今日读经

旧约 撒母耳记上 4:1–7:17
新约 路加福音 18:1–30

第 112 / 365 天 · 约 11 分钟

旧约撒母耳记上 4:1–7:17

前情提要

上回说到

昨天():神人宣告以利家要衰败,两个儿子必在一日同死。在耶和华的言语稀少的时代,神三次呼唤童子撒母耳,撒母耳回答:“请说,仆人敬听!”从此全以色列都知道撒母耳是耶和华所立的先知。

今天你会读到

以色列战败后把约柜抬到战场,结果大败:约柜被掳,何弗尼、非尼哈阵亡,以利听到消息跌死。约柜在非利士各城引发灾祸,七个月后被牛车送回伯.示麦。二十年后,撒母耳呼召百姓除掉外邦神,在米斯巴祷告,神打败非利士人,撒母耳立石,起名叫以便以谢。

阅读小提示

留意 长老说把约柜抬来,“好在我们中间救我们”:他们把约柜当作保证得胜的护身符,而不是悔改归向神;到第 7 章百姓除掉偶像、认罪祷告,神才为他们争战。

■ 当时 □ 预言所指

点时代可看说明

这段之后示罗不再是敬拜中心,有学者认为示罗就是在这时被非利士人毁灭(参 )。

点经节可选取,长按即复制点经节可选取,按 Ctrl+C⌘C 复制

撒母耳记上 第 4 章

以色列败给非利士人

1以色列人出去与非利士人打仗,安营在;非利士人安营在亚弗。Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

2非利士人向以色列人摆阵。两军交战的时候,以色列人败在非利士人面前;非利士人在战场上杀了他们的军兵约有四千人。The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who struck down about four thousand men on the battlefield.

把约柜抬到营中

3百姓回到营里,以色列的长老说:“耶和华今日为何使我们败在非利士人面前呢?我们不如将耶和华的约柜从示罗抬到我们这里来,好在我们中间救我们脱离敌人的手。”When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”

4于是百姓打发人到示罗,从那里将坐在二上万军之耶和华的约柜抬来。以利的两个儿子何弗尼、非尼哈与 神的约柜同来。So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5耶和华的约柜到了营中,以色列众人就大声欢呼,地便震动。When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that the ground shook.

6非利士人听见欢呼的声音,就说:“在希伯来人营里大声欢呼,是什么缘故呢?”随后就知道耶和华的约柜到了营中。On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

7非利士人就惧怕起来,说:“有神到了他们营中”;又说:“我们有祸了!向来不曾有这样的事。the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.

8我们有祸了!谁能救我们脱离这些大能之神的手呢?从前在旷野用各样灾殃击打埃及人的,就是这些神。Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

9非利士人哪,你们要刚强,要,免得作希伯来人的奴仆,如同他们作你们的奴仆一样。你们要作大丈夫,与他们争战。”Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

约柜被掳

10非利士人和以色列人打仗,以色列人败了,各向各家奔逃,被杀的人甚多,以色列的步兵仆倒了三万。So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great—thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell.

11神的约柜被掳去,以利的两个儿子何弗尼、非尼哈也都被杀了。The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

以利听到消息跌死

12当日,有一个便雅悯人从阵上逃跑,衣服撕裂,头蒙灰尘,来到示罗。That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.

13到了的时候,以利正在道旁坐在自己的位上观望,为 神的约柜心里。那人进城报信,合城的人就都呼喊起来。When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out.

14以利听见呼喊的声音就问说:“这喧嚷是什么缘故呢?”那人急忙来报信给以利。Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli.

15那时以利九十八岁了,,不能看见。Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.

16那人对以利说:“我是从阵上来的,今日我从阵上逃回。”以利说:“我儿,事情怎样?”“I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.

17报信的回答说:“以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑,民中被杀的甚多!你的两个儿子何弗尼、非尼哈也都死了,并且 神的约柜被掳去。”The messenger answered, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead, and the ark of God has been captured.”

