Will you please turn to the Gospel according
to Matthew chapter 7.
请各位翻到马太福音第七章。
We'll begin with the first verse.
我们从第一节读起。
Matthew chapter 7 verse 1.
马太福音第七章第一节。
Judge not that ye may not be judged.
你们不要论断人免得你们被论断。
因为你们论断人也必怎样被论断。
你们用什么良器良给人,人也必用什么良器良给你们。
Cast thou on the mote that is in
the eye of thy brother, but observeth not
the beam that is in thine eye.
O how wilt thou say to thy brother,
Allow me, I will cast out the mote
from thine eye, and behold, the beam is
in thine eye.
怎能对你弟兄说,容我去掉你眼中的刺呢。
Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of
thine eye, and then thou wilt see clearly
to cast out the mote out of the
eye of thy brother.
你这假冒为善的人,先去掉自己眼中的良目,然后才能看得清楚去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。
不要把圣物给狗,也不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前。
恐怕它践踏了珍珠,转过来咬你们。
你们要进窄门,因为引道灭亡,那门是宽的,路是大的,进去的人也多。
引道永生,那门是窄的,路是小的,找着的人也少。
第二十一节 凡称呼我主啊的人
,不能都进天国,唯独遵行我天父旨意的人,才能进去。
当那日必有许多人对我说,主啊,主啊, 我们不是奉你的名禅道,奉你的名赶鬼
,奉你的名行许多的义能吗?
我就明明地告诉他们说
,我从来不认识你们,你们这些作恶的人
,离开我去吧。
所以凡听见我这话就去行的
,好比一个聪明人把房子盖在磐石上。
雨淋,水冲,风吹,撞着那房子,房子总不倒塌,因为根基立在磐石上。
凡听见我这话不去行的
,好比一个无知的人把房子盖在沙土上。
雨淋,水冲,风吹,撞着那房子,房子就倒塌了
,并且倒塌得很大。
耶稣讲完了这些话,众人都悉悉他的教训
,因为他教训他们,正像有权柄的人
,不像他们的文士。
我们再有一些祷告。
我们谢谢祢那奇妙的爱对着我们
,主啊祢爱我们也爱我们到底。
我们赞美祢,我们感谢祢,因为祢给我们祢自己的生命
,而且祢要我们有更丰盛的生命。
主今天早上我们来到祢面前,我们把我们的心向祢敞开
,求祢再一次向我们说话。
主啊若是祢不说话,我们就像死了一样,但是主祢自己的话是我们的灵
,是我们的生命。
主我们谦卑地求祢,给我们领会
,给我们意象,给我们启示, 好让我们能真是被祢带到祢自己话的真实里面,
好让祢的话成为我们真正的生活。
主啊好让祢自己的名得到称颂。
主啊我们的盼望是祝祢自己的旨意在我们身上得到通行,像在天上一样。
主啊祢的国度降临。
主啊我们奉祢自己宝贵的名祷告。
我们实在谢谢我们的主今天早上在召集我们在一起。
我实在感觉主爱我们。
他不会让我们走的。
他要把我们带到他的那里。
这一次我们的负担是所谓的山上的教训。
圣经上告诉我们当众人都来到主面前的时候,
我们的主就上了山。
他这个行动,
他告诉我们说我们要到一个更高的地方。
然后他就坐下了。
门徒们来到他面前。
他就开口教导他的门徒。
对我来说,我觉得当主坐下来的时候, 告诉我们说他所要说的是根据他自己已经所做完的事。
你若是工作没有做完,你就不能坐下。
我们的主坐下了。
他告诉我们说,他坐下了就告诉我们说他所要说的是根据他已经完成的救赎的工作。
他向他自己的门徒们说话。
注意到一点。
这里不只是一些信徒而已。
当然他们是信徒。
但是他们不只是相信了主。
不只是相信主是他们的救主。
他们这些信徒也是门徒。
也就是说,他们对主对他们的呼召已经有一个反应。
他们跟随主。
他们自己放在主的面前,主是他们的主。
他们来到主的面前来学他。
所以主要向他们所说的话, 是要训练他们做他的门徒。
目的是, 让他们也像主一样。
亲爱的弟兄姊妹, 这里我们看见在山上的教训里,
我们的主不是给我们一个新的律法。
不像当年摩西把律法交给以色列的百姓。
若是他们遵守律法, 他们就成为神的儿女。
神就称是他们的神。
但是山上的教训不是给一个新的律法。
不是给一个更高的律法, 好让我们来遵守。
若是我们遵守的话, 那我们就成为天国的种子。
不是这样。
山上的教训也不是对于所谓基督徒的一个伦理的一个宣告。
而是给我们一个更高的道德的标准。
好让我们可以效法。
不是这样。
我们相信山上的教训是从恩典里出来的。
他已经把他自己的生命给了我们。
他要告诉我们这个生命是到底什么样子。
他告诉我们说
,让我们来活出来的所有的能力是在那里
,已经在那里。
所有的可能已经在那里。
它需要被彰显出来。
它需要被释放出来。
弟兄姊妹 天国到底是什么?
