GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

1. Inversion 颠倒轻重 (23:23-24)

Jesus cursed the scribes and Pharisees for magnifying the insignificant and minimizing the essential. They were obsessed in ensuring that people paid the correct tithe, but give scant attention in their lives to obeying the scriptures’ moral truths.

耶稣诅咒文士与法利赛人，因为他们将无关紧要的事放大，却将必要的事化小。他们只关注人是否供上正确的奉献，却似乎没注意到人是否服从圣经的道德真理。

2. Self-indulgence 自我放纵 (23:25-26)

Jesus also cursed the scribes and Pharisees for their extortion of others for indulgence of themselves. The unscrupulous leaders appeared to have pious devotion to the Lord, but inwardly plundered both the souls and money to serve themselves.

耶稣也因着文士与法利赛人勒索他人以纵容自己的行为宣布诅咒。这些不择手段的领袖看似对主非常敬虔，心里却盗窃灵魂与钱财服侍自己。

3. Contamination 玷污他人 (23:27-28)

In Jesus’ time, a person becomes ceremonially unclean for seven days if he touched a dead body or grave (Num. 19:16), thus tombs were carefully whitewashed to identify them apart. These glistening tombs had beautiful appearances, yet they not only contain dead bones, but spiritually defile one who touches it. The scribes and Pharisees were such.

在耶稣的时代，若有人触碰死尸或坟墓，便七日为不洁（民19:16），所以坟墓必须经过粉刷，以辨别出来。这些洁白的坟墓外表美观，但所存的只有骨头，且使触碰之人不洁。文士与法利赛人便是如此。

4. Pretension 虚假伪装 (23:29-33)

Lastly, Jesus cursed the scribes and Pharisees for their pretension in presuming to be superior to others. They asserted self-righteously that they will not persecute or martyr saints of God, and yet were plotting to kill Jesus – their own Messiah and Prophet – at that very moment. These people will be judged.

最后，耶稣诅咒文士与法利赛人，因为他们假装自己高人一等。他们自义地说自己不会逼迫或杀害神的圣徒，但心中此刻在计划如何杀死他们自己的弥赛亚与先知耶稣。这些人将受到审判。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. God does not denounce tithing and He repeatedly said that a heart’s obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22, Ps. 51:16-17, Hos. 6:6). Pray that you obey God’s word including the fruits of righteousness as well as offering.

神并没谴责奉献，并反复地说人心顺服，胜于献祭（撒上15:22；诗5:16-17；何6:6）。祷告你能顺服神的话，包括结出正义之果与奉献之行。

2. Essentially the allures of the world blinded the eyes of the scribes and Pharisees (1 Jn. 2:16), hence they are unable to love God and their neighbors, using all means and ways to gratify their desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). Pray that we fix our eyes on Jesus, serving each other with love that comes from a pure heart (1 Tim. 1:5, 1 Pet. 1:22).

最终，世界的诱惑蒙蔽了文士与法利赛人的双眼（约一2:16），因此他们无法爱神爱人，倒想尽各种方式放纵肉体的情欲（加5:16）。祈求我们能注视耶稣，有一颗纯洁的心爱服侍彼此（提前1:5；彼前1:22）。

3. Our Lord searches the hearts and minds of man (Ps. 139:1, Jer. 17:10, Rev. 2:23) – there is nothing in the dark that will not be brought to the light. Pray that we do not put up pretenses in front of man, yet harbor deep hatred both for them and God.

我们的主察看人的肺腑心肠（诗139:1；耶17:10；启2:23）——暗中的事必会被揭发。祈求我们不在人前伪装，却在心里深恨人与神。

False teachers claimed to speak and act for God yet they lie about Him. Hence Jesus’ most scathing denunciations were reserved for them.

假教师宣称是为主说话、行事，却满口谎言。因此，耶稣最严厉的谴责是保留给他们的。

1. Exclusion from the kingdom of heaven 从天国驱逐 (23:13)

Jesus repeatedly used the words “woe” and “hypocrites”. Woe is a declaration of a formal divine judgment from God; “hypocrites” are theatrical goodness that is simply for show. First, Jesus cursed the false leaders for teaching false religion in Israel which promised heaven but can only deliver hell. They came out with philosophies that may raise moral standards of the Jews, but is unable to remove their sin or provide reconciliation to God.

