路加福音8:1-15

 

8:1 過了不多日，耶穌周遊各城各鄉傳道，宣講上帝國的福音。和他同去的有十二個門徒，
8:2 還有被惡鬼所附、被疾病所累、已經治好的幾個婦女，內中有稱為抹大拉的馬利亞（曾有七個鬼從她身上趕出來），
8:3 又有希律的家宰苦撒的妻子約亞拿，並蘇撒拿，和好些別的婦女，都是用自己的財物供給耶穌和門徒。
8:4 當許多人聚集、又有人從各城裡出來見耶穌的時候，耶穌就用比喻說：
8:5 「有一個撒種的出去撒種。撒的時候，有落在路旁的，被人踐踏，天上的飛鳥又來吃盡了。
8:6 有落在磐石上的，一出來就枯乾了，因為得不著滋潤。
8:7 有落在荊棘裡的，荊棘一同生長，把它擠住了。
8:8 又有落在好土裡的，生長起來，結實百倍。」耶穌說了這些話，就大聲說：「有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」
8:9 門徒問耶穌說：「這比喻是甚麼意思呢？」
8:10 他說：「上帝國的奧祕只叫你們知道；至於別人，就用比喻，叫他們看也看不見，聽也聽不明。」
8:11 「這比喻乃是這樣：種子就是上帝的道。
8:12 那些在路旁的，就是人聽了道，隨後魔鬼來，從他們心裡把道奪去，恐怕他們信了得救。
8:13 那些在磐石上的，就是人聽道，歡喜領受，但心中沒有根，不過暫時相信，及至遇見試煉就退後了。
8:14 那落在荊棘裡的，就是人聽了道，走開以後，被今生的思慮、錢財、宴樂擠住了，便結不出成熟的子粒來。
8:15 那落在好土裡的，就是人聽了道，持守在誠實善良的心裡，並且忍耐著結實。」

 

 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

⁴ While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: ⁵ “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. ⁶ Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

⁹ His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

“‘though seeing, they may not see;
    though hearing, they may not understand.’^[a]

¹¹ “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

 

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    撒種的比喻讓我們在一次思考到好土的重要，因為有好土，才可以「結實百倍」！

 

    然而好土需要聖靈的工作，正如使徒當中的利未本是稅吏，在未遇見主耶穌以前，看重的是金錢；在遇見主耶穌以後被聖靈光照，願意放下稅吏的工作來跟隨主耶穌。

 

    這樣的改變來自上帝的恩召，上帝呼召的同時，也正是祂賜下新生命的一刻。我們是從捆綁中蒙召得自由的。從前我們是罪的奴僕(弗 2:3)，如今基督釋放我們，以致我們可以自由地來侍奉祂。保羅將基督徒的自由和上帝的呼召一併提出來，加拉太書5:13說：「弟兄們，你們蒙召得了自由。」主說：「所以，上帝的兒子若使你們自由，你們就真的得自由了。」(約 8:36)

 

    我們生命得自由之後，也從聖靈得著能力，成為上帝的見證人，可以領人歸向主，讓他們也得著從主耶穌來的新生命，就像樹木結果累累，「結實百倍」！

 

 

 

歷代志上10章

   歷代志上10:1-14  ,

歷代志上10:1-14

 

10:1 非利士人與以色列人爭戰，以色列人在非利士人面前逃跑，在基利波山有被殺仆倒的。
10:2 非利士人緊追掃羅和他兒子們，就殺了掃羅的兒子約拿單、亞比拿達、麥基舒亞。
10:3 勢派甚大，掃羅被弓箭手追上，射傷甚重，
10:4 就吩咐拿他兵器的人說：「你拔出刀來，將我刺死，免得那些未受割禮的人來凌辱我。」但拿兵器的人甚懼怕，不肯刺他；
10:5 掃羅就自己伏在刀上死了。拿兵器的人見掃羅已死，也伏在刀上死了。
10:6 這樣，掃羅和他三個兒子，並他的全家都一同死亡。
10:7 住平原的以色列眾人見以色列軍兵逃跑，掃羅和他兒子都死了，也就棄城逃跑，非利士人便來住在其中。
10:8 次日，非利士人來剝那被殺之人的衣服，看見掃羅和他兒子仆倒在基利波山，
10:9 就剝了他的軍裝，割下他的首級，打發人到（到：或譯送到）非利士地的四境報信與他們的偶像和眾民，
10:10 又將掃羅的軍裝放在他們神的廟裡，將他的首級釘在大袞廟中。
10:11 基列‧雅比人聽見非利士人向掃羅所行的一切事，
10:12 他們中間所有的勇士就起身前去，將掃羅和他兒子的屍身送到雅比，將他們的屍骨葬在雅比的橡樹下，就禁食七日。
10:13 這樣，掃羅死了。因為他干犯耶和華，沒有遵守耶和華的命；又因他求問交鬼的婦人，
10:14 沒有求問耶和華，所以耶和華使他被殺，把國歸於耶西的兒子大衛。

 

 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. ³ The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.

