第廿章
最好能將全章略讀一遍,再專注於以下經文段落:
1「因為天國好像家主清早去雇人進他的葡萄園做工,2和工人講定一天一錢
銀子,就打發他們進葡萄園去。3約在巳初出去,看見市上還有閒站的人,4
就對他們說:『你們也進葡萄園去,所當給的,我必給你們。』他們也進去
了。5約在午正和申初又出去,也是這樣行。6約在酉初出去,看見還有人站
在那裏,就問他們說:『你們為甚麼整天在這裏閒站呢?』7他們說:『因為
沒有人雇我們。』他說:『你們也進葡萄園去。』8到了晚上,園主對管事
的說:『叫工人都來,給他們工錢,從後來的起,到先來的為止。』9約在酉
初雇的人來了,各人得了一錢銀子。10及至那先雇的來了,他們以為必要多
得;誰知也是各得一錢。11他們得了,就埋怨家主說:12『我們整天勞苦受
熱,那後來的只做了一小時,你竟叫他們和我們一樣嗎?』13家主回答其中
的一人說:『朋友,我不虧負你,你與我講定的不是一錢銀子嗎?14拿你的
走吧!我給那後來的和給你一樣,這是我願意的。15我的東西難道不可隨我
的意思用嗎?因為我作好人,你就紅了眼嗎?』16這樣,那在後的,將要在
前;在前的,將要在後了。(有古卷加:因為被召的人多,選上的人少。)」
默想:
1. 很多人對這個比喻感到很困惑,因為這個園主很明顯是不公平的。其
實,耶穌是要說明有些人將他們與神的關係看作「工人得工價」的關
係,這些人認為神必會因他們的忙碌、勞苦、功績,而賞賜他們。
2. 但是,神以恩典而非我們的努力來與我們建立關係;我們屬靈的生命也
不會因忙碌事奉而得成長。
3. 你是否太過忙於為神工作,而忘了單單地愛神?你是否忘了停頓下來,
聆聽別人的心聲,回應他們的需要?你是否靈裡已經枯乾,但仍不停地
花費精力,沒有果效的作事?神正在對你說些什麼?
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前聆聽神,並將你的的思想、問題、觸動你的字、詞、圖
畫,或是與神的禱告,寫在你的靈程筆記簿上面。
今日箴言:3:21-23
21我兒,要謹守真智慧和謀略,不可使他離開你的眼目。22這樣,他必
做你的生命,頸項的美飾。23你就坦然行路,不致碰腳。
Chapter 20
If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here.
Then focus on the following section:
1”For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning
to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day
and sent them into his vineyard. 3”About the third hour he went out and saw others
standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, ‘You also go and work in
my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5So they went. “He went out again
about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh
hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have
you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7” ‘Because no one has hired
us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8”When
evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and
pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9”The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received
a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive
more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they
began to grumble against the landowner. 12’These men who were hired last worked
only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne
the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13”But he answered one of them,
‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take
your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious
because I am generous?’ 16”So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Meditation:
1. This story troubles many. It seems obvious that the owner of the vineyard wasn’t
being fair. Jesus is saying that some people want to put relationship with God on
a equal-work-equal-pay basis. And these folks often assume they’ll be rewarded
for being so busy.
2. Relationship with God is based on his generosity (v15), his grace, not our works.
We don’t advance spiritually by being busy.
3. Are you becoming so caught up in doing things for God that you forget to simply
love Him? Do you forget to stop, listen to people, and try to respond to their
needs? Are you actually drying up spiritually but still spending your energies in
an unproductive way? What is God telling you?
Prayer & Journaling:
On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions,
words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
Proverbs for Today: Prov 3:21-23
Family Time:
Use the material on this website for today’s family devotion. children.
cccm.com/site/pdf/New/curr215.pdf