耶稣反复地使用“假冒为善”与 “有祸了”这两个词语。“假冒为善”指的是仅为演出的装扮，而“有祸了”是神正式的神圣审判宣言。首先，耶稣为假教师在以色列所教导的假信仰诅咒他们，因为他们所应许的天国，实际上是地狱。他们捏造了许多或能提高犹太人道德标准的哲学教导，却无法除去他们的罪，也无法使他们与神和好。

2. Subversion of the kingdom of heaven 颠覆天国 (23:15)

Second, Jesus cursed the false leaders of not just shutting their own people out of heaven, but also going out to convert Gentiles into their religious falsehood that had replaced biblical Judaism.

第二，耶稣诅咒了假教师，因为他们不仅不容自己的人进入天国，还出去将外邦人拉入他们的假宗教中。他们的假系统早已偏离了圣经中的犹太教。

3. Perversion of truth of the kingdom of heaven 扭曲天国的真理 (23:16-22)

Third, Jesus called the false leaders “blind guides”, “blind fools” and “blind men” (v.16, 17, 19) in this indictment. As God’s chosen people entrusted with His revelation, the Jews considered themselves as the mark of truth (cf. Rom. 2:19-20). However, they had developed double standards – wicked pretenses for using holy things to disguise unholy gains and lies.

第三，耶稣在这诅咒中称那些假领袖为“瞎眼领路的”、“无知瞎眼的”，及“瞎眼的人”（16,17,19节）。身为领受神启示的选民，犹太人视自己为真理的柱子（参：罗2:19-20）。然而，他们成立了双重标准，即用圣洁之物掩盖邪恶的利益与谎言。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Following false leaders have eternal consequences. Are we able to discern their false teachings and falsehoods? Pray that you will be able to discern by using God’s Word.

跟从假教师会有永恒的后果。我们是否能辨别他们的假教导及谎言呢？祈求我们能藉着神的话辨别是非。

2. What is our heart’s desire? Do we chase after short-lived rewards on earth, or to lay up eternal treasures in heaven (6:19-20)? Please ask for godly desire that honor God.

我们心中所欲是什么？我们是否追寻世上短暂的赏赐，还是在天上累积永恒的财宝呢（6:19-20）？请求神赐你敬虔之欲，能荣耀神。

3. We thank God for humble leaders who gladly accept lowly service in the Lord’s name. We pray that the Lord will continue to keep these leaders in the way of the righteousness and for His glory.

感谢神赐予我们谦卑的领袖，能为主接受谦逊的事奉岗位。祈求神能为祂的荣耀继续保守这些领袖行正义之路。

Throughout the history, the greatest threat to God’s work has been false prophets and teachers, because they are proposed to speak in His name yet their deeds denied Him. After Jesus’ direct confrontation with the false spiritual leaders, He gave His final public warning to them and to the people on the eternal danger of perverse teachings of false teachers. The Lord wanted to draw people away from them, and to turn the people to true teachings and godly leaders.

历来，对神工作的最大威胁是假先知和假教师，因为他们藉着神的名义说话，行事为人却与祂悖逆。继耶稣与假教师的直接对质后，祂向假教师及众人给予最后的公开警告，陈述假教师乖僻教导的危险性。主要引人离开他们，使他们转向真理的教导与敬虔的领袖。

1. Characteristics of false spiritual leaders 虚假属灵领袖的特征 (23:1-7)

False leaders “have seated themselves in the chair of Moses” (v.2, NASB); they were not appointed by God nor even elected by the people to the position. “They preach, but do not practice” (v.3); this is the crux of their very nature. Their hearts’ motivation is only to be seen and recognized by man in public (v.5-7), instead of fearing God who is in secret, who searches mind and heart (6:4, Rev 2:23). This drives them to pretenses of piety, but they do not have a true shepherd’s heart (v.4; cf. 11:28-30).

