五十步笑百步 The Pot Calling The Kettle Black

五十步笑百步（若7:40-53）

米該亞先知記載了默西亞出自白冷的預言，瑪竇也曾引用過來證明耶穌是默西亞（瑪2:4-6；9:27，米5:1）。雖然事實證明相信默西亞是達味之子的觀點是正確的（若7:42），但這預言祇是真相的一部份，並不是真相的全部。因為聖家得知繼承大黑落德為猶太王的阿爾赫勞，同樣是個殘暴的君主時，便避居到北方的加里肋亞（瑪2:22）。因此，默西亞在白冷出生，並沒有否定默西亞出自加里肋亞的事實。可見，即使自己已經是正確，也應懷抱開放的胸襟，接受新的理據，因為真理是相當複雜，絕不能簡單化！

且看，那些佔領道德高位的偽君子，目中無人地說：「這些不明白法律的群眾，是可詛咒的」（若7:49）。難道他們這些精通法律，利用法律犯罪，殘民以自肥的人，反而是蒙受天主所祝福的嗎？尼苛德摩應該是少有的，胸襟開放的法利塞人。即使他不認同他同僚的態度和立場，仍然能夠保持客觀、留有餘地地提出他的法律意見。那些偽善人自知理虧，便提出了一個難題，「你去查考，你就能知道：從加里肋亞不會出先知的」（7:52），作為下台階脫身，「就各自回家去了」（7:53）！先有結論，再去搜證，這種「確認偏誤」的方法，這種未審先判的法治，真是俯拾皆是！

舊約時代的加里肋亞，真的沒有出過先知嗎？在互聯網上可以找到一些文章，聲稱有五、六位舊約先知來自加里肋亞。他們是厄里亞、厄里叟、歐瑟亞、約納、米該亞和納鴻。要驗證這幾位先知是否出自加里肋亞，要費相當功夫，因為舊約的人名和地名，並不統一。如有興趣，可以一試。但小心，倘若是為了證明法利塞人錯而進行研究，我們便掉進了同一個「確認偏誤」了！主耶穌並不要求我們的聖經知識超過他們的知識，而是要求我們的義德，超過法利塞人的義德（瑪5:20）！
父啊！請賜給我們謙卑的心，保持對祢的依靠，有如赤子乳兒一樣（詠131）。亞孟。
加里肋亞先知網頁： https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/68048/what-prophets-came-from-galilee
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：quotesgram.com

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The Pot Calling The Kettle Black (John 7:40-53)

Micah prophecized that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Matthew made use of this prophecy to prove that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 2:4-6, 9:27; Micah 5:1). Although the expectation of the Messiah coming out of the house of David is right (John 7:42), the prophecy is only part of the truth but not the whole truth! When the Holy Family returned from Egypt, hearing that Archelaus the ruler of Judea was as brutal as Herod the Great, they decided to settle in Galilee in the north (Matthew 2:22). Thus, that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem does not negate the fact that the Messiah came from Galilee. Even if we’re right, we should keep our heart open to accept new evidence because the truth is very complicated and should never be simplified!

Look at the hypocrites on moral high ground. They shamelessly assert, “This crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” (John 7:49) If the crowd is accursed, would those legal experts who fattened themselves at the expanse of the commoners be blessed by God? Nicodemus was a rarity among Pharisees who was open-minded enough. Even when he disagreed with the attitude and stance of his colleagues, he was able to maintain his objectivity and reservedly put forth his legal opinions. Those hypocrites knew that they were on the wrong. In order to step down in dignity, they put up a challenge, “Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee” (John 7:52) and went home! Having drawn the conclusion and then they start collecting evidence. This typical confirmation bias can be found everywhere!

Is it true that in the Old Testament, no prophet could be found in Galilee? From the Internet, we’re able to locate articles claiming that 5 to 6 prophets came from Galilee, viz. Elijah, Elisa, Hosea, Jonah, Micah and Naum. To prove that these prophets came from Galilee is exhausting because the names of people and places are not consistent. Interested readers may try. But beware, if we want to prove that the Pharisees were wrong and start the investigation, we fall into the same “confirmation bias”! Lord Jesus Christ does not want our knowledge to be more abundant than the Pharisees’. Rather, He wants our righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees. (Matthew 5:20)!
Heavenly Father! Grant us a humble heart to keep relying on You like a waned child (Psalm 131). Amen.