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马太福音生命读经 · 第42篇

达到荣耀的路（一）

THE PATHWAY TO GLORY (1)
1因为马太福音是一卷论到诸天之国的书，所以这卷书启示基督是属天的君王。在其他的福音书里，启示祂是人（路加福音），是奴仆（马可福音），是神的儿子（约翰福音）。
1Because Matthew is a book on the kingdom of the heavens, Christ is here revealed as the heavenly King. In the other Gospels He is revealed as a man (Luke), as a slave (Mark), and as the Son of God (John
2马太福音前十三章论到许多与基督有关的重要项目。一章有基督的家谱和基督的出生。二章有基督幼年的记载。在三章，基督藉著在水里受浸且为那灵所膏，由施浸者约翰所引荐。在四章，祂受试验，并开始尽职事。基督在被引荐、受膏、受试验之后，就进入祂的职事。祂开始尽职事时，在五、六、七章颁布了诸天之国的宪法。祂颁布宪法之后，就下了山，继续尽祂的职事。祂的职事给祂绝佳的机会，在许多方面向人启示祂自己。在九章，基督启示祂自己是医生。我们堕落的人都病了，需要医生。因为我们需要主的医治，祂就首先揭示祂自己是我们的医生，我们的医治者。此后，祂揭示祂自己是新郎，是最令人喜乐的人；是我们的牧人，是照顾我们的一位；并且是神庄稼的主。在十二章，基督揭示祂自己是真大卫、更大的殿、安息日的主、更大的约拿、以及更大的所罗门。我们若把这一切名称摆在一起－医生、新郎、牧人、庄稼的主、真大卫、更大的殿、安息日的主、更大的约拿、以及更大的所罗门－我们就领悟，基督这属天的王，对我们是何其丰富。
2The first thirteen chapters of Matthew cover many crucial items related to Christ. In chapter one we have the genealogy of Christ and the birth of Christ. In chapter two there is an account of the youth of Christ. In chapter three Christ is recommended by John the Baptist through baptism in water and anointed with the Spirit, and in chapter four He is tested and begins His ministry. After Christ was recommended, anointed, and tested, He came into His ministry. At the beginning of His ministry, He decreed, in chapters five, six, and seven, the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens. After issuing this decree, He came down from the mountain to continue His ministry. His ministry afforded Him excellent opportunities to reveal Himself to the people in many aspects. In chapter nine Christ revealed Himself as the Physician. As fallen people, we all are sick and have need of a physician. Because we stand in need of the Lord’she al ing, He firstly unveiled Himself as our Physician, our Healer. After this, He unveiled Himself as the Bridegroom, the most pleasant person; as our Shepherd, the One who takes care of us; and as the Lord of God’s harvest. In chapter twelve Christ unveiled Himself as the real David, the greater temple, the Lord of the Sabbath, the greater Jonah, and the greater Solomon. If we put all these titles together— the Physician, the Bridegroom, the Shepherd, the Lord of the harvest, the real David, the greater temple, the Lord of the Sabbath, the greater Jonah, and the greater Solomon—we shall realize that Christ as the King of the heavens is so much to us
3除了这一切对基督的启示之外，在九章，基督启示祂是未处理的新布，要作新衣，这新衣也是祂自己。此外，祂还是新酒，甚至是新皮袋。你不渴望享受基督作新布和新衣么？你不愿享受祂作新酒，并且将你的享受保存在祂这新皮袋里么？我的确渴望这样。
3In addition to all these revelations of Christ, in chapter nine Christ unveiled that He is the new untreated cloth for the new garment, which is also Himself. Furthermore, He is the new wine and even the new wineskin. Do you not desire to enjoy Christ as the new cloth and as the new garment? Do you not want to drink Him as the new wine and preserve your enjoyment in Him as the new wineskin? I certainly desire this.
