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马太福音生命读经 · 第2篇

王的家世与身分（二）

THE KING’S ANTECEDENTS AND STATUS (2)
四 、亚伯拉罕
D. Abraham
1马太福音的家谱开始于亚伯拉罕，但路加福音的家谱却回溯到亚当。马太没有题到亚当和他的后裔，路加却有。这个差别有甚么意思？路加福音是说到神救恩的书，而马太福音是说到国度的书。神的救恩是为著亚当所代表，受造并堕落的族类，但诸天之国只是为著神所拣选的人，就是亚伯拉罕所代表蒙召的族类。所以，马太福音从亚伯拉罕开始，但路加福音却追溯到亚当。
1The genealogy in Matthew begins with Abraham, but the genealogy in Luke goes back to Adam. Matthew does not cover Adam and his descendants, but Luke does. What is the meaning of this difference? Luke is a book of God’ss alvation, whereas Matthew is a book of the kingdom. God’ss alvation is for the created and fallen race represented by Adam, but the kingdom of the heavens is only for God’s chosen people, the called race represented by Abraham. Therefore, Matthew starts from Abraham, but Luke traces the genealogy back to Adam
蒙召
1. Called 1.
2在创世记头十章半，神设法在受造族类身上工作，但祂没有作成。受造族类使神失望。人堕落到一个地步，所有人类背叛神到了极点，并且建造巴别塔和巴别城来彰显他们的背叛。（创十一1～9。）所以神就放弃受造、堕落的族类，而从那个族类中呼召了一个人，亚伯拉罕，来作另一个族类的父。从一个满了背叛和偶像之地，人人都与撒但是一之地，神呼召了一个人名叫亚伯拉罕。（创十二1～2，来十一8。）从神呼召他离开巴别（后来的巴比伦）进入迦南的时候，神就放弃了亚当的族类，将祂所有的权益都投资在这个以亚伯拉罕为首的新族类身上。这是蒙召的族类、变化的族类。这族类不是按著天然，乃是按著信心。
2In the first ten and a half chapters of Genesis God tried to work with the created race, but He did not get through. The created race failed Him. Man fell to such an extent that all mankind rebelled against God to the uttermost, and built the tower and city of Babel to express their rebellion (Gen. 11:1-9). So God gave up the created and fallen race, and He called one, Abraham, out of that race to be the father of another race. Out of a place filled with rebellion and idolatry, a place where everyone was one with Satan, God called a man named Abraham (Gen. 12:1-2; Heb. 11:8). From the time God called him out of Babel (later Babylon) into Canaan, God gave up the Adamic race and invested all His interest in this new race, with Abraham as its head. This is the called race, the transformed race. It is not a race according to nature, but a race according to faith
3神的国乃是为著这个族类，神的国永远不能在堕落的族类身上。因此，论到诸天之国的马太福音，就以亚伯拉罕开始。因为路加福音论到神的救恩（救恩必然是为著堕落族类的），那里的家谱就回溯到亚当。在路加福音里我们得救了，之后就自然的从堕落的族类迁到蒙召的族类。我们从前是亚当的后裔，现今却是亚伯拉罕的后裔。加拉太书三章七节、二十九节告诉我们，凡相信耶稣基督的，都是亚伯拉罕的子孙。你是谁的子孙？你是亚当的子孙，还是亚伯拉罕的子孙？我们是真犹太人。（罗二29。）我们的祖宗是亚伯拉罕，我们与他属同一类别。我们若不是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就无分于马太福音，我们甚至无分于加拉太这卷短短的书，因为加拉太书乃是写给亚伯拉罕的后裔。我们若不是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就无分于加拉太书。赞美主，我们是亚伯拉罕的子孙！『你们既属于基督，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔，是照著应许为后嗣了。』（加三29。）
3God’s kingdom is for this race. It could never be with the fallen race. Thus, Matthew, dealing with the kingdom of the heavens, begins with Abraham, Because the book of Luke concerns God’s salvation (and surely salvation must be for the fallen race), his genealogy goes back to Adam. After being saved in Luke, we are spontaneously transferred from the fallen race to the called race. We used to be descendants of Adam; now we are descendants of Abraham. Galatians 3:7 and 2 9 tell us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ is a son of Abraham. Whose son are you? Are you the son of Adam or the son of Abraham? We are the real Jews (Rom. 2:29). Our grandfather is Abraham. We are in the same category he is. If we were not descendants of Abraham, then we would have no share in the book of Matthew. We would not even have a share in the short book of Galatians, because Galatians was written to the descendants of Abraham. Only if we are descendants of Abraham do we have a share in Galatians. Praise the Lord that we are the sons of Abraham! “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29).
4亚伯拉罕乃是蒙神呼召出来的。召会在希腊文乃是ekklesia，艾克利西亚，意召出来的人。因此，我们在召会中也是召出来的人。亚伯拉罕是从巴别这个背叛和偶像之地蒙召出来，进入那豫表基督的美地里。我们从前也在巴别，也是堕落、背叛、并拜偶像的。今天全人类都在巴别。我们从前曾在那里，但今天神呼召我们出来，并将我们摆在基督这高地里。我们乃是蒙神所召，进入了『祂儿子我们主耶稣基督的交通（有分、共享）。』（林前一9。）『但对那蒙召的…基督总是神的能力，神的智慧。』（林一24。）
4Abraham was called out by God. The Greek word for church, ecclesia, means “the called out ones.” Thus, we in the church are also the called out ones. Abraham was called out of Babel, the place of rebellion and idolatry, into the good land, which typifies Christ. We also were in Babel. We were fallen, we were rebellious, and we worshipped idols. Today the whole human race is in Babel. We used to be there, but one day God called us out and put us into Christ, the high land. We were called by God into “the fellowship [the participation] of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). “To those who are called,...Christ, [is] God’s power and God’s wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:24
