奉耶穌的名禱告

奉耶穌的名禱告

為甚麼我們要奉耶穌的名向天父禱告？

1. 引言

2. 希伯來書講及耶穌的位份和跟我們的關係

3. 舊約中的祭司、祭物和新約中祭司、祭物的分別

4. 耶穌吩咐我們要奉祂的名求父

保羅教導我們要奉耶穌的名祈禱

5. 總結

引言﹕

在新約時代我們有奉耶穌的名祈禱的教導和習慣，要了解這個教導和習慣的起源，我們必須要知道耶穌的名字是怎樣的一個名字、祂的位份和祂與我們的關係。此外，我們亦應該了解到新約中的祭司、祭物和舊約中祭司、祭物的分別。此外，新約聖經除了記載耶穌自己吩咐我們要奉祂的名求父之外，保羅的書信中也有教導我們奉耶穌的名禱告。本文只是簡單地闡釋這個問題。

一‧ 希伯來書講及耶穌的位份和跟我們的關係

希伯來書1:3說到耶穌是“……神本體的真像，……”即是說祂本身就是神。我們從新約其它章節中亦知道耶穌就是三一神裏的第二個位格。希伯來書1:4又論及耶穌的名“祂所承受的名，既比天使的名更尊貴，就遠超過天使。”希伯來書2:10告訴我們，耶穌就是救我們的元帥，萬物原本就是屬祂的，而祂受苦難成就了完全的義——使我們信祂的人得著「義」﹕“原來那為萬物所屬，為萬物所本的，要領許多的儿子進榮耀裏去，使救他們的元帥，因受苦難得以完全，本是合宜的。”信徒也是祂的弟兄﹕“因那使人成聖的，和那些得以成聖的，都是出於一；所以祂稱他們為弟兄，也不以為恥。”總的來說耶穌就是神，祂的名字是極尊貴的，因著祂所承受的苦難，信徒得著拯救，祂就是信徒的元帥，也是他們的弟兄。

二．舊約中的祭司、祭物和新約中的祭司、祭物的分別

在舊約中有些儀式和祭祀其實仍是在新約中沿用的，至少在精意上如此，所不同的不過在於其表達方式，希伯來書8:5,6節提到供奉的事﹕“他們供奉的事，本是天上事的形狀和影像，正如摩西將要造帳幕的時候，蒙神警戒他，說﹕‘你要謹慎，作各樣的物件，都要照著在山上指示你的樣式。’如今耶穌所得的職任是更美的，正如祂作更美之約的中保；這約原是憑更美之應許立的。”故此在供奉的事上舊約所行的乃是新約的影像（影子），即是說在精意上神確實在新約時代要有祭祀，祇不過是在形式／表達方面有所不同，但新約的表達方式要比舊約好得多。

舊約利未記一至十章都是講述人要到神面前必須通過祭物和祭司去贖罪才可以維持人神關係，希伯來書提到那些祭司和祭物時說﹕“凡祭司天天站著事奉神，屢次獻上一樣的祭物；這祭物永不能除罪。”（來10﹕11）以色列人的歷史告訴我們人靠著律法是行不通的，結果祇是失敗，故此神要另立新約﹕“那前約若沒有瑕疵，就無處尋求後約了。”（來8﹕7）在神自己的計劃中,耶穌基督成為新約的大祭司,祂既是大祭司,又是那祭物,以致於祂能成為新約的中保: “既是起誓立的、耶穌就作了更美之約的中保。” (來7:22) “為此祂作了新約的中保…” (來9:15)

按肉體來說,耶穌不屬利未支派,本不能當祭司: “我們的主分明是從猶大出來的;但這支派,摩西並沒有提到祭司。” (來7:14) 然而希伯來書4:14說耶穌是我們的 “大祭司” , 來5:6 說: “…你是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為祭司。” 來5:10及6:20也說耶穌是照著麥基洗德的等次成為大祭司的, 6:20更進一步提出耶穌是永遠的大祭司。

耶穌成為大祭司是神起誓而立的,至於舊約中的那些祭司並不是神起誓而立的: “至於那些祭司，原不是起誓立的，只有耶穌是起誓立的；因為那立他的對他說：「主起了誓，決不後悔，你是永遠為祭司。」”(來 7:21)

“他成為祭司，並不是照屬肉體的條例，乃是照無窮〔原文是不能毀壞〕之生命的大能。” (來 7:16)希伯來書7:17,20都一再指出耶穌是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為大祭司的,而祂的職事是起誓而立的。

既然新約仍沿用舊約祭祀的精意,那麼祭祀中的祭物在那裏呢? “凡大祭司都是為獻禮物和祭物設立的，所以這位大祭司也必須有所獻的。” (來 8:3)