4我们已经指出，作救主和君王的基督是我们的医生。你是否病了，甚至快要死了？我担心有些读本篇信息的人，可能快要死了。但基督是我们的医生，我们的医治者。任何生病或垂死的人都能说，『主耶稣，感谢你。你是我的医生，我的医治者。我相信你会给我完全的医治。』我确信我们都在祂的医治之下。所以我们是健康、健全的。何等美妙，基督是我们的医生！
4We have pointed out that Christ as the Savior and King is our Physician. Are you sick or even dying? I am concerned that some of those reading this message may be dying. But Christ is our Physician, our Healer. Any who are sick or dying can say, “Lord Jesus, thank You. You are my Physician, my Healer. I believe that You will grant me a complete healing.” I have the assurance that we are all under His healing. Therefore, we are healthy and sound. How wonderful that Christ is our Physician
5基督对我们是如此丰富。祂是我们的新郎。最令人喜乐的人就是新郎。我们有特权与基督，我们的新郎，一同享受上好的婚姻生活。基督是我们的牧人，祂晓得我们的需要，也顾到我们的需要。因此，我们可以忘记我们的需要，因为祂是我们的牧人。基督是神庄稼的主。祂也是真大卫，我们是祂的跟从者。此外，祂是更大的殿，我们是在祂里面事奉、敬拜并尽职的祭司。我们不是在宗教里尽职，乃是在那为更大的殿的人位里尽职。基督也是安息日的主，安息的主。因此，我们不仅有安息，也有安息的主。我们不需要寻找安息，因为我们有主。至终，基督是我们更大的约拿，和更大的所罗门。祂是申言者，告诉我们要作甚么，引导我们，并且带领我们；祂也是我们里面奇妙的王，亲爱的所罗门。哦，这是我们的基督！
5Christ is so much to us. He is our Bridegroom. The most pleasant person is a bridegroom. We have the privilege of enjoying the best married life with Christ, our Bridegroom. As our Shepherd, Christ knows our needs and cares for them. Hence, we may forget our needs because He is our Shepherd. Christ is the Lord of God’s harvest. He is also the real David, and we are His followers. In addition, He is the greater temple, and we are the priests serving, worshipping, and ministering within Him. We are not ministering in a religion; we are ministering in a Person who is the greater temple. Christ is also the Lord of the Sabbath, the Lord of rest. Thus, we have not only rest, but the Lord of rest. We do not need to seek for rest, for we have the Lord. Eventually, Christ is our greater Jonah and our greater Solomon. He is the Prophet, telling us what to do, guiding us, and leading us, and also the wonderful King, our beloved Solomon, within us. Oh, this is our Christ
6祂的职事最终这样把祂揭示出来，但祂的职事受到完全的弃绝。在十二章末了，这弃绝达到顶点。基督被犹太宗教徒那无可救药的世代完全弃绝了。十二章的弃绝暴露了一个事实，就是那世代弃绝的性质是无可救药的，并且就一面说，在今世和来世都不得赦免。因著犹太人弃绝属天的王到这样的地步，祂就放弃了他们。祂放弃了和犹太人天然、肉身的关系，否认祂和祂亲属天然的关系。在十二章末了，我们看见犹太人先弃绝了主，然后他们的弃绝导致王放弃他们。
6Although as a result of His ministry Christ was unveiled in such a way, His ministry resulted in complete rejection. At the end of chapter twelve, this rejection reached its climax. Christ was utterly rejected by that incurable generation of Jewish religionists. The rejection in chapter twelve exposed the fact that the rejecting nature of that generation was incurable and, in a sense, unforgivable both in this age and in the age to come. Because the Jews rejected the heavenly King to such an extent, He forsook them. He forsook the natural, fleshly relationship with the Jews and denied His natural relationships with His kindred. At the end of chapter twelve we see that the Jews firstly rejected the Lord and then that their rejection resulted in the King’s forsaking them
7在十三章，王上了海上的船，这表征祂进到召会里。在召会里祂揭示神国的奥秘。换句话说，祂启示了召会的奥秘；召会乃是国度的命脉，实际。因为国度的奥秘是用比喻讲说的，只有那些爱祂、跟从祂、与祂是一的人才能领会这奥秘。我们已经看见，主在山上向门徒颁布国度的宪法。但在十三章，祂向跟从祂的人揭示国度的奥秘。
7In chapter thirteen the King went into a boat on the sea. This signifies that He went into the church. In the church He unveiled the mystery of God’s kingdom. In other words, He revealed the mystery of the church, which is the life-pulse, the reality, of the kingdom. Because the mystery of the kingdom was delivered in parables, only those who loved Him, followed Him, and were one with Him could understand it. We have seen that the Lord decreed the constitution of the kingdom to the crowd on the mountain. But in chapter thirteen He unveiled the mystery of the kingdom to His followers.
