Manna issue 77 Overcoming Trials and Temptations (III): The Snare of Temptations 勝過試煉與試探(三)：試探的網羅
How can we overcome temptations? 我們如何勝過試探
Based on a sermon series by Aun Quek Chin—Singapore
新加坡 陳恩國 傳道 講道
As part of their journey of faith, Christians have to handle trials and temptations. The first part of this series considered
Elder James’ guide on how to distinguish between trials and temptations; the second part looked at the joy of trials. In
this final part, we focus on how we can avoid the trap of temptations.
試煉與試探是信仰旅程的一部份，基督徒一定要處理他們。
這一系列的第一講思考雅各長老的指導，如何分辨試煉與試探；
第二講研討試煉的喜樂。
在這講最後的部份，我們要集中在我們如何避免試探的陷阱；
Common excuses:
“If God had not allowed the devil to tempt us, we would not
have been tempted to sin and fall.”
一般的藉口
"若是沒有神允許魔鬼來引誘我們，我們就不會被罪所引誘，並且跌倒"。
“God knew that the devil was out to tempt and destroy man.
Why did God not immediately destroy this evil one? It was
God who allowed the devil to survive and carry on tempting
and killing. I should not be blamed for sinning; it is all God’s
fault for permitting this malevolent being to continue his
heinous mission!”
"神知道，魔鬼出來試探，摧毀人類。
為什麼神不立刻摧毀惡者呢？
就是神允許魔鬼存活下來，繼續試探和殺戮的。
我不應該因為犯罪受到責罰；
全部都是神的錯，允許惡毒的存在，繼續他極度兇惡的任務！"
THE SOURCE OF TEMPTATION 試探的來源
Human Justifications and Excuses 人類的理由和藉口
The natural tendency for humans is
to look for something or someone
else to blame when they have erred.
Many who have fallen to temptation
blame God, the devil, or both!
當人類犯錯的時候，很自然的傾向，就是尋找別人或是別的事情來加以責怪。
許多人當陷入引誘的時候，就責怪神，魔鬼，或者全部都責怪！
We are convinced that we are the
victims; we blame God for allowing
the devil to harm man. We even justify
our first ancestors’ sin! We reason
that without the forbidden fruit in the
Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve would
not have been enticed. And even if the
fruit were there, Adam and Eve would
not have touched it had it not been
for the smooth-tongued serpent.
我們會被說服，認為我們就是受害者；我們怪神，因為祂讓魔鬼來傷害人類。
我們甚至會為我們第一對先祖的罪過來辯解！
我們的理由就是，若是在伊甸園裡面沒有禁果的話，亞當和夏娃就不會被引誘。
而且即使禁果在那裡，若沒有蛇的油嘴滑舌，亞當和夏娃也不會去碰它。
The Origins of Temptation 試探的來源
Enticed by our own desires 被自已的慾望引誘
Elder James tells us that the above
reasoning is wrong. Humans are
tempted and enticed by their own
desires (Jas 1:14–15). The origin of
sin, and the relationship between sin
and man, stems from man himself, not
the devil. Temptation does not arise
from the existence of the forbidden
fruit, but from the desire within
us. According to Apostle Paul, sin
entered the world through one man,
and death through sin (Rom 5:12). He
did not say that sin entered the world
through the devil, and death through
the devil. In short, the apostles were
consistent in their teaching—those
who sin should not blame either the
forbidden fruit or the devil.
雅各長老告訴我們，上面的裡由是錯誤的。
人類被引誘是因為自已的慾望。(雅 1：14-15)
罪的來源，罪和人之間的關係，來自人類自已，並不是魔鬼。
引誘的出現，並不是來自禁果的存在，而是自已我們心裡的慾望。
根據使徒保羅的說法，罪透過一個人進入了世界，而死亡又從罪而來。(羅 5：12)
祂並沒有說，罪透過魔鬼而進入了世界，死亡又從魔鬼而來。
簡言之，眾使徒從頭到尾都維持同樣的教導 - 那些犯罪的人，不應該責怪禁果，或是魔鬼。
Some insist that temptation
would not have arisen had the fruit
not existed or the devil not been
present. Such arguments overlook
or deliberately ignore the fact that
humans have freedom of choice. The
fruit hung from the tree, but man had
choices at different points: of walking
toward the tree, of reaching out to
touch it, of plucking it, and of eating
it.
