马太福音22:1-14
Matthew 22:1-14
1. Hello listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. We are at the very last message from the series of messages entitled, “The Point of the Story”.
今天是我们“故事的精髓”系列信息的最后一讲。
3. And it comes from Matthew chapter 22, verses 1 to 14.
经文的出处是在太22:1-14。
4. And it’s about a wedding.
讲的是一场婚礼。
5. Everyone loves a wedding!
每个人都喜欢婚礼，
6. Everybody, that is... except perhaps the groom... and the brides father.
可能除了新郎和新娘的父亲之外吧。
7. They have their different reasons of course... but nonetheless weddings are always joyous celebrations.
他们当然有不同的理由，但无论如何，婚礼总是令人快乐的场面。
8. the one who really looks forward to the wedding day is the bride.
最盼望婚礼的人，大概是新娘了。
9. She longs to be with her future husband.
她渴望和未来的丈夫在一起。
10. She is filled with expectations.
她充满了期许。
11. The husband to be... has showered her kindness.
未婚夫向她表明了爱意。
12. He promised to be her protector
他承诺要做她的保护者。
13. and cover her spiritual head.
做她属灵的领袖。
14. He proved to her again and again that his love for her is unconditional.
他一次一次向她证明自己对她的爱是无条件的。
15. And that he will always be available in the times of need.
并且会在她需要的时候永远陪伴着她。
16. All this adds up to the bride counting the seconds to dwell with him permanently.
这一切促使新娘盼着与他白头偕老。
17. And that’s precisely why the Scripture repeatedly points out that spiritually speaking the relationship between the Lord and His church... is like the ideal relationship between a husband and wife.
这就是圣经不断在说明的一个主题，也就是从属灵的角度讲，基督和教会的关系就像理想的丈夫与妻子的关系。
18. The Book of Hosea reminds us of what can happen when a faithless wife breaks the heart of her husband.
何西阿书告诉我们，一个不忠之妻是何等让丈夫心碎。
19. It can easily work the other way.
我们与神的关系也是一样。
20. Throughout the Old Testament God reveals to us how He felt toward the unfaithfulness of His people.
神在整本旧约圣经中不断告诉我们，祂对子民的不忠是何等伤痛。
21. He fulfilled His promises to them.
祂信实守约，
22. He protected them day and night.
祂日夜保守他们，
23. He provided for them day and night.
祂每天供应他们，
24. He blessed them richly.
祂大大赐福他们，
25. He loved them unconditionally.
祂无条件地爱他们，
26. But they kept on running after other gods.
但他们总是去跟随别神。
27. They kept on running after things.
他们总是追求物质，
28. They set their hearts on the things of the world.
他们的心都在世界上面。
29. And, they did what is most hurtful of all.
并且，他们让神最伤心的事，
30. They ignored Him and became indifferent toward Him.
就是忽视冷落神的存在。
31. This brings us to the last parable we are going to study in this series of messages.
这就带出了我们今天的最后一个比喻，
32. It is in the light of that history that the Lord Jesus tells His Jewish hearers this magnificent parable in Matt. 22.
主耶稣就是在这样的历史背景下，说出了太 22章的伟大比喻。
33. Let’s read it.
我们一起来读。
耶稣又用比喻对他们说：“天国好比一个王为他儿子摆设娶亲的筵席，就打发仆人去，请那些被召的人来赴席，他们却不肯来。王又打发别的仆人，说：‘你们告诉那被召的人，我的筵席已经预备好了，牛和肥畜已经宰了，各样都齐备，请你们来赴席。’那些人不理就走了；一个到自己田里去；一个做买卖去；其余的拿住仆人，凌辱他们，把他们杀了。王就大怒，发兵除灭那些凶手，烧毁他们的城。于是对仆人说：‘喜筵已经齐备，只是所召的人不配。所以你们要往岔路口上去，凡遇见的，都召来赴席。’那些仆人就出去，到大路上，凡遇见的，不论善恶都召聚了来，筵席上就坐满了客。王进来观看宾客，见那里有一个没有穿礼服的，就对他说：‘朋友，你到这里来怎么不穿礼服呢？’那人无言可答。于是王对使唤的人说：‘捆起他的手脚来，把他丢在外边的黑暗里；在那里必要哀哭切齿了。’因为被召的人多，选上的人少。”