8看过主自己和神国奥秘的揭示之后，我们跟从祂的人需要知道跟从祂的路。彼得、安得烈、雅各、约翰、和所有其他的门徒，都知道主是医生、新郎和牧人。他们领悟了祂所是的许多方面。此外，他们也听见了国度的奥秘。现在他们需要知道跟从祂的路。所以，在十三章末了，开始启示跟从这位被弃绝之王的路。
8After we have seen the unveiling of the Lord Himself and the unveiling of the mystery of the kingdom of God, we as His followers need to know the way to follow Him. Peter, Andrew, James, and John, and all of the other disciples knew that the Lord was the Physician, the Bridegroom, and the Shepherd. They realized so many aspects of what He was. Furthermore, they heard the mystery of the kingdom. Now they needed to know the way to follow Him. Therefore, what is revealed beginning at the end of chapter thirteen is the pathway to follow this rejected King
9祂被弃绝之后，祂的跟从者如何能跟从祂？请记住，马太福音不是一卷历史的书，乃是一卷道理的书。马太福音的记载不是照著历史的事实，乃是照著道理的次序。马太在他的福音书里陈明关于属天的王、以及祂的家谱、出生、幼年、引荐、受膏、试验、职事、对祂自己和国度奥秘的揭示等道理。看过这一切之后，我们也许会说，『多么美妙!我们知道这么多关于王和国度的事。我们还需要甚么?』我们所需要的是跟从祂的路。祂是美妙的，国度也是奇妙的；但我们需要知道，我们如何能进入这国并跟从祂。因此，在这卷道理的书中，从十三章末了到十七章中间，这一大段给我们一幅清楚的地图，指明跟从被弃绝之王的路。
9How can His followers follow Him after His rejection? Remember that Matthew is not a book of history, but a book of doctrine. The record of Matthew is not according to historical facts; it is according to the sequence of doctrine. In his Gospel, Matthew presents the doctrine concerning the heavenly King and His genealogy, birth, youth, recommendation, anointing, testing, ministry, unveiling of Himself, and His unveiling of the mystery of the kingdom. After seeing all this, we may say, “How wonderful and marvelous! We know so many things about the King and the kingdom. What else do we need?” What we need is the way to follow Him. He is wonderful, and the kingdom is marvelous; but we need to know how we can get into this kingdom and follow Him. Therefore, the section from the end of chapter thirteen to the middle of chapter seventeen, a large section in this doctrinal book, gives us a clear map of the pathway to follow the rejected King
10我们若对祂诚实忠信，就必须在这条路上跟从被这世代弃绝的基督。今天你在那里？你也许会说，你在主的恢复里。但主的恢复就是跟从被弃绝之属天君王的路。这位王已经被这世代弃绝，如今仍然被这世代弃绝。虽然如此，我们却愿意跟从祂，宁愿有分于祂所受的弃绝。阿利路亚，我们有分于对祂的享受，也有分于祂所受的弃绝！祂是被弃绝的王，我们是被弃绝的跟从者。祂领先被弃绝，如今仍是这样，我们在达到荣耀的路上跟从祂。这条路的起点没有别的，只有弃绝；然而，这条路的终点却有荣耀，就是国度的实现。
10If we are honest and faithful to Him, we must be on this way following the Christ who has been rejected by this age. Where are you today? You may say that you are in the Lord’s recovery. But the Lord’s recovery is a pathway on which we follow the rejected heavenly King. This King has been rejected by this generation and is still being rejected by it. Nevertheless, we would follow Him as those preferring to participate in His rejection. Hallelujah, we are the partakers of the enjoyment of Him and partakers of His rejection! He is the rejected King, and we are His rejected followers. He took the lead to be rejected and He is still taking it, and we are following Him on the pathway to glory. At the beginning of this pathway, there is nothing but rejection; however, at the end of it there is glory, the manifestation of the kingdom.