至於那祭物,希伯來書9:12提供了答案: “並且不用山羊和牛犢的血,乃是用自己的血,只一次進入聖所,成了永遠屬罪的事。” “凡祭司天天站著事奉　神、屢次獻上一樣的祭物．這祭物永不能除罪。” (來 10:11)

希伯來書9:28、10:10、10:12、10:14都分別指出基督的屬罪只是獻了一次就永遠生效的。而那祭是無瑕疵的: “何況基督藉著永遠的靈、將自己無瑕無疵獻給　神、他的血豈不更能洗淨你們的心〔原文作良心〕除去你們的死行、使你們事奉那永生　神麼。”（來 9:14）

所以說在舊約時代，人通往神那裏要靠祭司獻祭牲來贖罪，新約時代神的方法並未改變，但是新約中的大祭司和祭牲都是耶穌基督自己，祂就是信徒的中保、是通往永生神那裏的唯一途徑。

三．耶穌吩咐我們要奉祂的名來求父，保羅教導我們要奉耶穌的名祈禱

耶穌在馬太福音6章和路加福音10章都教導我們要向天父禱告，而在約翰福音14:13,14:14,15:16,16:23, 16:24,16:26耶穌也教導我們要奉祂的名去祈求。

保羅在以弗所書5:20亦教導我們：“凡事要奉我們主耶穌基督的名、常常感謝父　神。”

四．總結

我們從希伯來書1－9章中看到耶穌的位份，祂既是信徒的中保，又是我們的元帥，祂所流的血就成了一次屬罪而功效直到永恆的祭，祂尊貴的名和位份使祂成為配得的那位；耶穌既然教導我們要向天父祈禱，而且是奉祂的名去禱告的，因為祂是通往神的那位，希伯來書7:25說: “凡靠著他進到　神面前的人、他都能拯救到底．因為他是長遠活著、替他們祈求。” 因此耶穌現在天天為我們代求．如果耶穌是要向天父為我們代求，那麼我們就不能奉耶穌的名向耶穌祈求（因為連耶穌也是向天夫父祈求），而是奉耶穌的名向天父祈求了。

我們現在向天父禱告,並奉耶穌的名來結束是本於聖經的。

附加:

麥基洗德等次的祭司之特點為: 1) 永遠為祭司。是完美無暇，故此有別於亞倫的等次的祭司。來7:1: …麥基洗德就是撒冷王，又是至高神的祭司，本是長遠為祭司的。… 舊約創14:18　又有撒冷王麥基洗德帶著餅和酒出來迎接；他是至高神的祭司。創14:20　至高的神把敵人交在你手裡，是應當稱頌的！亞伯蘭就把所得的拿出十分之一來，給麥基洗德。詩110:4　耶和華起了誓，決不後悔，說：你是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為祭司。

新約

來5:6　就如經上又有一處說：你是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為祭司。來5:10　並蒙神照著麥基洗德的等次稱他為大祭司。來5:11　論到麥基洗德，我們有好些話，並且難以解明，因為你們聽不進去。來6:20　作先鋒的耶穌，既照著麥基洗德的等次成了永遠的大祭司，就為我們進入幔內。來7:1　這麥基洗德就是撒冷王，又是至高神的祭司，本是長遠為祭司的。他當亞伯拉罕殺敗諸王回來的時候，就迎接他，給他祝福。來7:6　獨有麥基洗德，不與他們同譜，倒收納亞伯拉罕的十分之一，為那蒙應許的亞伯拉罕祝福。來7:10　因為麥基洗德迎接亞伯拉罕的時候，利未已經在他先祖的身（原文是腰）中。來7:11　從前百姓在利未人祭司職任以下受律法，倘若藉這職任能得完全，又何用另外興起一位祭司，照麥基洗德的等次，不照亞倫的等次呢﹖ 來7:15　倘若照麥基洗德的樣式，另外興起一位祭司來，我的話更是顯而易見的了。來7:17　因為有給他作見證的說：你是照著麥基洗德的等次永遠為祭司。

Praying in the name of Jesus:

Why do we pray to the Heavenly Father

in the name of Jesus?

Author: Veronica Luk

Translated by Allen Chiu

Content

(1) Introduction

(2) The personality of Jesus and his relationship with us from the Epistle to the Hebrews

(3) The difference between the priest and offering of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament

(4) Jesus' teaching us to pray to the Father in His name and Paul's teaching us to pray in Jesus' name

(5) Conclusion

(1) Introduction

Since the era of the New Testament, we are told to practice and teach about praying in the name of Jesus. To understand its origin, it is firstly necessary to know the meaning of Jesus' name,His personality, and His relationship with us. Secondly, we need to understand the difference between the priest and the offering of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament. And thirdly, the New Testament records not only the teaching of Jesus about praying to the father in Jesus' name but also Paul's teaching about praying in Jesus' name. We will attempt to expound these concepts in this article.