2. Characteristics of true spiritual leaders 真实属灵领袖的特征 (23:8-12)

On the contrary, true leaders avoid elevated titles (v.8-10). Men who faithfully proclaim and interpret God’s Word are to be appreciated, loved, and highly esteemed by those they serve (1 Thess. 5:12-13), but they are not to seek honor, much less demand or glory in it. Human teachers are all brothers with every other believer; no man’s calling, however unique, justifies him to be portrayed as being spiritually superior. They willingly accept lowly service in their Lord’s name, following their Lord’s example.

相反的，真实的领袖会避开崇高的头衔（8-10节）。忠实宣扬与分解神话语的会受到他们羊群的赏识与爱戴，并得到他们的高度评价（帖前5:12-13），但他们不当寻求荣誉，更不用说强求或以此为荣。教导者与其他的信徒当以兄弟彼此相待。不论个人蒙召的经历有多独特，都不能抬举自己，以为自己比别人属灵。他们为主的名，效法主的榜样而甘愿谦卑自己去服侍众人。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Are you following godly leaders? Do they preach the Bible in exposition? Pray for your leaders that they will be faithfully teaching God’s Word to you.

你所跟随的是敬虔的领袖吗？他们是否以释经讲道的方式讲解圣经呢？请为你的领袖祷告，叫他们能忠心地向你讲解神的话。

2. Are your leaders attractive and sweet talkers? By definition, false leaders are attractive and sweet talkers. They tell you what you like to hear not what God wants you to hear. Hard Truth confronts and challenges us. It makes us feel uncomfortable. This is the role God given them. Pray that you accept their chastening and hard teaching. Pray that you follow the hard truth rather teaching that make us feel good.

你的领袖是富魅力且满口花言巧语的吗？假教师就是这样的人。他们讲你喜欢听的话却漠视真理。然而，实在的真理却是常常让我们感到不舒服的，总是能指出我们的不是，并挑战我们。这正是神要牧者做的。祷告祈求你能接受牧者给予你的责备和认真的教导；祷告你能遵循真理而不听从那只会让人自我感觉良好的假道理。

3. Are you following leaders that are abled communication experts or are they constantly seeking to implement the truth? Paul said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) Pray that you are following leaders that lead by example.

你所跟随的领袖们是善于沟通的专家或是不断寻求真理的实行者？保罗说：“你们该效法我，像我效法基督一样。”祷告你愿效法那以身作则的领袖。

After irrefutably answering the three questions the Jewish leaders had designed to entrap Him, Jesus now went on the offensive by asking them a question about the identity of the Messiah, the Christ.

耶稣对犹太领袖提出的三个刁难问题给予了无可辨驳的回答后， 反过来考问他们对弥赛亚——基督身份的认识。

1. The inadequate answer 有欠恰当的答案 (22:41-42)

To the Pharisees as well as to most other Jews, the Messiah was no more than a man and the only identity of the Messiah they took seriously was that of his being the Son of David.

对法利赛人和众犹太人而言，弥赛亚不过是人；“大卫的子孙”是他们对弥赛亚唯一认可的身份。

2. The irresistible question 单刀直入的问题 (22:43-45)

Every Jew recognized Psalm 110 as being written by David and it is also one of the clearest messianic passages in the Old Testament. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, David had declared that God told the Messiah to sit at His (God’s) right hand, a place of coequal rank and authority. If David calls Messiah “Lord”, Jesus asked the Pharisees, how is Messiah the Son of David? Jesus’ point was that Messiah is David’s Son yet that alone was not the complete answer. The point is that Messiah is also the Son of God.

3. The inappropriate response 令人叹息的回应 (22:46)

When Jesus finished His short but irrefutable proof of the Messiah’s divinity, the Pharisees and other religious leaders were dumbfounded but not convinced, silenced but not convicted, humiliated but not humbled, reluctantly impressed but still unbelieving.

