上帝的国度是不断在成长的！你也在随之成长吗？
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Matthew 13 is a chapter of parables. Seven parables to be exact. The first one is Jesus’ seminal parable of the sower that describes the four types of hearts that receive the seed of the message of the kingdom. After describing these types of hearts, Jesus becomes the sower planting six seeds: the parables. The following six parables all describe the same thing: The Kingdom of Heaven. He concludes His extensive teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven by telling His listeners that those who have been instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven will have new and old treasures.
马太福音第13章里有许多的比喻，确切地说有7个比喻。第一个比喻是撒种的比喻，它描述了四种接受天国信息种子的心。描述完这四种心之后，耶稣作为撒种的人撒下了六种种子：天国的比喻。下面的这六个比喻全都是描述同一个对象：天国。耶稣结束了关于天国的众多教导，告诉他的听众们，接受天国教导的人将会拥有新的和旧的宝藏。
In the six parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, each story has main characters actively doing something such as planting seeds, kneading yeast into dough, searching for pearls and pulling up a fishing net. All of this heavy lifting, toiling, searching and baking suggests that the Kingdom of Heaven is something we are actively a part of right now.
这六个关于天国的比喻当中，每个故事里的主要人物都在做某件事，例如播撒种子、发酵面团、寻找珍珠、拉上渔网。负重、劳作、寻找、烘焙，所有这些行动都预表着天国就是我们目前正在进行的某些行为。
The first three parables Jesus told in public with no explanation. Then later, when He was alone with the disciples, He explained the first parable and then told them three more. Jesus was serious about sharing the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven only with those who had ears to hear.
耶稣在众人面前讲述前三个比喻，祂没有解释这些比喻的意思。但是之后他和十二门徒独处时解释了第一个比喻，并且又告诉他们另外三个比喻。耶稣只对那些有耳来听（虚心受教）的人讲论天国的奥秘。
In this article, we will take close look at the first three parables Jesus publicly shared: the parable of the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast. Do we have ears to hear? What did Jesus want us to know about the Kingdom of Heaven? Are we also active characters in this story?
这篇文章里，我们将来仔细查看一下耶稣在众人面前讲述的前三个比喻：稗子的比喻、芥菜种的比喻、酵的比喻。你是否预备好耳朵来聆听呢？耶稣想要我们知道天国的什么奥秘呢？我们也像故事里积极行动的那些人物吗？
Parable of the weeds
稗子的比喻
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”
Matthew 13:24-30 NIV耶 稣 又 设 个 比 喻 对 他 们 说 ： 天 国 好 像 人 撒 好 种 在 田 里 ， 及 至 人 睡 觉 的 时 候 ， 有 仇 敌 来 ， 将 稗 子 撒 在 麦 子 里 就 走 了 。到 长 苗 吐 穗 的 时 候 ， 稗 子 也 显 出 来 。 田 主 的 仆 人 来 告 诉 他 说 ： 主 阿 ， 你 不 是 撒 好 种 在 田 里 麽 ？ 从 那 里 来 的 稗 子 呢 ？ 主 人 说 ： 这 是 仇 敌 做 的 。 仆 人 说 ： 你 要 我 们 去 薅 出 来 麽 ？ 主 人 说 ： 不 必 ， 恐 怕 薅 稗 子 ， 连 麦 子 也 拔 出 来 。 容 这 两 样 一 齐 长 ， 等 着 收 割 。 当 收 割 的 时 候 ， 我 要 对 收 割 的 人 说 ， 先 将 稗 子 薅 出 来 ， 捆 成 捆 ， 留 着 烧 ； 惟 有 麦 子 要 收 在 仓 里 。
马太福音13:24-30（和合本）
This parable makes a clear distinction between good seed and weeds. The good seed produced such a precious crop that an enemy wanted to destroy it and the owner wanted to preserve it at all costs – even if it meant allowing the wicked weeds to flourish for a time.
这个比喻很明确地界定了好种子和稗子的差别。好种子能长成珍贵的麦子，以至于仇敌想尽办法摧毁它；而主人不惜一切守护它，甚至为了不伤害麦子而不惜让稗子暂时与之一同茂盛生长。
The disciples didn’t understand the meaning of this parable. Some time later, when they were alone with Jesus in a house, they asked Him to explain the story. But before they had some private time with Him to understand the secrets, He taught two more mysterious parables to the crowd.