有一些人會堅持說，引誘不會出現，若是禁果不存在，或是魔鬼不存在。
這種爭論忽略了，或是說故意忽略了人類有選擇自由的事實。
禁果掛在樹上，但是人們在不同的時間點，都有許多選擇權：
走向這棵樹，伸出手來摸它，摘下果子，並且吃了果子。
It is no sin to look at the fruit or
to touch it. But doing so brings us
to the dangerous frontier. The single
act of reaching out, plucking the fruit
and eating it would push us over the
border into the realm of disobedience
to God, i.e., sin. Clearly, this action
is of our own volition. We can, or
should, blame no one else.
看著果子，或是摸著果子，並沒有罪。
但是這麼作的話，會把我們帶到一個危險的境地。
光是伸出手，摘下果子，吃下果子的每一個動作，就會把我們推過界限，進入了不順服神的的國度，這就是，罪。
很明顯地，這個動作是來自我們自已的意志力。
我們可以，或應該，不能怪任何人。
The important question that we
must consider is why we choose to
succumb to our desires.
我們要思考的重要問題就是，為什麼我們選擇屈服於自已的慾望。
Did not curb our desires 沒有勒住自已的慾望
Some rapists blame their crime on their
victim. They claim that the woman
was too beautiful or provocatively
dressed. Clearly, no clear-thinking
judge or jury would accept such a
rationale! We cannot stop birds from
flying over our heads, but we can stop
them from building a nest in our hair.
Similarly, we cannot stop a beautiful
woman from walking past us, but we
can stop ourselves from following her
with our gaze (Job 31:1).
有一些強奸犯責怪他們的受害者，讓他們犯了這個錯。
他們宣稱，這個女人太過美麗，或是穿著太過挑逗。
很明顯地，若是沒有仔細思考過的法官，或是陪審團，就會接受這種理論！
我們不能阻止鳥兒飛過我們的頭上，但是我們卻可以阻止他們在我們的頭髮上蓋一座巢。
同樣的道理，我們不能阻止一位美女走過我們旁邊，但我們卻可以阻止自已的眼睛一直盯著她看。(伯 31：1)
David was a mighty warrior who
defeated the towering Philistine
Goliath in his youth. But as king, he was
defeated by his own uncurbed desires.
The sight of beautiful Bathsheba in
the bath led him to inappropriate
thoughts and, eventually, sin.
大衛是一個大能的勇士，他在年輕的時候，打敗了大的腓利士人哥利亞。
但成為國王的時候，他卻被自已勒不住的慾望所打敗。
看到漂亮的拔士巴在洗澡，讓他產生不太正常的想法，到最後，就犯了罪。
This is often what happens to us. Our
first view of inappropriate material—
pornography, for example—may have
been pure coincidence. But because
we allow our thoughts to dwell on
these images, our desires are aroused.
Even when concerned brethren warn
us, we dismiss them, and may even
accuse them of being nosey, overly
suspicious, and prudish. We refuse
to make a conscious and concerted
effort to curb our desires and avoid
these opportunities to sin. Finally, and
fatally, we cross the boundary into sin.
這常常是發生在我們身上的。
我們看了不合適的東西一眼 - 例如，色情圖片 - 可能是出自於純粹的巧合。
但是因為我們讓自已心中想到這些影像，我們的慾望就被挑起了。
即使當有些關心的弟兄姐妹警告我們，我們對他們的好意不予理會，
或許甚至批評他們太過於好管閒事，太過於多疑，或是太過正經。
我們拒絕下決心，並且一起努力來制止自已的慾望，讓自已可以避免因為這些機會而犯罪。
到最後，我們無可避免地越過了這個界限，作了犯罪的事。
David had a thousand ways to
justify inviting Bathsheba to his
palace after that first accidental view:
She is a neighbor to whom I should
demonstrate hospitality. She is the
wife of my loyal warrior to whom I
want to show gratitude. And thus his
desire grew until they both committed
adultery.