说到天国,从地方来说,或者从历史上来说
,是有它的意思。
但是基本上来讲,天国是一个属灵的实际。
天国不是别的,天国是我们的主做王。
他在他的百姓中间,他是做王的。
天国就是我们的主耶稣所在的地方。
天国就是一个地方,在那里他的百姓会被磨成他自己的形象。
这是天国的实际。
因此弟兄姊妹
我们这里看见
,主怎么样把恩典真是向我们倾导出来。
他不只是给我们一个像他做王的生命。
他要让我们做王的生命能够发展成为一个做王的性格。
当这个性格彰显的时候,这里就是天国了。
因此弟兄姊妹 我们主开始就给了我们这个所谓的八福。
我们已经说过 这里的重点是是而不是做。
那些邻里贫穷的人有福了。
因为天国是他们的。
当你的邻里的贫穷彰显出来的时候, 你就在天国的里面。
你就是天国。
感谢神。
祂的生命已经在我们里面。
但是祂的性格需要在我们里面能够成熟。
好让天国在我们里头,在我们身上可以成为实际。
我们再说在山上教训里面的话语。
是对我们主耶稣的一个描写。
那就是祂所示的。
当祂在世上的时候,祂是过一个像王的生活。
祂的生活就是天就在地上。
祂就需要我们这样的生活。
我们主耶稣来了。
不是要废掉律法和先知。
祂来是要成全律法和先知。
换句话说,祂要把它充而满之。
律法会要求一些事情。
但是恩典把我们带到一个地步
,比这个更高。
律法只能摸到外面的表现。
但是主的生命和主的恩典能摸到我们里面的生命。
因此我们的意必须胜过文士和法利赛人的意。
文士和法利赛人的意是外头的。
他们可能外面看起来是对的。
但是没有里头的实际。
他们可能遵守律法的字句。
但是他们违反了律法的经义。
因此我们的意必须胜过文士和法利赛人的意。
我们记得我们主耶稣向我们说, 先求神的国和祂的意。
其他的事情都会加在你身上。
那你如何寻求神的国呢?
寻求神的国是什么意思呢?
寻求神的国,简单地说就是这个意思。
就是说你愿意,你要像他一样。
你不会满足于他的生命在你里面就够了。
你不以到天堂为满足。
你要像他一样。
你愿意让他的性格在你的生命里面。
这个就叫做寻求天国。
你若是真正要像他一样。
让他的生命在里头能够抓住你。
他的意就跟着来了。
开始是一个是的问题。
然后你就自然有做的表现。
若是你像他一样。
那你就能够行出来像他一样。
你的行动就不是好像一个东西穿上来一样。
你的行动就是从里面生命涌流出来的表现。
这就是他的意。
弟兄姊妹。
我们一同交通的。
一个基督徒的生活。
或者说是一个天国国度的生活。
有一个暗中的
,有一个隐秘处的那个部分。
因为我们在地上过一个属天的生活。
因此就有一个隐秘的一个部分。
那就是我们在世上过活的那个源头。
在世上有三个方向
,三个方面。
那有与人之间关系的这一个方面。
有与神之间关系的那一方面。
还有与我们自己的关系的那一方面。
这些就被所谓的意义来表现。
就施舍来说。
就祷告来说。
还有禁食来说。
不管在哪一个方向。
你要发现我们的动机是对神的。
不只是对人而已。
当我们施舍的时候。
我们需要在暗中做。
而是要给神看见的,不是给人看见的。
我们的赏识是在天上,而不是在地上。
基督徒的生活不是为人,为别人所过的。
基督徒的生活是向神活的。
因此我们必须有一个暗处的生活。
我们必须有一个隐藏的生活,就是在那里我们与神面对面。
若是我们有一个这个隐藏的生活。
那我们看见在人面前的生活,会归荣耀给神。
祷告也是一样。
祷告是向神的。
祷告是寻求神的旨意。
祷告是荣耀神。
因此当我们祷告的时候。
我们需要到内室把门关上。
祷告在暗中的父。
我们在暗中的父,他会听到我们。
他会赏识我们。
当我们祷告的时候。
我们先需要为了神的国和神的旨意来祷告。
然后我们需要为我们自己的需要祷告。
或许我们的需要是属灵的。
或许我们的需要是魂里的。
或许我们的需要是身体上的。
当我们进食的时候。
我们需要是对神而做。
不是要让人注意我们。
因此很重要的一点。
我们要过一个天国的生活。
我们必须有一个暗中的生活。
那隐藏的生活强照的话。
我们在世上的见证也就坚强。
所有过一个天国生活的人。
过一个信心的生活。
弟兄姊妹。
我们以前提过。
信心的生活不只是为一些所拣选的少数的人。
信心的生活是对我们每一个人的要求。
为什么呢?
