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出埃及记生命读经 · 第68篇

律法上关乎人际关系的

The First Ordinance of the Law
1第一个条例50:4-读经：出埃及记21:1-6；腓立比书2:7-8；以赛亚书50:4-5；诗篇40:6-8；马太福音20:28。出埃及记二十一至二十三章论到许多的条例。在本篇信息中，我们要来看人际关系中的第一个条例。（二一1～6。）旧约里的条例乃是十诫附加的细节或十诫的补充。在出埃及记二十一至二十三章里面，几乎所有的条例都与人有关。但我们已经指出，在二十章二十二至二十六节，有一个条例是与敬拜神有关的。这是一个特殊的条例，额外的条例，因它不是论到人与人的关系，而是论到人与神的关系。无疑地，二十章二十二至二十六节是第二条和第三条诫命的补充，也是这两条诫命附加的细节。第二条与第三条诫命没有告诉我们如何敬拜神。但我们在二十章二十二至二十六节看见，我们必须藉著祭坛，并带著祭物来敬拜神。祭坛豫表十字架，而祭物豫表基督。因此，我们必须藉著十字架，并带著基督同来敬拜神。人际关系的第一个条例是论到主人和奴仆，这个顺序是不平常的。如果我们来写这一段圣经，我们也许会把别的条例，把论到儿女和父母的条例摆在前面。我们会随从保罗在以弗所书和歌罗西书的顺序，在说到仆人和主人之前，先说妻子、丈夫、儿女和父母。的确非常希奇，也非常有意义的，是在这三章所有的条例中，首先题到作奴仆。知道这事的原因是很重要的。
1Concerning Man’s Relationship with Others Scripture Reading: Exo. 21:1-6; Phil. 2:7-8; Isa. 5; Psa. 40:6-8; Matt. 20:28 In chapters twenty-one through twenty-three of Exodus many ordinances are covered. In this message we shall consider the first of the ordinances concerning man’s relationship with others (21:1-6). In the Old Testament an ordinance either adds details to the Ten Commandments or supplements them. Nearly all the ordinances in Exodus 21 through 23 are concerned with man. But, as we have pointed out, in 20:22-26 there is an ordinance concerning the worship of God. This is a special ordinance, an extraordinary ordinance, for it is concerned not with man’s relationship with others, but with man’s relationship with God. There is no doubt that 20:22-26 is a supplement to the second and third commandments and also adds details to these commandments. The second and third commandments do not tell us how to worship God. But in 20:22-26 we see that we must worship God through an altar and with the sacrifices. The altar typifies the cross, and the sacrifices typify Christ. Hence, we must worship God through the cross and with Christ. The sequence of the ordinances concerning man’s relationship with man is unusual in that the first ordinance concerns the relationship between a master and his slave. If we had written this part of the Bible, we probably would have put some other ordinance first, perhaps an ordinance concerning children and parents. We may have followed Paul’s sequence in Ephesians and Colossians and spoken of wives, husbands, children, and parents before slaves and masters. It is indeed strange and very significant that of all the ordinances in these three chapters the first mentioned is that related to slavery. It is important to know the reason for this.
一第一个条例的灵
THE SPIRIT OF THE FIRST ORDINANCE
2明白圣经最好的方法之一，就是在考量中尽量摸著那一段话中的灵。我们也许会问，二十一章一至六节中，这项条例的灵是甚么？说这项条例的灵是爱和顺服没有错。然而，这里的灵还包含别的东西，就是爱和顺服的必要条件。
2One of the best ways to understand the Bible is to endeavor to touch the spirit of the particular portion of the Word under consideration. What, we may ask, is the spirit of this ordinance in 21:1-6? It is correct to say that the spirit of this ordinance is love and also obedience. However, something else is involved, something which is a prerequisite of both love and obedience.
