申命記 1:9-18

1:9 「那時，我對你們說：『管理你們的重任，我獨自擔當不起。
1:10 耶和華─你們的上帝使你們多起來。看哪，你們今日像天上的星那樣多。
1:11 惟願耶和華─你們列祖的上帝使你們比如今更多千倍，照他所應許你們的話賜福與你們。
1:12 但你們的麻煩，和管理你們的重任，並你們的爭訟，我獨自一人怎能擔當得起呢？
1:13 你們要按著各支派選舉有智慧、有見識、為眾人所認識的，我立他們為你們的首領。』
1:14 你們回答我說：『照你所說的行了為妙。』
1:15 我便將你們各支派的首領，有智慧、為眾人所認識的，照你們的支派，立他們為官長、千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長，管理你們。
1:16 「當時，我囑咐你們的審判官說：『你們聽訟，無論是弟兄彼此爭訟，是與同居的外人爭訟，都要按公義判斷。
1:17 審判的時候，不可看人的外貌；聽訟不可分貴賤，不可懼怕人，因為審判是屬乎上帝的。若有難斷的案件，可以呈到我這裡，我就判斷。』
1:18 那時，我將你們所當行的事都吩咐你們了。」

⁹ At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. ¹⁰ The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. ¹¹ May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! ¹² But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? ¹³ Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

¹⁴ You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”

¹⁵ So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. ¹⁶ And I charged your judges at that time, “Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you. ¹⁷ Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.” ¹⁸ And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

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    摩西雖然是離現在快4000年的人物，卻有現代人的智慧，懂得怎樣放下權力，不一個人承擔萬事！他將審判的權力分給百姓的領袖，正如經文所說：「我便將你們各支派的首領，有智慧、為眾人所認識的，照你們的支派，立他們為官長、千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長，管理你們。」

    今日教會的治理也當以這樣的方式為依歸，層層負責，讓每一位信徒領袖也可以進到牧養的工作。也因為這樣，每一個弟兄姊妹才會真正被牧養到，這也就是所謂的「小組事工」。如此真正需要牧者關懷的人，才可以得著幫助。而一般的領袖同工，才會被訓練到牧養的工作！

    然而能夠把主權放下的牧者，才能讓信徒認識到真正的牧者是耶穌基督，才能夠讓耶穌基督真的在教會掌權，如此教會才真的是基督的身體，而不是牧者霸佔的地方。