying and That Eat
供应的鸟类
Seeds of Life as Their Food Supply
12有翅能飞,吃生命种子为食物供应的鸟类,(参利十一13,19,)表征能在离开世界、且超脱世界的生命中生活行动,并以生命的事物为生命供应的人。洁净的鸟类因著有翅能飞,就能飞离世界,并超越世界。并且,洁净的鸟类吃生命的种子为食物的供应。相反的,十一章十三至十九节里不洁净的鸟类,不以种子为食物;因著生命的种子不能使牠们满足,这些不洁净的鸟类就以尸体为食物。
12Birds that have wings for flying and that eat seeds of life as the food supply (cf. vv. 13-19) signify persons who can live and move in a life that is away from and above the world and who take things of life as their supply of life. Because clean birds have wings for flying, they are able to fly away from and above the world. Also, clean birds eat seeds of life as their food supply. On the contrary, the unclean birds in 11:13-19 do not feed on seeds. Because the seeds of life do not satisfy them, these unclean birds feed on carcasses
13我们基督徒该像有翅膀,并以生命种子为食物的鸟类。这就是说,我们该在离开世界、且超越世界的生命中生活行动,也该以生命的事物为我们生命的供应。不仅如此,我们接触人的时候,即使是接触别的信徒,都需要分别到底他们是像麻雀,吃种子的洁净鸟类呢,还是像鹰,喜欢靠死亡的事物而活的不洁净鸟类?我们若与不洁净的鸟类有接触,就会受他们的口味其所影响,而使我们成为不洁净的鸟类。因此,我们接触那些以死亡的事物为食物的人时,必须谨慎。四有翅膀,并有带节的腿在脚上
13We Christians should be like birds that have wings and that feed on the seeds of life. This means that we should live and move in a life that is away from and above the world and that we should take the things of life as our supply of life. Moreover, when we contact others, even other believers, we need to discern whether they are clean birds, like sparrows, which feed on seeds, or unclean birds, like hawks, which like to live on the things of death. If we have contact with unclean birds, we shall be influenced by their taste and eventually that will turn us into an unclean bird. For this reason, we must be careful in contacting those who feed on the things of death. D. Insects Having Wings and Having Jointed Legs
头,在地上跳的昆虫
above Their Feet for Leaping on the Ground
14有翅膀,并有带节的腿在脚上头,在地上跳的昆虫,(利十一21~22,)表征能在超脱世界的生命中生活行动,并能保守自己脱开世界的人。我们若是这些昆虫所表征的那种人,就会有翅膀,从任何属世、有罪或属肉体的事物飞走;我们就能高飞超脱世界。我们也有带节的腿,藉此从世界跳开。这就是说,我们能随时离开世界,或是飞开,或是跳开。我们基督徒乃是能跳、能飞的人。然而,那些没有翅膀、没有带节之腿的人,完全无法离开世界。他们只能站在地上,留在世界中。我们若要过圣别的生活,就需要考量所接触的是那一种人。他们是不是分蹄、倒嚼?他们有没有翅和鳞?他们有没有翅膀能飞?他们是不是以生命的种子、不以死亡的事物为食物?他们有没有翅膀和带节的腿?与这样的人接触是何等美好!
14Insects having wings and having jointed legs above their feet for leaping on the ground (vv. 21-22) signify persons who can live and move in a life that is above the world and who can keep themselves from the world. If we are the kind of persons signified by these insects, we shall have wings for flying away from anything worldly, sinful, or fleshly. We shall be able to soar above the world. We also shall have jointed legs with which to jump up from the world. This means that we are able to leave the world at any time, either by flying or by jumping. We Christians are those who can jump and fly. However, those without wings and jointed legs cannot leave the world at all. They can only stand on the earth and remain in the world. If we are to live a holy life, we need to consider the kind of people we are contacting. Do they have divided hooves, and do they chew the cud? Do they have fins and scales? Do they have wings for flying? Do they feed on the seeds of life and not on the things of death? Do they have wings and jointed legs? How good it is to have contact with such people
15参与饮食有关,不洁净之活物的种类在利未记十一章,有五类与饮食有关不洁净的活物。
15III. THE CATEGORIES OF LIVING CREATURES THAT ARE NOT CLEAN WITH RESPECT TO DIET In Leviticus 11 there are five categories of living creatures that are not clean with respect to diet
一 不分蹄的走兽,以及用脚掌行走的走兽
A. Beasts That Do Not Divide the Hoof and Beasts That Go on Their Paws
16不分蹄的走兽,以及用脚掌行走的走兽,(利十一4~8上,26上,27上,)表征在行动上没有分别的人,以及行动没有完全分别清楚的人。二没有翅没有鳞的水族没有翅没有鳞的水族,(利十一10~12,)表征在世界里不能自由行动,同时无法抗拒其影响的人。这样的人没有力量抗拒犯罪世界的影响。
16Beasts that do not divide the hoof and beasts that go on their paws (vv. 4-8a, 26a, 27a) signify persons who do not have discernment in their activities and persons who walk and move without discernment. B. Aquatic Animals That Do Not Have Fins and Scales Aquatic animals that do not have fins and scales (vv. 10-12) signify persons who cannot move and act freely in the world and at the same time resist its influence. Such people do not have the strength to resist the influence of the sinful world.