因为我们在世上是天国的子民。
我们在地上是做客旅所寄居的。
世界不是我们的家。
我们只是经过的。
所以我们在世上的生活是要有一个表现。
好像住在帐篷里一样。
我们的根不是扎在地上。
为了要把我们从属地的情形里面拯救出来。
主说不要为自己
,只积攒财宝在地上。
把你的财宝积攒在天上。
因为在地上有虫。
有兽。
有贼。
但是在天上没有虫,也没有兽,也没有贼。
主要把我们拯救出来。
我们的财宝是什么呢?
财宝就包括一切对我们魂来讲是那么重要的
,是我们魂里头的生命。
换句话说,财宝是你心里觉得最宝贵的东西。
是你真正依靠的东西。
就是你不愿意放手的东西。
或许是钱财。
或许是地位。
或许是一些人的关系。
弟兄姊妹。
主要把我们释放出来,释放出自由。
祂要我们把这些财宝放在天上。
换句话说, 就是换句话说
,就是把我们自己和把我们自己所觉得宝贝的都给他。
让他在一切的这些事情上,他有权柄。
我们在世上,不过是他给我们的东西的管家。
那我们对于他所要的,我们对他忠信。
这就是我们如何能够被侍奉马门, 把从侍奉马门这个光景里面释放出来。
因为我们侍奉主耶稣。
唯有他,是我们所侍奉的。
因此弟兄姊妹, 若是我们过这样的一个信心的生活,
那我们就不需要担心我们应该吃什么,要喝什么
,要穿什么。
因为我们知道我们天上的父, 晓得我们一切的需要。
若是我们先求神的国和祂的义, 那所有的事
,这些事情都会加给我们。
这是何等的生活?
今天早上我们来到第七章。
实际上说,第七章给我们一个总结。
当我们读马太福音第七章的时候, 可能给我们第一个印象,
可能给我们第一个印象, 第七章里面说到了几件事情,
好像这些事情没有关系。
当你读马太第七章的时候, 你好像觉得是读真言一样。
好像这里一点,那里一点。
好像这里一句话,那里一句话。
这里有一个立律, 那里有一个立律。
好像这些没关系。
可是当你真正的好好地读它, 你就发觉这里头有一个主旨, 在第七章里面。
这个主旨是什么呢?
主要祂的门徒们过一个有纪律的, 而且是顺从的生活。
而且是顺从的生活。
说是我们这样过生活, 那结果是如何呢?
那结果是如何呢?
结果就是得到了天国的赏赐。
所以开始这么说, 你们不要论断人
,免得被论断。
你们不要论断人,免得被论断。
因为你们怎样论断人,也必怎样被论断。
你们用什么良器量给人, 也必用什么良器量给你们。
这弟兄姊妹, 我们很容易有这个倾向来论断。
But that is a temptation that we are
always being tempted.
我们经常都是被这件事情所试探。
So far as our natural man is concerned,
就我们一个天然人来想, we like to judge.
我们喜欢论断。
Because in judging, it gives us a kind
of feeling that we are superior.
因为当我们论断的时候, 你比人好。
Now what is meant by judge not?
什么叫做不要论断?
It doesn't mean that you should not discern.
不是说你不辨明是非。
Now we need to have the spirit of
discernment.
我们需要有一个分辨的灵。
Because if you cannot discern, you cannot choose.
因为你若是不能分辨的话, 你就不能选择。
If you cannot discern, 你不知道从哪条路该走。
And if you do not discern, you are
not able to help anybody.
你若是不能分辨的话, 你不能帮助任何人。
There will be no ministry at all.
那就没有任何的服事。
But judge and discern are two different things.
但是论断和分辨是两件事。
The word judge here, 论断这个字, now if you
turn to Luke chapter 6, 你若是看见 这个路加福音第六章, I
think it's verse 39.
大概是三十九节。
It continues with condemn not.
在那里是说不要定罪。
So the judging here is condemning people.
所以论断这里是定罪别人。
It has the spirit of judgmental.
在这里论断是有一个灵, 那个灵是定罪别人。
It is critical.
是在那里批评别人。
It is looking down upon people.
是看不起别人。
And in a sense it is an arrogant
spirit.
换句话说是一个傲慢的灵。
So one brother says, 有一个弟兄说, when you are
saying something about people, 当你说一些话关于别人的时候, what is your
inward feeling?
你里面的感觉是如何?
If you are saying something bad about someone,
你若是说别人一个坏的事情, is your feeling within you mournful?
你里面是一个哀动的感觉呢?
Or you are feeling joy?
还是你里面一个高兴的感觉?
When you are judging a person, 当你论断一个人, are
you trying to criticize him?
你是要来批评他呢?
Or are you trying to restore him?
