Monday, 3rd August 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文 「你們要在我面前為聖潔的人。」——出埃及記22:31
引言
出埃及記第22章承接神在西奈山所頒布的十誡。十誡啟示神的心意；第21至23章則將十誡的原則帶進以色列人的日常生活，教導他們如何處理財物、衝突、敬拜，以及人與人之間的關係。
以色列人雖然已經離開埃及，卻仍要學習如何從一群曾經為奴的人，成為屬神的聖潔國民。神不只是要把他們從埃及帶出來，也要把埃及錯誤的思想和價值觀從他們生命中除去。
第22章讓我們看見，當群體中出現損失、衝突和錯誤時，神的律法不只是懲罰犯錯的人，也要求他承擔責任、補償受損者，恢復群體中的公義和秩序。
同時，神也教導以色列人要單單敬拜祂、憐憫軟弱者，並在每天的生活中分別為聖。
因此，合神心意的生命不只表現在敬拜中，也表現在我們如何面對自己的錯誤、如何對待神，以及如何對待身邊的人。
出埃及記第22章讓我們看見，合神心意的生命有三個重要的表現：對自己的行為負責、對神保持專一、對別人活出憐憫。
第一，承擔責任，恢復公義的秩序
經文：出埃及記22:1–17
「若賊所偷的，或牛，或驢，或羊，仍在他手下存活，他就要加倍賠還。」——出埃及記22:4
第22章前半部分談到偷竊、牲畜損壞田地、失火、替人保管財物、借用牲畜，以及男女關係中的責任。這些條例雖然涉及不同的生活處境，卻帶出同一個重要原則：人必須為自己的行為承擔責任。
當一個人的行為使別人受到損失，他不能逃避，也不能只說一句「對不起」便算了。他必須面對自己的錯誤，並作出實際的賠償。第16至17節也提到，男人若引誘一個未受聘的女子，就不能享受自己的行為所帶來的利益，卻把後果留給女子和她的家庭承擔。他必須負起相應的責任。
神的律法包含公義、審判和阻止罪惡的作用，但它不只是懲罰犯錯的人，也保護受損者，使他得到合理的補償，並恢復群體中被破壞的公義和秩序。今天，我們也可能在家庭、教會或工作中犯錯，甚至因為自己的說話和行為傷害別人。
合神心意的生命，不是犯錯之後逃避、推卸責任或責怪別人，而是願意謙卑承認自己的錯誤，承擔應有的責任，並盡力修補自己所造成的傷害。真正的悔改，不只是心裏感到後悔，更是願意用實際行動承擔責任。
第二，單單歸向神，活出分別為聖
經文：出埃及記22:18–20
「祭祀別神，不單單祭祀耶和華的，那人必要滅絕。」——出埃及記22:20
從第18節開始，神教導以色列人在敬拜、道德和生命歸屬上與周圍的民族分別出來。當時列國的宗教充滿邪術、偶像崇拜和敗壞的行為。以色列人曾經在埃及生活多年，很容易把過去熟悉的宗教習慣和錯誤價值帶進新的生活中。
因此，神清楚地告訴他們：屬神的百姓不能一面敬拜耶和華，一面又向別神獻祭；也不能把周圍民族敗壞的敬拜和生活方式帶進神的群體。這幾節嚴厲的條例讓我們看見，神非常重視祂百姓的聖潔和專一。分別為聖，不只是外在行為的改變，更是生命歸屬的改變。
以色列人不再屬於埃及，也不再跟隨列國的神；他們是屬於耶和華的百姓。今天，我們或許不會向有形的偶像獻祭，但金錢、權力、成就、享樂和人的認同，也可能在不知不覺間取代神在我們心裏的位置。我們可能口裏敬拜神，作決定時卻只依靠自己的能力；口裏說相信神，心裏卻把安全感建立在金錢和人的認同上。
合神心意的生命，就是讓神成為我們生命唯一的主，在敬拜、選擇和價值觀上單單歸向祂。神所要的，不是我們在許多選擇中給祂一個位置，而是讓祂在我們生命中居首位。
第三，憐憫軟弱者，活出神的屬性
經文：出埃及記22:21–31
「不可虧負寄居的，也不可欺壓他，因為你們在埃及地也作過寄居的。」——出埃及記22:21
從第21節開始，神特別教導以色列人如何對待寄居者、寡婦、孤兒和貧窮人。這些人在當時的社會中缺乏保障，也沒有足夠的能力保護自己，因此很容易受到欺壓和剝削。神卻親自站在他們的一邊，聽見他們的呼求。神提醒以色列人：「因為你們在埃及地也作過寄居的。」
以色列人也曾經是寄居者，也曾經被欺壓、被苦待，沒有能力保護自己。神不希望他們得着自由之後，反過來成為欺壓別人的人。神要他們記得自己的過去，也記得神怎樣聽見他們的呼求、憐憫他們並拯救他們。
第26至27節更提到，即使窮人把自己的外衣拿來作抵押，也要在日落以前歸還給他，因為那件外衣可能是他夜間唯一可以遮蓋身體的東西。這讓我們看見，神的公義不是冰冷地執行規條，而是帶着憐憫，看見人真實的處境和需要。
第28至30節繼續教導以色列人，要尊重神所設立的秩序，並把當獻的初熟之物和頭生的歸給神。到了第31節，神總結說：「你們要在我面前為聖潔的人。」
因此，屬神的生命不只是在口裏敬拜神，也包括憐憫軟弱者、尊重神的秩序、把當得的歸給神，並在每天的生活中分別為聖。今天，我們身邊也可能有孤單的人、經濟困難的人、離鄉背井的人，以及缺乏支持和保障的人。神要我們不只是看見他們，更要以實際行動關心和幫助他們。
過去的傷痛不應使我們變得剛硬，反而應當使我們更明白別人的痛苦。因為我們也是蒙神憐憫的人，所以我們也要把神的憐憫帶給別人。我們蒙神憐憫，不只是為了自己得福，更是要在別人的生命中活出神的憐憫。
總結
出埃及記第22章不是一套與生活沒有關係的律法，而是神對以色列人生命的塑造。神要把一群曾經為奴、受埃及價值觀影響的百姓，建立成一個公義、聖潔、彼此負責並充滿憐憫的群體。合神心意的生命，不只表現在我們參加聚會、敬拜或禱告的時候，也表現在每天真實的生活中：當我們犯錯時，願意承擔責任；面對世界的誘惑時，選擇單單歸向神；看見軟弱和有需要的人時，願意以憐憫待他們。
第31節說：「你們要在我面前為聖潔的人。」神不只是要我們做一些正確的事情，更要我們成為合祂心意的人。合神心意的生命，就是一個有責任、分別為聖、充滿憐憫的生命。
省察
- 我是否曾經傷害別人，卻選擇逃避，而沒有真正承擔責任和修補傷害？
- 我的生命中，有沒有一些事物正在取代神的位置，使我不能單單歸向祂？
- 在我身邊，有哪些孤單、軟弱或有需要的人，是神今天要我主動關心的？
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢不但拯救我們，也不斷教導和塑造我們，使我們成為合祢心意的人。求祢幫助我們，當我們犯錯或傷害別人的時候，不逃避、不推卸責任，願意謙卑承認自己的錯誤，承擔應有的責任，並用實際行動修補所造成的傷害。
