The Kingdom of Heaven Parables part 2 || 天国的比喻 第二部分

This Spiritual Waimai is a part of a series entitled Mission Accomplished: the mission of Jesus Christ as told by Matthew and now lived out by you and me.

这篇属灵外卖是“完成的使命”系列文章之一，这个由马太福音所述耶稣基督的使命，现在要由你我活出来。

Jesus was a master teacher and dynamic storyteller. In Matthew 13 Jesus shares 7 parables to explain the Kingdom of Heaven to those who have ears to hear. These stories contained secrets for those who were truly seeking God’s truth. For the listener who sincerely desired to find the secrets of heaven, they could be found in Jesus’ story and the result would be treasure in the life of the hearer.

耶稣是一位导师和精力充沛的故事作者。在马太福音第13章，耶稣对那些有耳可听的人分享了7个比喻来解释天国。这些故事涵盖了那些真正寻求神真理的人的奥秘。对那些诚挚渴慕天国奥秘的倾听者，它们能在耶稣的故事里被寻见，最终会在听者的生命中被珍藏。

The first parable Jesus shared in this chapter was the famous parable of the sower. This story was a set-up for all of His other parables. The seed of the gospel was available to all people. But only those who have a heart consisting of good soil would receive the seed and bear fruit. After this first parable, Jesus planted 6 seeds – six parables describing the Kingdom of Heaven. In this article we will read the last three parables. Is the soil of your heart ready to receive these precious seeds? Will you seek the hidden treasure?

耶稣在这一章中分享的第一个比喻是著名的撒种比喻。这个故事是所有其他比喻的一个根基。人人都能获得福音的种子。但只有那些心如好土壤所造之人才能得到种子并结出果子。在这个比喻之后，耶稣种下6颗种子-六个描述天国的比喻。在这篇文章里，我们将读到最后三个比喻。你心里的土壤准备好接受这些宝贵的种子了吗？你会寻求隐藏的宝贝吗？

Parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl
隐藏宝贝的比喻和珍珠的比喻

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:44-46 NIV

“天国好像宝贝藏在地里，人遇见了就把它藏起来，欢欢喜喜地去变卖一切所有的，买这块地。天国又好像买卖人寻找好珠子，遇见一颗重价的珠子，就去变卖他一切所有的，买了这颗珠子。”
马太福音 13:44-46

Both the man in the field and the pearl merchant knew the incredible value of the secret treasure they had found. Because they knew that buying the treasure or the pearl was a fantastic deal, they joyfully gave up everything they owned so they could afford to make the purchase. They realized that the treasure and the pearl were actually far more valuable than what they already had in their hands.

在地里的人和珍珠商都知道他们找到的神秘宝贝价值惊人。因为他们知道买这个宝贝或珠子是一笔大交易，所以他们欢欢喜喜地变卖一切所有的，才能买下它。他们意识到这个宝贝或珠子的价值实际上大大超过了他们手上所有的。

The Kingdom of Heaven: Hidden and valuable ‬‬‬‬
天国：隐藏的和珍贵的

The Kingdom of Heaven has unlimited value. Are we seeking it? Are we giving up all that we have to receive it into our lives or are we holding tightly to what we believe is valuable and missing the greatest treasure of all?

天国是无价的。你在寻求它吗？我们正放弃所有来接受它进入我们的生命，还是紧紧抓住我们相信有价值的东西而错失那最宝贵的？

Parable of the Net
网的比喻

Jesus’ final parable in this discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven is one that many of His disciples could easily identify with. It was a fishing parable. If you have ever been fishing with a net before, you know that when you let down your net, you will catch everything that passes by. But you might not want to keep everything that you catch.

耶稣这段话里关于天国的最后一个比喻是祂的门徒最容易识别的。这是一个捕鱼的比喻。如果你之前用网捕过鱼，你就知道当你撒下网，会捕获水里所有经过的东西。但是你也许并不想把捕到的东西全都留下。

Not far from where I live, there is a quiet fishing village. Friends and I often go there to enjoy the peace and beauty of the beach. I love boating and being out on the water, so several times we have headed out with local fisherman to do some fishing. In the evening we drive the boat out into the sea and then set out a long net to leave overnight. In the early morning we jump in the boat and head back to our net to see what treasures are waiting for us. We eagerly pull in the net, cheering when we spot a big fish or crab. One time we caught a tremendous eel and all screamed and jumped as the fisherman grabbed a hold of its wiggling body and tossed it in the boat towards us. I screamed and laughed so hard that I almost fell out of the boat. The good fish, crabs and even big eel went in a bucket to take to the local restaurant. But not everything in the net was worth cheering over. There were plenty of things we didn’t want like dead fish, tiny crabs and even garbage. When Jesus told His parable of the fishing net, I’m sure His disciples knew exactly what He was talking about.

