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马太福音第七章

登山宝训——作主门徒 ABC 马太福音第七章                 在前两章的教导中,主耶稣论述了门徒的个人特点、社会影响、属天公义、敬虔生活等等。在第七章,他强调门徒的七个关系: 1 )与弟兄; 2 )与“猪狗”; 3 )与天父; 4 )与公众; 5 )与路人; 6 )与假先知; 7 )与教导真理并要求我们恪守与遵行的主耶稣基督。 与弟兄的关系( 1-5 )—— 福音书中,最有能耐论断人的,恐怕非(文士和)法利赛人莫属,他们连耶稣基督也论断。大概因为这些属灵贵族乐此不疲地动辄论断人,社会上,彼此论断也蔚然成风,蒙呼召初成为门徒的各位,自也不能免俗。因此主耶稣“你这假冒为善的人,先去掉自己眼中的樑木,然后才能看得清楚,去掉你弟兄眼中的刺”的教导,使用的是第二人称“你们”,“不可效法他们”爱论断的德行。间接地,法利赛人再次被用作反面教材。 论断人,中华文化美其名曰“替天行道”,其要害,说到底,是将自己与天地的主同等 ( 赛 14:14) ,这就非常危险了——“不劳驾神,我就可以审判定夺”。使徒雅各深明此理,他教导说:“设立律法和判断人的,只有一位,就是那能救人也能灭人的。你是谁,竟敢论断别人呢?”(各 4:12 )唯有神坐在宝座上以绝对的公义审判万民。文士和法利赛人论断人,他们得到的回报,是被公义的主论断。(太 23 )使徒保罗教导我们一条“干卿底事”原则。 “你是谁?竟论断别人的仆人呢。他或站住、或跌倒,自有他的主人在,而且他也必要站住,因为主能使他站住。”(罗 14:4 )他又说:“我们若是先分辨自己,就不至于受审。”(林前 11:31 ,或作我们若是先论断 diakri,nw 自己,就不至于受审 kri,nw )。教会是基督的肢体,由一群蒙恩的罪人组成。老实说,必定少不了自己看不顺眼的地方(感谢神)。让我们有恩慈地为此向教会的元首主基督祷告,只有他拥有教会。奥古斯丁说,圣徒有责任爱教会,包括爱她的缺点,而非横加论断。 不过必须提醒,不要论断人,不包括假先知。众先知、使徒、乃至主耶稣对假先知从来不客气留情面。如果出现假先知,我们奋起“为从前一次交付圣徒的真道,竭力地争辩。”(犹 1:3 )但这要求教会首先在基督里合一,否则,因彼此论断而祸起萧墙,力气都花在不讨主喜悦的彼此论断上,又怎能作战? 与猪狗的关系(
Sermon on the Mount --- Discipleship ABC Matthew Chapter 7                 In the previous two chapters, the Lord’s teaching included such aspects of disciple’s life as Christian’s character, influence, righteousness, piety and ambition. Continued in chapter 7, his emphasis is now on seven relationships: 1) to our brothers; 2) to “dogs” and “pigs”; 3) to our heavenly Father to whom we come in prayer; 4) to the general public; 5) to the paths and gates; 6) to false prophets; and 7) to Lord Jesus himself. To our brothers (1-5) --- in the Gospels, the ones who are found to be very good at being judgmental are the Pharisees, they are so courageous that they judge Jesus. From what these spiritual elites have been doing the perhaps forms a social environment. People love to be judgmental. Those who have been called to be disciples are not immune. Therefore, the Lord warns: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the spe
Sermon on the Mount --- Discipleship ABC Matthew Chapter 6 Giving to the Needy (1-4) --- In chapter 5 the Lord pronounced to his disciples of his expectation to them, their new life, their new mindset, and their good works and deeds. They carry the hallmark of the citizens of heavenly kingdom and the birthmark of the Holy Spirit. All these will be looked afresh to the conservative social environment and everyone’s attention drawn.                   The Lord warns them about the potential danger: this is not done for just surprises to attract people and to boost your fame.   “Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” A simple truth, but people are often ignorant about this. Working for one’s own fame, you might earn but what you want, sooner or later what you’ve earned will fade away. But if our good work is for the glory of our heavenly Father, He will surely rew

马太福音第六章

登山宝训——作主门徒 ABC 马太福音第六章 施舍( 6:1-4 )—— 通过第五章的教导,门徒们开始明白主期许他们什么,希望他们行出什么。这些好行为( 5:3-12 )都带着天国子民的模式,圣灵的印记,自然格外引人注目。 主却提醒他们:这些好行为,不是为个人卖弄,以哗众取宠,以藉此而出人头地。“你们要小心,不可将善事行在人的面前,故意叫他们看见。若是这样,就不能得你们天父的赏赐了。”这是最简单不过、人却最容易忘记的赏赐原理,为个人出人头地,你的赏赐就是自己挣的出人头地;明天、后天、犯不着多久,出人头地可以变成声名狼藉。但若为天父的荣耀,赏赐自天父来,未必立即兑现,却绝对可靠,就如属灵先贤们“从远处望见,且欢喜迎接”(来 11:23 )主耶稣勉励门徒们选择后者。 主以施舍为例,施舍与八福中怜恤攸关。假冒为善们也施舍,却是大吹大擂,广告坊间,博取社会一片艳羡喝彩。主说他们得到的不过是自己的赏赐。我们或者曾经见到过大教堂的庭院、通道、墙壁等等,会刻上捐款善长芳名,个人以为不值得鼓励。而天国的智慧,是“你施舍的时候,不要叫左手知道右手所作的。要叫你施舍的事行在暗中”。 右手是作事的,也是更强壮的,施舍用右手去作,有举重若轻、连左手也用不上的含义,比喻用平常心态而非故作善长去施舍。怜恤是新生命的自然流露。这样的生命荣耀天父,“你父在暗中察看,必然报答你。” 祷告( 6:5-15 )—— 第六章共有 34 节经文,主耶稣教导门徒祷告的经文几乎占了一半。而论祷告的位置,处于五、六、七三章的中间。不应看作偶然。马太福音的初始读者对象是犹太人,犹太文学作品的高潮,正处在作品篇幅的中间而非前后。所以,论祷告其实正是登山宝训中的顶峰之作。这提醒我们,作为主的门徒,我们属灵生活的中心是:祷告。                 假冒为善再次成为反面教材。他们“爱站在会堂里和十字路口上祷告,故意叫人看见。”我们会问:主是不是不赞成公开祷告?不是。众先知、使徒、主自己,都有公开祷告的记录。假冒为善的祷告,要害是“故意叫人看见”。不要误以为第六节要求门徒必须“进内屋、关上门”,方能祷告。这一节经文的两个关键动词是命令式“进”和“祷告”,相对法利赛人的“出”和“叫人看见”。个人的私祷,是与神亲近的时刻;心无旁骛地来到神面前,专心寻求他,是门徒生命的宝贵时