还是你想要挽回他呢?
So it depends upon our inward sense.
所以这是根据我们里头的感觉。
Now if we judge our brother or our
sister, 若是我们论断我们的弟兄,我们的姊妹, with a bad feeling, 而里面是有一个很不好的感觉,
we are criticizing them.
我们批评他们。
We are looking down upon them.
我们批评他们。
Now if we judge in this manner, 若是我们这样子来论断,
主说, 你会被论断。
Not only our Lord will judge you, 不只是我们的主要论断你,
but He will allow other people to judge
you likewise.
他也要让别人照你这个样子来论断你。
Because with what measure you met to others.
因为你用怎样的良器量给人。
It will be measured unto you.
也会被这样的良器量到你身上。
And according to Luke chapter 6, 根据路加辉帝, you
will find when they measure it back to
you, 你看到当他们用这个良器量给你的时候, they will press down, shaking together,
and overflowing.
它是连摇在岸上坚下流满出来。
In other words, you will get worse judgment.
换句话说, 你所得到的那个审判和那个论断, 是你吃不消的。
You remember the scribes and the Pharisees.
我记得文士和法利塞人, In John chapter 8, 在约翰福音第八章, One morning
they brought to the Lord a woman caught
in adultery.
有一天早上他们带了一个妇人, 这个妇人是在行瘾的当中被他们抓到。
They brought her to the Lord, 他们带她来到主面前, and
asked the Lord, what should we do to
them?
我们应该对这个妇人怎样?
You know according to the law of Moses,
你知道根据摩西的律法, he should be stoned to death.
他需要被石头打死。
So they tempted our Lord Jesus.
因此他们在这里试探我们主耶稣。
They knew that our Lord Jesus is love.
他们知道我们的主是满了爱。
So they want to challenge him.
因此他们在这里要挑战。
Now if the Lord said let her go,
若是主说你放她走, they will say our Lord violated the
law of Moses.
他们会说我们的主是违反了摩西的律法。
If our Lord said stone her to death,
若是我们主说把她用石头打死, they will say our Lord does not
have love and compassion.
他们会说我们的主没有爱心。
So when they brought that woman to the
Lord, 因此当他们把这个妇人带到主面前的时候, they put her in public shame.
他们就公开地羞辱她。
And what was the reaction of our Lord?
我们主的反应是如何呢?
You know, he bowed himself down.
你看我们的主他自己就弯下身来。
He will not even look at the woman.
他甚至非要不看这个妇人。
He will not say a word.
他不说一句话。
But he use a finger and write on
the earth.
石头在地上写字。
Now we do not know what he wrote.
我们不知道他写了什么。
People are very anxious to know what he
was writing.
很多人在那里猜测他到底写了什么。
They pressed him.
他们在那里要催促他。
What do you say we should do to
that woman?
你告诉我们说我们应该对这个妇人如何?
And our Lord raised himself up.
我们的主他就抬头说。
And he said anyone that has no sin
cast the first stone.
他们说你们中间任何人没有罪的话可以丢第一个石头。
And then he bowed down again.
他又垂下身来。
He will not even look at this man.
他不看这些人。
He is shameful for this man.
他对这些人他觉得可耻。
And one by one they left.
他们一个一个出去了。
From the oldest to the youngest.
从最老的到最幼的。
Then our Lord raised himself up again.
我们的主抬头说。
Is there no one condemning you?
没有人来论断你吗?
没有人定罪你吗?
The woman said none.
那妇人说没有。
But there was one there 有一个人在那里 Who could
condemn her.
他可以定罪她的。
但是我们主耶稣自己 但是主说 我也不定罪你。
你走吧。
但是做这件事的时候 He was thinking of Calvary.
我们的主是想到加略施加。
He was going to bear the sin for
this woman.
这个妇人的罪在他身上。
So brothers and sisters 弟兄姊妹 Here you find
our Lord Jesus.
这里我们看见我们的主耶稣。
How he is full of mercy.
他是满了怜悯。
He will not condemn.
他不定罪。
But we Who are sinners 我们这些罪人 How quickly
we judge and condemn.
我们这么快就审判。
我们这么快就定罪。
The apostle Paul tells us 使徒保罗告诉我们 In 1
Corinthians chapter 4 格林多前书第四章 If you will please
turn to it.
或许我们一同看一看。
1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3 格林多前书第四章第三节 But
for me It is the very smallest matter
That I be examined of you Or of
man's day Nor do I even examine myself
For I am conscious of nothing in myself
But I'm not justified by this But he
that examines me He is the Lord.
第三节第四节 我被你们论断或被别人论断 我都以为是极小的事 连我自己也不论断自己 我虽不觉得自己有错 却也不能因此得以称义
但判断我的乃是主。
So that do not judge anything before the
time Until the Lord shall come Who shall
also both bring to light The hidden things
of darkness And shall make manifest The counsels
of heart And then shall each have his
praise from God.