在离我住的地方不远处，有一个安静的渔村。我和朋友们会经常去那里欣赏沙滩的安宁与美丽。我喜欢划船和出海，所以我们有几次和当地渔民一起出去捕鱼。晚上，我们把船开到海里，撒下一张长网过夜。次日早晨我们跳进船里开回到我们撒下的网，去看看有什么宝贝在等着我们。我们急切地收网，看到一条大鱼或螃蟹时就欢呼起来。有一次我们捕到一条巨鳗，当渔夫抓住它扭动的身体，并朝我们扔进船里时，我们所有人都尖叫着跳了起来。我极力喊叫大笑，差点跌下了船。味道鲜美的鱼，螃蟹甚至巨鳗都扔进桶里带到当地餐厅。但并不是所有捕进网中的东西都值得欢呼。有很多我们并不想要的东西，比如死鱼，小螃蟹甚至垃圾。当耶稣讲述撒网的比喻，我相信祂的门徒完全明白祂在说什么。

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47-50 NIV

“天国又好像网撒在海里，聚拢各样水族，网既满了，人就拉上岸来，坐下，拣好的收在器具里，将不好的丢弃了。世界的末了也要这样。天使要出来，从义人中把恶人分别出来，丢在火炉里；在那里必要哀哭切齿了。”
马太福音 13:47-50

The Kingdom of Heaven: mixture and then separation – again‬‬‬‬
天国：混合又分别-再一次

Jesus warns that there will be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. The two may be swimming together, but when the end of the age comes, the wicked will be plucked out and thrown into a blazing furnace.

耶稣告诫说义人和恶人要分别出来。这两个人也许正在一起游泳，但末日来临时，恶人将被提出来丢在火炉里。

How will you know if you are good enough to be counted among the righteous? We are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. Our good deeds will not give us the righteousness we need to be accepted by a holy God. When we confess our sins and receive the gift of forgiveness through Christ, we are made clean and bear the righteousness of Christ. This is what will save us. Not righteous acts, but faith alone in Jesus Christ.

你怎么知道你是否足够好被算作义人呢？我们因着耶稣基督的信称义。我们的好行为不能带给我们义，我们需要被圣洁的神接受。当我们认罪并藉着基督领受了饶恕的礼物时，我们就被洁净并承受得起基督的义。我们就是因此得救。不是正义的行为，而是在耶稣基督里的信心。

Treasures for those who understand, miracles for those with faith
宝藏给听明白的人，奇迹给相信的人

“Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.” And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 13:51-58 NIV

耶稣说：“这一切的话你们都明白了吗？”他们说：“我们明白了。”他说：“凡文士受教作天国的门徒，就像一个家主从他库里拿出新旧的东西来。”耶稣说完了这些比喻，就离开那里，来到自己的家乡，在会堂里教训人，甚至他们都希奇，说：“这人从哪里有这等智慧和异能呢？这不是木匠的儿子吗？他母亲不是叫马利亚吗？他弟兄们不是叫雅各、约瑟、西门和犹大吗？他妹妹们不是都在我们这里吗？这人从哪里有这一切的事呢？”他们就厌弃他。耶稣对他们说：“大凡先知，除了本地本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的。”耶稣因为他们不信，就在那里不多行异能了。
马太福音 13:51-58

This chapter ends with Jesus and His disciples returning to Jesus’ hometown. We see a striking difference between Jesus’ disciples and Jesus’ hometown friends. The disciples understood the parables and received treasures old and new in the storehouse of their heart. The hometown friends lacked faith and the troubling result was Jesus did not do many miracles in His own hometown for the people who possibly knew Him the best. What a tragedy. These hometown friends had the benefit of growing up with Jesus, but when it came time to personally believe and put their trust in Him, they took offense and rejected Him.

这一章以耶稣和祂的门徒回到耶稣的家乡作结尾。我们看到在耶稣的门徒和耶稣家乡的朋友们之间有明显的不同。门徒明白这些比喻，并且在他们心房里领受了新旧宝贝。家乡的朋友们缺乏信心，令人不安的结果是耶稣没能在祂自己的家乡，对那些可能最了解祂的人多行异能。真是一个悲剧啊。这些同乡朋友们和耶稣一起长大占了优势，但该要个人信心和信靠祂的时候，他们就厌弃和拒绝祂。

Let us be like the disciples who know Jesus and seek to understand His teaching. May the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven be hidden in your heart and may your faith grow as you trust and follow Him and see His miracles in your life.

让我们像门徒那样认识耶稣并寻求明白祂的教导。愿天国的宝贝藏在你的心中，愿你的信心增加，就像你信靠和跟随祂，并在你的生命中看见祂的异能。