求祢潔淨我們的心，使我們離開一切不合祢心意的價值觀，不讓金錢、權力、成就和人的認同取代祢的位置。幫助我們單單歸向祢，讓祢在我們的生命中居首位。
求祢也把憐憫的心放在我們裏面，使我們看見孤單、軟弱和有需要的人。讓我們記得自己也是蒙祢憐憫的人，並將從祢所領受的恩典和憐憫帶給別人。
願我們不只在敬拜中親近祢，也在每天的責任、選擇和人際關係中，活出合祢心意的生命。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Key Verse “And you shall be holy men to Me.” —Exodus 22:31, NKJV
Exodus chapter 22 continues the Ten Commandments that God gave at Mount Sinai.
The Ten Commandments reveal God’s will. Chapters 21 to 23 show the Israelites how to apply God’s commands to their daily lives. God taught them how to deal with property, conflict, worship, and relationships with others.
Although the Israelites had left Egypt, they still needed to learn how to become God’s holy people. God did not only want to bring them out of Egypt. He also wanted to remove the wrong values of Egypt from their hearts.
Exodus 22 shows us that when loss, conflict, or wrongdoing happens within a community, God’s law does not only punish the person who has done wrong. It also requires that person to take responsibility, repay the loss, and restore justice and order within the community.
God also taught the Israelites to worship Him alone, show mercy to the vulnerable, and live holy lives every day. Therefore, a life that pleases God is not only seen in our worship. It is also seen in how we face our mistakes, how we respond to God, and how we treat the people around us.
Exodus 22 shows us three important marks of a life that pleases God: taking responsibility for our actions, remaining faithful to God, and showing mercy to others.
- Take Responsibility and Restore Justice
Scripture: Exodus 22:1–17
“If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.” —Exodus 22:4, NKJV
The first part of Exodus 22 speaks about theft, animals damaging fields, fire, property entrusted to another person, borrowed animals, and responsibility in relationships between men and women.
Although these laws cover different situations, they teach one important principle: we must take responsibility for our actions.
When our actions cause loss or harm to another person, we cannot run away. We cannot simply say, “I am sorry,” and think that everything is finished. We must face what we have done and take practical steps to repay the loss.
Verses 16 and 17 also teach that if a man seduced a woman who was not engaged, he could not enjoy what he wanted and then leave the woman and her family to face the consequences. He had to take responsibility for his actions.
God’s law includes justice, judgment, and the prevention of further wrongdoing. However, it does more than punish the person who has done wrong. It also protects the injured person, provides proper compensation, and restores justice and order within the community.