大衛在第一次意外看見拔示巴的時候，他有上千百種的方式，
來合理化邀請拔示巴到他的皇官來：她不過是大衛展示好意對象的一個鄰居。
她是我一個忠心戰士的妻子，對她大衛想要表示感激。
因此他的慾望升起了，直到最後他們兩個人一起犯了姦淫。
Therefore, an indispensable spiritual
workout for us is to exercise control
over our hearts; to prevent sinful
desires from germinating and drawing
us into making choices against the
will and commands of God. When
Jesus Christ comes again to judge
man, He will judge according to each
one’s work (1 Pet 1:13–17). It would
be futile then to blame the devil or
somebody else.
所以，對我們來說，不可缺少地有必要有一個心靈的鍛練，讓我們可以運節制來控制自已的內心；
防止慾望發芽，促使我們作出選擇，違背了神的旨意和誡命。
當耶穌基督再來要審判人類的時候，祂會根據每一個人的工作，來作審判(彼前 1：13-17)。
這個時候再來責怪惡魔，或是其他某一個人，就沒有用了。
THE DEVIL’S METHODS OF TEMPTATION 魔鬼引誘的方法
Nevertheless, it is undeniable that
the devil is tireless in his efforts to
tempt man (1 Pet 5:8). There are
generally two broad approaches that
he employs.
雖然如此，無可否認地，魔鬼毫不厭倦，努力要來試探人。(彼 5：8)
他所會運用的方法，大約有二個大方向。
First, he makes it a huge disincentive
for man to remain faithful to God.
This could take the form of extremely
difficult circumstances. For example,
both Job and his wife were put
through great suffering. While Job
persevered, his wife surrendered her
faith in God (Job 2:9).
首先，他會弄一個巨大的不利因素給人，讓人無法繼續對神忠心。
這可能會透過運用極端困難環境的形式。
例如，約伯和他的妻子二個人，都被放在一個困難的情況，經歷了大試煉。
當約伯堅持下來的時候，他的太太卻放棄了她對神的信心。
Second, the devil instigates man
to go against the word of God. This
second approach is more complex
and insidious. Many have fallen by
this strategy. The devil used this to
tempt the Lord Jesus. In fact, he tried
three times to use the word of God
to tempt Jesus to go against God!
第二，魔鬼會煽動人，來違背神的話。
第二種方法，是更加複雜和陰險。
魔鬼因為這種策略而跌倒。
魔鬼使用這個方式來試探主耶穌。
事實上，他試了三次，使用了神的話，來試探耶穌去違背神。
The First Temptation: Challenging Our Identity 第一種試探：挑戰我們的認知
Now when the tempter came to Him,
he said, “If You are the Son of God,
command that these stones become
bread.” But He answered and said,
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
(Mt 4:3–4)
3那試探人的進前來，對他說：你若是神的兒子，可以吩咐這些石頭變成食物。
4耶穌卻回答說：經上記著說：人活著，不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裡所出的一切話。
(太 4：3-4)
This first temptation is a challenge to
prove our identity. It was no mere test
of Jesus’ ability to perform miracles.
What was the devil’s true intent?
這第一個試探是一種挑戰，來証明我們的自尊。
那不只是對耶穌能夠行神蹟能力的一種測試。
那魔鬼真正的用意是什麼呢？
Just before the Lord Jesus was
led into the wilderness by the Spirit,
He had been baptized. When Jesus
came out of the water, the heavenly
Father proclaimed that Jesus was His
Son, and sent His Holy Spirit to prove
that Jesus was His Son (Mt 3:16–17).
By challenging Jesus to perform a
miracle, the devil was implying that
the heavenly Father’s endorsement of
Jesus’ identity was not enough; the
devil wanted Jesus to prove His own
identity by demonstrating His power.