面对耶稣简短却又强而有力的凭据证明弥赛亚的神性后，法利赛人和其他宗教领袖虽然无可辩驳，却不肯信服；哑口无言，却不肯认罪；丢了面子，却仍不谦卑；不禁惊叹，但终究不愿相信。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Jesus asked the Pharisees a question when they were gathered together, “Who is the Christ?” This is the ultimate question. The answer will determine your eternal destiny. The Pharisees though they knew the answer yet they are far from the truth. How about you? Please pray that you REALLY know who Jesus Christ is.

法利赛人聚集的时候，耶稣问他们：“基督是谁？”这是最大的问题，而其答案将决定你永恒的归处。法利赛人虽然知道答案，却始终远离真理。你呢？请向神祷告，让你能真正认识耶稣基督。

2. The Pharisees’ answer about the identity of Christ is partially correct. Partially correct answer cannot save. The Devil always gives half true and half false answer. This is most dangerous answer. Do you have the answer 100% correct? Pray that you study the God’s Word seriously to get the 100% answer correct.

法利赛人对基督身份的认识只是一知半解。一知半解的认识是无法带来拯救的。魔鬼也常给半真半假的答案——可见这是非常危险的。你是否有100%正确的答案呢？求主帮助我们殷勤研读圣经，务要完全明白真理。

3. When Jesus showed them the right answer they knew it is true because they cannot answer. Yet they refused to accept. They are hard hearted. Pray that our heart will be soft and tender to receive the truth without hindrance.

当耶稣向他们揭晓正确的答案时，他们晓得那是事实，因为他们无法辩驳。即便如此，他们仍不肯接受真相，是顽梗刚硬的。求主除去我们心中的障碍，赐我们一颗柔和谦卑的心接受真理。

After Jesus put the Sadducees to silence, the Pharisees try to entrap Jesus again with the third question aimed to discredit Him.

堵住了撒都该人的口后，法利赛人又尝试以第三个问题陷害祂，希望能玷辱祂的名。

1. Love to condemn 爱谴责 (22:34-36)

The particular one who chose to confront Jesus was a lawyer, which indicated his unusual expertise in the Mosaic Law. Over the years, the rabbis had tried to divide the laws into heavy (absolutely binding) and light (less binding). However, there had never been unanimity as to which laws were heavy or light. Hence the Pharisees assumed that Jesus’ naming of the one great commandment in the Law would be sufficiently unorthodox to condemn Him.

试着对抗耶稣的是一名文士，即一位精通摩西律法的人。历年来，拉比们尝试将各律法划分轻重（必须或不一定要遵守的程度之分），却无法有个统一。因此，法利赛人以为只要耶稣说出律法中哪个诫命是最大的，就能控告祂教导不对。

2. Love the Lord 爱主 (22:37-38)

Jesus answered without hesitation, and it is totally in line with Mosaic Law. The Hebrew word for love “Aheb” used in Deuteronomy 6:5, is equivalent to the Greek agape in the New Testament, which is intelligent, purposeful and committed love that is an act of the will. To love the Lord with all one’s heart, soul and mind is not compartmentalizing love into categories, but to denote that we are to love God with every part of our being.

耶稣毫无疑虑地答复，且答案与摩西律法完全相称。《申命记》6章5节中“爱”的希伯来文是“Aheb”，相当于新约的希腊文agape，即甘愿付出的一份机灵、有意并委身的爱。尽心、尽性、尽意爱主之意，并非是要我们将爱心分类，乃是叫我们用尽一切去爱神。

3. Love your neighbour 爱人如己 (22:39-40)

After stating the first and greatest commandment, Jesus added the second as well: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Genuine love for one’s neighbor is of the same kind as genuine love for God. Just as a person looks out for his own welfare, he will also look out for the welfare of others if he truly loves them.

立了首要及最大的诫命后，耶稣加了第二个诫命：要爱人如己。对邻舍真实的爱与对神真实的爱是一样的。如同人会为自己设想，倘若他也爱他的邻舍，他会为他们的益处着想。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Do you recognize the absolute authority of the Scripture as the Word of God? Know that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16) and let us pray that by the Word of God, we may be complete and equipped for every good work.