18他一提 神的约柜,以利就从他的位上往后跌倒,在门旁折断颈项而死;因为他年纪老迈,。以利作以色列的士师四十年。As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.

以迦博:荣耀离开以色列

19以利的儿妇、非尼哈的妻怀孕将到产期,她听见 神的约柜被掳去,公公和丈夫都死了,就猛然疼痛,曲身生产;Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.

20将要死的时候,旁边站着的妇人们对她说:“不要怕!你生了男孩子了。”她却不回答,也不放在心上。As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed.

21她给孩子起名叫,说:“荣耀离开以色列了!”这是因 神的约柜被掳去,又因她公公和丈夫都死了。And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.

22她又说:“荣耀离开以色列,因为 神的约柜被掳去了。”“The glory has departed from Israel,” she said, “for the ark of God has been captured.”

撒母耳记上 第 5 章

大衮仆倒在约柜前

1非利士人将 神的约柜从以便以谢抬到。After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod,

2非利士人将 神的约柜抬进大衮庙,放在大衮的旁边。carried it into the temple of Dagon, and set it beside his statue.

3次日清早,亚实突人起来,见大衮仆倒在耶和华的约柜前,脸伏于地,就把大衮仍立在原处。When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.

4又次日清早起来,见大衮仆倒在耶和华的约柜前,脸伏于地,并且大衮的头和两手都在门槛上折断,只剩下大衮的。But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained.

5(因此,大衮的祭司和一切进亚实突、大衮庙的人都不踏大衮庙的门槛,直到今日。)That is why, to this day, the priests of Dagon and all who enter the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on the threshold.

约柜在非利士各城引发灾祸

6耶和华的手重重加在亚实突人身上,败坏他们,使他们生痔疮。亚实突和亚实突的四境都是如此。Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, ravaging them and afflicting them with tumors.

7亚实突人见这光景,就说:“以色列 神的约柜不可留在我们这里,因为他的手重重加在我们和我们神大衮的身上”;And when the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us, because His hand is heavy upon us and upon our god Dagon.”

8就打发人去请非利士的众首领来聚集,问他们说:“我们向以色列 神的约柜应当怎样行呢?”他们回答说:“可以将以色列 神的约柜运到迦特去。”于是将以色列 神的约柜运到那里去。So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” “It must be moved to Gath,” they replied. So they carried away the ark of the God of Israel.

9运到之后,耶和华的手攻击那城,使那城的人大大惊慌,无论大小都生痔疮。But after they had moved the ark to Gath, the LORD’s hand was also against that city, throwing it into great confusion and afflicting the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors.

10他们就把 神的约柜送到以革伦。 神的约柜到了,以革伦人就喊嚷起来说:“他们将以色列 神的约柜运到我们这里,要害我们和我们的众民!”So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”

11于是打发人去请非利士的众首领来,说:“愿你们将以色列 神的约柜送回原处,免得害了我们和我们的众民!”原来 神的手重重攻击那城,城中的人有因惊慌而死的;Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was very heavy upon it.

12未曾死的人都生了痔疮。合城呼号,声音上达于天。Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

撒母耳记上 第 6 章

非利士人决定送回约柜

1耶和华的约柜在非利士人之地七个月。When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines seven months,

2非利士人将祭司和占卜的聚了来,问他们说:“我们向耶和华的约柜应当怎样行?请指示我们用何法将约柜送回原处。”the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”

3他们说:“若要将以色列 神的约柜送回去,不可空空地送去,必要给他献,然后你们可得痊愈,并知道他的手为何不离开你们。”They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.”

4非利士人说:“应当用什么献为赔罪的礼物呢?”他们回答说:“当照非利士首领的数目,用五个金痔疮,五个金老鼠,因为在你们众人和你们首领的身上都是一样的灾。“What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.

5所以当制造你们痔疮的像和毁坏你们田地老鼠的像,并要归荣耀给以色列的 神,或者他向你们和你们的神,并你们的田地,把手放轻些。Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.