所以时候未到,什么都不要论断 只等主来 他要暗中 他要造出暗中的隐情 显明人心的意念
那时也得到称赞 You know actually What the Apostle Paul
says here 实际上 使徒保罗在这里所说的 He uses the word
examining 他在这里说 判断 Exam
查验 他这里说查验 Actually this word is a little
lighter Than the word judge 这里我们中文说是判断 可是原文呢 是比这个判断是要轻一点
所以叫做查验 Yeah, examining is the first step 因为查验是第一步
After you examine Then you judge 查验之后才能够判断 Now
the Apostle Paul said 使徒保罗所 He said it
is a very small thing For me To
be examined by anybody Or by the day
他说 若是任何人要是 查验我的话 对我来说这是小事 I do not even
examine myself 我自己也不查验我自己 Why?
Because the one Who really examines me Is
the Lord 因为什么呢 因为那真正查验我的使徒 不要在这里判断 Because there
are many Hidden things Things of the heart
We do not know 因为不要论断 因为里头隐藏着 心中的事情我们不知道的 We
have to wait Until the Lord will reveal
These things 我们必须要等到主 把里面这个隐情显明出来 When we come to
the judgment Seat of Christ And then Every
hidden thing Of the heart Will be exposed
那个时候我们心中所隐藏的 什么事情都会显明出来 And each will receive His praise
from God 个人要从神那里 得到称赞 因此弟兄姊妹 You find that
If we try to judge others 我们若是要 想要来论断别人
Actually there are many Hidden things We do
not know 有很多隐藏的事情 我们不知道的 There are things of
the heart That we do not know 那是心里的事情
我们不知道的 We can only see the outward appearance
我们只能看见外面的事情 Only God knows the heart 但是只有神知道心 So
our judgment Will not be accurate Our judgment
Is God's government 判断是神的 是神的行政 政治 It is
God who judges 神在那里审判 And only His judgment
Is just 只有祂的审判是正直的 So wait until that day
所以等到那一天 Then everything will be clear Everything will
be judged accordingly 那什么事情都会清楚了 神会很清楚地判断 Now this does
not mean That because Paul said I do
not even examine myself 因为保罗说 我甚至于不查验我的自己 那这个并不是说 That
does not mean That we should not Know
Where we are 这个并不是说 我们不需要知道 The Bible says
圣经说 Say in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 格林多前述的十一章
If we examine ourselves 就是我们查验我们自己 Then we will
not be judged 那我们就不会被审判 Now is there any
contradiction here 在这里是不是有矛盾呢 Not at all Because there
is A self-examination Which is introspection 在这里的确是有一个反省
是从里面 是向内的 If we try To examine ourselves
By ourselves 就是我们根据自己 来查验自己 Now such examination Is
futile 这样的查验是没用的 Because we do not even know
ourselves 因为我们不知道我们自己 We do not know our heart
我们不知道我们的心 So self-introspection Is unprofitable 因此内向的 反省和查验是没有用的
Now if it is self-introspection 反省 我们的反省
内在的反省 It will come to either result 那这里有两个不同的结果
Either it will So press you down That
you Are Becoming negative 就是一种呢 一种情形呢就是你 自己被自己的反省所压倒
那么受压 你就变成了 消极 Or it can so elate
you And make you proud of yourself 或许呢你自己觉得自己那么好
就让你成为一个骄傲的人 只有在他的光中我们可以见光 只有在他的光中我们可以见光 这是在诗篇三十六篇
In your light we see light 在你的光中我们见光 We
should bring ourselves into his light 我们需要把我们自己带到他的光前 Not
to try to examine ourselves by our own
light 不要用我们自己的光来检查自己 Because our own light is darkness
itself 因为我们的光其实是黑暗 He is the light of life
他是生命的光 And as we bring ourselves to his
light of life 当我们把我们自己带到他的生命的光的面前 Then in life we
begin to see light 在他的光里面 在生命里面我们看见光 And this
will be helpful to us 这个对我们是有帮助的 So brothers
and sisters We need to be careful not
to judge others 我们必须很小心不要论断别人 Because God loves mercy
not judging 因为神爱连续不爱审判 There
is another reason 有另外一个原因 Because if we judge
other people 若是我们审判别人 We are actually playing hypocrites
我们这里实在是假冒为善 Why?
为什么呢?
Because the Lord tells us 主告诉我们 If you
see or you profess to see The mote
in the eye of your brother And you
do not see the beam in your own
eyes 你说是看见了 或者你自己说你看见了 你弟兄眼中的一根刺 而没有看见自己眼睛里面已经有的一个良目
And then you tell your brother Let me
cast out the mote from your eye 你跟你弟兄说让我把你眼中的刺拿掉
Are you not playing the hypocrite?
你这里不是假冒为善吗?
Because you have the beam in your eye
因为你眼睛里头已经有一个良目了 How can you see clearly?