本于信得称义
2. Justified by Faith 2.
5亚伯拉罕这个蒙召的人，乃是本于信得称为义。（创十五6，罗四2～3。）堕落的人倚靠自己的工作，但蒙召的人相信神的工作，不相信自己的工作。没有一个堕落的人能本于行为在神面前得称义。（罗三20。）所以，蒙召的人既蒙神呼召脱离了堕落的族类，就不信靠自己的努力，乃信靠神恩典的工作。亚伯拉罕和其他所有的信徒都是这样。『那以信为本的人，便和那信的亚伯拉罕一同得福。』（加三9。）神应许的福，就是『所应许的那灵，』（加三14，）乃是给相信之人的。我们领受了作基督实际和实化的那灵，乃是本于信。（加三2。）因此，亚伯拉罕和我们都是本于信而与基督联结，也是本于信而联于祂。蒙神呼召的人乃是本相于相信神恩典的工作，而得祂称义，并有分于基督作他们的永分。
5Abraham, as a called one, was justified by faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:2-3). The fallen ones depend on their work, but the called ones believe in God’s work, not in their own work. No fallen person can be justified by works in the sight of God (Rom. 3:20). Therefore, the called ones, having been called by God out of the fallen race, put no trust in their own effort; they trust in God’s work of grace. Abraham and all other believers are like this. “They who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Gal. 3:9). The blessing of God’s promise, “the promise of the Spirit” (Gal. 3:14), is for the believing ones. By faith we received the Spirit, which is the reality and realization of Christ (Gal. 3:2). Thus, both Abraham and we are associated with Christ and joined to Him by faith. It is by faith in God’s work of grace that God’scall ed people are justified by Him and participate in Christ, their eternal portion.
因信而活
3. Living by Faith 3.
6希伯来十一章八节说，亚伯拉罕蒙了9呼召，并且他因著信答应了这个呼召。然后九节说，他也是因著信而在美地生活。亚伯拉罕这蒙神呼召的人，不只本于信得称义，也因著信而活。他既蒙神呼召，就不该再凭著自己生活行事，乃该因著信生活行事。亚伯拉罕因著信生活行事，就是说他必须弃绝自己，忘记自己，把自己摆在一边，而凭著『另一位』来活。凡他天然所有的，都必须摆在一边。
6Hebrews 11:8 says that Abraham was called, and that he answered this call by faith. Then, verse says that he also lived in the good land by faith. As the called one of God, not only was Abraham justified by faith, but he also lived by faith. As one called by God, he should no longer live and walk by himself, but live and walk by faith. For Abraham to live and walk by faith meant that he had to reject himself, to forget himself, to set himself aside, and to live by Someone else. Whatever he had by nature had to be set aside.
7我们若将创世记十一章三十一节和十二章一节，与行传七章二至三节比较，就看见神在迦勒底的吾珥呼召亚伯拉罕的时候，亚伯拉罕非常软弱。他没有采取主动离开巴别，这乃是他父亲他拉所作的。这迫使神将亚伯拉罕的父亲取去。在创世记十二章一节神再次呼召他，告诉他不只要离开本地、本族，也要离开父家，就是说，他不要带任何人同去。但再次，亚伯拉罕像我们一样软弱，他又带了他的姪儿罗得。（创十二5。）
7If we compare Genesis 11:31 and 12:1 with Acts 7:2-3, we see that when God called Abraham in Ur of the Chaldees, he was very weak. Abraham did not take the initiative to leave Babel; his father, Terah, did. This forced God to take away Abraham’s father. In Genesis 12:1 God called him again, telling him to leave not only his country and his kindred, but also his father’sho use, which meant not to bring anyone with him. But once again Abraham, like us, was weak and he took Lot, his nephew (Gen. 12:5
8亚伯拉罕是甚么样的人？亚伯拉罕乃是一个蒙召出来，不凭自己生活行事，弃绝并忘记天然所有之一切的人。这正是加拉太书里的信息。加拉3太三章说我们是亚伯拉罕的子孙，我们该本于信，不本于行为而活。加拉太二章二十节说，本于信而活的意思就是『现在活看的，不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著。』我，那从堕落族类出来天然的我，已被钉死并埋葬。因此不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活看。这就是亚伯拉罕。我们若是真犹太人，亚伯拉罕的真后裔，就该离开一切事物，并因信而活。我们必须忘记一切所能作的，并否认一切天然的所是和所有。这不是容易的。
8What is an Abraham? An Abraham is a person who has been called out, who no longer lives and walks by himself, and who forsakes and forgets everything he has by nature. This is exactly the message of the book of Galatians. Galatians says that we are the sons of Abraham and that we should live by faith, not by our works. Galatians 2:20 says that to live by faith means “no longer I who live, but Christ.” I, the natural I who came out of the fallen race, have been crucified and buried. Thus, it is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me. This is Abraham. If we are true Jews, the real descendants of Abraham, we must leave everything and live by faith. We must forget about all that we can do and repudiate all that we are and have by nature. This is not easy.
