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马太福音生命读经 · 第65篇

国度的豫言(五)

PROPHECY OF THE KINGDOM (5)
1关于基督徒的生命,新约启示,首先我们需要把神的灵接受到我们的灵里,使我们得著重生。接著,我们需要长大。长大就是得著变化,得著变化主要的是在心思的灵里得以更新。变化和心思的更新使圣灵充满在我们的魂里。我们的心思乃是魂主要的部分。在我们心思的灵里得以更新,就是使我们的心思被那灵充满并浸透。然后,浸透了我们心思的那灵要更新我们全人。因此,我们这人,我们的魂,要被充满的灵所浸透。这是器皿里得著额外之油的路。
1Concerning the Christian life, the New Testament reveals that firstly we need to receive the Spirit of God into our spirit so that we may be regenerated. Following this, we need to grow. To grow is to be transformed, and to be transformed is mainly to be renewed in the spirit of the mind. Transformation and the renewing of the mind issue in the infilling of the Holy Spirit in our soul. Our mind is the leading part of our soul. To be renewed in the spirit of our mind is to have our mind filled and saturated with the Spirit. Then the Spirit that has saturated our mind will renew our whole being. Thus, our being, our soul, will be saturated with the infilling Spirit. This is the way to have the extra portion of oil in the vessel
2我们在前一篇信息中曾指出,蒙了重生,得著新生,就是有那灵在我们的灵里,也就是说,有油在我们的灯里。有那灵在我们的魂里,意思就是我们在生命里长大、被变化、全人得更新,并使我们的魂被神的圣灵所浸透。这就是有油在器皿里。这是为著主的来临儆醒豫备的路,也是准备被提到主同在中的路。
2As we pointed out in the foregoing message, to be regenerated, to have the new birth, is to have the Spirit in our spirit, that is, to have the oil in our lamp. To have the Spirit in our soul means that we grow in life, are transformed, are renewed in our whole being, and have our soul saturated with the Holy Spirit of God. This is to have the oil in the vessel. This is the way to be watchful and to be ready for the Lord’s coming. It is also the way to be prepared to be raptured into the Lord’s presence
四 、忠信的比喻
D. Parable for Faithfulness
3看过儆醒的比喻(太二五1~13)之后,在本篇信息中,我们往前到忠信的比喻。(太二五~30。)童女的比喻是为著儆醒,银子的比喻却是为著忠信。
3Having covered the parable for watchfulness (25:1-13), we proceed in this message to the parable for faithfulness (25:14-30). The parable of the virgins is for watchfulness, but the parable of the talents 14 is for faithfulness.
4我们论到二十四章时曾指出,关于信徒有两面:儆醒豫备的一面,和忠信精明的一面。信徒有这两面,因为他们有双重的身分。这双重身分的第一面与生命有关,第二面与服事有关。没有一个基督徒该忽略这两面;反之,我们必须正确的留意这两面,在生命和服事上成为正确的。在生命上,我们是童女;在服事上,我们是奴仆。这就是说,在儆醒上,我们是童女;这与我们的所是有关。但在忠信上,我们是奴仆;这与我们的所作有关。
4When we were on chapter twenty - four, we pointed out that concerning the believers, there are two aspects: the aspect of watchfulness and readiness and the aspect of faithfulness and prudence. The believers have these two aspects because they have a dual status. The first aspect of this dual status is related to life, and the second aspect is related to service. No Christian should neglect these two aspects; rather, we must pay the proper attention to both, becoming proper in life and in service. Regarding life, we are virgins; regarding service, we are slaves. This means that in watchfulness we are virgins. This relates to what we are. But in faithfulness we are slaves. This relates to what we do.