你怎么能看清楚呢?
And maybe the mote in your brother's eye
is a reflection of your beam 可能你弟兄姊妹眼中的刺 其实是你眼中良目的一个反射
So you are not only playing hypocrite 所以你不只是在这里是假冒为善
You have no way to help your brother
你根本没有办法帮助你的弟兄 You are the one who needs help
你自己是真正需要帮助的 So brothers and sisters Every time you
see something in your brother 每一次当你在弟兄身上看见了什么 The first
thing you should do 你第一要做的事情 Is to go
to God and ask the Lord if there
is a beam in your eye 是要来到神的面前问主说 我的眼睛里面是不是有一个良目
Probably what you see in your brother Is
only a tiny little reflection of what you
really are 或许你在弟兄身上看见了一些转触 不过是你自己一个大的转触的一个反射 You are so much
worse than your brother 你比你的弟兄还远了 And you are
the one who need to repent 你是需要悔改的人 And
ask the Lord to remove the beam from
your eye 求主把你眼睛里面的那个良目拿掉 Now after the beam is
being removed 当眼睛里面那个良目拿掉的时候 Then you can see clearer
然后你才能清楚地看见 And that is the time when you
are able to minister to your brother 在那个时候你才能够服侍你的弟兄
That is where discernment comes 这就是分辨就在这里 You know
spiritual discernment is a important thing in our
Christian life 在我们基督徒的生活里面 那个属灵的分辨力是一个很要紧的
不是从你的聪明的头脑出来 是从你的经历里面出来
因为你自己曾经经历过 因为神主是这样对付过你
因为主是把你从这里头拯救出来了 在这里你的眼睛就看清楚
你可以很清楚地看见 And you are able to help your
brother That is where ministry comes in 这个时候你才能够服侍
Now brothers and sisters Again we need to
be careful 再一次说我们需要很小心 Because what the Lord addressed
to are the individual believers 因为这里主告诉我们的是对我们每一个信徒说的 As individual
believers 作为一个个人的信徒 We should never try to judge
people 我们绝对不应该来论断别人 But this does not apply to
the church 但是这个不实用在教会整体的上 Because the bible tells us
very clearly 因为圣经很清楚地告诉我们 That the church is to
judge evil in it 教会必须审判邪恶 Because there is
a governmental side there 因为这里有一个治理的那一方面 But anyway you
find what the Lord is trying to deliver
us from Is from that judgmental spirit 不论怎么说
主在这里要把我们拯救的 把我们释放的 是要从那个审判的 从那个论断的灵里面释放出来
这就需要我们有一个纪律 我们需要主来给我们纪律
我们知道纪律这句话 在今天来说是不欢迎的
尤其是在比较年轻的一代中间 但是若是没有这个纪律
我们没有办法长大 我们不能成熟
耶稣的性格就没有办法在我们里面成熟 所以我们这些门徒非常重要的是
我们需要有纪律 若是我们没有这个纪律 我们怎么能够说我们是他的门徒呢
然后主又这么说 Give
not that which is holy to the dogs
Nor cast your pearls before the swine Lest
they trample them with their feet And turning
round ran you Now
this tells us of discernment 这里告诉我们要有个分辨
我们不要论断可是我们必须要能分辨
什么事情是圣的呢
圣的就是我们主向我们所说的话
全部山上的教训是圣的
因为这些话让我们成圣
让我们从世界上分别出来
我们从地被释放出来
我们在这里就完全分离了 为了主为了天
因此在山上教训里面的话就是圣物
不要把圣物给狗
狗是谁呢
狗在这里就表示说代表在世上的人 因为他们不接近的
那些不信主的人 若是你在这里想要把山上的教训交通给他们
他们会谢谢你吗 他们可能在这里来利用你
这个山上的教训是恩典的福音
他们这里所需要的是恩典的福音
就是对世上的人说你若是来到主的面前主会赦免
这是他们所能够领会的福音
换句话说他们所需要的是路加福音里面的福音
因为路加的福音
主对门徒说你去向他们告诉他们赦罪的福音
你向他们说福音好让他们的罪能够得到赦免
那就是世人所需要的那也是世人所能够懂得的
若是你把天国的福音向他们说
就是说马太福音里面所说的天国的福音
你就发觉这个天然人或者属血气的人他没有办法懂得
他看起来就觉得这些是愚蠢的事情
他就用这些东西反而要过来拿来打你
所以这里你需要一个分辨
当你与别人交通的时候
你需要分辨他能够懂得什么他能够知道什么
那就是用这些来帮忙他 然后他继续
不要把你们的珍珠丢在猪前 珍珠是什么呢
珍珠就代表经历 代表我们属灵的经历
因为珍珠就是这样造成的 因为珍珠就是这样造成的 of the,
suddenly that word escaped me, that clam, that,
yeah, and it's the sand entered into his
being, his being, and he couldn't get
it off, he couldn't get it off, he
couldn't get it off, so he began to
secrete something to cover it, and
layer and layer it begins to cover, and
out of his pain came forth pearl, so
he speaks of spiritual experience, the experience of
the sermon of the mount, now do not
cast it to a swine, now what does
swine represent, now according to Leviticus, swine has
cloven hooves, but do not chew the cut,
so swine here probably represents
professional Christians, or
it represents carnal Christians, they have cloven hooves,
but they do not chew the cut, now
when you share with a carnal Christian your
experience of the sermon of the mount,
they will not be able to accept
it, so you need discernment, because
if you do not discern, then you find
not only they will not appreciate, they will
turn back on you, so you see the
balance between judge not and discernment,
now you will say that's very difficult, so
that's the reason why it's very
difficult, and the Lord began to tell them
that I am the bread of life, eat
my flesh and drink my blood, and you
shall have life in you, not only the
crowds, but many of the disciples, they say
wow this is hard saying, we don't understand,
and they left without following the Lord, so
the Lord turned to his twelve disciples, do
you also want to leave?
