【双语灵修】上帝律法的第二块法版SECOND TABLE OF GOD’S LAW

出埃及记 20:12-17

“当孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐你的地上得以长久。

“不可杀人。

“不可奸淫。

“不可偷盗。

“不可作假见证陷害人。

“不可贪恋人的房屋，也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴并他一切所有的。”

10月25日

上帝律法的第二块法版

“其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。 这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。”(马太福音22:39-40)

或许你曾听闻，一个人沦为杀人犯的第一步，往往是将受害者非人化。通过视他人为低等生物，凶手往往能摆脱良知的约束，夺取他人性命。

上帝律法的第二块法版（第五至十诫）保护我们免于将他人视为低等生物，我们每个人都是按照神的形象所造。爱邻舍如己能阻止我们将他人视为推进自身罪恶目的的垫脚石。此外，爱人是体验生命最深层次意义与喜乐的最佳途径。

爱人之心始于年少。我们学习敬重父母师长，以及所有掌权者，包括政府官员。我们也学着关爱兄弟姐妹、亲朋好友、邻里乡亲，乃至更多人。耶稣教导我们甚至要爱仇敌，为迫害我们的人祷告（马太福音5:43-48）。祂还指明性行为的界限—包括相关意念—只当存于婚姻之内。祂教导我们要做施予者而非索取者，呼吁我们彼此造就，为他人成功喝彩而非诋毁中伤。

行走在爱的道路上，我们尊荣神，祝福他人，并寻得生命中的喜乐与满足。如何践行这一切呢？就是你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人。（马太福音7:12）

祷告

主耶稣啊，求你帮助我们活出你的样式，以关爱、尊严与尊重待人。阿们。

Exodus 20:12-17

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

SECOND TABLE OF GOD’S LAW

“And the second [greatest commandment] is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:39-40

Maybe you’ve heard that one of the first steps a person takes toward becoming a murderer is to dehumanize their victim. By viewing others as less than human, killers tend to free their consciences to take other people’s lives.

The second table of God’s law (commandments 5-10) guards us from viewing and treating others as less than human. All of us are created in the image of God. Loving our neighbors prevents us from simply viewing and using others as stepping-stones toward advancing our own sinful causes. In addition, loving others is the best way to experience the deepest purposes and joys of life.

Loving others begins when we are young. We learn to honor our parents, our teachers, and all who are in authority over us, including our governments. We also learn to love our siblings and other family members, our friends, our neighbors, and more. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies and to pray for people who mistreat us (Matthew 5:43-48). He also teaches that the place for sex, including thoughts about it, is within marriage. He teaches us to be givers rather than takers, and he calls us to build one another up and to celebrate others’ victories instead of tearing people down.

Living on the path of love, we honor God, bless others, and find joy and satisfaction in life. How do we do all this? By treating others as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Jesus, help us to be like you, loving and treating others with care, dignity, and respect. Amen.