阅读经文 

为什么圣经中会有这些奇怪的命令呢？我们需要遵守吗？

不。旧约中的许多律法，今天的基督徒都不需要遵守。虽然它们仍然是圣经的组成部分，但它们的要求后来已经被基督成全了。这类诫命被称为礼仪性或仪式性的律法。

礼仪性律法划分了不洁、洁净和圣洁生活的类别。事物的正常状态是洁净的。腐败导致不洁，但牺牲或献祭会带来圣洁。当某物腐败或被污染时，它就是不洁净的。当某物特别奉献给神时，它就成为圣洁。

我们今天读到的一些命令是为了防止神的子民效法他们的异教徒邻邦的做法来败坏自己。其他国家的一些宗教习俗包括为死者举行的用刀划身仪式。还有人坚持用纹身来表明自己归属于哪个神明或部落。

由于基督牺牲自己使我们成为圣洁，我们不必担心因为纹身、饮食习俗等而变得不洁净。但我们对所有人表达爱和尊重，并诚恳地对待每一个人，仍然是很重要的。耶稣是我们最好的榜样，圣灵则是我们的向导。

Why are strange commands like these in the Bible? Do we have to obey them?

No. Many of the laws found in the Old Testament need not be kept by Christians today. Though they remain part of Scripture, their demands were satisfied later by Christ. Such commands are called ceremonial or ritual laws.

Ceremonial laws created categories of unclean, clean, and holy living. The normal state of things was cleanliness. Corruption led to uncleanness, but sacrifice or offering led to holiness. When something became corrupted or polluted, it was unclean. When something was specially dedicated to God, it became holy.

Some of the commands in our reading for today were meant to keep God’s people from corrupting themselves with the practices of their pagan neighbors. Some of the religions of other nations included rituals for the dead that called for cutting oneself. Others insisted on marking themselves with tattoos to show which god or tribe you belonged to.

Since Christ sacrificed himself to make us holy, we need not worry about becoming unclean because of tattoos, dining customs, and so on. But it is still important to show love and respect to all people, and to deal honestly with everyone. Jesus is our best example, and the Holy Spirit is our guide.