歷代志下19:1-11

 

19:1 猶大王約沙法平平安安地回耶路撒冷，到宮裡去了。
19:2 先見哈拿尼的兒子耶戶出來迎接約沙法王，對他說：「你豈當幫助惡人，愛那恨惡耶和華的人呢？因此耶和華的忿怒臨到你。
19:3 然而你還有善行，因你從國中除掉木偶，立定心意尋求上帝。
19:4 約沙法住在耶路撒冷，以後又出巡民間，從別是巴直到以法蓮山地，引導民歸向耶和華─他們列祖的上帝；
19:5 又在猶大國中遍地的堅固城裡設立審判官，
19:6 對他們說：「你們辦事應當謹慎；因為你們判斷不是為人，乃是為耶和華。判斷的時候，他必與你們同在。
19:7 現在你們應當敬畏耶和華，謹慎辦事；因為耶和華─我們的上帝沒有不義，不偏待人，也不受賄賂。」
19:8 約沙法從利未人和祭司，並以色列族長中派定人，在耶路撒冷為耶和華判斷，聽民間的爭訟，就回耶路撒冷去了。
19:9 約沙法囑咐他們說：「你們當敬畏耶和華，忠心誠實辦事。
19:10 住在各城裡你們的弟兄，若有爭訟的事來到你們這裡，或為流血，或犯律法、誡命、律例、典章，你們要警戒他們，免得他們得罪耶和華，以致他的忿怒臨到你們和你們的弟兄；這樣行，你們就沒有罪了。
19:11 凡屬耶和華的事，有大祭司亞瑪利雅管理你們；凡屬王的事，有猶大支派的族長以實瑪利的兒子西巴第雅管理你們；在你們面前有利未人作官長。你們應當壯膽辦事，願耶和華與善人同在。」

 

When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, ² Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love^[a] those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. ³ There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ⁵ He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. ⁶ He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. ⁷ Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

⁸ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. ¹⁰ In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

¹¹ “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

 

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    約沙法雖然被先知責罵，但是仍然存謙卑的心，敬畏耶和華，繼續過敬拜上帝的生活。

 

    他不僅自己敬畏上帝，也教導他的臣子：「你們辦事應當謹慎；因為你們判斷不是為人，乃是為耶和華。判斷的時候，他必與你們同在。現在你們應當敬畏耶和華，謹慎辦事；因為耶和華─我們的上帝沒有不義，不偏待人，也不受賄賂。」

 

    相信上帝必定透過他大大賜福給猶大國！

 

    他對臣子的教導，也可以成為我們做人處事的原則，要清楚我們所作的一切，都是為上帝而做，不是為討人喜歡而做！也因此，我們要兢兢業業在我們的工作，因為我們是做給上帝看的！

 

 

約翰福音10:22-42

 

10:22 在耶路撒冷有修殿節，是冬天的時候。
10:23 耶穌在殿裡所羅門的廊下行走。
10:24 猶太人圍著他，說：「你叫我們猶疑不定到幾時呢？你若是基督，就明明地告訴我們。」
10:25 耶穌回答說：「我已經告訴你們，你們不信。我奉我父之名所行的事可以為我作見證；
10:26 只是你們不信，因為你們不是我的羊。
10:27 我的羊聽我的聲音，我也認識他們，他們也跟著我。
10:28 我又賜給他們永生；他們永不滅亡，誰也不能從我手裡把他們奪去。
10:29 我父把羊賜給我，他比萬有都大，誰也不能從我父手裡把他們奪去。
10:30 我與父原為一。」
10:31 猶太人又拿起石頭來要打他。
10:32 耶穌對他們說：「我從父顯出許多善事給你們看，你們是為哪一件拿石頭打我呢？」
10:33 猶太人回答說：「我們不是為善事拿石頭打你，是為你說僭妄的話；又為你是個人，反將自己當作上帝。」
10:34 耶穌說：「你們的律法上豈不是寫著『我曾說你們是神』嗎？
10:35 經上的話是不能廢的；若那些承受上帝道的人尚且稱為神，
10:36 父所分別為聖、又差到世間來的，他自稱是上帝的兒子，你們還向他說『你說僭妄的話』嗎？
10:37 我若不行我父的事，你們就不必信我；
10:38 我若行了，你們縱然不信我，也當信這些事，叫你們又知道又明白父在我裡面，我也在父裡面。」
10:39 他們又要拿他，他卻逃出他們的手走了。
10:40 耶穌又往約旦河外去，到了約翰起初施洗的地方，就住在那裡。
10:41 有許多人來到他那裡。他們說：「約翰一件神蹟沒有行過，但約翰指著這人所說的一切話都是真的。」
10:42 在那裡，信耶穌的人就多了。

 

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication^[b] at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^[c]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

³¹ Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, ³² but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

³³ “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’^[d]? ³⁵ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? ³⁷ Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ³⁸ But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” ³⁹ Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

⁴⁰ Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, ⁴¹ and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And in that place many believed in Jesus.