三 吃肉和尸体为食物供应的鸟类
C. Birds That Eat Flesh and Carcasses as Their Food Supply
17吃肉和尸体为食物供应的鸟类,(利十一13~19,)表征在生活中接触死亡的人。他们吃的时候就接触死亡。我们越接触这些在属灵上满了死亡的人,就越被死亡所玷污。我们若接触这样的人,就会被属灵的死亡所充满。四用四脚爬行的昆虫用四脚爬行的昆虫,(利十一20,23~24上,)表征生活在地上,无法保守自己脱开世界的人。他们只能在地上爬行,因为他们没有能力高飞超脱世界。五在地上爬行,或用肚子行走,或用四足行走之物,或一切多足,
17Birds that eat flesh and carcasses as their food supply (vv. 13-19) signify persons who live in contact with death. In their eating they contact death. The more we contact those who, spiritually speaking, are full of death, the more we shall be defiled by death. If we contact such a person, we shall be filled with spiritual death. D. Insects That Have Four Feet for Creeping About Insects that have four feet for creeping about on the earth (vv. 20, 23-24a) signify persons who live on the earth and who are unable to keep themselves from the world. They can only creep about on the earth, for they do not have the ability to fly above the world. E. Creatures That Creep on the Earth or Go on Their Belly or on Four Feet, or Have Many Feet of
在地上爬行的爬物
All the Creeping Things That Creep on the Earth
18在地上爬行,或用肚子行走,或用四足行走之物,或一切多足,在地上爬行的爬物,(利十一29~31上,~44,)表征撒但连同一切邪灵和污鬼,充满撒但的人,接触邪灵和污鬼的人,以及活在世界里,与世界密不可分,无法使自己与世界切断的人。圣经将撒但比作蛇。(启十二9。)邪灵是堕落的天使,鬼是亚当以前世代的活物,受神审判后脱体的灵。许多人接触邪灵,而被鬼附。不仅如此,许多人与世界密不可分,无法使自己与世界切断。我们绝不该接触撒但、邪灵或鬼。照样,我们也不该接触被鬼附的人,或与世界密不可分的人,免得被带到他们的影响之下。
18Creatures that creep on the earth or go on their belly or on four feet, or have many feet of all the creeping things that creep on the earth (vv. 29-31a, 41-44) signify Satan with all the evil spirits and demons, persons 41 who are filled with Satan, who contact evil spirits and demons, and persons who live in the world and cleave to the world, being unable to sever themselves from the world. The Bible likens Satan to a serpent (Rev. 12:9). The evil spirits are fallen angels, and the demons are disembodied spirits of creatures from the pre - Adamic age. Many people contact evil spirits and are possessed by demons. Furthermore, many cleave to the world, being unable to sever themselves from the world. We should never contact Satan, the evil spirits, or the demons. Likewise, we should not contact persons possessed by demons or persons who cleave to the world, lest we be brought under their influence.
19我们若想要圣别的过生活,就需要谨慎我们与人的接触。接触人是非常重要的事,特别是对我们这些基督徒。我们接触人不该大意,不该滥交朋友。圣经指明,滥交朋友会败坏我们。
19If we intend to live in a holy way, we need to exercise care concerning our contact with people. Contacting people is a very important matter, especially for us Christians. We should not contact others without caution, and we should not form friendships in a careless way. Careless friendships, the Bible indicates, will corrupt us.
20我们都必须学习在接触人的事上谨慎、小心。我们需要认识四类洁净的活物,以及五类不洁净的活物。当我们要与人接触时,需要考量这人到底是洁净的,还是不洁净的。这样的考量会保守我们不受玷污和败坏。
20We all must learn to be careful and cautious in contacting people. We need to know the four categories of clean living creatures and the five categories of unclean living creatures. When we are about to have contact with a particular person, we need to consider whether he is clean or unclean. Such a consideration will preserve us and keep us from being defiled or corrupted