11在本篇和以下几篇信息中，我有负担要给你们看见，如何走这条达到荣耀的路。虽然你在跟从基督，但你也许不晓得如何走这条路。为了走这条路，你需要一幅地图。在这几篇信息中，我们要学习如何看这幅地图。我们正在跟从被弃绝的王，我们的目的地是荣耀。我们真要感谢马太，在这卷道理的书中，不仅包括了国度的图表，也包括了路程图，使我们能进入国度。从十三章末了到十七章中间，有清楚的地图给我们看见，我们跟从亲爱的王进入荣耀时，如何走这条路。
11In this message and in the messages following I have the burden to show you how to walk on this pathway to glory. Although you are following Christ, you may not know how to walk on this pathway. In order to walk on it, you need a map. In these messages we shall learn how to read this map. We are following the rejected King, and our destination is glory. How we thank Matthew for including in his doctrinal book not only a diagram of the kingdom, but also a map of the pathway so that we may enter into the kingdom. From the end of chapter thirteen to the middle of chapter seventeen we have a clear map showing us how to walk on the pathway as we follow our beloved King into glory
壹 、弃绝的增加
I. INCREASE OF REJECTION
12我们在这条路上首先面临的事，就是弃绝。因著基督是被弃绝的一位，我们也必须被弃绝。我们没有选择的余地。不要期待受欢迎，因为在荣耀未到之先，没有人会欢迎你。反之，你必须甘愿被弃绝。在十三章五十三节至十四章十三节，我们看见弃绝的增加。我们许多人多少都经历过，被那些反对我们进入召会的人所弃绝。但我需要告诉你，这弃绝不会减少，只会增加，会有弃绝加上弃绝。你们要为此豫备好。
12The first thing we face on this pathway is rejection. Because Christ is the rejected One, we must be rejected also. We have no choice. Do not expect to be welcomed, for no one will welcome you until the glory comes. Instead, you must be willing to be rejected. In 13:53— 14:13 we see the increase of rejection. Many of us have experienced some measure of rejection by those who opposed our coming into the church. But I need to tell you that this rejection will not decrease; rather, it will increase. There will be rejection upon rejection. Be prepared for this
一 、家乡人的弃绝
A. Rejection by the Galileans
按著肉体认识祂，为自己天然的知识所蒙蔽
1. Knowing Him according to the Flesh 1. and Blinded by Their Natural Knowledge
13属天的王首先被犹太宗教徒弃绝。宗教首领弃绝基督到了极点，因为他们完全为宗教霸占、据有并蒙蔽。因为宗教是他们的一切，他们就无法认识这位属天的王。他们为宗教的帕子蒙蔽，就弃绝了祂。主在宗教中心耶路撒冷被弃绝之后，转到一个不太宗教的地区－加利利，那是祂出生并长大的地方。加利利相当靠近外邦境界。然而，祂甚至在加利利也不受欢迎。虽然加利利人没有反对祂，但他们因著天然的知识弃绝了祂。他们看见祂，听见祂说话，就说，『这不是那木匠的儿子么？他母亲不是叫马利亚么？祂兄弟们不是雅各、约西、西门和犹大么？祂妹妹们不也都在我们这里么？祂这一切是从那里来的？』（太十三55～56。）在这里我们看见，加利利人认识祂，是按著肉体，不是按著灵。（林后五16。）他们自以为知道关于祂的每件事，为自己天然的知识所蒙蔽。他们看见祂所行的神迹奇事，却为自己天然的观念所霸占。宗教徒为自己的宗教和宗教的观念所霸占，加利利人为自己天然的知识所霸占。
13The heavenly King was rejected firstly by the Jewish religionists. The religious leaders rejected Christ to the uttermost because they were fully occupied, possessed, and veiled by their religion. Because religion was everything to them, they could not recognize this heavenly King. Blinded by the religious veils, they rejected Him. After the Lord had been rejected in Jerusalem, the religious center, He turned to a geographical are a that was not so religious—Galilee, the place where He was born and raised. Galilee was rather close to Gentile territory. However, He was not even welcomed in Galilee. Although the Galileans did not oppose Him, they rejected Him because of their natural knowledge. When they saw Him and heard Him speak, they said, “Is not this the carpenter’ss on? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (13:55-56). Here we see that the Galileans knew Him according to the flesh, not according to the spirit (2 Cor. 5:1 6). Thinking that they knew everything about Him, they were blinded by their natural knowledge. They saw the wonders, the miracles, He did, but they were preoccupied by their natural concepts. The religious people were preoccupied by their religion and by their religious concepts, and the Galileans were preoccupied by their natural knowledge.
14我们若要认识基督，并且跟从祂，就需要领悟宗教和天然的知识都是帕子。有些反对我们的人轻视我们，说我们没有受过神学训练。但主耶稣这位木匠的儿子，自己并没有受过神学训练。帮助我最多的倪弟兄，也没有受过神学训练。宗教和天然的知识是阻挠人认识基督的两大障碍。你若跟从宗教，就会留在耶路撒冷；你若跟从天然的知识，就会在加利利。但基督既不留在耶路撒冷，也不留在加利利。我们将看见，祂前往野地。因为耶路撒冷充满了宗教的观念，加利利充满了天然的知识，主就到野地去。你是在耶路撒冷，还是在加利利？或者是在野地？野地没有宗教、文化或神学训练。耶路撒冷有宗教，加利利有天然的知识，但野地有基督的同在。哦，在野地我们有基督！这是我们的夸耀和享受。我们没有宗教或知识，我们有基督。
14If we would know Christ and follow Him, we need to realize that religion and natural knowledge are both veils. Some of our opposers belittle us by saying that we do not have theological training. But the Lord Jesus, a carpenter’ss on, had no theological training Himself. Brother Nee, the one who helped me so much, much more than anyone else, had no theological training either. Religion and natural knowledge are two great obstacles frustrating people from recognizing who Christ is. If you follow religion, you will remain in Jerusalem, and if you follow your natural knowledge, you will be in Galilee. But Christ neither stays in Jerusalem nor remains in Galilee. As we shall see, He departs to the desert. Because Jerusalem was filled with religious concepts and Galilee was filled with natural knowledge, the Lord went to the desert. Are you in Jerusalem or Galilee, or are you in the desert? In the desert there is no religion, culture, or theological training. In Jerusalem there is religion and in Galilee there is natural knowledge, but in the desert there is the presence of Christ. Oh, in the desert we have Christ! This is our boast and enjoyment. We do not have religion or knowledge—we have Christ
15因著我们不重视知识，我们就被定罪，被指控为弯曲心思者（mind）。但我们的心思并没有弯曲，我们的心思乃是从天然和宗教的知识中得以更新。我们必须放胆宣告说，我们不再是宗教或天然的。我们没有天然和宗教的知识，却有基督作我们的智慧，就是超越知识的智慧。
15Because we belittle knowledge, we have been condemned and accused of being mind benders. But our minds are not being bent— benders they are being renewed from natural and religious knowledge. We must be bold to declare that we are no longer religious or natural. Instead of natural and religious knowledge, we have Christ as our wisdom, a wisdom that surpasses knowledge.