6你们为何硬着心像埃及人和法老一样呢? 神在埃及人中间行奇事,埃及人岂不释放以色列人,他们就去了吗?Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, did they not send the people out so they could go on their way?

7现在你们应当造一辆新车,将两只未曾有乳的母牛套在车上,使牛犊回家去,离开母牛。Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

8把耶和华的约柜放在车上,将所献赔罪的金物装在里,放在柜旁,将柜送去。Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering. Then send the ark on its way,

9你们要看看:车若直行以色列的境界到伯·示麦去,这大灾就是耶和华降在我们身上的;若不然,便可以知道不是他的手击打我们,是我们偶然遇见的。”but keep watching it. If it goes up the road to its homeland, toward Beth-shemesh, it is the LORD who has brought on us this great disaster. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not His hand that punished us and that it happened by chance.”

母牛直行伯.示麦

10非利士人就这样行:将两只有乳的母牛套在车上,将牛犊关在家里,So the men did as instructed. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves.

11把耶和华的约柜和装金老鼠并金像的匣子都放在车上。Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors.

12牛直行大道,往伯·示麦去,一面走一面叫,不偏左右。非利士的首领跟在后面,直到伯·示麦的境界。And the cows headed straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh, staying on that one highway and lowing as they went, never straying to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

13伯·示麦人正在平原收割麦子,举目看见约柜,就欢喜了。Now the people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed at the sight.

14车到了伯·示麦人约书亚的田间,就站住了。在那里有一块大磐石,他们把车劈了,将两只母牛献给耶和华为燔祭。The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

15利未人将耶和华的约柜和装金物的匣子拿下来,放在大磐石上。当日伯·示麦人将燔祭和平安祭献给耶和华。And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold objects, and they placed them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.

16非利士人的五个首领看见,当日就回以革伦去了。And when the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they returned to Ekron that same day.

17非利士人献给耶和华作赔罪的金痔疮像,就是这些:一个是为亚实突,一个是为迦萨,一个是为亚实基伦,一个是为迦特,一个是为以革伦。As a guilt offering to the LORD, the Philistines had sent back one gold tumor for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

18金老鼠的数目是照非利士五个首领的城邑,就是坚固的城邑和乡村,以及大磐石。这磐石是放耶和华约柜的,到今日还在伯·示麦人约书亚的田间。The number of gold rats also corresponded to the number of Philistine cities belonging to the five rulers—the fortified cities and their outlying villages. And the large rock on which they placed the ark of the LORD stands to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

伯.示麦人擅观约柜

19耶和华因伯·示麦人他的约柜,就击杀了他们七十人;那时有五万人在那里(原文是七十人加五万人)。百姓因耶和华大大击杀他们,就哀哭了。But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

20伯·示麦人说:“谁能在耶和华这圣洁的 神面前侍立呢?这约柜可以从我们这里送到谁那里去呢?”The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”

21于是打发人去见基列·耶琳的居民,说:“非利士人将耶和华的约柜送回来了,你们下来将约柜接到你们那里去吧!”So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

撒母耳记上 第 7 章

1人就下来,将耶和华的约柜接上去,放在山上亚比拿达的家中,分派他儿子以利亚撒看守耶和华的约柜。Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab’s house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

2约柜在基列·耶琳许久。过了二十年,以色列全家都倾向耶和华。And from that day a long time passed, twenty years in all, as the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim. And all the house of Israel mournfully sought the LORD.

撒母耳呼召百姓归向耶和华

3撒母耳对以色列全家说:“你们若一心归顺耶和华,就要把外邦的神和亚斯她录从你们中间除掉,专心归向耶和华,单单地事奉他。他必救你们脱离非利士人的手。”Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

4以色列人就除掉诸巴力和亚斯她录,单单地事奉耶和华。So the Israelites put away the Baals and Ashtoreths and served only the LORD.

