從殿前的長老殺起（結9章）

耶和華對他說：「你去走遍耶路撒冷全城，那些因城中所行可憎之事歎息哀哭的人，畫記號在額上。」我耳中聽見他對其餘的人說：「要跟隨他走遍全城，以行擊殺。你們的眼不要顧惜，也不要可憐他們。要將年老的、年少的，並處女、嬰孩，和婦女，從聖所起全都殺盡，只是凡有記號的人不要挨近他。」於是他們從殿前的長老殺起。（結 9：4-6）

當神的百姓通城犯罪時，神的刑罰將從聖所開始，從殿前的長老開始，除非是那些「因城中所行可憎之事歎息哀哭的人，畫記號在額上。(結 9：4)」，這樣的人才可以免罪。

如果有一天，教會的弟兄姊妹都軟弱下來，同流合污、犯罪不行主道、見不公不義的事當作沒有看見時，一旦神的刑罰臨到，優先追討的人會是誰？從這裡看來，就是長老、執事、傳道、甚至是負責人。身為教會的牧者的，誰能免禍？有時難免會聽到有人朝思暮想就想被按立為長老、執事，甚至小動作不斷，但是他們有沒有想到：有了職分，知法犯法，罪加一等啊！

讀到這裡總想起小時候一位忠心的牧者，家父曾經看見這位傳道者總是天天在教會的身影，有一次忍不住對傳道說：「傳道，您這樣可以天天在神的聖所事奉神的人，將來一定可以穩穩得救。」沒想到這位傳道回應家父說：「哎呀！其實你們得救的機會比我們大啊！因為知法犯法，是罪加一等啊！」家父常常會對我提起這件事，因為我們也有都是有職分的人，因職分關係，真理必然懂得比信徒多，相對的將來神對我們的要求，也必然比一般人更加嚴格。

僕人知道主人的意思，卻不預備，又不順他的意思行，那僕人必多受責打。惟有那不知道的，作了當受責打的事，必少受責打。因為多給誰，就向誰多取，多託誰，就向誰多要。（路 12：47-48)

另外，今天也不用過度悲觀，因為從本章可以看見：再軟弱的耶路撒冷城中，還是有得主喜悅，因此可被主的使者在額上劃記的人；所以，再軟弱的真教會，也一定還是有可被神在額上畫記，也就是蒙祂保守、是聖潔蒙愛的一群人。

因為時候到了，審判要從神的家起首。若是先從我們起首，那不信從神福音的人，將有何等的結局呢？若是義人僅僅得救，那不虔敬和犯罪的人，將有何地可站呢？（彼前 4：17-18）

by Isaiah Kao

Starting the Slaughter from the Elders before the Temple (Ezekiel 9)

September 1, 2026

Then the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare. Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary." So they started with the elders who were before the temple. (Ezekiel 9:4–6)  

When God’s people sin throughout the entire city, God’s judgment begins at the sanctuary, starting with the elders before the temple, except for those "who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst, and put a mark on their foreheads" (Ezekiel 9:4), who are spared from punishment.

If one day the brothers and sisters in the church all grow weak, compromise with the world, sin instead of walking in the Lord's ways, and turn a blind eye to injustice, who will be held accountable first when God's judgment arrives? Viewed from this passage, it is precisely the elders, deacons, preachers, and council members. As those who shepherd the church, who can escape disaster? Sometimes we inevitably hear of people yearning to be ordained as elders or deacons, even small movements keep on, but have they ever considered this: holding an ministry while knowingly breaking the law only adds to one's guilt!

Reading this always brings to mind a faithful shepherd from my childhood. My father once saw this preacher spending day after day at the church and couldn't help saying to him, "Preacher, since you are able to serve God in His sanctuary every day like this, you will surely attain salvation securely in the future." Unexpectedly, the preacher replied to my father, "Ah! Actually, your chances of being saved are greater than ours! Because knowingly breaking the law adds to one's guilt." My father often mentioned this incident to me because we, too, hold ministry; because of our ministry, we naturally understand the truth better than ordinary members, and correspondingly, God's requirements for us in the future will certainly be stricter than for others.

And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:47–48)  

On the other hand, we need not be overly pessimistic today, because from this chapter we can see that even in the weakest city of Jerusalem, there were still those who pleased the Lord and thus received a mark on their foreheads from the Lord's messenger. Therefore, even in the weakest True Jesus Church, there will certainly still be a group whom God marks on their foreheads—meaning those who are preserved by Him, holy and beloved.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? (1 Peter 4:17–18)