9基督徒非常欣赏亚伯拉罕。然而，我们不该把亚伯拉罕看得太高。他并非那么特出。他蒙了呼召，但他不敢离开巴别；是他父亲带他出来的。这迫使神将他父亲挪去。然后亚伯拉罕依赖他的姪儿罗得。此后，他又信靠他的仆人以利以谢。（创十五2～4。）神似乎在说，『亚伯拉罕，我不喜欢看见你父亲同你一起，我不喜欢看见你姪儿同你一起，也不喜欢看见以利以谢同你一起。我希望没有一个人是你所依赖的，你必须依赖我。不要倚靠任何别的事物或你天然所有的。』这就是相信神，在祂里面行事，并凭祂活著。不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著。
9Christians appreciate Abraham very much. However, we should not esteem Abraham too highly. He was not that outstanding. He was called, but he did not dare to leave Babel; his father took him out. This forced God to remove his father. Then Abraham relied on his nephew, Lot. After this, he put his trust in his servant, Eliezer (Gen. 1 5:2-4). It seemed that God was saying, “Abraham, I don’t like to see your father with you, I don’t like to see your nephew with you, and I don’t like to see Eliezer with you. I want you to have no one to rely upon. You must rely on Me. Don’t depend upon anything else or anything you have by nature.” This is believing in God, walking in Him, and living by Him. It is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me.
10我们若是真犹太人，那么我们就是真亚伯拉罕。为要成为亚伯拉罕，我们必须相信主。相信主就是与祂联结。亚伯拉罕蒙召脱离堕落的族类，而与主联结。照样，所有亚伯拉罕的子孙也必须与基督联结。『你们既属于基督，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔。』（加三29。）换句话说，我们若是亚伯拉罕的后裔，就是属于基督，并与基督联结。我们若要与基督联结，就必须否认自己，并接受基督作一切。这就是相信基督，这个相信在神看来就是义。不要想去作甚么，只要相信基督。
10If we are real Jews, then we are real Abrahams. In order to be an Abraham, we must believe in the Lord. To believe in the Lord is to become associated with Him. Abraham was called out of the fallen race, and he became associated with the Lord. All the sons of Abraham must likewise be associated with Christ. “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed.” In other words, if we are the seed of Abraham, we belong to Christ and we are associated with Christ. If we would be associated with Christ, we must repudiate ourselves and take Christ as everything. This is believing in Christ, and this believing is righteousness in the eyes of God. Do not try to do anything. Simply believe in Christ
11堕落的族类总是想作些甚么，想有所作为，有所努力。但神说，『从那里出来。你们是蒙召的族类。不要试，不要作，再不要作甚么工了！忘记你们的过去。忘记你们的所是、所能并所有。忘记一切，并完全信靠我。我是你们的美地。你们要在我里面生活，并凭我活著。』这些就是真亚伯拉罕，真加拉太人。他们是神的儿子，信靠神并忘记自己。这些就是组成基督家谱的人。我们都必须是亚伯拉罕，忘记自己的过去，放弃自己的所是和所有，并信靠基督，我们的美地。今天，我们的行事和生活必须凭著相信基督。倘若如此，那么，我们这些神应许的后嗣，承受所应许之那灵的人，就会有分于基督作神的福。
11The fallen race always likes to do something, to work and to exert some effort. But God says, “Come out of that. You are the called race. Don’t try, don’t do, and don’t work anymore! Forget your past. Forget what you are, what you can do, and what you have. Forget everything, and put your full trust in Me. I am your good land. Live in Me, and live by Me.” These are the real Abrahams, the real Galatians. As the sons of God, they trust in God and forget about themselves. These are the ones who make up the generation of Christ. We all must be Abrahams, those who forget their past, give up what they are and have, and put their trust in Christ, their good land. Today our walk and our living must be by faith in Christ. If so, then, as heirs of God’s promise, as those who inherit the promise of the Spirit, we shall participate in Christ as God’s blessing
12到了一个时候，主叫亚伯拉罕将神按祂的应许所赐的以撒，作为燔祭献上。（创二二1～2。）主将以撒给了亚伯拉罕，现今亚伯拉罕必须将以撒还给主。主曾经吩咐他将以实玛利赶出去，（创二一10，12，）现在又吩咐他杀自己的儿子以撒。
12At a certain time the Lord asked Abraham to offer Isaac, the one God had given according to His promise, for a burnt offering (Gen. 22:1-2). The Lord had given Isaac to Abraham; now Abraham had to give Isaac back to the Lord. The Lord had already charged him to cast out Ishmael (Gen. 21:10, 12); now He charged him to kill his son Isaac
13你能这样作么?这是何等难的功课!然而，这乃是经历基督的路。也许上个月或上一周，你在某一方面经历了基督，但今天主说，『献上那个经历。那是对基督真实的经历，但不要持守牠。『这个功课也是：永远不信靠我们所有的，甚至不信靠神所给我们的。神若给了你甚么，这必须还给祂。这是因著信的日常行事为人。因著信在主面前行事为人，就是说我们不抓住甚么，甚至不抓住神所给的事物。主自己所给最好的礼物，也必须还给祂。不要持守任何事物作你的倚靠；要单单、一直倚靠主。亚伯拉罕就是这样。至终，他单纯的因著信，在神面前生活、行事。
13Are you able to do this? What a difficult lesson this is! Nevertheless, this is the way to experience Christ. Last month or last week you may have experienced Christ in a certain way, but today the Lord says, “Consecrate that experience. That was a real experience of Christ, but don’t keep it.” Again, the lesson is to never trust in what we have, not even in what God has given us. If God has given you something, it must be given back to Him. This is the daily walk by faith. To walk in the presence of the Lord by faith means that we do not hold on to anything, not even to the things given by God. The best gifts, given by the Lord Himself, must be given back to Him. Do not keep anything as something to rely on; rely only and always on the Lord. Abraham did this. Eventually he lived and walked in the presence of God purely by faith.