5撒母耳说:“要使以色列众人聚集在米斯巴,我好为你们祷告耶和华。”Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”

6他们就聚集在米斯巴,,当日禁食,说:“我们得罪了耶和华。”于是撒母耳在米斯巴审判以色列人。When they had gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

耶和华大发雷声

7非利士人听见以色列人聚集在米斯巴,非利士的首领就上来要攻击以色列人。以色列人听见,就惧怕非利士人。When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. And when the Israelites learned of this, they feared the Philistines

8以色列人对撒母耳说:“愿你不住地为我们呼求耶和华—我们的 神,救我们脱离非利士人的手。”and said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9撒母耳就把一只吃奶的羊羔献与耶和华作全牲的燔祭,为以色列人呼求耶和华;耶和华就应允他。Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him.

10撒母耳正献燔祭的时候,非利士人前来要与以色列人争战。当日,耶和华大发雷声,惊乱非利士人,他们就败在以色列人面前。As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

11以色列人从米斯巴出来,追赶非利士人,击杀他们,直到伯·甲的下边。Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car.

以便以谢

12撒母耳将一块石头立在米斯巴和善的中间,给石头起名叫以便以谢,说:“到如今耶和华都。”Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

13从此,非利士人就被制伏,不敢再入以色列人的境内。撒母耳作士师的时候,耶和华的手攻击非利士人。So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14非利士人所取以色列人的城邑,从以革伦直到迦特,都归以色列人了。属这些城的四境,以色列人也从非利士人手下收回。那时以色列人与亚摩利人和好。The cities from Ekron to Gath, which the Philistines had taken, were restored to Israel, who also delivered the surrounding territory from the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites.

撒母耳作士师的年日

15撒母耳平生作以色列的士师。So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16他每年巡行到伯特利、吉甲、米斯巴,在这几处审判以色列人。Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.

17随后回到拉玛,因为他的家在那里;也在那里审判以色列人,且为耶和华筑了一座坛。Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

摘要

以色列人因约柜被非利士人掳去而经历惨败,以利及其二子皆亡,荣耀离开以色列。然而耶和华在非利士地彰显大能,击打偶像大衮并降灾于各城,迫使非利士人将约柜送回。约柜最终安置于基列耶琳,经过二十年,撒母耳带领百姓悔改归向神、除去偶像,在米斯巴禁食祷告后,耶和华以雷声击败非利士人,以色列得享太平。

反思问题

  1. 以色列人试图将约柜当作护身符来操控神的帮助,你是否曾将信仰的某些形式(祷告、聚会、奉献)当作换取祝福的工具,而非出于真实的敬畏与顺服?
  2. 从约柜被掳到撒母耳带领复兴,中间经过了二十年。在漫长等候中,你如何持守对神的信心,不因环境的艰难而放弃盼望?
  3. 撒母耳要求百姓除掉外邦偶像、专心归向神,才能经历拯救。在你的生活中,有哪些事物占据了本应属于神的位置,需要被辨认并放下?

新约路加福音 18:1–30

前情提要

上回说到

昨天():十个长大痲疯的得了洁净,只有一个撒马利亚人回来感谢;耶稣说神的国不是眼所能见的,人子的日子要像闪电一样突然,人却像挪亚和罗得的时代照常吃喝嫁娶,所以要“回想罗得的妻子”。

今天你会读到

耶稣用不义的官和寡妇的比喻,教人常常祷告、不可灰心;又用法利赛人和税吏上殿祷告的比喻,说自卑的必升为高。祂接纳被带来的婴孩,说承受神国要像小孩子;一个官问怎样承受永生,耶稣叫他变卖一切跟从祂,并说财主进神的国比骆驼穿过针眼还难,但在神凡事都能。

阅读小提示

留意 税吏的祷告只有一句:“ 神啊,开恩可怜我这个罪人!”他连举目望天也不敢,耶稣却说他“倒算为义了”。

点时代可看说明

法利赛人说“一个礼拜禁食两次”,远超过律法的要求;律法只规定每年赎罪日要刻苦己心()。

路加福音 第 18 章

寡妇和不义的官

1耶稣设一个比喻,是要人常常祷告,不可。Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

2说:“某城里有一个官,不惧怕 神,也不尊重世人。“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.