 

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    主耶穌面對一群猶太人：他們雖然相信有上帝，但是不能接受耶穌基督也是上帝，他們因為不信向主耶穌說：「我們不是為善事拿石頭打你，是為你說僭妄的話；又為你是個人，反將自己當作上帝。」

 

    然而主耶穌並不否認自己的地位，他說：「你們的律法上豈不是寫著『我曾說你們是神』嗎？經上的話是不能廢的；若那些承受上帝道的人尚且稱為神，10:36 父所分別為聖、又差到世間來的，他自稱是上帝的兒子，你們還向他說『你說僭妄的話』嗎？我若不行我父的事，你們就不必信我；我若行了，你們縱然不信我，也當信這些事，叫你們又知道又明白父在我裡面，我也在父裡面。」

 

    主耶穌是完全的上帝也是完全的人，若不信祂是上帝，就無法領受永生，這也是許多人的障礙；但是對基督徒而言，我們必定相信主耶穌是「神人二性、一位格」，不然我們無法肯定我們可以靠主耶穌而得救！

 

 

 

 

約翰福音10:1-21

 

10:1 「我實實在在地告訴你們，人進羊圈，不從門進去，倒從別處爬進去，那人就是賊，就是強盜。
10:2 從門進去的，才是羊的牧人。
10:3 看門的就給他開門；羊也聽他的聲音。他按著名叫自己的羊，把羊領出來。
10:4 既放出自己的羊來，就在前頭走，羊也跟著他，因為認得他的聲音。
10:5 羊不跟著生人；因為不認得他的聲音，必要逃跑。」
10:6 耶穌將這比喻告訴他們，但他們不明白所說的是甚麼意思。
10:7 所以，耶穌又對他們說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，我就是羊的門。
10:8 凡在我以先來的都是賊，是強盜；羊卻不聽他們。
10:9 我就是門；凡從我進來的，必然得救，並且出入得草吃。
10:10 盜賊來，無非要偷竊，殺害，毀壞；我來了，是要叫羊（或譯：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛。
10:11 我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。
10:12 若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看見狼來，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，趕散了羊群。
10:13 雇工逃走，因他是雇工，並不顧念羊。
10:14 我是好牧人；我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我，
10:15 正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣；並且我為羊捨命。
10:16 我另外有羊，不是這圈裡的；我必須領他們來，他們也要聽我的聲音，並且要合成一群，歸一個牧人了。
10:17 我父愛我；因我將命捨去，好再取回來。
10:18 沒有人奪我的命去，是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了，也有權柄取回來。這是我從我父所受的命令。」
10:19 猶太人為這些話又起了紛爭。
10:20 內中有好些人說：「他是被鬼附著，而且瘋了，為甚麼聽他呢？」
10:21 又有人說：「這不是鬼附之人所說的話。鬼豈能叫瞎子的眼睛開了呢？」

 

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

¹⁹ The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

 

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    主耶穌是好牧人，牧人要帶領羊到安全的地方，並且有豐富的水草，使羊得著照顧與成長。也因為如此，主耶穌說：「我來了，是要叫羊（或譯：人）得生命，並且得的更豐盛。」

 

    更重要的是主耶穌說：「我是好牧人；好牧人為羊捨命。若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看見狼來，就撇下羊逃走；狼抓住羊，趕散了羊群。雇工逃走，因他是雇工，並不顧念羊。我是好牧人；我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我，正如父認識我，我也認識父一樣；並且我為羊捨命。」

 

    所以，主耶穌勝過一些稱為教主的，他們都是犧牲別人來高抬自己，讓人覺得他們很崇高。只是指示人一條路，並沒有為人成就甚麼。只是要人走他們指引的路，卻不保證一定得著永生。

 

    但是主耶穌和這些教主不同，祂親自面對惡者，並且以自己為祭物，以死來敗壞魔鬼的權勢，將魔鬼權勢以下的人拯救出來。正如《希伯來書》2章14-15節所說：「兒女既同有血肉之體，他也照樣親自成了血肉之體，特要藉著死敗壞那掌死權的，就是魔鬼，並要釋放那些一生因怕死而為奴僕的人。」

 

    也因為如此唯有主耶穌可靠，因為主耶穌本身就是基督，是完全的上帝也是完全的人，這是那些教主無法比擬的！

 

歷代志下18章

     歷代志下18:1-27  ,