3我们怎样才能爱人、顺服人呢？腓立比二章七节、八节能帮助我们答覆这个问题。根据保罗在这里的话说，主耶稣『虚己，取了奴仆的形像，成为人的样式；既有人的样子，就自己卑微，存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』首先主耶稣虚已，然后祂自己卑微。腓立比二章把基督摆在我们面前作我们的榜样；祂是信徒的榜样，也是正当为人生活的模范。这不是在社会中居高位之人的榜样；反而是为奴之人的榜样。虽然基督与神同等，在宇宙中有最高的地位，祂却成为社会中地位最卑微的人。与神同等的那一位，不但成了一个人，并且成了一个奴仆。祂这样虚己，且自己卑微。那些要跟随这个榜样的人，也必须虚己，且自己卑微。遵守律法的条例，与取了奴仆的形像息息相关。没有一个国家的全体国民都是甘愿遵守律法的。反之，许多人想要逃避律法，甚至聘请律师帮助他们这样作。因为百姓不愿意遵守律法，神颁赐十诫的时候，就说到百姓爱祂，并说祂要向爱祂的人发慈爱。（二十6。）这表明我们若不爱神，就无法遵守神的诫命。照样，要遵守律法所有详细的条例，也需有一个必要条件─甘愿作奴仆。只有甘愿作奴仆的人，才能履行律法所有的条例。奴仆不要求自己的权利；他只知道服事和牺牲，他不在意自己的利益。奴仆必须一直关心别人。这个奴仆的灵，就是出埃及记二十一至二十三章那些条例的灵。要遵守这几章所描述之条例的人，首先必须作奴仆。这个原则也适用于我们今天基督徒的生活。加拉太五章十三节说，我们蒙召，是要得自由，但要用爱心作奴仆互相服事。如果我们要作好丈夫、好妻子、好父母，我们就必须作奴仆。这意思是说，父亲在对待儿女的关系上，必须是奴仆。惟有这样他才能彀是个好父亲。
3How can we love and be obedient? Help in answering this question is found in Philippians 2:7 and 8. According to Paul’sword here, the Lord Jesus “emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross.” First the Lord Jesus emptied Himself and then He humbled Himself. In Philippians 2 Christ is presented to us as our pattern. As a pattern to the believers, He is a model of a proper human life. This pattern is not of one who occupies a high position in society; on the contrary, it is the pattern of one who is a slave. Even though Christ was equal with God and had the highest rank in the universe, He became a person on the lowest level of society. The very One who was equal with God not only became a man, but became a slave. In this He emptied Himself and humbled Himself. Those who would follow this pattern must also empty themselves and humble themselves. Keeping the ordinances of the law has much to do with taking the form of a slave. There is not one nation where all the people are willing to keep the law. Instead, many try to escape the law and even hire attorneys to help them do this. Because people are not willing to keep laws, when God gave the Ten Commandments, He spoke of the people loving Him and said that He would show mercy to those who love Him (20:6). This indicates that we cannot keep God’s commandments unless we love God. In like manner, there is a prerequisite to keeping all the detailed ordinances of the law—the willingness to be a slave. The only one who can fulfill all the ordinances of the law is one who is willing to be a slave. A slave does not stand on his own rights. He only knows to serve and to sacrifice, not to care for his own interests. A slave must always be concerned for others. This slave spirit is the spirit of the ordinances in Exodus 21 through 23. Those who intend to keep the ordinances described in these chapters must first become slaves. This principle also applies to our living as Christians today. Galatians 5:13 says that we were called to freedom, but should serve one another as slaves through love. If we would be a good husband or wife or a good parent, we must be a slave. This means that a father must be a slave in relation to his children. Only then can he be a good father.