你是否承认圣经为神话语的绝对权威？要晓得“圣经都是神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的”（提后3:16）。让我们祷告能藉着神的话语得以完全，预备行各样的善事。

2. The greatest commandment in the Bible is to love God with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. Do you love God with every part of your being? “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.” (Matt. 10:37). Let’s pray that we will truly love God with our whole heart.

圣经的最大诫命是要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主我们的神。你是否尽身心灵爱神呢？“爱父母过于爱我的，不配做我的门徒；爱儿女过于爱我的，不配做我的门徒”（太10:37）。让我们祷告，叫我们能全心真实爱神。

3. The second greatest commandment in the Bible is to love our neighbor. Do you love the people around you? Let’s pray that we will “not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)

圣经中的第二大诫命是要爱人如己。你是否爱你身边的人呢？让我们祷告我们的爱“不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行为和诚实上”（约一3:18）。

To discredit Jesus, a question was asked by the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection of the body.

为要玷辱耶稣，不信有复活的撒都该人便问了一个问题。

1. The ignorance of God’s resurrection 对神死里复活的无知 (22:23-28)

The custom of levirate marriage had been practiced for many centuries and was recognized to be a divine provision for the preservation of tribal families. To the Sadducees it seemed the perfect means to prove the absurdity of the idea of resurrection.

夫兄弟婚的习俗已传承数世纪，并被公认是神为保存支派家族的方式。对撒都该人而言，这似乎是证明死里复活之荒谬的完美凭据。

2. The ignorance of God’s power 对神大能的无知 (22:29-30)

Instead of being disgraced, Jesus pointed them to their ignorance in God’s power and God’s word. In heaven, men will be like the angels, with spiritual, glorified and eternal bodies. Why should anyone deny the resurrection because of the foolish idea that God is restricted to raising up only earthly bodies? Such a belief foolishly attacks the power of God.

耶稣不但没被玷辱，还指出了他们对神的大能与经文的无知。在天堂里，人会像天使般，有属灵、荣耀与永恒之身。为什么人竟愚昧地轻信神只能将肉体之身复活，而否定末日死里复活之事呢？这种无知实际上藐视了神的大能。

3. The ignorance of God’s word 对神话语的无知 (22:31-33)

As the Sadducees only recognized the authority of the Pentateuch, hence Jesus reminded them of a statement spoken by God in the book of Exodus. Though Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were long dead, the Lord was still their God every bit as much as when they were alive, because their souls were experiencing the fellowship of His eternal presence. The present tense is used because God is not the God of the dead but of the living. If He is presently the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then those men obviously are still alive in another realm.

由于撒都该人只认可摩西五经的权威，所以耶稣从《出埃及记》提醒他们神所说过的一句话。虽然亚伯拉罕、以撒及雅各早已死了，但主如今仍是他们的神，如同他们在世时一样，因为他们的灵魂此刻在神永恒的同在里享受团契。这里所使用的是现在时态，因为神不是死人的神，乃是活人的神。祂若如今是亚伯拉罕、以撒与雅各的神，这些人显然在另一个世界中还活着。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Many people refute the truth in the Bible because of the absurdity of the truth based on their limited understanding. What about you? Do you believe everything that is said in the Bible?

许多人否认圣经的真理，因为他们有限的理解判断真理是荒谬的。你呢？你是否相信圣经所说的一切话？

2. God’s power is so great that it can raise Jesus from the dead, for death has no power over Jesus. Let’s pray that the eyes of our heart will be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe (Eph. 1:18-19).

神的能力极大，能使耶稣从死里复活，因为死对耶稣无权柄。让我们祈求神能开启我们心灵的眼睛，使我们知道祂的恩召有何等指望，祂在圣徒中得的基业有何等丰盛的荣耀，并知道祂向我们这信的人所显的能力是何等浩大（弗1:18-19）。

3. The Sadducees had a wrong understanding of Scripture and hence they had a wrong idea of the resurrection. Let us pray that we will be like the Bereans, who “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

撒都该人对圣经有错误的理解，所以他们也误解了复活的概念。让我们祈求自己能像庇哩亚人，因他们“甘心领受这道，天天考查圣经，要晓得这道是与不是”（使17:11）。

Following Jesus’ series of judgment parables against them, the religionists responded by confronting Him with a series of three questions to maneuver Him into condemning Himself either politically or religiously.

