Matthew 马太福音 4:18-22 — The Calls of the King 君王的呼召

Posted on Jan 10, 2021 in 2021, Matthew |

Although Galilee is most despised place in eyes of Jews, it is here that the Lord chose to shine His light. It is also here that the Lord chose His disciples.

加利利虽然在犹太人眼里是一文不值的，但主耶稣却选择在此地彰显祂的荣光。主耶稣也在这个地方召了他的门徒。

 

  1. The King called the two brothers: Peter and Andrew 君王呼召两位兄弟：彼德与安德烈 (4:18-20)
Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and he saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea. They were fishermen. However, Jesus called them out of their earthly vocation. Jesus wants them to be fishers of men rather than fishermen.  Jesus wants them to be able to feed people with spiritual food rather than physical food. Many heal people’s physical body and lose their eternal souls. Jesus called Peter and Andrew to leave earthly vocation for most glorious vocation.

耶稣在加利利海边行走时，看到两位兄弟彼得和安德烈，在海里撒网。他们虽然是渔夫，主耶稣却召他们离开地上的工作，要他们得人如得鱼。耶稣要他们用属灵的粮食喂养众人，不是肉体的食物。世人重视肉体的医治，却失去永恒的灵魂。耶稣召彼得与安德烈离开世俗的工作，展开光荣、永恒的事奉。

 

  1. The King called another brothers: James and John 君王呼召另一对兄弟：雅各与约翰 (4:21-22)

Jesus saw another two brothers, James and John, mending their nets. And Jesus called them. They immediately left their boat and their father, and followed Jesus. Their resolution is exemplary. Jesus never wants us do something which He himself has not done. He Himself left His Heavenly Father and died on the cross said that whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Mat 10:37)

耶稣又看见一对兄弟，即雅各与约翰。他们在补网，耶稣便召了他们。他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从耶稣。他们坚定的意志是众人的榜样。主自己也离开天父，并死在十字架上，还说：“爱父母过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒；爱儿女过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒”（太10:37）。

 
 
 
 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. We spend majority of our time feeding and taking care of the physical needs. How much time has we given to the care of the eternal wellbeing? Let’s not be so short sighted that we heal people’s physical bodies and lose their eternal souls. Jesus wants us to be fishers of men rather than fishermen. Let’s pray that we focus on what counts for eternity.
 
我们常常煞费苦心照顾自己身体上的需要。却又花多少心思关注自己永恒之灵呢？切让我们只顾眼前，不顾后患，满足肉体，失去永生。耶稣不要我们做渔夫，乃要我们得人如得鱼。让我们祷告，叫我们时刻能专注于永恒之事。
 
  1. The responses of the disciples were amazing. They left their family and earthly vocation at once. On the contrary, when we are called upon to serve God, many of us struggle to obey. That speaks volume about our heart condition. Let’s pray that our eyes be opened that Jesus didn’t ask us to do something He Himself has not done. He simply asks us to follow his footsteps.
 
众门徒的回应真叫我们惊叹不已。被呼召之时，他们毅然放下，舍了家人和职业。反之，当我们被呼召去事奉时，我们却推三阻四。这充分反映出我们的心态和属灵的光景。让我们祷告主，求主开启我们的眼睛，明白耶稣并没要叫我们做祂自己办不到的事。祂要求我们的，也仅仅是跟随祂的脚步。