五 、以撒
E. Isaac
14马太一章二节说，『亚伯拉罕生以撒。』关于以撒，这里有甚么特出的点？就是以撒乃是藉著应许生的。（加四22～26，28～31，罗九7～9。）他是惟一的后嗣，（创二一10，12，二二2上，12下，16～18，）他承受了关于基督的应许。（创二六3～4。）
14Matthew 1:2 says, “Abraham begot Isaac.” What is the outstanding point here concerning Isaac? It is that Isaac was born by promise (Gal. 4:22- 26, 28-31; Rom. 9:7-9). He was the only heir (Gen. 21:10, 12; 22:2a, 12b, 16-18), and he inherited the promise of Christ (Gen. 26:3-4
15神曾经应许亚伯拉罕一个儿子。撒拉想要帮助神成就祂的应许，就向亚伯拉罕题议。撒拉似乎说，『亚伯拉罕，你看，神应许给你一个后裔，一个承受这美地的后嗣。但看看你自己－你快九十岁了！再看看我–我太老了！要我生孩子是不可能的。我们必须作些事来帮助神达成祂的目的。我有一个使女名叫夏甲。她不错，你一定能从她得一个儿子。』（创十六1～。）这是天然的观念，相当诱惑人。很多时候，我们天然的观念有一些题议，使我们从灵里出来。我们天然的观念常常说，『这里有一个好办法，就这样作罢。』但这样的题议必然使我们与神的应许隔绝！
15God had promised Abraham a son. Sarah, wanting to help God fulfill his promise, made a proposal to Abraham. Sarah seemed to say, “Look, Abraham, God promised to give you a seed, an heir to inherit this good land. But look at yourself — you are nearly ninety years of age! And look at me—I’mt o o old! It is impossible for me to bring forth a child. We must do something to help God fulfill His purpose. I have a maid named Hagar. She is quite good. Surely you could have a son by her” (Gen. 16:1-2). This is the natural concept, 2 and it is quite tempting. Many times our natural concept has some proposal to get us out of the spirit. Often our natural concept says, “Here is a good source. Do it this way.” But such a proposal will surely keep us from God’s promise!
16亚伯拉罕接受了撒拉的题议，（创十六2～4，）其结果乃是以实玛利。（创十六15。）这个可怕的以实玛利今天仍然在这里！照撒拉所题议的去行并不帮助神，反而阻挠亚伯拉罕达成神的目的。这不是一件小事。
16Abraham took Sarah’s proposal (Gen. 16:2-4), and the result was Ishmael (Gen. 16:15). This terrible Ishmael is still here today! Acting on Sarah’s proposal did not help God; rather, it frustrated Abraham from fulfilling God’s purpose. This is not a small matter
17我们从这事所得的功课乃是：我们这些蒙召的族类，凡凭自己所作的都产生以实玛利。在召会生活中，甚至在传福音的时候，凡是我们凭自己所作的，都只会产生以实玛利。不要产生以实玛利！把你自己了结罢！你不是过了那条大河，幼发拉底河么？你蒙召从巴别出来的时候，你过了那条大河并埋在那里。你已经了结在那里了。不要凭自己活，或凭自己作甚么了。反之，你应该说，『主，我是无有。没有你，我就不能作甚么。主，你若不作，我也不作。你若安息，我就安息。主，我信靠你。』这话很容易说，但在我们日常生活中却很难实行。
17The lesson we derive from this is that, as the called race, whatever we do on our own results in an Ishmael. Whatever we do on our own in the church life, even in the preaching of the gospel, will only produce an Ishmael. Do not produce Ishmaels! Terminate yourself! Did you not cross over that great river, the Euphrates? When you were called out of Babel, you crossed that great river and you were buried there. You were terminated there. Do not live by yourself or do anything by yourself. Instead, you should say, “Lord, I am nothing. Without You, I can do nothing. Lord, if You don’t do anything, then I won’t do anything. If You rest, I rest. Lord, I put my trust in You.” This is easy to say, but difficult to practice in our daily life
18要记得亚伯拉罕是甚么样的人：亚伯拉罕乃是一个蒙召，不凭自己作甚么的人。神必须等待，直到亚伯拉罕和撒拉完全了了。（创十七17，见罗四19。）神一直等待，直到他们天然的能力完全消逝，直到他们认识到自己不可能生出儿子。
18Remember what an Abraham is: an Abraham is a called one who does nothing by himself. God had to wait until Abraham and Sarah were through Gen. 17:17; see Rom. 4:19). He waited until their natural energy had died out, until they had come to realize it was impossible for them to bring forth a child
19亚伯拉罕想要保留以实玛利，并倚靠他，但神弃绝以实玛利。（创十七18～19。）我们也喜欢保留自己的工作并倚靠这工作，但神并不接受。至终，神叫亚伯拉罕把以实玛利和他母亲赶走。（创二10～12。）要亚伯拉罕这样作很难。但他必须学习这个不凭自己活著的功课，就是放下自己的努力，不凭自己作任何事。他有一个儿子，但他必须放弃他。这是亚伯拉罕的功课，也是加拉太书里的功课。
19Abraham wanted to keep Ishmael and rely on him, but God rejected Ishmael (Gen. 17:18-19). We also like to keep our own work and rely on it, but God does not accept it. Eventually, God asked Abraham to cast out Ishmael and his mother Gen. 21:10-12). This was difficult for Abraham to do. But he had to learn the lesson of not living by himself, the lesson of giving up his own effort and not doing anything by himself. He had a son, but he had to give him up. This is the lesson of Abraham and the lesson in the book of Galatians
20有分于基督，要求我们绝不倚靠自己的努力，并自己所能作的。就如以实玛利是以撒承受神应许的阻挠，我们自己的努力或工作也常常阻挠我们有分于基督。我们必须弃绝我们的一切所是并所有，好来信靠神的应许。我们必须丢弃我们天然生命的每一样东西，不然就无法享受基督。我们天然的能力用尽之后，神的应许就来到。以实玛利被赶出去以后，以撒就有完全的地位来有分于神应许的福。了结我们天然的努力，弃绝我们所能作或已经作的，这就是『以撒，』承受神所应许的福，就是基督。我们已经浸入基督。（加三27。）我们在基督里已经了结，现今就是属于祂的，并且有神作我们的分。因此，我们是亚伯拉罕的后裔，是神所呼召的族类，也是照著神的应许的后嗣。（加三29。）
20Participating in Christ requires that we never rely on our own effort nor on anything we are able to do. Just as Ishmael was a frustration to Isaac’sin her it ing of God’s promise, so our own effort or work will always frustrate our participation in Christ. We must forsake all that we are and all that we have in order to trust God’s promise. We must renounce everything of our natural life; otherwise we cannot enjoy Christ. After our natural strength has been exhausted, the promise of God comes. After Ishmael was cast out, Isaac had the full position to participate in the blessing of God’s promise. The termination of our natural effort, the forsaking of what we can do or have done, is “Isaac,” the inheriting of God’s promised blessing, which is Christ. We have been baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27, Gk.). Having been terminated in Christ, we are now His, and we have Him as our portion. Thus, we are Abraham’s seed, God’s called race, and heirs according to God’s promise (Gal. 3:29).