Today, we may also make mistakes in our families, churches, or workplaces. Our words and actions may hurt other people.
A life that pleases God does not run away, make excuses, or blame others. It honestly admits what was wrong, accepts responsibility, and does everything possible to repair the damage.
True repentance is more than feeling sorry. It is being willing to take responsibility through practical action.
- Turn to God Alone and Live a Holy Life
Scripture: Exodus 22:18–20
“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” —Exodus 22:20, NKJV
Beginning in verse 18, God taught the Israelites to be different from the surrounding nations in their worship, moral behaviour, and spiritual loyalty.
The religions of the surrounding nations included sorcery, idol worship, and immoral practices. Because the Israelites had lived in Egypt for many years, they could easily bring their former religious practices and wrong values into their new life.
God therefore told them clearly that His people could not worship the LORD while also offering sacrifices to other gods. They could not bring the corrupt worship and behaviour of the surrounding nations into God’s community.
These serious laws show us that God cares deeply about the holiness and faithfulness of His people. Holiness is not only a change in outward behaviour. It is also a change in whom our lives belong to.
The Israelites no longer belonged to Egypt, and they were not to follow the gods of the surrounding nations. They belonged to the LORD.
Today, we may not offer sacrifices to physical idols. However, money, power, success, pleasure, and the approval of others can quietly take God’s place in our hearts.
We may worship God with our mouths but depend only on our own strength when making decisions. We may say that we trust God but build our security upon money or the approval of others.
A life that pleases God allows Him to be our only Lord. It means turning to Him alone in our worship, decisions, and values.
God does not want us simply to give Him one place among many. He wants to have first place in our lives.
- Show Mercy to the Vulnerable and Reflect God’s Character
Scripture: Exodus 22:21–31
“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” —Exodus 22:21, NKJV
Beginning in verse 21, God gave special instructions about how the Israelites should treat strangers, widows, orphans, and the poor.
These people had little protection in society. They could not easily defend themselves and were therefore vulnerable to oppression and abuse. However, God stood with them and heard their cries.
God reminded the Israelites: “For you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
The Israelites had once been strangers. They had experienced oppression and suffering, and they had been unable to protect themselves. God did not want them to become free and then begin oppressing others.
He wanted them to remember their past and how He had heard their cries, shown mercy to them, and delivered them.
Verses 26 and 27 say that if a poor person gave his outer garment as security for a loan, it had to be returned before sunset. That garment might be the only covering he had during the night.
This shows us that God’s justice is not a cold application of rules. His justice is filled with mercy and considers the real needs of each person.
Verses 28 to 30 also teach the Israelites to respect the order established by God and to give Him the firstfruits and the firstborn that belonged to Him. God then concludes in verse 31: “And you shall be holy men to Me.”
Therefore, a life that belongs to God is not only expressed through words of worship. It includes showing mercy to the vulnerable, respecting God’s order, giving God what belongs to Him, and living a holy life every day.
Today, there may be lonely people, those facing financial difficulties, people far away from home, and others who lack support and protection around us. God wants us not only to notice them but also to care for them in practical ways.
Our past pain should not make our hearts hard. It should help us understand the suffering of others. Because we have received God’s mercy, we should also bring His mercy to others.
We receive God’s mercy not only so that we may be blessed, but also so that others may experience His mercy through us.
Conclusion
Exodus 22 is not a collection of laws that has nothing to do with daily life. It shows how God was shaping the lives of the Israelites.
God wanted to transform a people who had once been slaves and who were still influenced by Egypt’s values. He wanted them to become a community marked by justice, holiness, responsibility, and mercy.
A life that pleases God is not only seen when we attend church, worship, or pray. It is also seen in our daily lives: When we make mistakes, we take responsibility. When we face the temptations of the world, we choose God alone. When we see people who are vulnerable or in need, we show them mercy.
God says in verse 31: “And you shall be holy men to Me.”
God does not only want us to do the right things. He wants us to become people who please Him.
A life that pleases God is responsible, holy, and full of mercy.
Reflection
- Have I hurt someone but chosen to avoid the situation instead of taking responsibility and repairing the damage?
- Is anything taking God’s place in my life and preventing me from turning fully to Him?
- Who around me is lonely, vulnerable, or in need, and whom is God calling me to care for today?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You not only for saving us but also for teaching and shaping us to become people who please You.
When we make mistakes or hurt others, help us not to run away or make excuses. Give us the humility to admit our mistakes, accept responsibility, and take practical steps to repair the damage we have caused.
Cleanse our hearts and help us leave behind every value that does not please You. Do not allow money, power, success, or the approval of others to take Your place. Help us turn to You alone and give You first place in our lives.
Please place Your merciful heart within us. Help us see those who are lonely, vulnerable, and in need. Remind us that we have also received Your mercy, and help us share Your grace and mercy with others.
May we draw near to You not only in worship but also live lives that please You through our daily responsibilities, decisions, and relationships.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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