16想要凭天然的知识认识基督，结果就是弃绝基督。按著天然的知识，基督是木匠的儿子，祂的母亲是平凡的女人。祂的同乡知道祂一切外面的特征，但他们没有看见神在祂里面。在林后五章十六节保罗说，他曾随别人按著肉体认过基督。当保罗是大数的扫罗时，他按著肉体认过基督；他以为耶稣仅仅是小小的拿撒勒人，他不晓得耶稣里面有神。但有一天在往大马色的路上，主耶稣对他说，『扫罗，扫罗，你为甚么逼迫我？』扫罗问主，祂是谁？主回答说，『我就是...耶稣。』扫罗在往大马色的路上，领悟了拿撒勒的耶稣如今乃是在诸天之上。耶稣似乎说，『我不仅是肉体－我是神，因为那位神就在我里面。扫罗，你是按著肉体，不是按著里面的灵认识我。』
16Any attempt to know Christ by natural knowledge will result in rejection. According to natural knowledge, Christ was the son of a carpenter and his mother was an ordinary woman. His countrymen knew all of His outward features, but they did not see that God was in Him. In 2 Corinthians 5:16 Paul says that, along with others, he knew Christ according to the flesh. When Paul was Saul of Tarsus, he knew Christ according to the flesh; he thought that Jesus was merely a little Nazarene. He did not realize that within Jesus was God. But one day on the road to Damascus the Lord Jesus said to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” When Saul asked the Lord who He was, He responded, I am Jesus.” On the road to Damascus Saul realized that Jesus of Nazareth was now in the heavens. Jesus seemed to be saying, “I was not only the flesh—I was God, for the very God was in Me. Saul, you knew Me according to the flesh, not according to the spirit within
17今天也是一样。我们需要不按著外面的事物，不按著人的国籍、语言、家世、教育、外表或资格认识其他的基督徒。我们若按著这些事物认识基督徒，就是按著肉体认识他们。但我们该按著灵认识基督徒，因为基督在他们里面。几个月前，有个反对者应邀到我家吃饭。我们在一起三个多小时。到了某一点时，他说，『你们中间没有学者，我们却有一百多位学者。』虽然人看我们中间没有学者，但至终我们刊在报纸上的文章，却叫反对者无言以对。他们因这许多木匠的儿子感到困扰。
17It is the same today. We need to know other Christians not according to outward things, not according to their country, language, parentage, education, or outward appearance or qualification. If we know Christians according to these things, we know them according to the flesh. But we should know Christians according to the spirit, because Christ is in them. Several months ago, one of the opposers was invited to my home for lunch. We spent more than three hours together. At one point he said, “You don’th ave scholars among you, do you? We have more than a hundred scholars with us.” However, eventually we, who are not supposed to have scholars among us, printed articles in the newspaper that the opposers are not able to answer. They have been troubled by so many carpenter’ss ons
18当我们在主的恢复里跟从祂时，我们不该按著肉体认识人，或按著肉体评估人。我们该按著一件事，按著基督的身量，认识他们。知识、才智、和外表算不得甚么。也许某位弟兄讲得不好，文法也很差，但每当他开口的时候，基督就出来了。甚至你坐在他面前，也领悟基督与他同在。在主恢复里的召会生活中，我们不在意外表，我们只在意里面的灵，就是基督所在之处。这就是认识基督的路，认识其他基督徒的路，以及跟从主的路。
18As we follow the Lord in His recovery, we should not know people according to the flesh or estimate them according to the flesh. We should know them according to one thing — according to the measure of Christ. Knowledge, intelligence, and outward appearance mean nothing. Perhaps a certain brother cannot speak well and uses poor grammar. Yet whenever he opens his mouth, Christ comes out. Even when you are sitting in his presence, you realize that some amount of Christ is with him. In the church life in the Lord’s recovery we do not care for the outward appearance; we care only for the spirit within, where Christ is. This is the way to know Christ, the way to know other Christians, and the way to follow the Lord.