34. Now, I want you to focus on the four different groups of people in this parable.
现在我想请你注意在这个比喻中的四种不同的人。
35. The first group are those who refused the invitation.
第一种就是拒绝邀请的人。
36. The second group are those who excused themselves.
第二种是找借口推脱的人。
37. The third group are those who used the invitation well.
第三种是欢然接受邀请的人。
38. The fourth is one person who refused the king’s provision.
第四种就是那个拒绝王之供应的人。
39. In the ancient times... a wedding feast was inseparable from the wedding itself.
在古代，婚宴和婚礼是分不开的。
40. Depending on the financial strength of the family... sometimes the feasts went on for weeks.
根据每家人不同的经济实力，有时婚宴会持续好几周。
41. A royal wedding, of course, would be held in the palace.
皇家的婚礼自然是在皇宫里举行，
42. And a king is always very extravagant in his desire to please his guests.
国王总是竭尽所能的使客人们尽兴。
43. The fact that this is a wedding feast is incidental... there is no mention of the bride here.
实际上，婚宴只是一个巧合，这里并没有提到新娘。
44. The wedding feast was chosen by our Lord to emphasize the festivities.
主用婚宴来强调欢庆的气氛。
45. A royal feast obviously is going to be the party of all parties.
一个皇家的婚宴，自然是宴会中的宴会啦。
46. Often, people like to out do each other in their extravagance...
通常人们都会彼此攀比，要胜过别人的奢华程度。
47. But, when it comes to the king no one can match his parties.
然而，有谁能胜过国王的宴会呢？
48. But this particular party... is given by the greatest monarch of the universe.
况且这个宴会的主人是宇宙间最伟大的君王，
49. And it is given to the most honored guest imaginable.
是为最尊贵的客人预备的。
50. And when the preparation was complete the king sent out his servant to all those who had already been invited.
当一切准备就绪，国王打发他的臣仆，请那些被召的人来赴席。
51. To be on the king’s pre-invitation list... was the highest honor possible.
在王的首批邀请单上的大概都是最尊贵的客人。
52. The best thing about this feast was that it is all provided for you... free!
为你预备好的宴席最棒的部分，就是它是完全免费的。
53. So, you can imagine somebody turning the king’s invitation down
所以，你可以想象那些拒绝王的邀请的人，
54. The very thought of turning down such an invitation is preposterous.
简直就是荒谬至极。
55. An invitation from one’s king brings the greatest honor imaginable.
因为从国王而来的邀请是极大的荣誉，
56. To spurn the king and his invitation is a serious offense.
拒绝王的邀请是很严重的犯上之罪。
57. In the ancient days few kings, if any, were known for their humility and patience...
在古代，谦卑有耐心的国王可说是微乎其微，
58. especially when they are openly insulted.
特别是当他们公开地受到侮辱。
59. So, this king sends out the invitation... but this time not only do they refuse the invitation... and excuse themselves.
所以，王送出请柬，而他们却拒绝邀请，并为自己找借口。
60. This time the invitation is more urgent.
这次的邀请更为紧迫，
61. The food is ready... the king is sitting at the table and waiting.
因为宴席已经准备好了，国王已经坐在桌旁等候。
62. Possibly there is an imploring on the part of the servants.
可能仆人们去恳求那些人，
63. Please... don’t turn the king’s invitation down.
求求你们，不要拒绝王的邀请。
64. Possibly there was pleading for the people to come to the feast.
可能他们请求那些人来赴席，
65. But, many of the invitees were cold and indifferent.
然而，许多被邀者都冷漠无情。
66. They were selfishly pre-occupied with their personal business.
他们自私地钻营自己的事情，
67. They were busy making a living and missing out on life.
他们忙着讨生活，什么都不愿缺乏。
68. but they were pre-occupied with their wants and their ambitions... forgetting the most important thing in life.
然而，他们被各样私欲野心所吞没，忘记了生命中最重要的事。
69. They were running around, seeking after a mirage where the real festivities... the real king... and the real joy... and the real value in life... are being ignored and snubbed.
他们追求海市蜃楼，却对真正的王，真正的喜乐，真正的生命价值嗤之以鼻。
70. But there was another group of invited guests who were worse than indifferent.
不过，还有一种人比冷漠之人更可恶。
71. They themselves were offended by the persistent invitation.
他们受不了这不断的邀请，
72. So, in an act of brutal arrogance they seized the king’s servants and mistreated them and killed them.
所以，出于无知的残忍，他们就拿住王的仆人，凌辱他们，把他们杀了。
73. The equivalent in our day would be the ones who insist that anything to do with God must be practiced in secret.
今天，这样的人就是那些认为神的一切事都不可以公开进行的人。
74. They are the ones who persecute God’s faithful servants.
他们逼迫神忠心的仆人，
75. Those people... in the parable... represent those who are actually hostile to Biblical truth...
在这个比喻中，这些人代表了那些敌对圣经真理的人。
76. Throughout history, the two enemies of the cross have been... indifference and false religions.
纵观历史长河，十字架的两大敌人就是冷漠无知和假宗教。
77. But the persistence on the part of the king is an indication of God’s gracious patience.
但是国王的坚持，表现了神的恩慈和忍耐。
78. The persistence on the part of king is an indication of God’s gracious forbearance with those who rejected Him.
国王的坚持，表现了神对拒绝他之人的宽待。
79. Which brings me to the third group of people... those who made good use of the invitation.
这就要提到第三种人，也就是应邀出席的人。
80. The servants commission was to go everywhere and invite everyone... and this is precisely what the great commission is all about.