5我们也许喜欢『童女』一辞,却不喜欢听见我们是奴仆。然而,我们不仅是童女,也是奴仆。对童女而言,主是新郎;但对奴仆而言,祂是主人。因此,不仅我们有双重的身分,主也有双重的身分。一面,祂是使我们喜乐的新郎;另一面,祂是我们严厉的主人。有时候祂非常喜悦我们,但有时候,祂严厉的对付我们。
5Although we may like the term “virgins,” we may not like hearing that we are slaves. Nevertheless, we are not only virgins, but also slaves. To the virgins, the Lord is the Bridegroom, but to the slaves, He is the Master. Thus, not only we have a dual status, but the Lord also has a dual status. On the one hand, He is our pleasant Bridegroom and, on the other, our strict Master. Sometimes He is very pleasant with us, but at other times He deals with us in a strict way
6童女需要内在的东西-油在器皿里内在的充满。然而,奴仆需要外在的东西-属灵的才干。圣灵的充满是内在的,但是才干,属灵的恩赐,是外在的。我们是器皿,里面需要油;我们是奴仆,外面需要才干。
6The virgins need something inward—the inward filling of the oil in the vessel. The slaves, however, need something outward—the spiritual talent. The infilling of the Holy Spirit is inward, but the talent, the spiritual gift, is outward. As vessels we need the oil inwardly, and as slaves we need the talents outwardly
7充满器皿的油达到器皿的底部。我们这人的更新是从里面进行的,变化也是从里面发生的。今天在基督徒中间非常缺少这种内在的工作。反之,许多基督徒在努力改善他们的外表,好作虚饰。宗教与外在的表现有关,但神在圣灵充满里的恩典进到我们里面,从里面变化我们。内在的油与外在的修饰大不相同。修饰立刻改变我们的脸色,但神的路乃是我们饮于那灵,并让那灵浸透我们这人,那么我们的外表就要从里面改变。例如,我吃得好,喝得好,并且营养的食物浸透我这人,就使我有健康的脸色。
7The oil that fills the vessel reaches the very bottom of the vessel. It is from within that the renewing of our being takes place, and it is from within that transformation transpires. There is a great lack of this inward working among Christians today. Rather, many Christians are striving to improve their outward appearance in order to make a show. Religion is concerned with outward show, but God’s grace in the infilling of the Holy Spirit gets into us and transforms us from within. The inward oil is very different from outward makeup. Makeup changes our complexion immediately. But God’sway is that we drink of the Spirit and let the Spirit saturate our being. Then our appearance will change from within. For example, I eat and drink well, and nourishing food saturates my being. This gives me a healthy complexion
8我们需要从里面得更新,这事实不是说,我们不需要外面的活动。那领五他连得银子的,用这些殷勤作买卖,另外赚了五他连得。这指明我们需要里面的更新和外面的服事,里面的长大和外面的行动。我们对这原则需要有深刻的印象。在生命力面,我们需要从里面得更新;在服事方面,我们外面需要十分活跃。有时候我们可能外面很活跃,以致忽略了里面的更新。但有时候我们可能很注意里面的生命,以致没有好好工作。这样就是没有翻过的饼,(何七8,)一面烧焦成炭,另一面是生的;两面都不适合吃。我们需要是个翻过的饼。我们若过度工作,主会告诉我们要休息。但我们若休息太过,主会告诉我们去工作。
8The fact that we need to be renewed from within does not mean that we do not need outward activities. The one who received five talents traded with them diligently and gained another five talents. This indicates that we need both the inward renewing and the outward service, the inward growth and the outward actions. We need to be deeply impressed with this principle. Regarding the aspect of life, we need to be renewed from within, and regarding the aspect of service, we need to be very active outwardly. Sometimes we may be so active outwardly that we neglect the inward renewing. But at other times we may care so much for the inner life that we do not work adequately. To be like this is to be an unturned cake (Hosea 7:8). On one side we are burned to charcoal, and on the other side we are raw. Neither side is good for eating. We need to be a turned cake. If we work too much, the Lord will tell us to rest. But if we rest too much, the Lord will tell us to work.