4作奴仆就是要有牺牲的灵。奴仆乃是不要求自己权利的人；反之，他总是愿意服事别人，为别人牺牲自己。倘若在美国人人都有这样的灵，这样，这里的生活便是人间天堂。不需要律师，因为没有人会为他的权利争竞。人所以彼此相争，就是因为每个人都顾到自己的利益和权利。若是所有的人都成为牺牲和服事人的奴仆，不为自己的利益而争，情形真会大大的不同！你感觉出这几章条例之下的灵么？这一切条例所充满的乃是服事和牺牲的灵。如果以色列人没有这样的灵，他们就无法遵守这些条例。然而，他们若愿意倒空自己、谦卑自己、降卑自己，牺牲他们的权利，并服事别人，他们就能遵守这些条例。然后他们会为别人活，不为自己活。
4To be a slave is to have the spirit of sacrifice. A slave is one who does not stand on his own rights; instead, he is always willing to serve others and sacrifice himself for them. If everyone in the United States had such a spirit, life in this country would be heaven on earth. There would be no need for attorneys, for no one would be fighting for his rights. The reason people fight with one another is that everyone cares for his own interests and rights. How different things would be if all men became slaves sacrificing and serving instead of fighting for their own interests! Do you sense the spirit underlying the ordinances in these chapters? The spirit that pervades all these ordinances is the spirit of service and of sacrifice. If the Israelites did not have this kind of spirit, there would be no way for them to keep the ordinances. However, they could keep the ordinances if they were willing to empty themselves, humble themselves, lower themselves, sacrifice their rights, and serve others. Then they would live for others and not for themselves
5主耶稣和使徒保罗都强调一件事实，就是遵守律法乃是一件爱的事。当人问主那一条诫命是最大的，祂回答说：『你要尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力，爱主你的神。』（可十二30。）保罗在罗马书十三章八节、十节说：『爱人的就完全了律法』，因为『爱是律法的完成』。在加拉太五章十四节保罗宣告说：『因为全律法都包在爱人如己这一句话之内了。』我们若要维持自己的地位，为我们的权利和利益而争，怎能爱别人呢？这样，不过表明我们只爱自己。然后我们不会遵守律法的条例，反而会干犯这些条例。我们要遵守这些条例，就必须虚己、自己卑微、取最低的地位，并看自己为无有。我们必须甘愿牺牲我们的地位、权利和利益。这就是作奴仆，奴仆除了服事别人，并为别人牺牲自己以外，别的甚么都不知道。我们若辨别出埃及记二十一至二十三章所有条例背后的灵，我们就会了解，为甚么这几章一开始便强调作奴仆。神的条例的确与人的律法完全不同。在人的律法里，谦卑和爱没有地位；但履行神圣条例的必要条件却是倒空自己、谦卑自己、不为自己要求甚么，并且牺牲自己来服事别人。
5Both the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul emphasized the fact that the keeping of the law is a matter of love. When the Lord was asked which commandment was the greatest, He replied, “You shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength” (Mark 12:30). In Romans 13:8 and 10 Paul says, “He who loves another has fulfilled the law,” for “love is the fulfillment of the law.” In Galatians 5:14 Paul declares, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” How can we love others if we maintain our rank and fight for our rights and interests? To be like this shows that we love only ourselves. Then instead of keeping the ordinances of the law, we shall break them all. In order to keep the ordinances, we must empty ourselves, humble ourselves, take the lowest position, and regard ourselves as nothing. We must be willing to sacrifice our position, rights, and interests. This is to be a slave, a person who knows nothing except to serve others and to sacrifice himself for them. If we discern the spirit behind all the ordinances in Exodus 21 through 23, we shall understand why at the very beginning of these chapters there is an emphasis on slavery. God’s ordinances certainly are altogether different from man’s laws. In human law there is no place for humility and love. But the prerequisite of fulfilling the divine ordinances is emptying ourselves, humbling ourselves, not claiming anything for ourselves, and sacrificing ourselves to serve others.