⁴ Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died. ⁶ So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.

⁷ When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

⁸ The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.

¹¹ When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

¹³ Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, ¹⁴ and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

 

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    作者敘述關於掃羅和大衛之間政權轉移的過程。而之所以發生這樣的事情，作者也敘述原因：「這樣，掃羅死了。因為他干犯耶和華，沒有遵守耶和華的命；又因他求問交鬼的婦人，沒有求問耶和華，所以耶和華使他被殺，把國歸於耶西的兒子大衛。」

 

    作者這樣書寫，是為了教化的目的，要讓讀者清楚：最上帝為大是很重要，如何實踐呢？就是「遵守耶和華的命令」！不僅如此，也不可以像掃羅「求問交鬼的婦人，沒有求問耶和華」。

 

    在今日，我們也是要這樣實踐：既然我們是上帝的兒女，就要好好研讀聖經好明白上帝的命令和心意；遇到生活上的問題，要尋求教會的協助，不要隨意聽從教會外人士的引導，尤其要小心所謂中立觀點的心理諮商師，尤其是談積極思想和正面思考的，他們使用了許多「靈媒」的說詞和看法，要小心分辨！

 

    總之，教會要尋回過去信仰的精髓，不要受到許多「現代化」或「後現代化」的思潮影響，以至於用人為中心來處理事情。教會的諮商與輔導，要以上帝的啟示為中心來引導弟兄姊妹。讓聖靈參與在其中，以免迷失而離開上帝！

 

 

路加福音7:36-50

 

7:36 有一個法利賽人請耶穌和他吃飯；耶穌就到法利賽人家裡去坐席。
7:37 那城裡有一個女人，是個罪人，知道耶穌在法利賽人家裡坐席，就拿著盛香膏的玉瓶，
7:38 站在耶穌背後，挨著他的腳哭，眼淚溼了耶穌的腳，就用自己的頭髮擦乾，又用嘴連連親他的腳，把香膏抹上。
7:39 請耶穌的法利賽人看見這事，心裡說：「這人若是先知，必知道摸他的是誰，是個怎樣的女人；乃是個罪人。」
7:40 耶穌對他說：「西門！我有句話要對你說。」西門說：「夫子，請說。」
7:41 耶穌說：「一個債主有兩個人欠他的債；一個欠五十兩銀子，一個欠五兩銀子；
7:42 因為他們無力償還，債主就開恩免了他們兩個人的債。這兩個人哪一個更愛他呢？」
7:43 西門回答說：「我想是那多得恩免的人。」耶穌說：「你斷的不錯。」
7:44 於是轉過來向著那女人，便對西門說：「你看見這女人嗎？我進了你的家，你沒有給我水洗腳；但這女人用眼淚溼了我的腳，用頭髮擦乾。
7:45 你沒有與我親嘴；但這女人從我進來的時候就不住地用嘴親我的腳。
7:46 你沒有用油抹我的頭；但這女人用香膏抹我的腳。
7:47 所以我告訴你，她許多的罪都赦免了，因為她的愛多；但那赦免少的，他的愛就少。」
7:48 於是對那女人說：「你的罪赦免了。」
7:49 同席的人心裡說：「這是甚麼人，竟赦免人的罪呢？」
7:50 耶穌對那女人說：「你的信救了你；平平安安回去吧！」

 

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[c] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 

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    聖經在這裡教導我們一個很重要的原則：真正愛主的人是感受自己多得恩免的人！

 

    也因為這樣我們要如同保羅所說：「『基督耶穌降世，為要拯救罪人。』這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是個罪魁。然而，我蒙了憐憫，是因耶穌基督要在我這罪魁身上顯明他一切的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。」(提摩太前書1:15-16)

 

    所以，我們真認識自己是罪魁，竟然可以蒙上帝在基督裡如此的恩典！我們就會心被恩感來讚美與服事主了，從心中發頌讚！更發現「成聖」不是我們做了什麼，而是基督將聖潔賞賜給我們的！

 

    正如保羅所說：「就如上帝從創立世界以前，在基督裡揀選了我們，使我們在他面前成為聖潔，無有瑕疵！」(以弗所書1:4)