Matthew 马太福音 4:12-17 — The King’s Message 君王的宣言

  1. The King’s Herald Ended His Ministry 君王的先锋被拒 (4:12-16)

The rejection of the herald of the King signified the rejection of the King.  When Jesus heard of John’s arrest He withdrew into Galilee According to Isaiah it is known as the Galilee of the Gentiles. Galilee is most despised by the Jews and arguably this was the darkest place on earth.  It is precisely here that the Lord began His ministry. The darkest place is the place most needed the light. This is to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that the people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned (Isa. 9:1–2).

君王的先锋被拒绝,意味着君王亦是被拒绝的。当耶稣听见约翰下了监,就退到加利利去,在迦百农近西布伦和拿弗他利的边界上安顿。根据以赛亚书,这地被称作是外邦人的加利利地。犹太人最瞧不起加利利了,而加利利也被看作是世上最黑暗的地方。主耶稣就在此地展开祂的事工。这是为了应验以赛亚的预言:在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光;住在死荫之地的人,有光照耀他们(赛9:1-2)。
 
 
  1. The King Begins His Ministry 君王展开事工 (4:17)

The end of the herald’s work was the beginning of the King’s. Jesus began to preach “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

To turn from sin is to repent, to change one’s orientation, to turn around and seek a new way. Repent means a 180 degree change of direction of a person’s life. Since we are created by God we are not to live our own way but to live according to God’s way. To repent is to change from living for ourselves to living for God.  To repent is to turn away from sin and to turn toward holiness. The King had arrived, and the kingdom was near. Messiah’s time had come-to usher in the age of righteousness.

先锋任务的终止,就是君王工作的开端。主耶稣开始传起道来,说:天国近了,你们应当悔改。悔改,就是背弃罪孽,改变方向,回转并寻求一条新道路。悔改,即是在个人的生命中有了180度的转变。我们既然是神所造的,就不当随己意生活,乃要按神的方式而行。悔改,就是不再为自己而活,乃为神活。悔改,是悖逆罪行,奔向圣洁。君王降临了,天国也近了。弥赛亚的时代已到,迎来公义之光。
 
 
 
 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. As Christians we loathe and despise the sinners of this world and it is precisely because of them that Jesus came into the world. Is there someone in your life that you need to reach out to with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Please start praying for them that you can be light and salt to them.
基督徒常常恨恶并藐视世上的罪人,但主耶稣就是为了他们的缘故来到世间。你生命中是否有人需要听到耶稣基督的福音?请开始为他们祷告,望你能作他们的光和盐。
 
  1. The word “repent” is a verb which describes an action. Are there sins in your life that you need to take actions to turn away from and righteousness you need pursue? Pray that God will help you do just that.
“悔改”,实际上是个动词。你生命中是否有罪是需要你对付、脱离的,而其圣洁是需要你去追求的呢?请向神祷告,帮助你能做到。