3那城里有个,常到他那里,说:‘我有一个对头,求你给我。’And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4他多日不准,后来心里说:‘我虽不惧怕 神,也不尊重世人,For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

5只因这寡妇烦扰我,我就给她伸冤吧,免得她常来我!’”yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”

神岂不给选民伸冤

6主说:“你们听这不义之官所说的话。And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge.

7神的选民昼夜他,他纵然为他们忍了多时,岂不终久给他们伸冤吗?Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?

8我告诉你们,要快快地给他们伸冤了。然而,人子来的时候,遇得见世上有吗?”I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

法利赛人和税吏的祷告

9耶稣向那些仗着自己是义人,藐视别人的,设一个比喻,To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

10说:“有两个人上里去祷告:一个是法利赛人,一个是税吏。“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11法利赛人站着,自言自语地祷告说:‘ 神啊,我感谢你,我不像别人勒索、不义、奸淫,也不像这个税吏。The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

12我一个礼拜禁食两次,凡我所得的都捐上。’I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

13那税吏远远地站着,连举目望天也不敢,只说:‘ 神啊,我这个罪人!’But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

14我告诉你们,这人回家去比那人倒了;因为,凡自高的,必降为卑;自卑的,必升为高。”I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

让小孩子到我这里来

15有人抱着自己的婴孩来见耶稣,要他摸他们;门徒看见就责备那些人。Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

16耶稣却叫他们来,说:“让小孩子到我这里来,不要禁止他们,因为在 神国的正是这样的人。But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17我实在告诉你们,凡要承受 神国的,若不像小孩子,断不能进去。”Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

富有的官

18有一个问耶稣说:“良善的夫子,我该做什么事才可以承受永生?”Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

19耶稣对他说:“你为什么称我是良善的?除了 神一位之外,再没有良善的。“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

20你是晓得的:‘不可奸淫;不可杀人;不可偷盗;不可作假见证;当孝敬父母。’”You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

21那人说:“这一切我从小都遵守了。”“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

22耶稣听见了,就说:“你还缺少一件:要变卖你一切所有的,分给穷人,就必有财宝在天上;你还要来跟从我。”On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

23他听见这话,就甚,因为他很富足。But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

骆驼穿过针的眼

24耶稣看见他,就说:“有钱财的人进 神的国是何等的难哪!Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

25比财主进 神的国还容易呢!”Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26听见的人说:“这样,谁能得救呢?”Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27耶稣说:“在人所不能的事,在 神却能。”But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

为神的国撇下一切的人

28彼得说:“看哪,我们已经撇下自己所有的跟从你了。”“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”

29耶稣说:“我实在告诉你们,人为 神的国撇下房屋,或是妻子、弟兄、父母、儿女,“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

30没有在今世不得百倍,在来世不得永生的。”will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

摘要

耶稣透过不义官与寡妇的比喻教导门徒要恒切祷告、不可灰心,又藉法利赛人与税吏的比喻指出神悦纳谦卑痛悔的心而非自义。祂欢迎小孩子来到面前,表明进入神国需要像孩童般单纯信靠;面对富有的官,耶稣揭示财富可能成为跟从神的拦阻,但在神凡事都能,为神国撇下一切的人必得百倍赏赐与永生。

反思问题

  1. 寡妇不断向不义的官求告终蒙应允——在你的祷告生活中,是否有因长久未见回应而灰心放弃的事?这个比喻如何更新你对祷告的态度?
  2. 法利赛人列举自己的义行,税吏只求神开恩怜悯。你在神面前的祷告,更多是展示自己的表现,还是诚实面对自己的软弱与需要?
  3. 耶稣对富有的官说‘你还缺少一件’,指出财富成为他跟从主的障碍。在你的生命中,什么是你最难放手交给神的?你愿意如何回应耶稣的邀请?