(2) The personality of Jesus and his relationship with us from the Epistle to the Hebrews

The fact that Jesus is "the exact representation of his (God) being" (Heb. 1:3) lets us know that Jesus Himself is God. According to other scriptures in the New Testament, Jesus is the second person from the triune God. Jesus' name by inheritance is more excellent than the angels' (Heb. 1:4). Jesus is the captain (NKJV) of our salvation and so we are declared righteous through faith in Him; similarly, everything exists for Him and through Him and so salvation was made perfect through his suffering. "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10). Believers are also Jesus' brothers because the one who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are of the same family and Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers (Heb. 2:11). To conclude, Jesus is God and His name is the most respectful. Believers are saved through His suffering. He is the captain of our salvation and our big brother.

(3) The difference between the priest and offering of the Old Testament and that of the New Testament

Some of the ritualistic meanings of the priesthood found in the Old Testament can be applied to us in essence despite its difference in the manner of expression. "They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises" (Hebrews 8:5-6).

According to Hebrews 8:5-6, what the old covenant required to ritually practice is a copy and shadow of the new covenant even though the form of rituals to be expressed was very contrasting to each other. In essence, God still required a sacrifice in offering in the era of the New Testament like what had been ceremonially practiced in the era of the Old Testament, but the expression by means of the new covenant is more superior than that of the old covenant.

From chapters 1 to 10 of the Book of Leviticus, to approach God, priest must properly offer a sacrifice on behalf of sinners. However, the Epistle to the Hebrews addresses the shortfall of the ritualistic sacrifice. "Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins" (Heb. 10:11). The history of the Israelites tells us their failure to fulfill what the laws require and so God made a new covenant. "For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another" (Heb. 8:7). In God's plan, Jesus Christ became the high priest of the new covenant (Ps. 110:4). He is the high priest and also the sacrifice, so that he "became the guarantee of a better covenant" (Heb. 7:22). "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant" (Heb. 9:15).

According to the flesh, Jesus was not of the families of the tribe of Levi and could not be a priest. "For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests" (Heb. 7:14). However, Jesus was a great high priest (Heb. 4:14). "You are a priest " (Heb. 5:6). Jesus is the designated high priest (Heb. 5:10) and His priesthood lasts forever (Heb. 6:20).

Jesus was the high priest with God's oath, while the priests of the Old Testament ware not. "But he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever"" (Heb. 7:21).

Jesus "has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life" (Heb. 7:16). Hebrews 7:17 and 7:20 points out that by God's oath Jesus established his priesthood forever according to the order of Melchizedek.*

On the ground that the sacrificial value of new covenant is essentially transferred from the old covenant, what is the sacrifice for the new covenant? "Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer" (Heb. 8:3).

What is the sacrifice for Jesus as the high priest? The answer is revealed in Hebrews 9:12: "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins" (Heb. 10:11). According to Heb. 9:28, 10:10, 10:12 and 10:14, Christ died once and for all and its efficacy lasts forever because the sacrifice of Christ was unblemished to God (Heb. 9:14): "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Therefore in the era of the Old Testament, the way for people to approach God must be through the offering of a sacrifice performed by a priest in order to be redeemed from sin. In the era of the New Testament, the way remains, but both the high priest and the sacrifice were Jesus Himself. He is the mediator only through whom the eternal God can be reached.

(4) Jesus' teaching us to pray to the father in His name Paul's teaching us to pray in Jesus' name From the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, Jesus taught us to pray to the Heavenly father. In John 14:13-14, 15:16, 16:23-24 and 16:26, Jesus also taught us to pray in His name.

In addition, Paul taught us to give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:20).

(5) Conclusion

From chapters 1-9 of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we understand the person of Jesus as the mediator and the captain of believers. The blood he shed is the eternal offering once for all. His name is worthy to be respected and should be ascribed with praise and honour. Jesus teaches us to pray to the Heavenly Father through his name because only through Him can we approach God. "He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them" (Heb. 7:25). Now, Jesus supplicates for us everyday. If Jesus prays to the Heavenly Father for us, we must not pray to Jesus in Jesus' name (even Jesus prays to the Heavenly Father). We must pray to the Heavenly Father in Jesus' name.

The principle that we pray to the Heavenly Father in Jesus' name is grounded firmly upon the Bible.

* Melchizedek was king of Salem ,also a priest of God Most High; his priesthood was perfect in that it was not descended from the Aaronic one and is a priesthood ordained forever by God.

The following verses are taken from the New American Standard Version Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. Ps 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." Heb 5:6 just as He says also in another {passage,} "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." Heb 5:10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb 6:20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Heb 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, Heb 7:10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need {was there} for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? Heb 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, Heb 7:17 For it is attested {of Him,} "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

First draft of English Translation finished by Allen Chiu on June 19, 2002