你們進這些門敬拜耶和華的一切猶大人、當聽耶和華的話（耶7章）

耶和華的話臨到耶利米、說：「你當站在耶和華殿的門口、在那裏宣傳這話、說：『你們進這些門敬拜耶和華的一切猶大人、當聽耶和華的話。』」（耶 7：1-2）

這章經文很諷刺，因為神要耶利米先知站在「耶和華殿的門口」說話，要這些正在進入聖殿的猶太人反省、回轉。

會進入耶和華聖殿的人，會是何許人？當然是為了敬拜神。「你們進這些門、敬拜耶和華的一切猶大人、當聽耶和華的話。」我們會對誰說：「當聽耶和華的話」？當然是那些被我們認為沒在聽神說話的人。

「敬拜」在舊約聖經中的希伯來文原意是「記念」之意。所以敬拜，不是如同其他宗教只是拿香拜拜、俯伏在地跪拜，僅是外在行為而已，重要的是要用心。來到教會聚會，也就是所謂的今日的耶和華的殿時，我們有沒有用心？如何用心？就是要記念。記念什麼？記念主如何愛我、為我受死、贖我的罪、用心呵護我；也要記念，我有感念主的愛嗎？我當如何為主而活？

事實上當時這些猶太人，也就是這些正進入耶和華殿門、準備要敬拜耶和華的人，竟然做出本章所寫的一切脫序、離譜的行為：在生活中欺壓鄰舍、在信仰上燒兒女敬拜偶像。

看哪、你們倚靠虛謊無益的話。你們偷盜、殺害、姦淫、起假誓、向巴力燒香、並隨從素不認識的別神．且來到這稱為我名下的殿、在我面前敬拜、又說：「我們可以自由了．」你們這樣的舉動、是要行那些可憎的事麼？（耶 7：8-10）

對今日而言，就是有人會高談無邊無際的愛，說即使是犯了致死的罪、只要來獻個祭，多奉獻一點，多做聖工彌補就可以了。這是「虛謊無益的話」，就是騙人的理論，一點幫助也沒有的承諾。然後真的以為來到耶和華的殿敬拜，獻個祭罪就赦了、就以為沒事了。

這稱為我名下的殿、在你們眼中、豈可看為賊窩麼？我都看見了．這是耶和華說的。（耶 7：11）

這句話曾經是主耶穌在趕出聖殿做買賣的人時，所再次發出的怒吼！「賊窩」是盜賊分贓的地分。這些盜賊，可以是祭司、利未人，也可以是散佈異端、從中牟利的一切看似在聖殿敬拜的猶太人。

今天，若來教會只是要彼此取暖，認為犯罪是大不了的事，還高舉不義的愛鼓勵犯罪，認為「反正犯了罪，神的愛是廣大的，必要赦免你」，藉以做利益交換，沽名釣譽，爲製造粉絲：「你才是最有愛心的人，我們要聽你的」，這時，教會就真的成為賊窩了。

你們不要倚靠虛謊的話、說：「這些是耶和華的殿、是耶和華的殿、是耶和華的殿。」你們若實在改正行動作為、在人和鄰舍中間誠然施行公平．不欺壓寄居的、和孤兒寡婦、在這地方不流無辜人的血、也不隨從別神陷害自己．我就使你們在這地方仍然居住、就是我古時所賜給你們列祖的地、直到永遠。（耶 7：4-7）

不要以為我已來到唯一得救的真耶穌教會，就一定能得救。不要像當時猶太人一樣，說：「這些是耶和華的殿、是耶和華的殿、是耶和華的殿。」就以為沒事了、平安了。來到教會敬拜神，最重要的是行神所喜悅的事。不要以為自己都有在聚會、也接受安排做很多工、也常訪問信徒。

我們若不在行為上改正，即使進了耶和華的殿，真的是神眼中那些要去敬拜神的猶太人，這時敬拜的行為再多都沒用。更不可以將為主做工視為「贖罪」，為了曾經、或持續正在犯的罪，以為以為有做工就沒事了。聚會敬拜神、作主工都只是盡本份而已，所以也不可以有「賺天幣」的觀念，因為我們所做的一切，只是為了報答主愛，做再多都補不了主所給的愛。