门徒们一开始不明白这个比喻的意思。之后他们单独和耶稣在屋子里时，他们请耶稣解释这个比喻，但在那之前，耶稣又向众人讲述了另外两个奥秘的比喻。
Parable of the mustard seed
芥菜种的比喻
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32 NIV
他 又 设 个 比 喻 对 他 们 说 ： 天 国 好 像 一 粒 芥 菜 种 ， 有 人 拿 去 种 在 田 里 。 这 原 是 百 种 里 最 小 的 ， 等 到 长 起 来 ， 却 比 各 样 的 菜 都 大 ， 且 成 了 树 ， 天 上 的 飞 鸟 来 宿 在 他 的 枝 上 。
马太福音13:31-32 （和合本）
Once again Jesus uses the image of a seed sower. But this time, there is just one seed, one very tiny seed that a man purposefully plants in his field. This tiny seed has an incredible growth potential and once it starts to grow, it becomes a tree that attracts birds looking for a perch.
耶稣又一次描述了一幅撒种的景象。但是这一次，只有一粒种子，一粒非常非常微小的种子， 有人特意将它种在地里。这颗微小的种子拥有令人难以置信的成长的潜力，一旦它开始成长，它就能长成一棵大树，吸引许多鸟儿来宿在它的枝上。
Parable of the yeast
面酵的比喻
Jesus then tells the parable of a woman baking bread. I can personally identify with the woman in this story. There was a time in my life when I had a hobby of baking bread. I enjoyed the process and rhythm of working, resting, working, resting. I would work the dough with my hands but then after I kneaded it, there was nothing I could do but rest and wait and wait for the yeast to do its work and the dough to rise. Then I would place it in the oven and wait for the delicious smell of fresh bread to fill my home.
然后耶稣讲述了一个比喻，是一个妇人在做烘焙。我个人很能带入到这个故事的角色里。有段时间我很喜欢烤面包。我很享受烤面包时那种工作节奏——揉面、休息、烘烤、休息。我用手揉面，但是当我把面揉好后就只能等待酵母发挥它的功用将面团发起来。然后我会把发起来的面团放进烤箱，等候面包的香气从烤箱里飘出来，充满整个家。
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:33 NIV他 又 对 他 们 讲 个 比 喻 说 ： 天 国 好 像 面 酵 ， 有 妇 人 拿 来 ， 藏 在 三 斗 面 里 ， 直 等 全 团 都 发 起 来 。
马太福音13:33（和合本）
When making bread, a very small amount of yeast is required to rise in the dough creating the soft and light texture of fresh baked bread that is so enjoyable especially straight out of the oven. Maybe I loved the process of baking so much because of my reward of fresh homemade bread!
做面包的时候，只需要一点点面酵就能使面团发起来，让面包拥有松软的质感，尤其是特别是刚出炉的时候，真是太让人愉悦了！也许正是因为这新鲜的自制面包作为犒劳，所以我才对烘焙的过程也充满热爱吧。
Both the mustard seed and yeast are incredibly small and seemingly inconsequential in comparison to the large field and 60 pounds of flour. How could a tiny seed alter an entire field? How can a small amount of yeast cause every pound of 60 pounds of flour to rise? The seed and yeast may be small, but their growth potential is great and unstoppable. Once they begin to grow, their influence is massive.
芥菜种和面酵都是极其微小的东西，似乎不太可能对一大块田地或是60磅的面粉造成什么影响。一颗小小的芥菜种怎么能改变一整块田地呢？一点点面酵怎么能使60磅的面粉发起来呢？这芥菜种和面酵也许体积很小，但是它们却具有巨大的、无法阻止的成长潜力。一旦它们开始成长，它们将会造成巨大影响
The concept of the least growing to become the greatest is a hallmark of Jesus’ Kingdom of Heaven teachings. When the disciples later asked Him who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, He called a child to stand among them.