二基督的豫表
A TYPE OF CHRIST
6许多圣经教师指出，二十一章一至六节里的奴仆是主耶稣的豫表。我赞同。这些经节里的奴仆的确是豫表基督。主耶稣生活在地上好像奴仆一般。因此，祂是最高为人生活的标准，在祂的生活中履行了律法上人际关系中第一个条例的必要条件。
6Many Bible teachers have pointed out that the slave in 21:1-6 is a type of the Lord Jesus. I agree. The slave in these verses does typify Christ. The Lord Jesus lived on earth as a slave. Thus, as the standard of the highest human living, the Lord in His living fulfilled the requirement of the first ordinance of the law concerning our relationship with others
（一） 有开通的耳朵
With an Open Ear
7根据出埃及记二十一章，一个爱主人，并要继续服事的奴仆，就被带到门前，靠著门框，用锥子穿他的耳朵。（5～6。）这表示奴仆的耳朵必须开启，为要听主人的声音。旧约里有两段话豫言基督作奴仆，题到主的耳朵。在诗篇四十篇六节主对神说：『祭物和礼物，你不喜悦；你已经开通我的耳朵。』这里我们看见，神所喜悦的不是祭物和礼物，乃是向祂开通的耳朵。神开通主耶稣的耳朵，使祂能彀行神的旨意。以赛亚五十章四节、五节论到基督说：『主耶和华赐我受教者的舌头，使我知道怎样用言语扶助疲乏的人；主每早晨题醒，题醒我的耳朵，使我能听，像受教者一样。主耶和华开通我的耳朵…』主耶稣既是神的奴仆，祂所得著的，不是施教者的舌头，乃是受教者的舌头。祂又说，神开通祂的耳朵，使祂能像受教者一样听神的话。这启示出我们若不是受教者，就不能为神说话。在我们能彀为祂说话以前，首先必须受祂的教导。
7According to Exodus 21, a slave who loved his master and wanted to remain in his service was brought to the doorpost, and his ear was bored through with an awl (vv. 5-6). This indicates that a slave’se ar was to be opened to hear the voice of his master. Two portions in the Old Testament which speak prophetically of Christ as a slave mention the Lord’se ar. In Psalm 40:6 we have the Lord’sword to God: “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened.” Here we see that what God desires is not sacrifice or offering, but ears which are open to Him. God opened the ears of the Lord Jesus so that He could do God’s will. Speaking of Christ, Isaiah 50:4 and 5 say, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear....” As a slave of God, the Lord Jesus was given the tongue not of a teacher, but of a learned one. He also said that God opened His ears that He might hear as a learned one and listen to God’sword. This reveals that if we are not learned ones, we cannot speak for God. Before we can speak for Him, we must first be taught by Him
（二） 顺服至死
Obedient unto Death
8在约翰十四章三十一节主耶稣说：『但要叫世人知道我爱父，并且父怎样吩咐我，我就怎样行。』因为主耶稣爱父神，祂不但为儿子，更是作奴仆，来遵守父的话。祂听从神的话，并遵守神的话来行神的旨意。主耶稣死在十字架上，救赎神的选民，乃是神的旨意。父这样吩咐主，而主因著爱父，就像奴仆一样顺服祂，还上了十字架。因此，祂在十字架上的死乃是顺服的行为。保罗说，基督『存心顺服，以至于死，且死在十字架上。』（腓二8。）基督因著顺服神，羞羞辱辱的死了。祂以罪人和犯人的身分而死，照著罗马人的方式钉在十字架上死了。只有奴仆才甘愿这样死去。
8In John 14:31 the Lord Jesus said, “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded Me, so I do.” Because the Lord Jesus loved God the Father, He kept the Father’s word not only as a Son, but especially as a slave. He listened to God and did God’s will by keeping His word. It was the will of God that the Lord Jesus die on the cross to redeem God’s chosen people. The Father gave this commandment to the Lord, and out of love for the Father the Lord obeyed Him as a slave and went to the cross. Thus, His death on the cross was an act of obedience. Paul says that Christ became “obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross” (Phil. 2:8). Out of obedience to God, Christ died in a shameful manner. He died the death of a criminal, of a malefactor, executed by crucifixion according to the way of the Romans. Only a slave would be willing to die in this way.
