牧者心聲

很多人對「愛」存有一種誤解，只要出發點是好的，想怎樣就怎樣。然而，當我們翻開馬太福音，耶穌卻展現了一幅完全不同的圖畫：愛不是「任我行」，愛是極其留心細節的，而其中有神所頒布的律例。

我們很少留意到，上主是先將子民從奴役中拯救出來，然後才頒布誡命。這種「先施行拯救、後頒布律例」的次序，說明了律法不應成枷鎖，而是幫助「蒙愛的子民」學習活出神從起初對人和社群的旨意。

在馬太福音的登山寶訓裡，主耶穌先談八福，然後才將律法的焦點從「外在行為」轉向極其細微的「心思意念」，例如：祂指出僅僅守住「不可殺人」是不夠的，因為心裡的怒氣與蔑視同樣具有殺傷力；守住「不可姦淫」的底線亦不夠，因為眼目不住的凝視與內心不停的慾想同樣是逾越。這反映出愛要留心細節，因為生命的問題往往源於任情慾飄浮的瞬間。

宗教領袖本已將繁重瑣碎的律法條文加諸百姓身上，但主說：「不要以為我來是要廢除律法和先知；我來，不是要廢除，而是要成全。」（太五 17，環譯本）這看似比法利賽人嚴苛，難怪門徒慨嘆：這標準太高，誰能做得到呢？

然而，主耶穌講解舊約律法，以及祂所成全的，背後有一個字——愛。這愛就彰顯在祂身上：祂拆除子民的圍欄，與稅吏和罪人同席、回應外邦婦人的信心，並教導門徒要向「最小的弟兄」作服事。這份愛超越了世界那種人情往來、精確計算的界線，甚至驅動我們為仇敵禱告。主的愛引領我們活得「比法利賽人更真誠」，祂邀請我們走進祂這宏大的救恩故事裡。

因此，追求「更高的義」，並不是靠個人的意志力去努力「做個好人」，也不以虛情假意和宗教行為去掩飾那一顆自私、甚至沒有愛的心。一切的行動力來自對神的信靠順服，使我們不再跌入道德完美主義的泥沼，得以在細節中活出愛。

這一季，我們會從馬太福音來思想愛與律法，並學習理解「愛在細節」這個目標，回歸如小孩子般純真的心。在日常細節裡，這可以是對家人一刻的耐心傾聽、對速遞員的一聲道謝、甚至是在留言區選擇「刪除」本想發送的尖酸留言。就在這些微小卻真實的場景中，只因知道自己被神的愛緊緊包圍，我們就選擇以愛去回應這個顯得冰冷的世代。

  Many people misunderstand “love.” They think that as long as the intention is good, they can do whatever they want. Yet, if we open the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus portrays a totally different picture: love is not “do as I like.” Love pays close attention to detail, and within it are the laws God has given.

  Seldom do we notice that the LORD first delivered His people from slavery, and only then proclaimed His commandments. This sequence of “salvation first, law after” shows that the law was never meant to be a shackle but rather help for “a people who are God’s loved one" to learn to live out His original purpose for man and community.

  In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, the Lord Jesus first speaks of the Beatitudes. Then He shifts the focus of the law from “outward behavior” to the very fine details of “heart and mind.” For example, He points out that it is not enough to keep “You shall not murder,” because anger and contempt in the heart are also destructive. It is not enough to keep “You shall not commit adultery," because a lingering gaze and a heart of endless desire also cross the line. This shows that love must attend to detail, for the problems of life often arise from moments when desire is allowed to drift unchecked.

  Religious leaders had already imposed heavy and detailed rules on the people. Yet the Lord said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). This seems even stricter than the Pharisees. No wonder the disciples exclaimed that the standard was too high. Who can possibly meet it?

  Yet, behind the Lord Jesus' exposition of the Old Testament law, and behind all that He came to fulfill, there is one word: love. This love is seen in Him: He tore down the walls that kept people apart; He ate with tax collectors and sinners; and He responded to the faith of a Gentile woman. He also taught His disciples to serve “the least of these” brothers and sisters. This love goes beyond the world's carefully calculated lines and reciprocity and even moves us to pray for our enemies. The Lord's love guides us to live so that we “surpass the Pharisees in our sincerity.” He invites us to enter His grand story of salvation.

  Therefore, pursuing “greater righteousness” is not about exerting personal willpower to “be a good person.” It is not to cover a selfish and loveless heart with empty piety and religious acts. All true actions flow from trusting and obeying God. This keeps us from sinking into the mire of moral perfectionism and enables us to live out love in the details of everyday life.

  This quarter, we will reflect on love and the law through the Gospel of Matthew. We will learn to understand the goal of “love in the details,” returning to the pure and simple heart of a child. In daily life, this may be a moment of patient listening to a family member, a word of thanks to a courier, or “deleting” a harsh remark you were about to post. In these small but real moments, we choose to respond to a seemingly cold world with love, because we know we are securely surrounded by the love of God.