命上加命、令上加令、律上加律、例上加例、這裏一點、那裏一點（賽28章）

譏誚先知的說：「他要將知識指教誰呢？要使誰明白傳言呢？是那剛斷奶離懷的麼？他竟命上加命、令上加令、律上加律、例上加例、這裏一點、那裏一點。」（賽 28：9-10）

這裡提到當時的百姓、領袖自以為是，譏笑先知講的東西太簡單、太粗淺，不夠有學問。「譏誚先知的」就是指這些高傲自大、自以為是的人。他們笑先知是要教導「那剛斷奶離懷的嗎？」，又嘲笑先知講的東西，就像小孩子正在學講話那樣滴滴咕咕的，中文聖經這裡翻譯成「命上加命、令上加令、律上加律、例上加例、這裏一點、那裏一點」，和合本修訂版則為「咕噥咕噥，咕噥咕噥，嘮嘮叨叨，嘮嘮叨叨」，也就是小孩子牙牙學語的聲音。

保羅也提到當時候教會類似的問題：

基督差遣我、原不是為施洗、乃是為傳福音．並不用智慧的言語、免得基督的十字架落了空。因為十字架的道理、在那滅亡的人為愚拙．在我們得救的人卻為　神的大能。（林前 1：17-18）

這是保羅對問題叢生的哥林多教會所發出的警告，因為當時哥林多教會有許多人自以為聰明，覺得保羅講的太沒學問、言語粗鄙，都講舊的東西，沒有創意。他們用自身的學問，越過基督的教訓，發明比基督的愛還要更偉大的愛，包容一切犯罪的，覺得這種有融入當時哲學思想的道理，才是有學問的講道。

今天的真教會也漸漸有這樣的現象，講真理，反而被耳朵發癢的信徒厭棄；群組愛傳的講道連結，常常都是題目聳動、內容深奧的講道。保羅當時就提醒提摩太傳道一個現實的狀態：「因為時候要到、人必厭煩純正的道理．耳朵發癢、就隨從自己的情慾、增添好些師傅．並且掩耳不聽真道、偏向荒渺的言語。」（提後 4：3-4）

回到以賽亞先知的時代，百姓愛聽特別、新鮮的，不要責備人的。但是先知沒有隨從潮流，依然按照神的指示，講出他們認為的幼稚警告。這些警告另一方面也讓當時的褻慢人認為不舒服，因為總是好像大人在對小孩說的話一樣，都是命令、都是指責。於是神仍然照他們以為的幼稚話，繼續要先知傳講：「所以耶和華向他們說的話、是命上加命、令上加令、律上加律、例上加例、這裏一點、那裏一點、以致他們前行仰面跌倒、而且跌碎、並陷入網羅、被纏住。」（賽 28：13）。

神沒有因為人的喜好，就去改變祂原汁原味的命令。這裡的「以致他們前行仰面跌倒、而且跌碎、並陷入網羅、被纏住。」是指「神原本要他們前行，他們卻不聽，故意後仰，仰面跌倒，而且跌到骨折」之意。

先知說：「不然、主要藉異邦人的嘴唇、和外邦人的舌頭、對這百姓說話．他曾對他們說、你們要使疲乏人得安息．這樣纔得安息、纔得舒暢．他們卻不肯聽。」（賽 28：11-12）。這是說先知在面對怙惡不悛的百姓時，只好依照神的命令，警告他們將要交給語言不通的外國人欺壓，因為用本國話講真理，他們卻不想聽。

今天我們當避免「譏誚先知」這樣的事發生在我們身上，對於真理的追尋，也不必刻意走高空、研究艱深卻不切實際的聖經知識，從事只為彰顯自己名聲的靈修行為。只要實實在在依照牧者的按時分糧做學習，用謙卑的心，一點一滴、聚沙成塔地學習神的命令，聖靈必引導我們在屬靈的智慧上不斷成長。要知道「神阻擋驕傲的人、賜恩給謙卑的人」。人一驕傲，就被神厭棄。也不要輕看傳道者看似平凡無奇的講道、或是對於傳道者在該責備的時候，就作責備的聖經真理講述感到厭煩，更不要成為一個不受教的人，如今天不能被責備的世人一樣。「當側耳聽我的聲音、留心聽我的言語。」