（三） 以基督为我们的榜样
Taking Christ as Our Pattern
9圣经启示，我们这些在基督里的信徒，不但是神的受造之物，也是神的儿子。在旧造里，我们是神的受造之物；在新造里，我们成为神的儿子。然而，我们若维持受造之物与儿子的地位，就不能遵守神的话。我们要遵守祂的话，就必须倒空自己，谦卑自己，将受造之物与儿子的地位都摆在一旁。然后我们就要成为奴仆，有神作我们的主人。根据出埃及记二十一章里的豫表，基督是奴仆，而神是主人。我们若要以基督为榜样，就必须学习作奴仆，为著别人而牺牲一切。使徒保罗跟随主耶稣作奴仆。他以这些话来开始罗马书：『耶稣基督的仆人保罗。』在提多书一章一节他说到自己是『神的仆人』。保罗是基督和神的奴仆，他甘愿倒空自己。谦卑自己，并且牺牲他的地位、权利和特权。毫无疑问地，在这件事上，他是跟随主耶稣的脚踪行。主是神的奴仆，而保罗藉著基督服事并牺牲的生命，也是这样的奴仆。我愿意再一次强调，奴仆的条例在先，原因在于我们若没有奴仆的灵，就无法遵守其它的条例，好在神面前有一个正确的为人生活。例如二十三章四节说，以色列人若遇见仇敌的牛失迷了路，总要牵回来交给他。再者，以色列人若看见恨他之人的驴压卧在重驮之下，也必须给与帮助。（二三5。）倘若以色列人有奴仆的灵、奴仆的态度，他就愿意这样施行帮助。他会对自己说：『我是一个奴仆，服事神我的主人。我爱我的主人，我也爱祂的子民。即使这个以色列人恨我，是我的仇敌，但他还是神的子民。我必须尽奴仆的义务，照顾他的牲畜。』然而，以色列人若没有奴仆的灵，就会欢喜看见他仇敌的牲畜遭害。他会认为这是神审判、惩罚他的仇敌的方式。这样的态度绝不是一个奴仆的态度。
9The Bible reveals that as believers in Christ, we are not only God’s creatures, but also God’ss ons. In the old creation we are creatures of God; in the new creation we have become sons of God. However, if we maintain our rank as creatures and sons, we shall not be able to keep God’sword. To keep His word, we need to empty ourselves and humble ourselves, laying aside the rank both of a creature and of a son. Then we shall be slaves with God as our Master. According to the type in Exodus 21, Christ is the slave, and God is the Master. If we would take Christ as our pattern, we must learn to be slaves, those who sacrifice everything for others. The apostle Paul followed the Lord Jesus to be a slave. He opens the book of Romans with these words: “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus.” In Titus 1:1 he refers to himself as “a slave of God.” As a slave of Christ and of God, Paul was willing to empty himself, humble himself, and sacrifice his rank, rights, and privileges. There is no question that in this matter he walked in the steps of the Lord Jesus. The Lord was a slave of God, and Paul also was such a slave by the serving and sacrificing life of Christ. I would again emphasize that the reason the ordinance concerning slaves comes first is that if we do not have the spirit of a slave, we cannot keep the other ordinances to have a proper human life before God. For example, 23:4 says that if an Israelite saw his enemy’so x going astray, he was to return it to him. Furthermore, if an Israelite saw an ass belonging to someone who hated him lying under his burden, he was to render help (23:5). If the Israelite had the spirit, the attitude, of a slave, he would be willing to help in this way. He would say to himself, “I am a slave serving God my Master. I love my Master, and I love His people. Even though this Israelite hates me and is an enemy to me, he is nonetheless one of God’sp eople. I must fulfill the duty of a slave and take care of his cattle.” However, if the Israelite did not have the spirit of a slave, he might rejoice to see harm done to cattle belonging to his enemy. He may regard this as God’sway to judge his enemy and punish him. Such an attitude would be far from that of a slave
