悔い改め

The principle that anyone who wishes to become a true Christian must admit their sin – and turn away from it – is central to the teaching of Jesus.

その時から, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “悔い改めなさい! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Mat 4:17)

The word, ‘repent’ 原文のギリシャ語では, ‘metanoeo;’ そしてその意味は次のように定義されます, “に think differently または その後, つまり, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): – repent.” (強みの分析的一致). したがって, its primary meaning is ‘to change the way you think:’ but this entails far more than a mere intellectual assent to a different way of thinking.

John the Baptist began to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming with the message, “悔い改めなさい, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mat 3:2) Those who received his message were expected to publicly acknowledge their faults and their need to change by submitting to baptism – a ceremonial act of cleansing – in the Jordan river. But this, however humbling it might have been, was not enough; John also insisted that they must produce ‘fruits worthy of repentance’ (Lk 3:8). When asked, “What then must we do?” he answered, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” To tax collectors, 彼は言い​​ました, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you;” and to soldiers, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages,” (Lk 3:10-14).

So repentance requires far more than just a change in our value system and more than a public (and possibly humiliating) acknowledgement that we have done wrong. It must result in a change of lifestyle from selfish and wrongful actions to compassion and justice.

概要に戻る

基準を上げる

Jesus began his public ministry by echoing John’s call and similarly requiring people to be baptised (Jn 3:22-4:2; Mat 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38). But Jesus does not merely endorse what John said about producing fruits worthy of repentance: he dramatically raises the standard! We find this vividly illustrated in his famous ‘Sermon on the Mount.’

In this he tells us:

“私が律法や預言者を破壊するために来たとは思わないでください. 滅ぼしに来たんじゃない, しかし満たすために. 間違いなく, 私はあなたに言います, 天と地が過ぎ去るまで, どんなに小さな文字でも、小さなペンのストロークでも、法律から逸脱することはできません, すべてのことが達成されるまで. 誰でも, したがって, これらの最低の戒めの一つを破らなければなりません, そして他の人にもそうするように教えます, 天の御国では最低と呼ばれるだろう; しかし、それを行い、教える者は天国で偉大と呼ばれるであろう. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mat 5:17-20)

“古代の人たちに言われたことを聞いたことがあるでしょう, 「人を殺してはならない」;’ そして、「誰を殺す者であっても、裁きの危険にさらされるだろう。」’ しかし、私はあなたに言います, 理由もなく兄弟に対して怒っている人は皆、裁きの危険にさらされるということ; そして誰が彼の兄弟に言うであろう, 'ラック!’ 評議会が危険にさらされるだろう; そして誰が何と言おうと, 「愚か者よ!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.” (Mat 5:21-22)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Mat 5:27-28)

“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.” (Mat 5:31-32)

“Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear at all… But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.” (Mat 5:33-37)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ しかし、私はあなたに言います, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Mat 5:38-41)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ しかし、私はあなたに言います, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you… (Mat 5:43-44)

そして, as if all that wasn’t a daunting enough prospect, Jesus summarises this part of his discourse by saying,

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Mat 5:48)

でもきっとそれは無理だよ – それともそうですか? Let’s take a closer look at what Jesus and his disciples had to say about this.

概要に戻る

もう罪はありません

There are two occasions when we find Jesus telling people to ‘sin no more.’

イエス, standing up, saw her and said, “女性, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
イエスは言いました。, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.” (Jn 8:10-11)

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, そして彼に言った, “見よ, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”(Jn 5:14)

In the first of the above examples, it can be argued that Jesus is simply referring to the specific sin of adultery. But in the second there is no reference to any specific sins. Was Jesus seriously suggesting that it is possible to live without sin?

No Excuses?

Is this really as unthinkable as it sounds? The apostle Paul comments,

“No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1Cor 10:13)

If that’s the case, it seems that Christians have no excuse for sinning in future. So – what if we do?

概要に戻る / 読む…