You may, the Lord never force anybody, and
thank God for Simon Peter, Simon Peter said
Lord you have the word of life, and
we know you are the holy one, where
should we go?
We are caught, thank God for that, brothers
and sisters, when you listen to the word
of the sermon of the mount, will you
not have the same kind of reaction?
You will say wow this is hard saying,
who can do it?
And will you also depart?
You need to ask, you need to ask
and it shall be given to you, because
to you it is impossible, and the Lord
is not requiring you to do it, he
will do it, if you just ask he
will give it to you, keep on asking,
keep on seeking and keep on knocking, and
it shall be opened to you, and the
Lord said if you ask for, if your
children come and ask for a bread, will
you give your child a stone?
If your child come to you and ask
for a fish, will you give him a
serpent?
You who are evil, know how to give
good things to your children, how much more
your heavenly father will give the good things
to you?
And in Luke chapter 11 verse 13, what
are the good things?
The Holy Spirit, he will give the Holy
Spirit to you, in other words the Lord
knows you are not able to do these
things, he does not require these things from
you, he is requiring these things from himself,
his life is in you, and he is
well able to do these things, only let
the Holy Spirit work in your life, let
the Holy Spirit illuminate you, let the Holy
Spirit arrange the circumstances to discipline you, the
Holy Spirit is responsible to transform you and
conform you to Christ, just let the Holy
Spirit do his job, and then you will
be alright, so brothers and sisters, you will
find everything is grace, he is well able
to do it, to keep you to the
very end, and to present you glorious with
joy to himself.
Now this is again followed by an exhortation.
Now exhortation in Greek includes two meanings.
Exhortation means on the one hand encouragement, and
on the other hand warning, so whenever you
find in the Bible exhortation, you find there
is the encouraging part and the warning part,
and the encouraging part the Lord used two
parables.
One is enter into the narrow gate, and
the other is build on the rock, your
house on the rock, these are two encouragement.
Now having heard these words, the Lord said,
enter in through the narrow gate, for wide
is the gate and broad the way that
leads to destruction, and many are they who
enter in through it, for narrow the gate
and straightened the way that leads to life,
and there are few who find it.
Why is it that the Lord encourages us
to enter into the narrow gate?
It is a gate that few find it,
and yet the Lord encourages us to enter
into it.
Do you remember once our Lord Jesus said,
it is easier for a camel to enter
into the needle's eye than for a rich
man to enter into the kingdom.
Now whether this is literal or symbolic, I
think the meaning is the same.
A needle eye.
Now if you try to put a small
thread through it, probably it is difficult.
I cannot do it.
Now for a camel to enter the needle's
eye, that is absolutely absurd.
So some people say the needle's eye is
symbolic, because in the old days you had
the city gate.
And within the city gate you find there
is a small gate, small door.
Sometimes the city gate is closed, but the
small door is still open.
Now for a camel to get through the
small door called needle's eye, he,
that camel, must be stripped of all the
loads upon it.
And then you push and pull, and barely
get.
No, so what is meant here is very
simple.
We have to be stripped of all our
loads.
And then enter into the narrow gate.
Brothers and sisters, entering into the kingdom, you
have to do violence to yourself.
In Matthew we are told, in chapter 11,
from the days of John the Baptist until
now, the kingdom of the heavens is to
be taken by violence.
And the violence ceases upon it.
Violence, what does it mean?
It does not mean to do violence to
other people.
It means to do violence to yourself.
That is to deny yourself.
You know, deny yourself is to do violence
to yourself.
We usually love ourselves.
And here the Lord says, you have to
do violence to yourself.
You have to deny yourself.
Strip of everything that is of yourself.
Then you are able to enter into the
narrow gate.
You cannot enter the narrow gate carrying all
the loads with you.