21以撒是甚么？以撒乃是因信生活行事的结果。这就是基督。以撒是基督承受父一切丰富的完满豫表。我们都必须这样来经历基督，不是凭自己的作为、挣扎或努力，乃是单单信靠祂。我们信靠神，就产生以撒。只有以撒是基督家谱真正的元素。亚伯拉罕肉身的后裔不都是神的儿女，惟独从以撒生的才是神的儿女。（罗九7～8。）所以，神看以撒是亚伯拉罕惟一的儿子，（创二一10，12，二二2上，12下，16～18，）是承受关于基督之应许惟一的人。（创一3～4。）
21What is Isaac? Isaac is the issue of the life and walk by faith. This is Christ. Isaac was a full type of Christ inheriting all the riches of the Father. We all must experience Christ in such a way; not by our doing, striving, or endeavoring, but simply by trusting in Him. Our trust in Him will issue in Isaac. Only Isaac is the real element of the generation of Christ. Not all the children of Abraham of the flesh are the children of God; only in Isaac will God have His children (Rom. 9:7-8). Therefore, God considered Isaac as Abraham’son ly son (Gen. 21:10, 12; 22:2a, 12b, 16-18), the only one to inherit the promise concerning Christ (Gen. 26:3-4
22我们今天虽然是亚伯拉罕的族类，但我们是在以实玛利的路上行走，还是在以撒的路上生活？以实玛利的路就是凭我们自己的能力和工作，来达成神的目的。以撒的路乃是把我们自己放在神里面，信靠神为我们作一切，来达成祂的目的。这两条路有何等大的分别！以实玛利与基督无分无关；凡我们所作，凡我们想要完成的，都与基督无关。我们必须有以撒。我们若要有以撒，就必须把以实玛利赶出去，停下自己的工作，并把自己摆在神的工作里。我们若让神来为我们成就神的应许，那么我们就会有以撒。
22Although we are the race of Abraham today, are we walking in the way of Ishmael, or are we living in the way of Isaac? The way of Ishmael is to fulfill God’s purpose by our own energy and work. The way of Isaac is to put ourselves into God, trusting Him to do everything to fulfill His purpose for us. What a great difference between these two ways! Ishmael has nothing to do with Christ. Whatever we do, whatever we try to accomplish, has nothing to do with Christ. We must have Isaac. If we would have Isaac, we must cast out Ishmael, stop our work, and place ourselves into the very working of God . If we let Him fulfill His promise for us, then we shall have Isaac
六 、雅各
F. Jacob
23马太一章二节也说，『以撒生雅各。』以撒和以实玛利是同父异母的兄弟，雅各和以扫更是亲密，他们乃是双生子。雅各的意思是取代者。他取代别人，把他们置于自己以下，并爬到他们上面。雅各和哥哥以扫正从母腹里出来时，他抓住了以扫的脚跟。雅各似乎说，『以扫，不要出去！等等我，让我先出去！』雅各是个真正抓脚跟的人。雅各这名字的意思是抓脚跟者，抓夺者。把别人打倒，用任何欺诈的方法把别人置于脚下；那就是雅各。
23Verse 2 also says, “Isaac begot Jacob.” Isaac and Ishmael were brothers by the same father, but by different mothers. Jacob and Esau were more intimate; they were twins. Jacob means a superseder. He supersedes others, puts them under him, and climbs above them. When he and his older brother Esau were coming out of the womb, Jacob held Esau’she el. Jacob seemed to be saying, “Esau, don’t go yet! Wait for me. Let me go first!” Jacob was a real heel-holder. The meaning of the name Jacob is the heel-holder, the supplanter. Beat others down. Put them under your feet by any deceitful means. That is Jacob
24因为神已经拣选了雅各，所以他所有的努力都归徒然。雅各需要一个异象。他用不著抓夺别人，因为神已经拣选他为第一。甚至双子在出生以前，神已经告诉作母亲的，小的要成为第一，大的要成为第二。正如经上所记：『雅各是我所爱的，以扫是我所恨的。』（玛一2～3，罗九13。）
24Because God had already chosen Jacob, all his endeavors were in vain. Jacob needed a vision. He did not need to supplant others, because God had chosen him to be number one. Even before the twins were born, God had told the mother that the younger would be the first, and the elder would be second. It is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Mal. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:13).