继耶稣向宗教领袖所发出的一系列审判性比喻，他们也以三个问题作出回应，想设陷阱让耶稣说出触犯政治或宗教条规的话，从而控告祂。

1. The attack 其攻击 (22:15-17)

The Pharisees used their disciples to pose this question on poll tax in hope that Jesus would be caught off guard. They even allied with the Herodians who had strong allegiance to Rome as their witness against Jesus. The poll-tax was an annual tax which was resented by the Jews. If Jesus gave a favorable answer to the tax, He would become despised by the Jewish community. But if He declared that the tax should not be paid to Caesar, He would then be accused as an insurrectionist.

法利赛人利用他们的门徒提出有关人头税的问题，希望能藉此向耶稣发出突击。他们甚至和效忠与罗马的希律党人联盟，要他们作见证。人头税是犹太人所痛恨缴交的年度税收；倘若耶稣同意缴税，祂就会受到犹太人的憎恨。然而，如果祂说人不当纳税给凯撒，祂就能被控有反叛之罪。

2. The analogy 其比喻 (22:18-20)

Only the Roman denarius could be used to pay the poll-tax in Jesus days. It was exclusively minted by the emperor, with his engraving and an identifying inscription. It was the denarius that Jesus used as the analogy before answering them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

在耶稣的时代，只有罗马银钱可被用来纳税。它是帝王独特铸币的，且印了帝王的雕刻与铭文。这就是耶稣在回答他们之前所用的比喻：“凯撒的物当归给凯撒，神的物当归给神。”

3. The answer 其答复 (22:21-22)

The word “render” means to give back and carries the idea of obligation and responsibility. In His answer, Jesus here declared that every person has the legitimate duty of paying taxes to their government. This is the authority given to the government by God. However, men must also render to God the things that are God’s.

“归给”之意就是归还，且包含了义务与责任之意。在祂的答复中，耶稣宣告每一个人都有责任向他们的政府纳税；这是神所给予各政府的权柄。然而，人也必须把神的物归给神。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Instead of taking Jesus’ warnings to heart and seeking to avoid the judgment, the Pharisees only wanted a word from Jesus in order to bring about His own destruction. What about you? Are you taking the Word of God to heart? Or are you focusing to get what you want?

法利赛人不但没听取耶稣的警告寻求逃避审判，还想陷害耶稣，要祂自行毁灭。你呢？你是否听从神的话，还是专注于个人的利益？

2. “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Rom 13:1) Do you obey the governing authorities or do you follow the cultural practice of opposing against them? Let’s pray that we will obey the government not in fear of men, but in the fear of God.

“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的，凡掌权的都是神所命的”（罗13:1）。你是否服从在政的权柄，还是跟随反抗政府的文化呢？让我们祷告，叫我们不因畏惧人，而是因敬畏神顺服政府。

3. The government only has authority over us in the social and economic realm. Are you able to discern your obligation to the government and to God?

政府对我们的权柄只限于社会与经济的领域。你是否能辨别你对政府与神的职责呢？

This is the third judgment parables given by Jesus in respond to the religious leaders who challenged His authority.

这是耶稣关乎审判的第三个比喻，是针对抵挡祂权威的宗教领袖而说的。

1. The guests invited 邀请宾客 (22:1-6)

In this story, God was represented by the king and His chosen people, Israel, were the invited guests. The gospel invitation was given repeatedly by the prophets to attend the wedding feast, which was God’s promised blessing to Israel. However, the invitation was rejected as shown in two responses – indifference and hostility. The first response was due to their preoccupation with daily living and personal pursuits.

在这个故事中，王代表了神，而被召赴席的人则代表以色列。先知们反复地交出福音请帖召人出席喜宴，也就是神对以色列所应许的祝福。然而，宾客以两种方式拒绝了邀请：冷漠与凌辱。前者的反应是因着为每日生活及个人追求忙碌而引起的。

2. The guests punished 惩罚宾客 (22:7-8)

The guests are punished for rejecting the king’s call and the prophetic feature was fulfilled in AD 70. Because Israel has rejected the Son, God also rejected them.