When you enter into the gate of the
kingdom of heaven, you are stripped of yourself.
And only the life of the Lord will
go through.
And not only that, after you enter the
narrow gate, you find there is a straightened
way.
In other words, daily you bear your cross
and follow the Lord.
But it leads to life.
The way of the world, the gate is
broad.
And the way is broad.
And many are traveling in it.
But it leads to destruction.
The life here and the destruction here does
not refer to eternal life or eternal death.
Because that is already settled.
Matthew does not deal with this.
When we believe in the Lord Jesus, we
receive his eternal life.
And being eternal life, it is eternal.
We will never lose it.
Because it is a gift of God.
And God is not like the man who
repents.
It is not like man who repents.
What he has given, he will never take
it back.
Eternal life is ours.
So one day we will enjoy that life
to eternity.
One day, until eternity, we will have this
eternal life.
We have already passed through death into life.
So the life and the destruction here is
within the scope of the kingdom of the
heavens.
So the life and the destruction here is
within the scope of the kingdom of the
heavens.
In other words, one day, when the kingdom
of the heavens shall publicly appear upon this
earth, those
who enter the narrow gate will live a
thousand years with Christ.
That is to enjoy that life.
Those who do not want to enter the
narrow gate, do not want to walk the
narrow path, but choose to walk in the
way of the world, there will be destruction.
And the destruction does not refer to eternal
destruction.
It is to be kept out of the
life of the kingdom of the heavens.
Just like the five wise virgins, they enter
into the marriage feast.
And the five foolish virgins, they are kept
out of the marriage feast.
But this is for a thousand years.
When the kingdom of the heavens shall publicly
appear on this earth, after that coming
age comes to an end, and when eternity
shall come, those who are saved will all
be in Jerusalem.
So brothers and sisters, here you find, if
we allow the words of the kingdom of
the heavens to work in our lives, then
when the kingdom of the heavens shall publicly
appear on earth, we will enjoy life with
our Lord Jesus.
So that is our hope.
That is an encouragement.
And the same is true with building your
building on the rock.
The rock is the word of the Sermon
on the Mount.
And if we keep it, do it.
In other words, if we obey it.
Not by our own strength, but by His
grace.
If we follow what the word says, then
when the wind shall come, when the rain
shall fall, when the storm shall raise up,
it will stop.
So these two parables refer to encouragement.
And there are two other parables that speak
of warning.
In the kingdom of the heavens, there will
be people who are like false prophets.
They will put on a sheepskin, but in
their heart they are ravening words.
They will come in and try to preach
or say something different from what our Lord
has said.
They will say something, try to please our
flesh.
They will come and say, you can have
both words.
You can believe in the Lord Jesus.
And you need not follow the Sermon on
the Mount.
You will still be rewarded.
Now, if such false prophets coming into your
midst.
How are we going to discern?
See the fruit.
Fruit is the concentration or the maturity of
life.
Not by actions.
Acts.
It's by the fruit.
See what that life will bring forth.
Then you know who are the real ones,
who are the false ones.
And then again.
Then you will find there is another class
of people.
They are not the false prophets.
And they are people who come to the
Lord and say, Lord, Lord.
And they are real believers.
Not only real believers, but they are zealous
for the Lord.
And they are zealous for the Lord's work.
And they say, Lord, Lord.
Have we not cast out demons in your
name?
Have we not prophesied through your name?
Have we not through your name many works
of wonders?
Now, certainly these people feel that they shall
be rewarded with a kingdom.
But to their surprise, the Lord said, depart
from me.
I never knew you.
Workers of lawlessness.
Can it be lawlessness?
When you are preaching in his name?
When you are casting out demons in his
name?
When you are working wonders of the Lord,
and yet on their own.
They do not seek the will of God.
And do not follow God's will.
So the Lord said, these are workers of
lawlessness.
The Lord said, I do not know you.
It means, I do not approve of you.
Depart from me.
In other words, they will have no part
in the coming kingdom of the heavens.
So, brothers and sisters, what is important is
the Lord is not expecting us to do
anything for him.
The Lord wants us to submit to his
will.
And if we submit to his will, then
he will reward us with a kingdom.
After our Lord has finished speaking, the people
who heard it said, he spoke differently.
He spoke with authority.
Why?
Because he is the personification of his own
words.
His word has authority.
His word has power.
So let us trust in his word.
Yield ourselves to his word.
And let the Holy Spirit work it out
in our life.
Let us pray.
Dear Lord, we want to thank thee for
thy grace.
Thou does not require anything from us, but
thou does require thyself in us.
Thou art in us.
And thou does desire to express thy life.
Do teach us how to yield ourselves to
thee.
To be taught of thee.
To be disciplined by thee.
That we may be brought to the place
where you want us to be.
That thy kingdom may come.
And thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven.
May thy name be hallowed.
We ask in thy precious name.
Amen.