現在你們不可褻慢、恐怕捆你們的綁索更結實了．因為我從主萬軍之耶和華那裏聽見已經決定、在全地上施行滅絕的事。你們當側耳聽我的聲音、留心聽我的言語。（賽 28：22-23）

By Isaiah Kao

Order On Order, Order On Order, Line On Line, Line On Line, A Little Here, A Little There. (Isaiah 28)

May 20, 2026

“To whom would He teach knowledge,

And to whom would He interpret the message?

Those just weaned from milk?

Those just taken from the breast?

For He says,

‘Order on order, order on order,

Line on line, line on line,

A little here, a little there.’” (Isa. 28:9–10, NASB2020)

This passage describes how the people and leaders of that time were self-righteous. They mocked the prophet, thinking his teaching was too simple and shallow, lacking learning. The phrase “those who mock” refers to these proud and arrogant people. They mocked the prophet, saying, “Is he teaching little children just weaned from milk?” They also mocked his words as childish babbling. The Chinese Union Version translates it as “order upon order, line upon line, here a little, there a little,” while the Revised Chinese Union Version renders it more like meaningless muttering and repetitive sounds, as if from children learning to speak.

Paul also spoke about a similar problem in the church of his time:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:17–18, NASB2020)

This was Paul’s warning to the troubled church in Corinth. Many there considered themselves wise and educated. They thought Paul’s preaching was simple and plain, always repeating old teachings without creativity. Using their own wisdom, they went beyond the teaching of Christ, inventing a “greater love” than the love of Christ — one that tolerated every kind of sin. They believed that only teachings mixed with contemporary philosophy could be considered intelligent preaching.

Today, the true church is gradually facing the same situation. When truth is preached, believers with itching ears reject it instead. The sermon links most often shared in groups are usually those with sensational titles and profound-sounding content. Paul warned Timothy of this reality :

"For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths." ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NASB )

Back in the days of the prophet Isaiah, the people loved to hear what was novel and pleasing, not words of rebuke. Yet the prophet did not follow the trend; he spoke according to God’s command, even though his warnings seemed childish to them. These warnings made the scoffers uncomfortable, because they sounded like an adult scolding a child—full of commands and reproach. So God continued to speak to them in what they considered childish words: “So the word of the LORD to them will be order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there, so that they will go and stumble backward, be broken, be ensnared, and be captured.” (Isaiah 28:13, NASB)

God did not change His pure commands to suit human preference. The phrase “so that they will go and stumble backward, be broken, be ensnared, and be captured” means that although "God wanted them to move forward, they refused to listen. Instead, they deliberately leaned back, fell flat on their backs, and were broken in the fall".

The prophet also said: “Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, ‘Here is rest, give rest to the weary,’ and, ‘Here is repose,’ but they would not listen.” (Isaiah 28:11–12, NASB). This shows that when the prophet faced a stubborn people, he had no choice but to warn them, as God commanded, that they would be handed over to foreigners who spoke a language they could not understand. Since they refused to hear the truth in their own tongue, God would let them be oppressed by those of another.

Today, we must avoid becoming those who “mock the prophet.” In our pursuit of truth, we should not deliberately chase lofty, impractical Bible knowledge, nor engage in spiritual practices that only serve to glorify our own name. Instead, we should humbly learn from the shepherds who provide spiritual food at the proper time, building up our understanding of God’s commands little by little. The Holy Spirit will guide us to grow continually in spiritual wisdom. Remember: “God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.” Pride leads to God’s rejection. We must not despise sermons that seem ordinary, nor grow weary of biblical rebuke when it is needed. Let us not become unteachable, like the people of today who refuse correction. “Listen closely to my speech, and pay attention to my words.” 

“But now do not carry on as scoffers, Or your shackles will be made stronger; For I have heard from the Lord GOD of armies Of decisive destruction on all the earth. Listen and hear my voice, Pay attention and hear my words.” (Isaiah 28:22–23, NASB)

By Isaiah Kao