宾客拒绝了王的呼召而遭受惩罚；这预言在公元后70年应验了。由于以色列拒绝了圣子，所以神也拒绝他们。

3. The new guests invited 邀请新宾客 (22:9-10)

The call to salvation was thus extended to the gentiles. All who accepted the gospel were now the dinner guests to the wedding feast.

救恩的呼召因此向外邦人伸展。凡领受福音的如今成了喜宴的宾客。

4. The unprepared guests expelled 驱逐无预备的宾客 (22:11-14)

However, the only acceptable way to attend the wedding is to put on the wedding garment as required by the King. Anyone who tried to come to the Lord unprepared or on his own terms as represented by the guest will be punished. In the day of Judgment, their falsehood would become obvious and their removal is certain.

可是，唯有穿上王所要求的礼服才可被接受赴席。凡无预备，或试着以自己的条件而来的人，就如那受到惩罚的宾客。在审判之日，他们的虚假将被揭露，而他们必被驱逐。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Although the blessing of salvation was promised to the Israelites, but they had rejected the gospel of salvation. It is not those who are Abraham’s offspring in the flesh, but those who are Abraham’s offspring in the faith that will receive the promised blessing. Are you in the faith? Please examine yourself and respond in prayer.

虽然救恩的应许是给以色列人的，但他们拒绝了救恩的福音。属亚伯拉罕的儿女是那在信心中领受这应许的人，而不是他肉身所生的儿女。你是否有信心？请审察自己，并以祷告回应。

2. We used to be a wild olive shoot, now grafted in by faith to share in the nourishing root of the olive tree (Rom. 11:17). Let’s pray that we will not be arrogant but be fearful and remember God’s kindness towards us.

我们从前是野橄榄，藉着信心得接在其中，一同得着橄榄根的肥汁（罗11:17）。让我们祷告，叫自己不要狂傲，而是要敬畏神，并纪念神对我们的恩慈。

3. The only acceptable wedding garment is genuine sanctification produced by the sanctified eternal life. Are you bearing fruits in keeping with your repentance? “Even now, the axe is laid to the roots of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matt. 3:10-11) Let’s pray that God will continue His sanctifying work in our hearts.

唯独被接受的礼服是因得永生而有的真实圣洁生活。你是否有结出与悔改的心相称的果子呢？“现在斧子已经放在树根上，凡不结好果子的树就砍下来，丢在火里”（太3:10）。让我们祈求神会在我们的心里延续祂洁净的工作。

In this passage Jesus gives three parables to illustrate more graphically the willful rejection of God by the Jewish leaders. This is the second of the trilogy of judgment.

在这段经文中，耶稣用三个比喻说明犹太领袖对神的顽梗拒绝。这是审判三部曲的第二部。

1. The parable illustrated 比喻的叙述 (21:33-41)

The parable speaks of a master who took great pains in developing his vineyard before leasing it to the tenants. However, the tenants will need to pay a percentage of the proceeds to him as rent. When it comes to the time to collect the fruit, the tenants repeatedly reject and even kill the Master’s servants. Ultimately, the Master sent His own son and even so they killed him. Jesus asked the Jews how shall the master judge the tenants. They rightly answered that the tenants shall be put to dead and the vineyard be given to others who can produce fruits.

2. The parable explained 比喻的解释 (21:42-44)

Jesus then tied the messianic psalm (Ps. 118:22-23) to the parable. God had prepared a place of great beauty and blessing, gave it to the stewardship of Israel, but she misappropriated them for herself, robbing God of His honour, persecuted His prophets, and even murdered His Son. As such, unbelieving Israel would be judged and the promise will be given to the Gentiles who believe.

3. The pugnacious reaction 好斗的反应 (21:45-46)

The Jewish leaders knew Jesus was talking about them but refused to repent. Instead they seek to revenge but were stopped because they feared the crowd.