一 个人要往外国去
1. A Man Going into Another Country 1.
9十四节说,『诸天的国又好比一个人要往外国去,就叫了自己的奴仆来,把他的家业交给他们。』诸天的国指明这银子的比喻,与十个童女的比喻一样,也是关于诸天的国。这里的人象征基督;祂要往外国去,就是到诸天之上去。
9Verse 14 says, “For it is as a man who, going into another country, called his own slaves and delivered to them his possessions.” The word “it” refers to the kingdom of the heavens, indicating that this parable of the talents, like the parable of the ten virgins, is also concerning the kingdom of the heavens. The man here signifies Christ, who was going into another country, that is, into the heavens
把他的家业交给他的奴仆
2. Delivering His Possessions to His Slaves 2.
10十四节说,这人把他的家业交给他的奴仆。奴仆象征信徒服事的一面。(林前七22~23,彼后一,雅一1,罗一l。)我们已经看见,信徒向著基督的身分有两面:在生命一面,他们是童女,为祂而活;在服事、工作一面,他们是祂所买、服事祂的奴仆。
10Verse 14 says that this man delivered his possessions to his slaves. The slaves signify believers in the aspect of service (1 Cor. 7:22-23; 2 Pet. 1:1; James 1:1; Rom. 1:1). As we have seen, the status of th el believers in their relationship toward Christ is of two aspects: in life they are the virgins living for Him; in service, in work, they are His purchased slaves serving Him.
11我信交给奴仆的家业包括福音、真理、信徒和召会。信徒是神的基业,神的家业。(弗一。)马太二十四章四十五节指明,信徒也是祂的家人。
11I believe that the possessions delivered to the slaves include the gospel, the truth, the believers, and the church. The believers are God’s inheritance, God’s possession (Eph. 1:18). Matthew 24:45 indicates 18 that the believers are also His household.
123.给了五他连得、二他连得、一他连得
123. Giving Five Talents, Two Talents, and One Talent
13十五节说,『按照各人的才干,个别的给了一个五他连得银子,一个二他连得,一个一他连得。』他连得是最高的重量单位。一他连得银子合六十罗马银币。童女比喻里的油,象征神的灵;这节比喻里的银子,象征属灵的恩赐。(罗十二6,林前十二4,彼前四10,提后一6。)为著生命,我们需要油,神的灵,甚至祂的充满,使我们能过童女的生活,作主的见证;为著服事、工作,我们需要银子,属灵的恩赐,使我们能装备为良善的奴仆,完成主的工作。在生命上那灵的充满,是为著我们在服事上运用属灵的恩赐;在服事上属灵的恩赐,配上在生命上那灵的充满,使我们能成为基督完美的肢体。
13Verse 1 5 says, “And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability.” While oil in the parable of the virgins signifies the Spirit of God, talents in this parable signify spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:8; Rom. 1 2:6; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6). For life we need oil, the Spirit of God, even His fullness, that we may be enabled to live the virgin life for the Lord’s testimony; for service, for work, we need the talent, the spiritual gift, that we may be equipped as a good slave for the accomplishment of the Lord’s work. The fullness of the Spirit in life is for us to use the spiritual gift in service, and the spiritual gift in service matches the fullness of the Spirit in life that we may be perfected as members of Christ.