“最小的要成为最大的”是耶稣所描述的天国一个标志性的概念。晚些时候，当门徒们问耶稣在天国里谁最大的时候，耶稣叫了一个小孩子到他们当中。
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4 NIV说 ： 我 实 在 告 诉 你 们 ， 你 们 若 不 回 转 ， 变 成 小 孩 子 的 样 式 ， 断 不 得 进 天 国 。 所 以 ， 凡 自 己 谦 卑 像 这 小 孩 子 的 ， 他 在 天 国 里 就 是 最 大 的 。
马太福音18:3-4（和合本）
The smallest will become the greatest. The last shall be first. The servant will become the honored one. In this way, the Kingdom of Heaven is developed. The tiny mustard seed contains all that is needed to grow into a great tree that is seen and enjoyed by all. The yeast will affect the entire batch of dough allowing it to grow to become mouthwatering bread.
最小的要成为最大的；最后的要成为最先的；为奴仆的将被尊荣。天国就是以这样的方式发展。微小的芥菜种子拥有长成被人看见并且喜爱的大树所需要的一切因素所需具备的一切。而那一点点面酵也拥有让面团变成令人垂涎的面包的影响力。
The Kingdom of Heaven: Growth potential that is unstoppable
天国：不可阻挡的成长潜力
The Kingdom of Heaven will always grow, and no one can stop it. Trendy clothes come and go. Viral videos become distant memories. New cool app’s become quickly outdated. Kingdoms rise and fall. But the Kingdom of Heaven is always growing, always influencing and it will never be stopped. At times, it may appear small and inconsequential, but it is mighty and changes the world. It is mighty in you and when you plant the seeds, and work the yeast into the dough, there will be an eternal effect.
天国一直在成长，没有人能阻止。潮流的服装款式不断更新迭代；影视巨作也渐渐成为模糊的记忆；现今那些酷炫的应用软件都很快过时；邦国兴起又衰败；但神的国度却不断在成长，一直带来影响而且无人能阻止它的成长。有时候，天国的影响力貌似很小，但它却是大能的并且能改变世界。天国在你里面大有能力，当你播下种子或是将面酵加入面团时，将带来永恒的改变。
The man who planted the mustard seed cannot take any credit for the greatness of the Mustard Tree. The woman working the yeast in the dough cannot boast about her ability to cause dough to rise. The man merely planted the seed and the woman just worked the yeast into the dough. We can never take credit for the power of the Kingdom of Heaven in us or in this world. We do our part to implant the Kingdom wherever we go. But it is God Himself who causes the Kingdom to expand.
芥菜种长成参天大树并不是撒种人的功劳；面团因为面酵被激发膨胀也不能归功于和面的妇人。撒种的人只是把种子播种到地里，和面的妇人也只负责把面酵揉进面团里。我们决不能因为天国在我们里面或是在世界的成长就认为是自己的功劳。无论到哪里，我们只是尽本分播种天国的种子而已。但让天国扩张的是上帝自己。
How is the Kingdom of Heaven growing in you? How are you planting the seed and working the yeast into the lives of those around you? Will God use you as a carrier of the Kingdom of Heaven in society?
天国是怎样在你里面成长的呢？你是怎样对你周围的人播撒种子和使用面酵的呢？上帝会使用你在人群中成为天国的传播者吗？
The parable of the weed explained
解释稗子的比喻
As soon as Jesus and His disciples left the crowd for the privacy of a home, the disciples asked Jesus about the meaning of the parable of the weeds. Maybe this parable had been on their mind all day. The parable itself is a bit disturbing. There is an enemy and destruction at the end. Were the disciples trying to figure out where they fit into the parable? They didn’t ask about the mustard seed or yeast parables – the ending of those parables was growth and increase, maybe the disciples could grasp that without a clear explanation. But this parable of the weeds had them stumped and they just had to know what it all meant. What was the secret in this story?