犹太领袖晓得耶稣指的是他们，但仍拒绝悔改。反之，他们想报复，但因为怕众人而停止了。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Why does Jesus use three parables to illustrate one single truth? What truth is this that Jesus had to go all the way out to show them? Please refer to the lesson on Matthew 21:24.

耶稣为什么要用三个比喻说明一个真理呢？耶稣要显明的是什么真理，叫祂如此煞费苦心向他们讲解呢？请参照我们在《马太福音》21章24节所学习的功课。

2. Is bearing fruit so important to salvation? Can you demonstrate using this parable (Matt. 21:33-44)?

结果子对于得救来说那么重要吗？你能否用这个比喻（太21:33-44）说明？

3. In the same way, the Lord gives us eternal life, spiritual gifts and many other blessings. What do we do with them? Are we good stewards? Are we making the same mistakes as the Jews? Please examine and respond in prayer.

To the Jewish leaders, there was nothing more humiliating than the cleansing of Temple. In the beginning the Pharisees and scribes were powerless to stop Jesus. But slowly as they recovered from the shock, they started to turn on the offensive.

对犹太宗教领袖而言，没什么比耶稣洁净圣殿这事来得更羞辱了。起初，法利赛人与文士无能阻止耶稣，但当他们逐渐从震惊中恢复过来后，他们便开始进攻了。

1. Rejection of Jesus’ authority 拒绝耶稣的权柄 (21:23-27)

In Israel, a rabbi would first be ordained by the Sanhedrin before he was given the corresponding authority for his role. Jesus did not have such an ordination, and hence He was questioned on His authority to teach and preach. Interestingly, they never questioned His power and ability to perform miracles. However, no amount of evidence would bring them to accept Him as Messiah. Their only objective was to find excuses so that they would have grounds to put Him to death.

在以色列，拉比必须先由公会任命，才有权柄履行相应的责任。耶稣并无此类的仪式，所以被质疑祂教导与传道的权柄从何而来。有趣的是，他们从不质疑耶稣行神迹的权柄与大能。然而，就算有再多的凭据，他们都不会接受耶稣为弥赛亚；他们唯一的目的是要寻找借口将祂置于死地。

2. Rejection of God’s will 拒绝神的旨意 (21:28-32)

The parable of the two sons implied that it is immeasurably better for one to refuse initially but repent and obey later, than to hypocritically say yes but did not obey. Jesus’ point was that the claim to religion does not qualify a person to enter the kingdom. On other hand if a person, who committed a gross sin but later repented from it, he will be forgiven and allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Lord said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you.” No rebuke could have cut them deeper or infuriated them more, because in their eyes, tax-gatherers and harlots were the scum of society perhaps even worse than Gentiles. Yet they will be allowed to enter heaven but the Pharisees and scribes are refused to the door of heaven.

两个儿子的比喻意味着起初不愿但后来悔改顺服的，比虚假说是但不顺服的人好得很。耶稣话中的重点是：宣称有宗教的人不一定就能进天国。反之，若一人犯下重罪却后来悔改，他会得饶恕，并得容许进入神的国。主对他们说：“我实在告诉你们：税吏和娼妓倒比你们先进神的国。”没有任何斥责比这更能激怒他们了，因为在他们眼里，税吏和娼妓是社会的败类，甚至或许连外邦人都不如。可是，他们得进天国，而法利赛人和文士却会被拒绝在外。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Where does Jesus’ authority come from? From heaven or from man? How do you know?

耶稣的权柄从何而来？是从天上来的，还是从人间来的呢？你是怎么知道的？

2. The Jews were preoccupied with the peer pressure that they are not thinking clearly (Matt. 21:25-26). What about you? Are you being influenced by our society such that you are not thinking clearly about Jesus?

犹太人被同侪压力影响了，以致脑子不不清晰（21:25-26）。你呢？你是否被我们的社会影响了，以致你无法正确思考耶稣？

3. There are many of us who give religious correct answers in church yet in our daily lives we did not obey Jesus’ command – can we call ourselves Christians?

我们许多人能在教会里给予正确的宗教答案，却在每日生活中不遵从神的诫命——我们是否能称自己为基督徒？