使属天的王不在他们中间多行异能
2. Causing the Heavenly King Not to Do 2. Many Works of Power among Them
19五十八节说，『因为他们不信，祂就不在那里多行异能了。』法利赛人的弃绝，叫属天的王放弃他们。加利利人的不信，叫主不在他们中间多行异能。因著加利利人天然的知识，主基督不能在他们中间作甚么。加利利人没有说，『耶稣，我们不要你，离开这里罢！』他们只问说，『这不是那木匠的儿子么？祂这智慧和异能是从那里来的？』这些问题就彀了！属天的王就不能再留在那里，他们就不能再享受神恩典的异能。因此，祂就离开他们，到野地去；野地没有文化，没有宗教，也没有我们现在所要看的政治。
19Verse 58 says, “And He did not do many works of power there because of their unbelief.” The rejection of the Pharisees caused the heavenly King to forsake them. The unbelief of the Galileans caused the Lord not to do many works of power among them. Because of the Galileans’ natural knowledge, the Lord Christ could not do anything with them. The Galileans did not say, “Jesus, we don’t want You! Get away from here!” They simply asked, “Is this not the carpenter’ss on? Where did this man get this wisdom and these works of power?” These questions were sufficient. The heavenly King could no longer remain there, and His gracious works of power could no longer be enjoyed by them. Therefore, He departed from them to the desert where there was no culture, no religion, and, as we shall now see, no politics
二 、外邦王的弃绝
B. Rejection by the Heathen Tetrarch
20在十四章一至十三节，我们看见外邦王的弃绝。政治总是随著宗教和文化。照著马太福音的叙述，在宗教和天然知识的弃绝之后，有政治的弃绝。分封的王希律代表政治的弃绝。这是十四章一至十三节的基本原则。
20In 14:1-13 we see the rejection by the heathen tetrarch. Politics is always alongside religion and culture. According to Matthew’s presentation, after the rejection by religion and natural knowledge, there is the rejection by politics. Herod the tetrarch represents the rejection by politics. This is the basic principle of 14:1-13
21希律使施浸者约翰在监里被斩首。在十二章二十四节，犹太教首领，代表全犹太国，弃绝属天的王到了极点，这迫使祂放弃与他们之间天然的关系。（太十二～50。）接著在十三章五十三至五十八节，祂也被加利利人弃绝。现在到了十四章，马太照著他在道理上的安排，向我们揭示外邦政治如何对待王的先锋。外邦政治是邪恶的，满了腐败和黑暗。到此为止，马太绘出了一幅完整的图画，给我们看见犹太人、加利利人和外邦人，如何弃绝诸天之国的职事。
21Herod had John the Baptist beheaded in prison. In 12:24 the Jewish religious leaders, representing the entire nation of the Jews, rejected the heavenly King to the uttermost. This forced Him to forsake His natural relationship with them (12:46-50). Then in 46 13:53-58 He was also rejected by the Galileans. Now in chapter fourteen, Matthew in his doctrinal arrangement unveils to us how Gentile politics treated the King’s forerunner. Gentile politics were evil and full of corruption and darkness. Up to this point Matthew has given a full picture of how the Jews, Galileans, and Gentiles rejected the ministry of the kingdom of the heavens.
外邦政治与犹大宗教一致
1. Heathen Politics Coinciding with Jewish Religion 1.
22首先，宗教的弃绝达到顶点；接著，由于天然知识的弃绝随之而来。政治的弃绝与宗教和天然知识的弃绝一致。那些宗教徒、有天然知识的人和政客，并没有开会商议要弃绝主耶稣，然而，他们一致弃绝祂。宗教、天然知识和政治，都一起弃绝基督。
22Firstly, the rejection by religion reached its climax. Following this came the rejection due to natural knowledge. The rejection by politics coincided with the rejection by religion and natural knowledge. The religionists, those with natural knowledge, and the politicians did not hold a conference for the purpose of rejecting the Lord Jesus. Nevertheless, their rejection of Him coincided. Religion, natural knowledge, and politics all came together in the rejection of Christ