就在主耶穌被聖靈帶到曠野之前，祂已經受洗了。
當耶穌從水裡上來的時候，天父大聲宣佈，耶穌是祂的兒子，
並且降下聖靈來証明耶穌就是祂的兒子(太 3：16-17)。
藉由挑?耶穌要他施行神蹟，魔鬼實際上暗示，光是天父的認可耶穌的身份是不夠的；
魔鬼想要耶穌藉由展兆祂的能力，來証明祂自已的身份。
The devil knew Jesus had fasted for
forty days and was hungry. So he tried
to drive a wedge between Jesus and
His Father by suggesting that his way
was superior to the heavenly Father’s
method. By turning the stones to
bread, Jesus not only proves His
identity but also feeds Himself.
魔鬼知道耶穌已經禁食了四十畫夜，而且非常的飢餓。
所以他試著破坏耶穌和天父的關係，藉由建議他的方法是比天父的方法更好。
如果可以把石頭變成麵包，耶穌不只証明了祂的身份，而且也可以餵飽祂自已。
This was the devil’s stratagem.
He provided an incentive for Jesus
to go against the word of God; he
challenged Jesus to use a miracle to
prove that He was the Son of God,
and to resolve the problem of hunger.
As humans, we would find the devil’s
reasoning logical and appealing. If
Jesus was truly the Son of God, God
would not allow or want Him to go
hungry. Performing a miracle both
proves Jesus’ divine power and status,
and generates food. The devil could
then be silenced.
這是魔鬼的計謀。
他提供誘因讓耶穌去違背神的話；
他挑動耶穌使用神蹟來証明，祂就是神的兒子，並且解決飢餓的問題。
身為人類，我們可以發現魔鬼的推理很合理，也很吸引人。
若耶穌真的是神的兒子，神就不會讓祂，或是要祂變得飢餓。
施行一個神蹟，不但可以証明耶穌天上的能力和身份，也可以變出食物來。
然後魔鬼就可以閉口不言了。
But Jesus immediately rejected the
temptation, saying, “Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every
word of God” (Lk 4:4b). By this,
Jesus was emphasizing that He would
rather forego miracles and food than
cast doubt on the heavenly Father’s
testament to His sonship. Jesus’
priority was to affirm and submit to
His Father’s words.
但是耶穌立刻拒絕這個引誘，祂說，
"人活著不是單靠食物，乃是靠神口裡所出的一切話。"(路 4：4b)
藉著這件事，耶穌強調，祂寧可放棄神蹟和食物，而不去質疑天父對祂身為兒子身份的說明。
耶穌去作的事，就是重新再確認祂天父所說的話，並且加以順服。
Had the Lord Jesus yielded to the
natural human impulse of performing
a miracle in order to kill two birds with
one stone, He would have effectively
obeyed the devil, rather than His
heavenly Father. He would have
denied the Father’s wisdom and way,
and the sufficiency of the Holy Spirit’s
testimony.
若是主耶穌屈服於人類自然的衝動，為了可以有一石二鳥的效果，而施行神蹟，
實際上祂將變成順從了魔鬼，而不是順從天父。
祂將變成否認了父親的智慧和方法，以及聖靈作見証的合理性。
We may also encounter a similar
temptation today. God uses the truth
and the Holy Spirit to testify that we
are children of God. The truth that
saves tells us that baptism in the name
of Jesus washes away our sins, making
us the sons of God. Then when we
pray for and receive the promised
Holy Spirit, this Spirit of sonship will
prove that we are children of God
(Gal 4:6). However, in our afflictions
(e.g., poverty, unemployment, illness)
the devil tempts us with insinuations
that God has abandoned us: “Are
you really a son of God? Then why
are you hungry? Why are you so ill?
If you are truly a child whom God
loves, you should pray and ask God
to perform a miracle, to resolve all
your problems, to heal your sickness!
If God heeds your request, you have
proved that you truly are a child of
God!” The unspoken corollary hangs
in the air: “But if God does not heal,
are you truly the son of God? Does
God really love you? Perhaps He’s not
the right God for you ….”
今日我們或許也面對相同的試探。
神用真理和聖靈來作見証，我們是神的兒女。
救贖的真理告訴我們，奉主耶穌聖名的洗禮洗去我們的罪，使我們成為神的兒女。
然後當我們祈求聖靈，並且得到了應許的聖靈之後，具有兒子名份的聖靈將會証明我們是神的兒女(加 4：6)。
然而，當我們在痛苦之中(例如，貧窮，失業，生病)，魔鬼就會試探我們，暗示神已經放棄了我們：
"你真的是神的兒子嗎？那麼為什麼你會飢餓呢？為什麼你會病得這麼嚴重？
如果你是神真是所愛的小孩，你應該禱告，救神施行神蹟，來解決所有問題，並且治療你的疾病！
若神垂聽了你的祈求，你已經証明了，你真是一個神的兒子！"
但是其中所隱含卻沒有說出來的事情是："但是若神沒有治好你，你真的是神的兒子嗎？
神真的愛你嗎？或許他對你而言，並不是真正有用的神..."
While this may sound farfetched
when we are strong in faith, many
Christians have yielded to doubt;
many have left to pursue other beliefs
that can bestow more and immediate
“blessings” (2 Tim 4:10). The truth
they know—sin-cleansing baptism,
the testimony of the Holy Spirit,
etc.—is cast aside. These Christians
need miracles to prove that they
are children of God. Miracles have
usurped the truth and the Holy Spirit
as primary testators.
當我們信心堅強的時候，這可能聽起來很牽強，但許多基督徒卻已經屈服產生懷疑了；
許多人已經離開去追尋其他的信仰，那些可以讓他們有更多及立刻"祝福"的信仰(提後 4：10)。
他們已經知道的真理，洗禮可以除罪，聖靈會作見証，等等，都被拋在一邊了。
這些基督徒需要神蹟來証明，他們是神的兒女。
好像神蹟已經取代了真理和聖靈，成為主要的代言人。
Hence, we must be alert to the
devil’s lure. Counter him as Jesus did:
“Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God.” We believe and
affirm whatever God has said and
whichever approach He chooses. We
are not deterred by the absence of
miracles, lack of food, or impending
death. The heavenly Father has given
us the truth and the Holy Spirit to
testify that we are children of God
and we are saved—this is enough.
因此，我們一定要警謹有關魔鬼的引誘。
就像耶穌以前作的一樣來對抗他："人活著不是單靠食物，而是依靠神口裡所說的一切話。"
我們相信，並且証實，無論神曾經說了什麼，無論祂選擇用什麼方法。
我們不會因為沒有神蹟，缺乏食物，或是即將面對死亡的關係，因而打消念頭。
天父已經賜給我們真理和聖靈來作見証，我們是神的兒女，我們已經得救，這就夠了。
The Second Temptation: Challenging Our Physical Wellbeing 第二種試探：挑戰我們肉體的享受
Then the devil took Him up into the
holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of
the temple, and said to Him, “If You
are the Son of God, throw Yourself
down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over
you,’
and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you
up,
Lest you dash your foot against a
stone.’ ”
Jesus said to him, “It is written
again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord
your God.’ ”
(Mt 4:5–7)
5魔鬼就帶他進了聖城，叫他站在殿頂（頂：原文是翅）上，
6對他說：你若是神的兒子，可以跳下去，因為經上記著說：主要為你吩咐他的使者用手托著你，免得你的腳碰在石頭上。
7耶穌對他說：經上又記著說：不可試探主─你的神。
(太 4：5-7)
This second temptation is a
challenge to our physical wellbeing.
The devil taunted Jesus with “God will
protect you.” The reference to Psalm
91:11–12 shows that the devil had
not misquoted Scripture. However,
he misinterpreted and misapplied it.
The complete Psalm 91:11 is “For He
shall give His angels charge over you,
to keep you in all your ways.” The
phrase “all your ways” refers to ways
which are according to the word of
God. It definitely excludes situations
where we choose to go against the
word of God. If we walk according
to the word of God, and walk on His
path, He will protect us. But if we
deliberately defy Him by walking on
the wrong path, how can we demand
God’s protection?
第二種引誘是挑戰我們物質上的享受。
魔鬼嘲諷耶穌說，"神會保護你"。
引用了詩篇91篇11-12節，顯示魔鬼並沒有錯誤引用聖經。
然而，他卻錯誤地解釋經文，並且錯誤的使用經文。
完整詩篇91篇11節是"11因他要為你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保護你。"
"一切道路"一詞，指的是根據神的話，所走的道路。
它絕對不包含我們選擇去違背神的話，這種情況。
若我們遵行神的話，走在祂的道路上，祂就會保護我們。
但是若我們故意藐視祂，走在錯誤的道路上，我們如何能得到神的保護呢？
The devil was implying that the Son
of God deserved God’s protection in
every way even if Jesus deliberately
threw Himself off the pinnacle of
the temple—because it had been
recorded that God would protect Him.
But this is wrong. Putting ourselves
in harm’s way in order to compel
God to demonstrate His love for us
is tempting God. If God does not
protect us, He will be accused of not
keeping His word. But if He stretches
out His hands to protect us, we have
treated the Lord of the Universe as a
servant whom we have compelled to
fulfil our whim in our foolish desire to
refute the devil’s taunt. But Jesus was
wise enough to see through the devil’s
manipulation and unequivocally
rejected him with “It is written again,
‘You shall not tempt the Lord your
God.’ ”
魔鬼暗示，在任何事上神的兒子都應該受到神的保護，即使是耶穌故意從聖殿的最高點往下跳 -
因為聖經記載著，神會保護祂。但這是錯的。
把自已放在容易受傷的情況之下，為了強迫神來展示祂對我們的愛，就是試探神。
若神沒有保護我們，祂就會因為沒有實現祂的承諾，而受到毀謗。
但是若祂伸出雙手來保護我們，我們就把全宇宙的主宰，當成是僕人，強迫祂來完成我們因為愚笨慾望所產生的奇想，用這種方式來反駁魔鬼的嘲諷。
但是耶穌很聰明，可以看透魔鬼的計倆，用聖經的話語明確的拒絕他，
"經上又記著說：不可試探主─你的神。"
Today, we may unknowingly fall
into the devil’s trap. For example,
someone may challenge us to pray
for a seriously ill person, with the
words: “If he recovers, I will believe,
because it proves that God is with
you.” In our eagerness to prove that
our God is true, we quickly accept
the challenge, and then proclaim a
fast-and-pray drive. In our prayer,
we tell the Creator what a wonderful
opportunity this is for evangelism
and order the Creator to perform
this miracle of healing. And if after
countless announcements and prayer
sessions, the potential convert is not
healed and leaves to join another
religion or Christian denomination, are
we tempted to secretly rebuke God?
Are we tempted to demand that God
helps us to keep up with churches
of other denominations whose
pastors appear to be performing so
many miracles that they attract new
believers by the thousands? Indeed,
the Lord Jesus promised that signs,
miracles and wonders will accompany
our evangelism (Mk 16:15–18), but
these are performed as and when
God wills; not as and when to rebut
the devil’s challenge.
今日，我們或許不知不覺之中，掉入了魔鬼的陷阱。
例如，有個人或許要挑戰我們，要我們幫一個病得很嚴重的人禱告，而且這麼說：
"若是他病好了，我就會信神，因為這件事証明了，神與你同在"。
在我們急切地想要証明，我們的神是真的，我們很快就接受了這個挑戰，並且推動禁食禱告。
在我們的禱告中，我們告訴造物主，這是一個傳福音很好的機會，並且命令造物主施行神蹟來治療病人。
而若是經過了無數次的宣佈代禱，這個有可能信主的慕道友並沒有被治好，
離開去加入其他的宗教，或其他基督教派，我們是不是會受到試探，偷偷的責怪神呢？
我們是不是想要命令神，幫助我們可以跟上其他教派的教會，他們的牧師好像作了好多神蹟，因此吸引了上千的新信徒？
是的，主耶穌應許我們，異象，神蹟，奇事，會隨著我們所傳的福音(可 16：15-18)，
但是這些奇事只會發生在神願意的時候；
而不是用來反駁魔鬼挑戰的時候。
The Third Temptation: Buying Our Loyalty 第三種引誘：收買我們的忠誠
Again, the devil took Him up on
an exceedingly high mountain, and
showed Him all the kingdoms of the
world and their glory. And he said to
Him, “All these things I will give You
if You will fall down and worship
me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with
you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You
shall worship the Lord your God, and
Him only you shall serve.’ ”
(Mt 4:8–10)
8魔鬼又帶他上了一座最高的山，將世上的萬國與萬國的榮華都指給他看，
9對他說：你若俯伏拜我，我就把這一切都賜給你。
10耶穌說：撒但（撒但就是抵擋的意思，乃魔鬼的別名），退去罷！因為經上記著說：當拜主你的神，單要事奉他。
(太 4：8-10)
This third temptation is the attempt
to buy loyalty. The devil knew that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; he
sought to bribe Him with the highest
price possible. The devil offered no
mere billions or trillions, but all the
kingdoms of the world, and their
glory—literally, the whole world. But
Jesus was terse: “Away with you
Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall
worship the Lord your God, and Him
only you shall serve.’ ”
第三個試探，就是企圖收買忠誠度。
魔鬼知道耶穌就是基督，神的兒整；
他想要尋找機會來賄賂祂，用他可能所有的最高價值。
魔鬼不只想要給予數十億或數萬億，而是要給祂所有世界的國度，以並他們其中的榮耀 - 就字面上來所，就是整個世界。
但是簡單的回答：:撒但（撒但就是抵擋的意思，乃魔鬼的別名），退去罷！因為經上記著說：當拜主你的神，單要事奉他。
The devil—through people in the
world—will try to bribe us by offering
us the world and all its pleasures.
Can we reject these glittering prizes
as Jesus did? Jesus dismissed the
devil’s offer without a second thought
because He knew that only one Being
is worthy of worship. Similarly, our
ability to reject such a proposition
ultimately depends on whom or what
we allow to have power over us.
魔鬼 - 透過世上的人 - 會試著來賄賂我們，給我們世界和其中一切的享樂。
我們可以像耶穌所作的一樣，拒絕這些閃閃發光的獎品？
耶穌毫無遲疑的拒絕了魔鬼所提供的條件，因為祂知道只有唯一的真神才值得敬拜。
同樣地，我們去拒絕這樣提議的能力，完全取決於我們讓誰，或是讓什麼事物，在我們身上有能力發揮作用。
Logically, the authority over all
life—absolute sovereignty—belongs
to God since He is the Creator of
man and the source of all man has.
However, the loving God gave man
the freedom of choice. Hence we can
decide whom we want to worship
and to whom we cede control over
our lives. The devil will try to persuade
us not to worship God by warning us
that following Christ means having to
bear the cross. He will remind us of
Jesus’ words—those who believe in
Him will be rebuked for His name’s
sake; persecution, imprisonment and
even death are likely outcomes (Jn
15:18–21; Mt 24:9). It takes a lot
of willpower to choose the narrow
path of Jesus when the devil dangles
a smooth and easy way before us.
It would seem insane to turn down
glory, honor and riches for persecution
and death.
邏輯上來說，主掌我們生活的主權 - 絕對的主權 - 屬於神，因為祂是人類的造物主，也是人類的源頭。
然而慈愛的神給人們有選擇的自由。
因此，我們可以決定，我們要敬拜誰，我們會讓誰來控制我們自已的生命。
魔鬼試著想要勸我們，不要敬拜神，警告我們跟隨基督就意謂著，要背起十字架。
祂會提醒我們耶穌所說的話 - 那些相信耶穌的人會因為祂名的原故而受到責罵；迫害，下到監牢去，甚至有可能死亡是必然的結果(約15：18-21；太 24：9)。
當魔鬼放一個條很順利，又很容易走的路在我們面前時，要有很強的意志力，才會選擇耶穌的窄路。
別人看起來就好像我們是瘋了一樣，會拒絕接受榮耀，別人的尊敬，和財富，而去選擇被迫害和死亡的危險。
Another of the devil’s favorite tactics
is to strengthen his offer with visual
allure. When the devil attempted
to buy Jesus’ loyalty, instead of
just describing the reward he was
offering, the devil took Jesus up to
an exceedingly high mountain and
showed Him all the kingdoms of the
world and their glory. Looking down,
Jesus certainly saw all the world’s
glory, honor and riches. But Jesus also
saw beyond that. Jesus saw a world
that would ultimately be destroyed
when the kingdom of God comes.
Hence He could reject the temptation.
另一個魔鬼最愛的計倆，就是用視覺的引誘，來強化他的提議。
當魔鬼想要買到耶穌的忠誠度時，他不是只用話語來描繪他所要給的獎勵而已，
魔鬼帶耶穌往上，到非常高的山上去，讓祂看到世界上所有的國度，並其中的榮耀。
往下看，耶穌一定看見了所有世上的榮美，榮耀和財富。
但是耶穌也超越了祂所看到的。
耶穌看見了一個世界，當神的國度來臨時，最終將會被毀滅。
因此祂可以拒絕這個引誘。
The secret to help us reject the
bribe offered by the devil is the ability
to see the ultimate destruction of
this world, no matter how glittering
and attractive it appears at present.
The kingdom of heaven often seems
an abstract and nebulous concept
compared to the concrete reality of
everyday life. This is exactly what the
devil is tirelessly trying to convince
us: to exchange the incorruptible,
immutable, but invisible, heaven for
immediate material gain. So we need
to see further and perceive what is
the most precious; we need to see
through the devil’s wiles. We need the
Holy Spirit to help us believe and trust
in the eternal glory that God can offer.
In His incorruptible kingdom, we can
enjoy everlasting life. So God is the
only One worth ceding the authority
over our lives to (Eph 1:18).
幫助我們拒絕魔鬼所提出賄賂的秘訣，就是有能力看透這個世界最終的毀滅，
無論他們現在看起來有多麼的繁榮，以及吸引人。
相對於具體每天生活中的現實，天國常常看起來是抽象且模糊的概念。
這正是魔鬼一直毫不厭倦地想要試著說服我們：
要我們把不會損壞，不會改變，看不見的天國，換成立即物質上的所得。
所以我們一定要看得更遠，察覺什麼才是最有價值的東西；我們一定要看透魔鬼的詭計。
我們需要聖靈來幫助我們，相信且信賴神所要給我們永遠的榮耀。
在祂永不朽壞的國度中，我們可以享受永遠的生命。
所以神才是唯一的神，值得讓我們放棄自已的主權，讓祂掌管我們的生命。
CONCLUSION 結論
To overcome the snare of temptations,
it is not enough to know God’s word.
We must believe in and hold fast to
the words of the Lord Jesus. We must
also be ever vigilant against attempts
by the devil to sow doubt in us
regarding God’s promises. We must
not yield to the devil’s instigation to
prove our identity, secure our physical
wellbeing, or gain the world at the
expense of losing our Savior.
要克服引誘的陷羅，只知道神的話語是不夠的。
我們一定要相信，並且堅守住主耶穌的話。
我們也一定永遠警醒，去對抗魔鬼的引誘， 因為他想要把疑惑置入的神對我們的應許之中。
我們一定不可以順服魔鬼煽動來証明自已的身份，或是只想保全自已物質上的享受，
或是以遺棄自已造物主的代價，來得到世界。
In our weakness, we may go
astray occasionally. But we must not
allow ourselves to be mired in this
weakness or push the blame for our
transgression onto others. Instead we
must quickly realize our mistakes, ask
God to forgive us, to help us walk
on the right path once again, and no
longer succumb to temptation and
sin.
在我們軟弱之中，我們或許會偶爾走偏了。
但我們一定不要讓自已陷入這個軟弱之中，或是把自已的過錯推到別人的身上。
相反地，我們一定要很快了解自已的錯誤，求神繞恕我們，
幫助我們再一次走在正確的道路上，不再屈服於引誘和罪惡的事。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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