14十四节说,那人把他的家业交给他的奴仆,但十五节说,他给他们银子。这指明十五节的银子就是十四节的家业。换句话说,主把祂的家业当作银子赐给我们。例如,福音是主的家业,但福音赐给我们之后,就成了我们的银子。照样,真理是主的家业;但真理赐给我们之后,就成了银子。同样的原则,所有的信徒都是主的家业;信徒赐给了我们,他们就成了我们的银子。没有这些信徒,我的银子就不多。此外,召会是主的家业;召会赐给了我们,就成了我们的银子。主把祂的家业赐给我们越多,我们得的银子就越多。照样,主给我们的负担越多,我们得的银子就越多。
14Verse 14 says that the man gave his slaves his possessions, but verse 15 says that he gave them talents. This indicates that the talents in verse 15 are the possessions in verse 14. In other words, the Lord uses His possessions as talents for us. For example, the gospel is the Lord’s possession. But when it is given to us, it becomes our talent. Likewise, the truth is the Lord’s possession. But when the truth is given to us, it becomes a talent. In the same principle, all the believers are the Lord’s possessions. When the believers are given to us, they become our talents. Without all the believers, my talent would not be very big. Furthermore, the church is the Lord’s possession. When the church is given to us, it becomes our talent. The more of His possessions the Lord gives to us, the more talents we shall have. In like manner, the more the Lord burdens us, the more talents we shall have
15许多基督徒知道,这比喻中的银子就是恩赐。然而,他们不知道恩赐的源头是主的家业。今天主的家业主要的是福音、真理、信徒和召会。你若不在意这些事,就不会有银子。福音需要成为我们的家业。真理、信徒和召会,也是一样。我的银子不是天然的,乃是福音、真理、信徒和召会。你若把这些东西都从我取去,我就一无所剩了。我有丰厚的银子,因为我不仅有福音和真理,也有成千的信徒和成百的召会。这就是这职事一直有冲击力的原因。
15Many Christians know that in this parable the talents are gifts. However, they do not know that the source of the gifts is the Lord’s possessions. Today the Lord’s possessions primarily are the gospel, the truth, the believers, and the church. If you do not care for these things, you will not have any talents. The gospel needs to become our possession. The same is true of the truth, the believers, and the churches. My talents are not natural. Rather, they are the gospel, the truth, the believers, and the church. If you took all these things away from me, I would have nothing left. I have a strong talent because I have not only the gospel and the truth, but also thousands of believers and hundreds of churches. This is the reason this ministry has had impact
16我们不该漠然等候主给我们甚么。不,我们必须殷勤寻求福音和真理。我们该渴慕认识人的堕落、救赎、重生、救恩、血的洁净、以及那灵的洗涤。这些都是全备福音的各方面。你接受福音越多,你所得的银子就越多。我们需要祷告主帮助我们认识真理,并且经历真理。我们需要经历关于召会、神永远的定旨、和神的经纶这些真理。最终,这些真理要成为我们的银子。然后我们就能把这些真理服事给别人。这样,主的家业就成了我们的银子。此外,我们需要祷告说,『主,我要照顾圣徒,背负他们的担子。我的心是为著他们的。』我们若有心为著圣徒,对他们有负担,他们这些主的家业,就要当作银子赐给我们。我何等感谢神,这么多的圣徒和召会成了我的银子!在远东的众圣徒和众召会,有力的支持我的职事。倘若主差我到别的地方去,我也会得著美国众召会的支持,因为这里的召会已成了我额外的银子。
16We should not wait in an indifferent way for the Lord to give us something. No, we must diligently seek the gospel and the truth. We should be eager to know the fall of man, redemption, regeneration, salvation, the cleansing of the blood, and the washing of the Spirit. All these are aspects of the full gospel. The more you receive of the gospel, the more talents you will have. We need to pray that the Lord would help us to know the truth and to experience it. We need to experience the truth concerning the church, God’s eternal purpose, and God’s economy. Eventually, these truths will become our talent. Then we shall be able to minister them to others. In this way, the Lord’s possessions become our talent. Furthermore, we need to pray, “Lord, I want to take care of the saints and bear their burdens. My heart is for them.” If we have a heart for the saints and are burdened for them, they, the Lord’s possession, will be given to us as a talent. How thankful I am that so many saints and churches have become my talent! My ministry is strongly backed up by all the saints and all the churches in the Far East. If the Lord sent me to another place, I would also have the support of the churches in the United States, for the churches here have become an addition to my talent.