10我们若要遵守神圣的条例，就必须成为奴仆。神的律法要求我们这样。不愿成为奴仆的人，就无法遵守神的律法。主耶稣自己是成为奴仆的那位，当祂的门徒争著为首时，祂就教导他们要取奴仆的地位。祂对他们说：『谁愿为首，就必作你们的仆人；正如人子来，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人；并且要舍命，作多人的赎价。』（太二十27～28。）
10If we would keep the divine ordinances, we must be slaves. God’s law requires this. Those who are not willing to be slaves cannot keep God’s law. As One who Himself became a slave, the Lord Jesus taught His disciples, at the very time they were striving to be first, to take the position of a slave. He said to them, Whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave; even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many” Matt. 20:27-28
三爱是服事的根基
LOVE AS THE BASIS FOR SERVICE
11根据二十一章二节，一个希伯来奴仆服事他的主人六年以后，就可以自由。在他作奴仆的年间，他若得著妻子与儿女，就必须把他们留下，作为主人的财产，『他要独自出去。』（4。）然而，奴仆可能『明说，我爱我的主人，和我的妻子儿女，不愿意自由出去。』（5。）这里我们看见，继续作奴仆不是律法的要求；乃是一件爱的事。因为奴仆爱他的主人，和他的妻子儿女，他就不愿自由出去。反之，他愿意永远服事他的主人。爱是他继续服事的根基。常有人说，爱使人盲目。实在说来，我们若要爱别人，向他们就该是盲目的。但我们自己必须牺牲。爱要求我们牺牲；没有牺牲，就没有爱。主耶稣爱我们，为我们牺牲。以弗所五章二节说：『也要凭爱心行事，正如基督爱我们，为我们舍了自己，当作馨香的供物，和祭物，献与神。』基督为我们舍了自己，好像罪犯死在十字架上。这证明爱要求人牺牲。倘若一位弟兄不愿牺牲自己，他就无法爱他的妻子。照样，父母若要爱他们的儿女，就必须甘愿为他们的儿女牺牲。没有牺牲，就没有爱。
11According to 21:2, a Hebrew slave was to be set free after serving his master six years. If he obtained a wife and children during his years as a slave, he was to leave them as the property of his master and “go out by himself” (v. 4). However, the slave might “plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free” (v. 5). Here we see that continuing as a slave is not a legal requirement; it is a matter of love. Because the slave loved his master, his wife, and his children, he did not want to go out free. Instead, he would serve his master forever. Love is the basis of his continued service. It is often said that love blinds people. In a very real sense, if we would love others, we should be blind toward them. Concerning ourselves, however, we must be a sacrifice. Love requires sacrifice. Without sacrifice, there can be no love. The Lord Jesus loved us by being a sacrifice for us. Ephesians 5:2 says, Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” Christ gave Himself for us, dying a malefactor’s death on the cross. This proves that love demands sacrifice. If a brother is not willing to sacrifice himself, he cannot love his wife. Likewise, parents must be willing to sacrifice for their children if they are to love their children. There is no love without sacrifice
12根据二十一章五节，一个奴仆很可能不要自由。因著爱他的主人和妻子儿女，他宁愿仍然作奴仆受约束。这不是一件律法要求的事；乃是自动的爱所激发的。
12According to 21:5, it was possible that a slave might not want to be free. Out of love for his master, wife, and children, he might prefer to remain under bondage as a slave. This is not a matter of legal requirement; it is motivated by voluntary love.