25可惜，雅各没有看见这个。他若看见，就绝不会设法去作甚么了。他反而会对以扫说，『如果你想先出去，你就去罢。不管你多想抢先，我仍是第一。你绝不能击败我，因为神拣选了我。』然而，雅各不认识这个。甚至他长大了，仍然没有看见这事。所以他一直在抓夺。无论他去那里，他都抓夺。他抓夺他哥哥的，（创五29～33，二七～38，）也抓夺他舅舅的。（创二十37～三一1。）他计画并从他舅舅拉班偷取东西。但他一切的劳苦都归徒然。神能说，『愚笨的雅各。你不需要那样作。我要给你的比你所得的更多。』但雅各继续挣扎。虽然他是亚伯拉罕的后裔，但按照他的挣扎和性情，他完全是魔鬼的后裔。你看见这点么？就地位说，雅各是亚伯拉罕的后裔，但就性情说，他是魔鬼的儿女。
25Unfortunately, Jacob did not realize this. If he had, he never would have tried to do anything. Rather, he would have said to Esau, “If you want to go out first, just go out. No matter how much you try to be first, I will still be first. You can never beat me because God elected me.” Jacob, however, did not know this. Even when he had grown up, he still did not realize it. There fore, he was constantly supplanting. Wherever he went, he supplanted. He supplanted his brother (Gen. 25:29-33; 27:18-38), and he supplanted his uncle (Gen. 30:37 —18 31:1). He schemed and he stole from his uncle, Laban. Yet, all his labor was in vain. God could say, “Stupid Jacob. You don’t need to do that. I will give you more than what you have gained.” But Jacob kept striving. Although he was a descendant of Abraham, according to his striving and his nature, he was altogether a descendant of the Devil. Do you see this? Positionally speaking, Jacob was a descendant of Abraham, but dispositionally speaking, he was a child of the Devil.
26雅各需要甚么?他需要神的对付。因此，神兴起他的哥哥以扫，然后兴起他舅舅拉班来对付他。神甚至兴起四个妻子，加上十二个男帮手和一个女帮手。雅各的一生有许多苦难，但这些都是来自他的挣扎，不是来自神的拣选。雅各越挣扎就越受苦。我们可能嘲笑雅各，但我们与他完全一样。我们越想作甚么，问题就越多。
26What did Jacob need? He needed God’s dealing. Hence, God raised up his brother, Esau, and then his uncle, Laban, to deal with him. God even raised up four wives plus twelve male helpers and a female helper. There was a great deal of suffering in the life of Jacob, but this suffering came from his striving, not from God’selection. The more Jacob strove, the more he suffered. We may laugh at Jacob, but we are exactly the same as he . The more we try to do something, the more problems we have
27首先，我们在基督里需要亚伯拉罕的生命。我们需要忘记我们的所是，凭基督而活并信靠祂。其次，我们在基督里不需要以实玛利－我们的作为；我们需要以撒－祂的作为。第三，我们不需要雅各，只要以色列。我们不需要天然的雅各，乃要经过变化的以色列，神的王子。
27In Christ, we need, firstly, the life of Abraham. We need to forget what we are, live by Christ, and trust in Him. Secondly, in Christ we have no need of Ishmael, our doing; we need Isaac, His doing. Thirdly, we do not need Jacob, but Israel. We do not need the natural Jacob, but the transformed Israel, the prince of God
28你看见这完全不在于你么？当你听到这个时，你可能说，『如果这不在于我，而完全在于神，那么我就停下我的追求了。』好。你若能停下你的追求，我鼓励你这样作。告诉全宇宙，你听到了这是在于祂，并且你已停下你的追求。如果你能停下来，就该停下来。但是我向你保证，你停下越多越好。你停下越多，祂就越兴起来。试试看。告诉主说，『主，我停下我的追求！』主会说，『那太好了！你停下来，就为我开路，让我有所作为。我要焚烧你。你可能停下你的追求，但我要焚烧你！』
28Do you realize that it is absolutely not up to you? When you hear this, you may say, “If it is not up to me, but completely up to God, then I’ll stop my seeking.” Good. If you can stop your seeking, I encourage you to do it. Tell the whole universe that you have heard that it is up to Him, and that you have stopped your seeking. If you can stop it, it should be stopped. But, I assure you, the more you stop, the better. The more you stop, the more He will stand up. Try it. Tell the Lord, “Lord, I stop my seeking!” The Lord would say, “That’s wonderful! Your stopping opens the door for Me to do something. I will burn you. You may stop your seeking, but I will burn you!”