17你若要得著更多的银子,就必须有心照顾圣徒。例如,有人失业了,你需要为他祷告,背负他的担子。这就证明主已把那人当作银子赐给你了。然而,不背负圣徒或不顾到他们,意思就是你丢弃了主的家业。每位亲爱的圣徒都是主的家业宝贵的一部分。关心圣徒不是一件小事,因为他们是主的家业。
17If you want to receive more talents, you must have a heart to care for the saints. For example, when someone is unemployed, you need to pray for him and bear his burden. This will be a proof that the Lord has given that one to you as a talent. However, not to bear the saints or care for them means that you forsake the Lord’s possession. Every dear saint is a precious part of the Lord’s possession. It is not a small matter to be concerned for the saints, for they are the Lord’s possession
18主的家业在祂手中时,仍然是祂的家业,但这些家业交给了我们,就成了我们的银子。不要丢下任何主所给你的负担。不管我多忙,我都不能丢下银子,因为这样作,就是丢下主的家业。主在牠的恢复里有极大的工作。为著这工作,祂需要成千的青年弟兄姊妹被兴起来背负责任。
18When the Lord’s possessions are in His hand, they remain His possessions. But when they are delivered to us, they become our talent. Do not drop any burden that the Lord has given you. No matter how busy I am, I cannot drop any talent, for to do this is to drop the Lord’s possession. The Lord has a vast work in His recovery. For this work, He needs thousands of young brothers and sisters to be raised up to bear the responsibility
19银子不是与生俱来的东西,却完全与你的负担有关。你接受一个负担,就领受一他连得银子。你若接受一个地方召会的负担,就领受一他连得银子。但你若接受五个召会的负担,就得著五他连得银子。在已过的二十八年中,已有二百八十处以上的召会在这职事之下建立起来。最近,当我受控告、批评并定罪时,我就问主这职事是否错了。那时祂向我指出,认识树的方法是凭著果子。祂叫我看有多少的召会藉著这职事建立并建造起来。然而,我们若有野心为著自己,这野心就要把银子消杀。
19The talent is not something of your natural birth; rather, it is altogether related to your burden. If you take up a burden, you will receive a talent. If you take up a burden for one local church, you will receive one talent. But if you take up the burden for five churches, you will have five talents. During the past twenty-eight years, more than two hundred eighty churches have been built up under this ministry. Recently, when I was accused, criticized, and condemned, I asked the Lord whether or not this ministry was wrong. At that time He pointed out to me that the way to know the tree is by its fruit. He told me to look how many churches have been established and built up by this ministry. However, if we are ambitious for ourselves, this ambition will kill the talents
按照各人的才干
4. To Each according to His Ability 4.
20尽管银子不是我们的才干,乃是主的家业,但银子是按照我们的才干交给我们的。我们的才干是由神的创造和我们的学习所构成。我们才干的度量是基于我们的心愿。我们若没有甚么心愿,就没有度量领受银子。领受银子的度量是由我们的心愿衡量的。
20Although the talents are not our ability, but the Lord’s possession, they are delivered to us according to our ability. Our ability is constituted by God’s creation and our learning. The capacity of our ability is based upon the willingness of our heart. If we do not have any willingness in our heart, then we shall not have the capacity to receive the talent. The capacity to receive the talent is measured by the willingness of our heart