13主耶稣爱神、爱教会，也爱祂所有的子民。神是祂的主人，教会是祂的妻子，而祂所有的子民是祂的儿女。新约启示主耶稣对父、对教会，以及对圣徒这三重的爱。根据约翰十四章三十一节，主爱父；根据以弗所五章二十五节，基督爱教会；根据加拉太二章二十节和以弗所五章二节，基督爱所有的信徒，所有的圣徒。因著这爱的激发，祂就甘愿作奴仆。爱是成为奴仆的动力和必要条件。
13The Lord Jesus loves God, the church, and all His people. God is His Master, the church is His wife, and all His people are His children. The New Testament reveals this threefold love of the Lord Jesus for the Father, the church, and the saints. According to John 14:31, the Lord loves the Father; according to Ephesians 5:25, Christ loves the church; and according to Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 5:2, Christ loves all the believers, all the saints. Motivated by such a love, He was willing to be a slave. Love is the motive and the prerequisite of being a slave
四奴仆的地位
A SLAVE’S POSITION
14出埃及记二十一章六节说到奴仆被带到门前，靠著门框。古时候，奴仆必须站在门框旁边等候主人的命令。他们不凭著自己作甚么，只照著主人的话而行。今天我们作为基督奴仆的地位，也该在门框旁边。再者，二十一章六节告诉我们，主人用锥子穿他奴仆的耳朵。这表示奴仆的耳朵被开启，为要听从主人。许多基督徒服事神，但他们没有站在门框旁边，他们的耳朵也没有用锥子穿过。他们凭自己行事，不照著从主人所听见的去行。他们照著自己的观念、喜好和意念作许多的事。
14Exodus 21:6 speaks of the slave being brought to the door or to the doorpost. In ancient times slaves were to stand by the doorpost waiting for the master’so rd ers. Instead of doing anything on their own, they were to act only according to the word of the master. Today our position as slaves of Christ should also be at the doorpost. Furthermore, in 21:6 we are told that the master bored his slave’se ar through with an awl. This indicates that the slave’se ar was opened to listen to the master. Many Christians are serving God, but they do not stand by the doorpost, and their ear has not been bored through with an awl. They act on their own, not in accord with what they hear from the Master. They do many things according to their own concepts, desires, and intentions
五在教会生活中基督的奴仆
SLAVES OF CHRIST IN THE CHURCH LIFE
15我们这些相信基督的人，都必须是祂的奴仆。我们应当说：『主阿，我爱你。即使我能自由出去，我也不要离开你。我爱你，我爱你的教会，我也爱你的儿女。』一方面，我们可以证实，教会生活是何等的享受，何等的荣耀。另一方面，在教会生活中，我们都必须成为奴仆。旧约和新约都指明，神的子民需要有奴仆的灵。
15As those who believe in Christ, we all must be His slaves. We should say, “O Lord, I love You. Even if I have the freedom to go out, I do not want to leave. I love You, I love Your church, and I love Your children.” On the one hand, we may testify of how enjoyable and glorious the church life is. On the other hand, in the church life we all must become slaves. The New Testament as well as the Old indicates that God’sp eople need the spirit of a slave
16各教会的长老必须晓得，他们若不愿意作奴仆，就不能成为合式的长老。每一位长老都必须是奴仆。主耶稣教导祂的门徒，不要想在别人之上，反要比别人卑微，作他们的奴仆。在教会生活中没有地位。我们都是弟兄，我们都必须像奴仆一样来服事。
16The elders in the churches need to realize that if they are not willing to be slaves, they cannot be proper elders. Every elder must be a slave. This was the reason the Lord Jesus taught His disciples not to seek to be above others, but instead to place themselves lower than others and be their slaves. In the church life there is no rank. We are all brothers, and we all must serve as slaves.