29我们都蒙了拣选。就某种意义说，我们被抓住了。我们能作甚么？我们永远跑不掉了。这完全是由于主的怜悯。我们没有拣选这条路。我的确没有拣选，但我在这里。我能作甚么？我能说甚么？神既拣选了我们，我们就永远跑不掉了。
29We all have been elected. In a sense, we are caught. What can we do? We can never get away. This is absolutely due to the Lord’s mercy. We did not choose this way. I certainly did not choose it, but here I am. What can I do? What can I say? Because God has chosen us, we can never get away
30我们若读罗马九章，就会发现这是在于祂，不在于我们。祂从前是，现今仍是那源头。赞美祂，祂的怜悯临到了我们！没有人能拒绝祂的怜悯。我们可能拒绝祂的作为，却绝不能拒绝祂的怜悯。（出三三19，罗九15。）我们蒙了拣选，与基督联结并有分于祂这位神永远的福，这是何等怜悯！就一面说，我们是亚伯拉罕；就另一面说，我们是以撒；再另一面说，我们乃是雅各。之后，就第四面说，我们将是以色列。因此，我们有亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各。
30If we read Romans 9, we shall discover that it is up to Him, not us. He was and still is the source. Praise Him that His mercy has come to us! No one can reject His mercy. We may reject His doing, but we can never reject His mercy (Exo. 33:19; Rom. 9:15). What a mercy that we have been selected to be associated with Christ and to participate in Him as God’s eternal blessing! In one sense we are Abraham, in another sense we are Isaac, and in still another sense, we are Jacob. Later, in a fourth sense, we shall be Israel. Thus, we have Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
31基督的家谱乃是长子名分的问题；长子名分主要的就是与基督联结并有分于基督。雅各的抓夺不蒙称许，但他对长子名分的追求必定为神所尊重。以扫轻看长子的名分，贱卖了牠。（创二五29～34。）因此，他失去了长子的名分，即使后来懊悔痛哭也无法得回。（创二七34～38，来十二16～17。）他失去了有分于基督这个祝福。这该是我们的警戒。雅各尊重并追求长子的名分，他就得到了。他承受了神所应许的福，就是基督的福。（创二八4，14。）
31The genealogy of Christ is a matter of the birthright, and the birthright is mainly the association with Christ and the participation in Christ. Jacob’ss up planting was not justified, but his seeking after the birthright surely was honored by God. Esau despised the birthright and sold it cheaply (Gen. 25:29-34). Thus, he lost it and was not able to get it back, even when he regretted and wept for it (Gen. 27:34- 38; Heb. 12:16-17). He had lost the blessing of participating in Christ. This should be a warning to us. Jacob respected and sought the birthright, and he obtained it. He inherited God’s promised blessing, the blessing of Christ (Gen. 28:4, 14
七 、犹大
G. Judah
32马太一章二节又说，『雅各生犹大和他的弟兄们。』雅各的第一个儿子是流便。流便应该有第一个儿子的分，就是长子的名分。长子名分包括三个元素：双分地土、祭司职分和君王职分。流便虽然是长子，却因著他的污秽失去了长子名分。（创四九3～4，代上五1～2。）然后双分地土归给了约瑟，这必是由于他的纯洁。（创三九7～。）他是和父亲最亲近的儿子，37:2-也最合他父亲的心意。（创三七2～，12～17。）约瑟的两个儿子，玛拿西和以法莲，各得一分地土。（书十六，十七。）因此，约瑟藉著他两个儿子，承受了双分的美地。
32Verse 2 also says, “Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.” Jacob’s first son was Reuben. Reuben should have had the first son’s port i on, which was the birthright. The birthright included three elements: the double portion of the land, the priesthood, and the kingship. Although Reuben was the first son, he lost his birthright because of his defilement (Gen. 49:3-4; 1 Chron. 5:1-2). Then the double portion of the land went to Joseph. This must have been due to his purity (Gen. 39:7-2 0). He was the son closest to his father and 20 the one most after his father’she art (Gen. 3, 12-17). Each of Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh3 and Ephraim, received a portion of the land (Joshua 16 and 17). Thus through his two sons he inherited two portions of the good land.
33长子名分中的祭司职分归给了利未。（申三三8～10。）利未非常合乎神的心意。为要满足神的心意，利未忘了父母、兄弟、儿女，只顾神的心意。因此，他得著了长子名分中的祭司职分。
33The priesthood portion of the birthright went to Levi (Deut. 33:8-10). Levi was very much after God’she art. In order to fulfill God’s desire, Levi forgot his parents, his brothers, and his children and only took care of God’s desire. Thus, he received the priesthood portion of the birthright
34长子名分的另一分，君王职分，归给了犹大。（创四九10，代上五2。）我们若读创世记，就找到这事的原因。当约瑟受他哥哥们阴谋陷害时，犹大照顾他。（创三七26。）犹大也在苦难之时照顾便雅悯。（创四三8～9，四四14～34。）我信就是因著这个原因，君王职分归给了犹大。
34The kingship, another portion of the birthright, was given to Judah (Gen. 49:10; 1 Chron. 5:2). If we read Genesis, we find the reason for this. When Joseph was suffering under the conspiracy of his brothers, Judah took care of him (Gen. 37:26). He also took care of Benjamin in time of suffering (Gen. 43:8-9; 44:14-34). Because of this, I believe, the kingship went to Judah
35今天我们乃是『众长子的召会。』（来十二23。）我们的长子名分也是由这三个元素组成：双分的基督、祭司职分和君王职分。我们乃是在基督里，我们能双分的享受祂。我们也是神的祭司和君王。然而，许多基督徒失去了他们长子的名分。他们已经得救了，就永远不会失丧，但他们失去了他们额外的一分基督。我们若要享受额外一分基督，就必须持守我们的长子名分。
35Today we are the “church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23). Our birthright is also composed of these three elements: the double portion of Christ, the priesthood, and the kingship. We are in Christ, and we can enjoy Him in double portion. We are also priests and kings of God. However, many Christians have lost their birthright. They have been saved and can never be lost, but they have lost their extra portion of Christ. If we would enjoy the extra portion of Christ, we must keep our birthright
36所有基督徒都已经重生作祭司。（启一6。）但今天许多人失去了他们的祭司职分。因为他们失去了他们祷告的地位，所以他们很难祷告。我们若要保有我们的祭司职分，就必须像利未人，忘记自己的父亲、兄弟、儿女，并顾到神的权益。首要的必须是神的心意，而不是我们的家庭。神的心意若在我们心中居首位，那么我们就会与祂亲近，并保有祭司的职分。
36All Christians have been reborn as priests (Rev. 1:6). But today many have lost their priesthood. Because they have lost their praying position, it is hard for them to pray. If we would keep our priesthood, we must be like the Levites, and forget our father, our brothers, and our children and take care of God’sin te rest. God’s desire, not our families, must be first. If God’s desire has first place in our hearts, then we shall be close to Him and keep the priesthood.