也許我們都是有在聚會的人，也是殷勤做工的人，甚至是常常花時間讀經、禱告主的人，其實神真的要的只有一件，就是聽祂說話，然後遵命而行。阿們！

因為我將你們列祖從埃及地領出來的那日、燔祭平安祭的事、我並沒有提說、也沒有吩咐他們．我只吩咐他們這一件、說：「你們當聽從我的話、我就作你們的神、你們也作我的子民．你們行我所吩咐的一切道、就可以得福。」（耶 7：22-23）

世人哪、耶和華已指示你何為善。他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義、好憐憫、存謙卑的心、與你的神同行。（彌 6：8）

By isaiah Kao

Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who enter by  these gates to worship the LORD (Jeremiah 7)

July 4, 2026

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, "Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house and proclaim there this word, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!'" (Jeremiah 7:1–2, NASB 2020)

This chapter is deeply ironic. God wanted Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the LORD's house and speak to the very people who were entering the temple, calling them to examine themselves and repent.

Who were the people entering the LORD's temple? Surely they were those who came to worship God. Yet God said, "Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter by these gates to worship the LORD." We usually tell someone to "hear the word of the LORD" when we think that person is not listening to God.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew idea behind "worship" carries the sense of "remembering" God. Worship is not merely an outward act like burning incense or bowing down, as in other religions. What matters is the heart. When we come to church—the LORD's house today—are we truly worshiping with our hearts? How do we do that? By remembering. We remember how the Lord loved us, died for us, redeemed us from our sins, and has faithfully cared for us. We should also remember to ask ourselves: Am I grateful for His love? How should I live for Him?

Yet these Jews, who were entering the gates of the LORD's temple to worship Him, were doing the very things out of order in this chapter. In daily life they oppressed neighbors, and in their faith they even burned their sons and daughters in worship to idols.

"Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, 'We are saved!'—so that you may do all these abominations?" (Jeremiah 7:8–10, NASB 2020)

Today, this is like people who endlessly talk about love, claiming that even if someone commits a sin leading to death, all they need to do is offer a sacrifice, give more offerings, or do more holy work to make up for it. These are "deceptive words to no avail." They are false teachings that deceive people and offer no real help. People then think that simply coming to the house of the Lord to worship and offer sacrifices means their sins are forgiven and everything is fine.

"Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I Myself have seen it," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 7:11, NASB 2020)

These were the very words the Lord Jesus later cried out when He drove the merchants out of the temple. A "den of robbers" is a place where thieves gather after committing their crimes. Those robbers could be priests, Levites, or anyone who appeared to worship in the temple while spreading false teachings and seeking personal gain.

Today, if people come to church merely for emotional comfort, treating sin as something insignificant, promoting a distorted love that encourages people to remain in sin, saying, "No matter what you've done, God's love is so great that He will surely forgive you," while seeking influence, reputation, or followers—hoping others will say, "You are the most loving person; we should follow you"—then the church has truly become a den of robbers.

"Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, 'This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.' For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a person and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor follow other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever." (Jeremiah 7:4–7, NASB 2020)

We should never think that we have  come to the only  saved church -True Jesus Church, we are guaranteed salvation. We must not be like the Jews who kept saying, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD," as though that alone ensured their safety.

The most important thing when we come to church is to do what pleases God. We should not assume that regular attendance, serving faithfully, or loving menbers is enough. If we do not truly change our conduct, then even though we enter the Lord's house and worship Him, it is of no value in God's eyes.

Nor should we ever regard serving the Lord as a way to atone for our sins, thinking that our ministry can make up for sins we committed in the past or are still committing now. Attending services and serving the Lord are simply our duty. Neither should we think of them as earning "heavenly coins" to pay off a debt. Everything we do is only our response of gratitude for the Lord's love. No amount of service can ever repay what He has done for us.

Perhaps we faithfully attend services, diligently serve, and spend much time reading the Bible and praying. Yet what God truly desires is only one thing: that we listen to His voice and obey His word. Amen.

"For on the day that I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people; and you shall walk in all the way which I command you, so that it may be well for you.'" (Jeremiah 7:22–23, NASB 2020)

"He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you Except to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao