5. Manna issue 94 - Parables of the Heavenly Kingdom (Part 6) 天國的比喻(第六回)
KC Tsai—Toronto, Canada 加拿大多倫多
Editor’s note:
The seven parables in Matthew 13 enable men to find the true church
through the knowledge of the kingdom of God.
In the first parable
—the parable of the sower
—only seeds that fall on good soil will grow, be deeply rooted, flourish, and bear fruit.
Everyone has an equal chance to find the kingdom of heaven,
but only the truly receptive heart will understand the gospel, come to the true church,
and continuously walk in God’s word.
In the second parable
—the parable of the tares
—tares sown among good seeds will ultimately be weeded out and destroyed.
The devil works through false brethren to trouble the true church.
True believers should not lose heart but trust God to eradicate the sons of the wicked one.
In the third parable
—the parable of the mustard seed
—the eponymous seed grows into a huge tree that attracts birds to nest in its branches.
The growing true church will suffer the infiltration of heresies.
To continue to enjoy God’s abidance,
the true church must firmly uphold the truth at all times.
In the fourth parable
—the parable of the leaven
—leaven hidden within a small measure of meal leavened the entire lump.
The true church must remain hypervigilant
because the slightest tolerance of immorality
or infidelity to the truth will corrupt and destroy the church.
In the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl,
the protagonists sell everything they own to retain the treasure they have found.
As a church and as individual believers,
we are blessed with the priceless blessing of the truth
and the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We must do all we can to keep this truth and proclaim this way of righteousness.
編者提醒：
馬太福音十三章的七個比喻，讓人找到真教會，
透過神國的知識。
在第一個比喻中，
—撒種的比喻，
—只有落在好土的種子，才會生長、深深紮根、興旺發芽、結出果實。
每個人都有平等的機會找到天國，
但只有真正接受的心才能了解福音，來到真教會，
並且一直遵守神的話語。
在第二個比喻中，
—稗子的比喻，
—撒在好種子中的稗子，最後會被清除和摧毀。
魔鬼通過假弟兄來擾亂真教會。
真信徒不應該灰心，而要相信神會消滅惡人的子孫。
在第三個比喻中，
—芥菜種的比喻
—同名種子長成大樹，吸引鳥類在樹枝上築巢。
成長的真教會將遭受異端的滲透。
為了繼續得享神的同在，
真教會必須始終堅定持守真理。
在第四個比喻中，
—發酵的寓言
—隱藏在一小部分麵粉中的酵，將使整個整個麵團發酵。
真教會必須保持高度警醒，
因為有絲毫容忍不道德行為，
或是不忠於真理，就會敗壞摧毀教會。
在藏寶和珍珠的比喻中，
主角賣掉了自已擁有的一切，來保住他們發現的寶藏。
作為教會和信徒個人，
我們很幸運，有真理的寶貴祝福，
以及超越認識耶穌基督。
我們必須盡一切努力，來保守這種真理，並宣揚這條公義之路。
This installment concludes our series on the parables of the heavenly kingdom.
本期內容是我們天國比喻系列的總結。
THE PARABLE OF THE DRAGNET 撒網的寓言
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea
and gathered some of every kind, which,
when it was full, they drew to shore;
and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels,
but threw the bad away.
So it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
and cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
(Mt 13:47–50)
“47天國又好像網撒在海裡，
聚攏各樣水族，
48網既滿了，人就拉上岸來，
坐下，揀好的收在器具裡，
將不好的丟棄了。
49世界的末了也要這樣。
天使要出來，從義人中把惡人分別出來，
50丟在火爐裡；
在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。”
（太 13:47-50）
A net cast into the sea does not discriminate between the sea life it captures.
However, a critical point of this parable is
that the selection happens after the net has been pulled in.
The good will be carefully differentiated from the bad;
these are stored in the vessel,
while the bad will be discarded.
Such a warning echoes the conclusion of the parable of the tares.
撒入海中的網子，不會區別捕獲的海洋生物。
然而，這個比喻的一個重點是，
網子拉起來後，卻發生了揀選。
好魚和壞魚都會被仔細區分；
這些都儲藏在船中，
而壞的將會被丟棄。
這樣的警告應證了稗子比喻的結論。
What are the parable’s key messages for the true church?
這個比喻有什麼真教會的關鍵訊息呢？
Gathering Some of Every Kind 收集各種類型的一些人
The true church, God’s kingdom of earth, is the fisher of men
(Mt 4:19).
All who are willing to believe
—regardless of gender, race, or past
—may enter.
Just as Paul writes,
“[E]ven the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ,
to all and on all who believe.
For there is no difference”
(Rom 3:22).
The target of our evangelism must,
therefore, be inclusive, transcending geographical borders and racial boundaries.
The local-centric methods of evangelism we have traditionally used
—inviting neighbors, evangelistic counseling, [1]
long-term personalized follow-up with truth-seekers, intensive rooting and watering[2]
within the church, regular visiting and pastoring
—may no longer suffice in this age of technology
where the internet facilitates instantaneous connectivity.
Moreover, in some countries,
legal restrictions prevent their citizens from encountering the Christian faith.
This is a difficult blockade that the evangelists sent by the church and we,
in our personal evangelism, must overcome.
真教會，神地上的國度，是招集人的漁夫
（太 4：19）。
所有願意相信的人
—不分性別、種族或過去，
—可以進入。
正如保羅所寫，
“22就是神的義，因信耶穌基督
加給一切相信的人，
並沒有分別。”
（羅 3：22）。
因此，我們傳福音的目標必須是，
具有包容性，超越地理邊界和種族界限。
傳統上我們使用地方為中心的傳福音方法，
—邀請鄰居，福音諮詢，[1]
慕道者長期個人化的跟進，密集紮根澆灌[2]
在教會內，定期訪問和牧養，
—在這科技時代可能已經不夠用了，
而網路可促進即時的連繫。
此外，有一些國家，
法律限制阻止了其市民接觸基督教信仰。
這是教會和我們差派的福音工人，
在我們個人宣道的過程中，會遇到的困難封鎖，我們必須可以得勝。
We must have faith in Jesus’ abidance
as we obediently carry out His instruction to cast our nets into the vast ocean that is the world.
First, He said we are to launch out into the deep
(Lk 5:4).
Do not be limited by our worries or preconceived notions of who will or will not believe.
Launching out into the deep water is equivalent to
“enlarging the place of [our] tent, and stretching out the curtains of [our] dwellings,”
a comforting promise from God conveyed through the prophet Isaiah:
我們必須有信心耶穌會同在，
當我們順從執行祂的指示，將自已的網子撒入世界浩瀚的海洋。
首先，祂說我們開船進入海的深處
（路 5：4）。
不要被自已的擔憂，或是先入為主的觀念所限制，猜想誰會相信或不相信。
航行到海水深處等於，
“擴張[我們的]帳幕之地，張大[我們的]居所的幔子，”
神通過以賽亞先知，傳達令人安慰的應許：
Enlarge the place of your tent,
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.
For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,
And make the desolate cities inhabited.
(Isa 54:2–3)
2要擴張你帳幕之地，
張大你居所的幔子，
不要限止；
要放長你的繩子，
堅固你的橛子。
3因為你要向左向右開展；
你的後裔必得多國為業，
又使荒涼的城邑有人居住。
（賽 54：2-3）
Second, Jesus said we should let down the net on the right side of the boat
(Jn 21:6).
The disciples had toiled futilely all night,
yet they obediently cast the net again at the Lord’s instruction.
As a result, the Lord bestowed upon them a net full of fish.
Do not be discouraged by past adverse experiences in evangelism.
For example, some have read our church’s evangelistic pamphlets or websites
but decided to remain outside of the dragnet.
Some have seen the “place of our tent”
but decline the invitation to enter.
We need not be discouraged.
Instead, we prepare by weaving a net that is strong, compact, and without any holes.
And then, when we let down the net again on the right side
—we fulfill our commission and evangelize in faithful obedience to the Lord’s instructions
—we, too, will draw in a net full of fish.
Then, we must pray sincerely for the Lord Jesus’ mercy and love to keep them in.
第二，耶穌說，我們應該撒網在船的右邊
（約 21：6）。
門徒們整夜勞力，卻毫無成果，
然而他們聽從主的指示，再次撒網。
結果，主賜給他們網住滿滿的魚。
不要因過去傳福音的不好經驗而灰心喪氣。
例如，有些人讀過我們教會的福音小冊或網站，
但是決定留在拖網之外。
有些人已經看到了“我們的帳幕之地”，
卻拒絕邀請來進入。
我們不必灰心。
相反的，我們努力準備，好好編織一張堅固，緊湊，且沒有任何裂縫的網子。
然後，當我們從右邊再次下網的時候，
—我們用信心順服主的指示，完成自已的使命，傳揚福音
—我們也會捕獲滿滿的一網魚。
然後，我們必須誠心祈求主耶穌的憐憫和慈愛，來保守他們。
Gathering the Good, Discarding the Bad 揀好的，丟棄不好的
The kingdom of God is the church,
and the sea creatures of every kind in the dragnet represent all the believers.
We will undergo the selection process with only two possible outcomes:
being placed into the vessel (eternal life)
or the furnace of fire (eternal condemnation).
Peter alerts us that judgment begins from the house of God
(1 Pet 4:17),
which is the church.
神的國度就是教會，
而網子裡各種的海洋生物，則代表了所有的信徒。
我們將經歷篩選的過程，卻只有兩種可能的結果：
被放入器皿中（永生）
或丟入火爐（永遠定罪）。
彼得提醒我們，審判要從神的家開始
（彼前 4：17），
就是教會。
Two days before the Lord Jesus was delivered to the authorities
(Mt 26:2),
He spoke the parable of the goats and the sheep.
He said,
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him,
then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats”
(Mt 25:31–32).
Both the sheep and goats belonged to the Lord Jesus,
but they received strikingly different sentences.
The sheep would inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world,
but the goats were cursed and cast into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels
(Mt 25:34, 41).
主耶穌被交給官府的前兩天
（太 26：2），
祂講了山羊和綿羊的比喻。
祂說，
“31當人子在他榮耀裡、同著眾天使降臨的時候，
要坐在他榮耀的寶座上。
32萬民都要聚集在他面前。
他要把他們分別出來，好像牧羊的分別綿羊山羊一般，”
（太 25：31-32）。
綿羊和山羊都是主耶穌的，
但是他們卻得到截然不同的判決。
綿羊將繼承創世以來為他們預備的國度，
但是山羊受詛咒，並且被丟進為魔鬼與其僕役所準備的永火中
（太 25：34，41）。
It is entirely by God’s grace that a person enters the true church,
which the Holy Spirit has established on earth.
Nonetheless, how we respond to this blessed opportunity determines
whether we remain in the vessel or are tossed away.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ allows us who are born of the flesh to be reborn,
no longer born of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God
(Jn 1:13).
Subsequently, a reborn man must follow the wind of the Holy Spirit;
he must have the sound of the wind as well as be transformed by the wind.
In other words, to remain in the true church,
we must be continually renewed through the power of the Holy Spirit
to truly become a man who abides in the Spirit.
個人可以進入真教會，完全是靠著神的恩典，
真教會是聖靈在地上所建立的。
儘管如此，我們如何回應這種幸運的機會，就決定了，
我們是否留在船上，還是被丟出去。
耶穌基督的犧牲，讓我們這些從肉體而生的人，得到重生，
不再是因為肉體意志而生，
亦不是以人的意志而生，而是以神的旨意而生
（約 1：13）。
接著，重生的人必須順著聖靈的帶領；
他必須聽到風吹的聲音，也同時必須因著風而改變。
換句話說，要保守在真教會中，
我們必須通過聖靈的力量不斷更新，
真正成為一個住在聖靈裡的人。
[You] have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who created him.
(Col 3:10)
[你]10穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，
正如造他主的形像。
（西 3：10）
A reborn man must constantly walk by the Spirit
(Rom 6:11–14),
conducting himself as the holy and beloved elect of God
(Col 3:12–17),
in order to gradually attain the image and nature of God.
Consequently, he will pass the final selection,
be welcomed into the spiritual true church,
and stand to inherit the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world.
重生的人必須不斷靠著聖靈而行
（羅 6：11-14）
行事為人就好像是神聖潔、蒙愛的選民
（西 3：12-17），
以便漸漸獲得神的形像和本質。
因此，他將通過最終的篩選，
受到歡迎進入屬靈的真教會，
並且站起來繼承創世以來為他預備的國度。
CONCLUSION: TRUE DISCIPLES OF THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM 結論：天國的真門徒
Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then He said to them,
“Therefore every scribe instructed oncerning the kingdom of heaven
is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there.
(Mt 13:51–53)
51耶穌說：這一切的話你們都明白了麼？
他們說：我們明白了。
52他說：凡文士受教作天國的門徒，
就像一個家主從他庫裡拿出新舊的東西來。
53耶穌說完了這些比喻，就離開那裡。
（太 13：51-53）
In the Bible, the scribes and Pharisees are usually mentioned concurrently.
They were always spying on Jesus,
enticing Him to speak so that they could find fault and falsely incriminate Him.
They had a deep knowledge of the Mosaic Laws and Jewish customs,
but they used this knowledge to judge others instead of spurring themselves to improve.
When the Lord Jesus was teaching in the temple,
He once said:
在聖經中，通常同時提及文士和法利賽人。
他們總是會刺探耶穌，
引誘祂說話，這樣他們才能找到錯誤，並且誣陷祂。
他們深入了解摩西律法和猶太人習俗，
但他們用這些知識來審判別人，而不是鼓勵自己多多進步。
當主耶穌在殿裡教導人的時候，
祂曾經說過：
“Beware of the scribes,
who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,
the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.
These will receive greater condemnation.”
(Mk 12:38–40)
“38你們要防備文士；
他們好穿長衣遊行，喜愛人在街市上問他們的安，
39又喜愛會堂裡的高位，筵席上的首座。
40他們侵吞寡婦的家產，假意作很長的禱告。
這些人要受更重的刑罰！”
（可 12：38-40）
After speaking the seven parables,
Jesus said,
“Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven
is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
As believers of the true church,
we should be wary of falling prey to the hypocrisy and legalism of the scribes and Pharisees.
Do not merely nitpick through the wording of the Old Testament
or simply put on an outward appearance of a pious and learned scribe to impress others.
Instead, use the New Testament teachings to nurture ourselves spiritually.
The Lord Jesus constantly cited Old Testament Scripture but emphasized a deeper observance of the truth.
Thus, we must learn from the Lord Jesus to neither neglect the old nor the new,
and use Scripture not to burden or judge but to help ourselves grow in favor with God.
講完七個比喻之後，
耶穌說，
“52凡文士受教作天國的門徒，
就像一個家主從他庫裡拿出新舊的東西來。”
作為真教會的信徒，
我們應該警惕，不要落入文士和法利賽人虛偽和律法主義的陷阱。
不要僅僅對舊約的辭語挑剔
或只是裝出一個虔誠博學的文士外表，使別人印象深刻。
相反的，要用新約的教導來培養我們自己的靈命。
主耶穌不斷引用舊約聖經，但強調要深入遵守真理。
所以，我們要向主耶穌學習，不要忽略舊約或新約，
使用聖經不是為了給人重擔或審判別人，而是為了幫助自已贏得神的喜愛。
The Lord Jesus also asked His disciples
whether they understood all these things.
The true church must continually examine herself.
She seeks to make men disciples of the kingdom of heaven
and enable them to receive the salvation grace revealed in the New Testament.
However, to truly comprehend all the promises of the New Testament,
the church must also understand the Old Testament basis of the salvation truth.
This is the only way to obtain the complete, common faith.
Today, some Christian denominations undervalue the Old Testament or even ignore it.
How can mere reliance on half the Scriptures lead one to the complete truth of the Bible?
The Lord Jesus said:
主耶穌也問祂的門徒，
他們有沒有理解所有這些事情。
真教會必須不斷地省察自己。
她力求使大家成為天國的門徒
使他們能夠接受新約啟示的救恩。
然而，要能真正了解新約所有的應許，
教會也必須明白舊約救贖真理的基礎。
這是獲得完備共同信仰的唯一方法。
今日，有一些基督教派低估了舊約，甚至忽視了它。
僅僅依靠一半的聖經，怎能使人明白聖經的全部真理呢？
主耶穌說：
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away,
one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
(Mt 5:17–18)
“17莫想我來要廢掉律法和先知。
我來不是要廢掉，乃是要成全。
18我實在告訴你們，就是到天地都廢去了，
律法的一點一畫也不能廢去，都要成全。”
（太 5:17-18）
Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
(Ps 119:89)
89耶和華啊，
你的話安定在天，直到永遠。
（詩 119：89）
God’s word is absolute and immutable.
For example, in the Old Testament,
He said, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
…For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.
Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
(Ex 20:8–11).
In the New Testament, Jesus emphasized that the Sabbath was made for man.
Therefore, as Christians, we, too, must observe the Sabbath.
神的話是絕對的，不會改變的。
例如，在舊約中，
他說：
“8當記念安息日，守為聖日。...
11因為六日之內，耶和華造天、地、海，
和其中的萬物，第七日便安息，
所以耶和華賜福與安息日，定為聖日。”
（出 20：8-11）。
在新約中，耶穌強調安息日是為人設立的。
因此，作為基督徒，我們也必須守安息日。
In summary, Jesus’ closing remarks after His parables of the heavenly kingdom remind us
that the Old and New Testaments are inextricably linked
and that knowledge of the truth is not enough.
As God’s true church, we must live and walk in His most holy teachings and commandments,
which transcend time.
總而言之，耶穌天國比喻之後的結束評論提醒我們，
舊約和新約密不可分，
而了解真理是不夠的。
作為神的真教會，我們必須按照祂超越時間，最神聖的教導和誡命生活行事，
。
APPENDIX: CASTING THE DRAGNET THROUGH THE INTERNET
附錄：透過網路撒網
The province of New Brunswick in Canada
is about 1,300 kilometers (more than fourteen hours by car) from Toronto,
where the nearest True Jesus Church (TJC) is located.
In 2019, a New Brunswick man came across the beliefs of TJC while browsing online
and contacted the church.
The resident preacher of Toronto TJC then started communicating with him online
and systematically introduced the church’s core beliefs to him.
In 2022, he expressed his willingness to be baptized.
加拿大新布藍茲維省，
距多倫多約1,300公里（車程超過 14 個小時），
哪裡才有最近的真耶穌教會 (TJC)。
2019 年，一名新布藍茲維的人上網時發現了 TJC 的信仰，
並聯繫了教會。
多倫多 TJC 的常駐傳道，隨後開始與他網路，流
並有系統的向他介紹了教會的核心信仰。
2022 年，他表示想要受洗。
[1] Counseling refers to members sharing with truth-seekers their experiences of faith,
e.g., seeking the Lord, understanding the gospel, experiencing miracles and so on.
[1] 輔導是指，信徒與慕道者分享自已的信仰經歷，
例如，尋求主、明白福音、體驗神蹟等等。
[2] Rooting and watering refers to
various activities
customized for individual regular truth-seekers to nurture their faith.
[2] 紮根和澆水是指，
為一般單獨的幕道者所擬定的各種活動，以培養他們的信仰。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
留言列表