政治的黑暗被暴露
2. The Darkness of Politics Exposed 2.
23在十四章，我们看见政冶上的黑暗、腐败和不公。我们的眼睛需要得开启，看见宗教并不欢迎我们属天的王。在天然的知识或今天腐败、黑暗的政治里，也没有祂的地位。在这世代里，没有属天之王的地位。宗教、文化和政治都一致弃绝属天的王。为著马太福音的记载，我何等感谢主！你若读前十三章，你会看见犹太宗教里的欺骗，你也会看见天然的知识对人造成很大的破坏。此外，你还会看见罗马政冶的腐败和黑暗。罗马政治是当时地上主要的政冶制度。但甚至在最好的政治制度里，也没有别的，只有腐败和黑暗。
23In chapter fourteen we see the darkness, rottenness, and injustice in politics. Our eyes need to be opened to see that in religion there is no welcome to our heavenly King. Neither is there a place for Him in natural knowledge nor in today’sr ot ten, dark politics. In this generation there is no place for the heavenly King. Religion, culture, and politics are all one in rejecting the heavenly King. How I thank the Lord for the record in the Gospel of Matthew. If you read the chapters prior to fourteen, you will see the deceitfulness in the Jewish religion. You will also see that natural knowledge has caused great damage to people. Furthermore, you will see the rottenness and darkness in Roman politics, which was the leading political system on earth at the time. But even in the best political system there is nothing but rottenness and darkness
24使属天的王返到野地
243. Causing the Heavenly King to Retreat to the Desert 3.
25到此为止，我们已经看见达到荣耀之路的头两站。第一站是天然知识的弃绝，第二站是政治的弃绝。文化和政治的弃绝迫使属天的王退去。祂听见施浸者约翰被处死，『就上船，从那里独自返到野地去。』（太十四13。）由于一切宗教、文化和政治人物的弃绝，属天的王就离开他们，独自退到野地去。这指明祂从此要独自在野地，在没有文化的地方，避开宗教、政治和文化的人。祂在船上这样作，含示祂要藉著召会这样作。由于文明世界的弃绝，主藉著召会，总是独自隐藏在没有多少文化的范围里，避开宗教和政治的圈子。
25Thus far, we have seen the first two stations on the pathway to glory. The first station is the rejection by natural knowledge, and the second is the rejection by politics. The rejection both by culture and by politics compelled the heavenly King to retreat. When He heard of the execution of John the Baptist, “He departed from there in a boat to a desert place privately” (14:13). Due to the rejection by all the religious, cultured, political peoples, the heavenly King left them for a desert place. This indicates that henceforth He would hide Himself privately in a desert, in a place without culture, away from the religious, political, and cultured people. He did this in a boat, implying He would do this through the church. Due to the rejection of the civilized world, the Lord, through the church, has always been hiding Himself privately from the religious and political circles in a realm without much culture.
26十四章十三节下半说，『群众听见，就从各城步行跟随祂。』虽然各种人都弃绝属天的王，但仍有好些人跟随祂。他们离开各城来跟随祂。不是王到各城去访问他们，乃是他们离开文化的城市，往野地去跟从祂。历代以来，真正跟从基督的人，都是离开文化的范围，在文化世界之外跟从他们属天的王。我们就在那些跟随祂的人中间。祂在那里，我们就去那里。我们经过各样的弃绝，跟随祂到野地。
26The remainder of 14:13 says, “ And when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.” In spite of the rejection of all peoples, there was still a good number who followed the heavenly King. They did this by leaving their cities. It was not that the King came to their cities to visit them, but that they left their cultured cities to follow Him in the desert. Through all the centuries, the true followers of Christ have left cultured spheres to follow their heavenly King outside the cultured world. We are among those who have followed Him. Where He is, we go. We follow Him through all manner of rejection to the desert