仆人们的使命就是出去到各处邀请人，和我们的大使命一模一样。
81. It is to go and make disciples of all nations.
就是：去！使万民做主的门徒。
82. The invitation was to whomsoever may come.
邀请是给所有要来之人的。
83. Because they are both equal in the sight of God.
因为在神面前人人平等。
84. The original invited people saw themselves to be morally and spiritually superior... so they were uninvited.
最先被邀请的人，自以为德高望重，所以他们不能赴席。
85. The second group was a mixed group...
第二种人是一个混杂的群体。
86. but the Bible said that: “Only those who washed their robes in the blood of the lamb... will be qualified to come into the king’s feast.”
但圣经告诉我们说：唯有那在羔羊的血中洗净衣服的人，才配赴王的宴席。
87. Fourthly, we see among those who came there was one who wasn’t wearing a wedding robe.
第四种人，就是那个没有穿礼服的人。
88. This intruder who came to feast was included in the general invitation.
这个冒仿者在最初被邀之列，
89. He was not an uninvited guest who came without an invitation.
他并不是一个没有请柬的客人。
90. But, because he was not properly dressed... he stood out in contrast to all the other guests.
但是，因为他没有穿戴整齐，看起来和所有客人格格不入。
91. You say, “How come?”
你说，怎么会呢？
92. Well... none of the people who had come had proper clothes for the prince’s wedding.
其实啊，参加王的婚宴的，没有一个人拥有合适的衣服。
93. In most royal weddings the guest were handed a gown as they came in.
在所有皇家婚宴上，每个客人都会发给一件袍子。
94. Here the king made provision for wedding clothes.
国王为客人们预备了礼服。
95. The king knew that all of his guests... all of those who responded to his gracious invitation... were poor and have no royal attire.
国王知道，所有那些回应他邀请的人都是穷人，也没有皇家的行头。
96. Just as the king of kings knows that none of us... have any righteousness to get us anywhere near heaven.
正如万王之王了解，我们没有一个人能通过自己的好行为，靠近天堂。
97. For all of your good works without Jesus, the Bible said: “Is like a dirty rag.”
因为若没有耶稣，圣经上说：你所有的好行为就如同一件破衣服。
98. So... God made provision for those who trusted in Jesus Christ to put on the righteousness of His son.
所以，神为那些相信耶稣基督的人预备了祂独生子的义。
99. But this one person decided to defy the royal protocol.
但这个人却决定拒绝皇家的预备。
100. He was a proud and self-willed individual.
他是一个骄傲，自我中心的人。
101. He was insulting to the king’s provision.
他辱没了国王的预备。
102. This one person in the wedding represents all those who think that they are going to Heaven on the strength of their good works.
这个人代表了，所有认为可以通过自己的好行为上天堂的人。
103. He represents all those who think that they are going to Heaven on the strength of their merits.
他代表了所有想要靠自己的力量上天堂的人。
104. When the king confronted this man who was presumptuous... thinking that he could come to the king’s feast on his own terms... he was speechless.
当王质问这个自以为是的狂妄之徒时，他哑口无言了。
105. But, his arrogance was short lived... the king found him out and sent him into the outer darkness.
他的傲慢持续不了多久，王就发现了他，并把他丢在外面的黑暗里。
106. My listening friends, please listen to me very carefully.
我亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我说。
107. You cannot get to heaven without the righteousness of Jesus.
没有公义的耶稣，你是绝对上不了天堂的，
108. Even if you do good work every single day of your life.
即便是你一生每一天都在行善，
109. You will be thrown into the outer darkness
你还是会被丢在外面的黑暗里。
110. Only the richness of Jesus Christ, the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ will qualify you to go to heaven.
唯有耶稣基督的丰富，和他完美的公义才可以使你进入天堂。
111. Will you receive his righteousness today?
今天你会接受祂的义吗？
112. Will you say, Lord Jesus, give me that gown of your righteousness?
你会说，主耶稣，请赐给我你的义袍吗？
113. Lord Jesus I know that it is only through your righteousness that I can get into heaven.
主耶稣，我知道唯有通过你的义，我才能进入天堂，
114. It is my prayer that you would say this prayer with me.
我盼望你会和我一起作如下的祷告：
115. Come into my life Lord Jesus.
主耶稣，请进入我的生命，
116. Forgive me my sins.
宽恕我的罪，
117. Accept me into your kingdom,
接纳我进入你的国度，
118. So that I will not be ashamed on the last day.
以至于我在末后的日子不至于羞愧。
119. In your name do I pray Jesus,
祷告是奉耶稣的名，
120. Amen.
阿们。