37所有基督徒也重生作了君王，（启五10，）但许多却失去了他们君王的职分。当主耶稣回来的时候，得胜的圣徒要同祂一起，作神的祭司，并与基督同王。（启二十4～6。）同时，他们要享受对这地的承受。（启二26。）
37All Christians are also reborn as kings (Rev. 5:10), but many have lost their kingship. When the Lord Jesus returns, the overcoming saints will be with Him to be priests of God and co - kings of Christ (Rev. 20:4-6). At the same time, they will enjoy the inheritance of this earth (Rev. 2:26).
38希伯来十二章十六至十七节警告我们，不要像以扫那样，失去了长子的名分。以扫『因一口食物把自己长子的名分卖了。』以后他懊悔曾如此贱卖这长子名分，却无法得回。我们都需要儆醒。我们有地位得著长子的名分，我们也已经得著了，但要持有牠，就在于我们有否保守自己，不贪恋世俗，也不沾染污秽。我们已经看见，以扫因著贪恋世俗而失去他长子的名分，流便也因著他的污秽失去了他长子的名分。但约瑟因著他的纯洁，就承受了双分地土；利未因著绝对分别归主，就得著了祭司职分；而犹大因著顾到他受苦的兄弟，就得了君王职分。我们需要保守自己纯洁，好得著对基督之享受额外的一分；我们需要将自己绝对分别出来归给主，有一颗心顾到神的心意过于一切；我们需要满有爱心顾到我们受苦的弟兄。我们若是这样，就必保有我们长子的名分。对基督之享受额外的分、祭司职分、以及君王职分，都是我们的。甚至今天我们就能双倍的享受基督。我们能祷告，我们能管治，我们也能掌权。然后，当主耶稣回来的时候，我们就与祂一同享受到这地的承受。我们要作祭司，不断与神接触，也要作君王治理万民。
38Hebrews 12:16-17 warns us not to lose our birthright as Esau did. “For one meal” Esau “gave up his birthright.” Later, he regretted that he had sold it so cheaply, but he was not able to get it back. We all need to be on the alert. We have the position to possess the birthright and we have it already, but maintaining it depends on whether or not we keep ourselves from being profane or becoming defiled. We have seen that Esau lost his birthright because he was profane and that Reuben lost his birthright because of his defilement. But Joseph inherited the double portion of land because of his purity; Levi obtained the priesthood because of his absolute separation unto the Lord; and Judah received the kingship because of his care for his suffering brothers. We need to keep ourselves pure for the extra portion of the enjoyment of Christ; we need to separate ourselves absolutely to the Lord with a heart caring for the Lord’s desire above all things; we need to care lovingly for our suffering brothers. If we are like this, we shall surely keep our birthright. The extra portion of the enjoyment of Christ, the priesthood, and the kingship will be ours. Even today we can enjoy Christ in a double measure. We can pray, we can rule, and we can reign. Then, when the Lord Jesus returns, we shall be with Him enjoying the inheritance of this earth. We shall be priests contacting God continually and kings reigning over the people
39因为犹大得到了长子名分中君王的职分，所以他带进君尊的基督，（创四九10，）得胜的基督。（启五5，创四九8～9。）『我们的主明显是从犹大支派出来的。』（来七14。）
39Because Judah gained the kingship portion of the birthright, he brought forth the kingly Christ (Gen. 49:10), Christ the Victor (Rev. 5:5; Gen. 49:8-9). “It is clearly evident that our Lord has risen out of Judah” (Heb. 7:14
40亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各和犹大都是基督的同伙。我们若有这四代的生活－亚伯拉罕的信、以撒的承受、雅各的受对付、以及犹大爱的照顾－那么我们就在基督的家谱里，是基督的同伙了。
40Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah are all associates of Christ. If we have the life of these four generations — Abraham’s faith, Isaac’s inheritance, Jacob’s dealings, and Judah’s care of love—then we are the associates of Christ in His generation.
八 、他的弟兄们
H. His Brethren
41当这个家谱题到以撒和雅各时，并没有说，『和他的弟兄们；』只有题到犹大时才说，『和他的弟兄们。』以撒的哥哥以实玛利，和雅各的哥哥以扫，都是神所弃绝的。但犹大的十一位弟兄都是蒙拣选的，没有一个是神所弃绝的。犹大和他十一位弟兄成了十二支派的先祖，这十二支派形成了以色列国，作神的选民来为著基督。因此，犹大的众弟兄都与基督有关。为这缘故，基督的家谱也包括他们。
41When this genealogy mentions Isaac and Jacob, it does not say “and his brother”; only when it mentions Judah does it say “and his brothers.” Both Isaac’s brother Ishmael and Jacob’s brother Esau were rejected by God. But all eleven brothers of Judah were chosen; not one of them was rejected by God. Judah and his eleven brothers became the fathers of the twelve tribes which formed the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people for Christ. Hence, all Judah’s brothers were related to Christ. For this reason, the genealogy of Christ also includes them