耶稣一离开众人进到房子，门徒们立刻就来询问耶稣稗子的比喻。也许这个比喻他们已经思考了一整天了。这个比喻让人有些不安。在这个寓言故事的结尾有提到仇敌和毁灭。门徒们是在尝试弄清楚自己在这个故事里是什么角色吗？他们并没有询问芥菜种和面酵的比喻，因为那两个比喻的结局都是成长和壮大，也许不需要多做解释，门徒们也能领会其中奥秘。但这个故事的奥义难住了他们，他们得弄清楚这个故事究竟是什么意思。那么这个故事的奥秘是什么呢？
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:34-43 NIV这 都 是 耶 稣 用 比 喻 对 众 人 说 的 话 ； 若 不 用 比 喻 ， 就 不 对 他 们 说 甚 麽 。这 是 要 应 验 先 知 的 话 ， 说 ： 我 要 开 口 用 比 喻 ， 把 创 世 以 来 所 隐 藏 的 事 发 明 出 来 。当 下 ， 耶 稣 离 开 众 人 ， 进 了 房 子 。 他 的 门 徒 进 前 来 ， 说 ： 请 把 田 间 稗 子 的 比 喻 讲 给 我 们 听 。 他 回 答 说 ： 那 撒 好 种 的 就 是 人 子 ； 田 地 就 是 世 界 ； 好 种 就 是 天 国 之 子 ； 稗 子 就 是 那 恶 者 之 子 ； 撒 稗 子 的 仇 敌 就 是 魔 鬼 ； 收 割 的 时 候 就 是 世 界 的 末 了 ； 收 割 的 人 就 是 天 使 。 将 稗 子 薅 出 来 用 火 焚 烧 ， 世 界 的 末 了 也 要 如 此 。 人 子 要 差 遣 使 者 ， 把 一 切 叫 人 跌 倒 的 和 作 恶 的 ， 从 他 国 里 挑 出 来 ， 丢 在 火 炉 里 ； 在 那 里 必 要 哀 哭 切 齿 了 。 那 时 ， 义 人 在 他 们 父 的 国 里 ， 要 发 出 光 来 ， 像 太 阳 一 样 。 有 耳 可 听 的 ， 就 应 当 听 ！
马太福音13:34-43 （和合本）
The Kingdom of Heaven: mixture and then separation
天国：先混合再分别
In this story we learn a disturbing truth about the Kingdom of Heaven. There are people in our world that are from the evil one. It is distressing to see wicked things they do in our world and it is equally upsetting to think that people are so influenced by the devil. The good and the evil are truly mixed together in our world. Can you tell the difference between the two? Who are the wheat and who are the weeds? Jesus said that sometimes they can be mistaken for one another. But coming a time at the end of this age will be a clear separation between the righteous and the wicked. The consequences will be great. The wicked will be destroyed. The righteous will shine like the sun.
这个故事告诉我们关于天国的一个令人不安的真相。在我们的世界里有一些人是出自那恶者。看到他们做那些邪恶的事令人痛心，想到有人被魔鬼影响也让人感到沮丧。但在这世上，义人和恶人共存，你能区分二者吗？谁是麦子、谁是稗子？耶稣说两者有时会被混淆。但是最后会明确地把义人和恶人分别开来。结局会是圆满的。恶人将被摧毁，而义人会像太阳一样闪耀。
We need not be the judge of the wicked on the earth. They will be exposed and punished for the evil they have done. When we see the wicked flourishing around us, let us not wonder why they are successful or wonder why God is not doing something. There will be a clear separation. On that day, may we be counted among the righteous.
我们不用世上的恶人做任何论断。他们最终将会暴露并且为自己的恶行受到惩罚。如果我们看到身边的恶人得志，不要纳闷为什么他们能成功，上帝为什么袖手旁观。将来会对义人和恶人有一个明确的划分。到那天，希望我们都能被算作义人。
Let us all grow and shine!
让我们来成长和发光吧！
Jesus continues to reveal the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven to us today through His Word and His Holy Spirit who is active in our lives to help us understand the teaching. Through these first 3 parables, let us be encouraged to seek the growth of the Kingdom of God in our lives and to live lives that are set apart for God’s glory. As we grow and shine for Jesus, may we proclaim His Kingdom to the world today!
耶稣现今依然借着圣经和运行在我们里面的圣灵向我们启示天国的奥秘。这头三个比喻鼓励我们去追求神国在我们生命中的成长，并去过为神的荣耀而分别为圣的生活。当我们为着耶稣而成长和发光的时候，愿我们今天就以此向世界宣告他的国度！