21那领五他连得的和领二他连得的
215. Those with Five Talents and Two Talents 5.
用这些作买卖
Trading with Them
22十六、十七节说,『那领五他连得的,随即拿去作买卖,另外赚了五他连得。那领二他连得的,也照样另赚了二他连得。』用银子作买卖,表征运用主所给我们的恩赐;另外赚了银子,表征我们已经完全用上从主所领受的恩赐,没有任何的损失或浪费。
22Verses 16 and 17 say, “Immediately, he who received the five talents went and traded with them and gained another five; similarly, he who received the two gained another two.” To trade with the talents signifies using the gift the Lord has given us, and to gain other talents signifies that the gift we received from the Lord has been used to the fullest extent, without any loss or waste
23按照二十四章,奴仆要供应粮食给家人。这是指将滋养的话,带著基督的丰富作生命的供应,服事给主家里的人。然而,这里说到用银子作买卖,使银子繁增。因此,我们服事的结果有两面。第一面是别人得𫗪养,得著丰富的滋养。第二面是主的家业得著繁增。例如,我们越传福音,福音就越丰富。真理也是这样。当我们把真理服事给别人时,真理就繁增。圣徒和召会也是这样。信徒和召会都要繁增。因此,五他连得银子繁增为十他连得,二他连得繁增为四他连得。
23According to chapter twenty-four, the slave is to supply food to those in the household. This refers to the ministering of the nourishing Word with the riches of Christ as the life supply to those in the Lord’sho use. Here, however, it speaks of trading with the talents to cause the talents to multiply. Therefore, the result of our service has two aspects. The first aspect is that others are fed and given rich nourishment. The second aspect is that the Lord’s possessions are multiplied. For example, the more we preach the gospel, the richer the gospel becomes. It is the same with the truths. As we minister the truths to others, the truths multiply. This is also true of the saints and the churches. Both the believers and the churches will multiply. Thus, five talents are multiplied into ten, and two talents are multiplied into four
那领一他连得的掘开地,把银子埋藏了
6. The Slave with One Talent 6. Digging in the Earth and Hiding It
24十八节说,『但那领一他连得的,去掘开地,把他主人的银子埋藏了。』这比喻所看重的,是那领一他连得的,就是领受最小恩赐的人。恩赐最小的人,很容易对自己的恩赐没有正确的运用。
24Verse 18 says, “But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s silver.” The main emphasis in this parable is on the one- talented one, the one who received the smallest gift. It is very easy for the least-gifted ones to fail to make the proper use of their gift
25地乃是象征世界,所以掘开地是表征钻进世界。任何与世界的联合、牵连,甚至一点世俗的交谈,都会埋藏主给我们的恩赐。把主人的银子埋藏起来,表征将主的恩赐弃之不用,以属地的藉口为掩饰,任其荒废。任何不运用主恩赐的藉口,都是把恩赐埋藏起来。那些领一他连得的人,认为所得的恩赐最小,常有这种埋藏恩赐的危险。
25As the earth signifies the world, so to dig in the earth signifies getting into the world. Any association, any involvement with the world, even a little worldly talk, will bury the Lord’s gift to us. Hiding the Lord’s silver signifies rendering the Lord’s gift useless, letting it lie waste under the cloak of certain earthly excuses. Any excuse for not using the Lord’s gift is to hide it. This is always the danger with the one - talented ones, those who consider their gift as the smallest.
26在这比喻中,那领一他连得的奴仆没有繁增。比方说,在其一地区也许有一个召会。十年之后,那地区仍然只有一个召会。有些人也许以为那领一他连得的奴仆作得好,没有失去他的银子,并且把主所有的归还祂。那领一他连得的奴仆似乎说,『主阿,你所有的在这里。你给了我一他连得,我忠信的保守、保管、保护并保存著。因著你的怜悯和恩典,我都守住了。』但我们服事的结果,必须是我们的银子繁增。主的旨意不是要我们仅仅保持他所赐给我们的。你若仅仅忠信的保守福音、真理和召会,没有任何繁增,主要说你是懒惰的。不仅如此,祂要称你为恶仆。在主眼中,埋藏银子而不繁增,是邪恶的。主不管我们的争辩或藉口,祂只在意一他连得繁增为二他连得。这是严肃的事。我们服事的结果,必须是别人得𫗪养和饱足,并且银子得繁增。
26With the one-talented slave in this parable, there is no multiplication. For instance, in a certain area there may be one church. Ten years later, there is still just one church in that area. Some may think that the one-talented slave did well in not losing his talent and in returning to the Lord what was His. The one-talented slave seemed to say, “Lord, here is what is Yours. You gave me one talent, and I have been faithful to keep, guard, protect, and preserve it. By Your mercy and grace, I have kept it.” But the issue of our service must be the multiplication of our talents. It is not the Lord’s will for us simply to maintain what He has given us. If you are faithful merely to keep the gospel, the truth, and the church without any multiplication, the Lord will say that you are slothful. Furthermore, He will call you an evil slave. In the eyes of the Lord, it is evil to bury the talent and not to multiply it. The Lord does not care for our argument or excuses. He cares only that the one talent is multiplied into two. This is a serious matter. Our service must issue in the feeding and satisfaction of others and in the multiplication of the talent