17以往我们释放了数百篇关于生命、灵、基督和教会的信息。然而，我们若要应用这些信息，就必须作奴仆。那些不愿有奴仆之灵的人，就不能实际地进入这些信息中。以往有些人作见证说，他们爱教会，并且愿意把自己献给教会。但最终这些人离开了教会生活，有些人甚至成为反对教会的人。他们里面深处有地位的野心。因著在教会生活中无法实现这个野心，他们就离开了教会。只有那些甘心作奴仆的人，才能永久留在教会生活里。不论众圣徒怎样对待我，我除了留在教会生活中以外，别无选择。教会乃是我父和祂所有儿女的家。我不过是祂的一个奴仆，爱祂、爱教会，并爱祂的儿女。释放了许多篇关乎生命、灵、基督和教会的信息之后，我很乐意释放这篇作奴仆的信息。这话是为著我们众人的。
17In the past we have given hundreds of messages on life, the Spirit, Christ, and the church. However, if we would apply these messages, we must be slaves. Those who are not willing to have the spirit of a slave cannot enter into all these messages in a practical way. In the past certain ones testified that they loved the church and were willing to consecrate themselves to the church. However, eventually these very ones left the church life, and some even became opposers of the church. Deep within them they had the ambition for position. Because this ambition could not be fulfilled in the church life, they left the church. Only those who are willing to be slaves can remain permanently in the church life. No matter how I may be treated by the saints, I have no choice but to remain in the church life. The church is the home of my Father and of all His children. I am simply one of His slaves, loving Him, loving the church, and loving His children. After giving so many messages on life, the Spirit, Christ, and the church, I am glad to give this message on slavery. This word is for us all.
六爱和顺服
love and obedience
18我们若有奴仆的灵和奴仆的爱，我们就很容易顺服。顺服总是随著爱来的。这可由父母与儿女之间的关系来说明。实在说来，好父母有时候必须顺服他们的儿女。常常父母顺服儿女比儿女顺服父母还要快。这里的点是说，爱产生顺服。只有奴仆才能顺服。好父母乃是有奴仆的爱和顺服的人。一个爱儿女的母亲，里面深处甘愿作他们的奴仆，并为他们作任何事情。为甚么父母有时候顺服他们的儿女呢？他们因著爱而顺服。爱是顺服的必要条件。我在本篇信息中的负担强调三件事：奴仆的灵、奴仆的爱，以及奴仆的顺服。我们若有奴仆的灵、奴仆的爱，和奴仆的顺服，我们就能彀遵守诫命。这话初初听起来也许很希奇，但你若诚实地考察，你会看见它在我们实际的经历中是真的。惟独有奴仆的灵、爱和顺服的人，才能遵守神的条例。在旧约和新约的经营里，都需要这样的灵、爱和顺服。现在我们能看见，为甚么神把论奴仆的条例摆在第一，为甚么奴仆在这里是基督那位真奴仆的豫表。我们这些相信基督、属于祂，并有祂牺牲之生命的人，也必须是爱神、爱教会，并爱神子民的奴仆。有这样的爱作我们的动力，我们就能成为牺牲和服事的奴仆。
18If we have the spirit of a slave and the love of a slave, it will be easy for us to obey. Love is always followed by obedience. This can be illustrated by the relationship between parents and their children. In a very real sense, good parents must sometimes obey their children. Often parents obey their children more quickly than the children obey the parents. The point here is that love produces obedience. Only a slave can obey. A good parent is one who has the love and obedience of a slave. Deep within, a mother who loves her children is willing to be a slave to them and do anything for them. Why do parents sometimes obey their children? They obey out of love. Love is the prerequisite of obedience. My burden in this message has been to emphasize three matters: the spirit of a slave, the love of a slave, and the obedience of a slave. If we have a slave spirit, a slave love, and a slave obedience, we shall be able to keep the commandments. At first, this word may sound strange. But if you consider it honestly, you will see that it is true in our practical experience. Only a person with the spirit, love, and obedience of a slave can keep God’s ordinances. In the New Testament economy, as well as in the Old Testament, there is the need of such a spirit, love, and obedience. Now we can see why God puts the ordinance concerning slaves first and why the slave here is a type of Christ, the true slave. As those who believe in Christ, belong to Him, and have His life of sacrifice, we also must be slaves loving God, the church, and God’sp eople. With such a love as our motivation, we need to be slaves sacrificing and serving.