《馬太福音》Day20

《拒絕與安息》

20 耶穌在諸城中行了許多異能,那些城的人終不悔改,就在那時候責備他們,說: 21 「哥拉汛哪,你有禍了!伯賽大啊,你有禍了!因為在你們中間所行的異能,若行在泰爾、西頓,他們早已披麻蒙灰悔改了。 22 但我告訴你們,當審判的日子,泰爾、西頓所受的,比你們還容易受呢! 23 迦百農啊,你已經升到天上,將來必墜落陰間;因為在你那裏所行的異能,若行在所多瑪,它還可以存到今日。 24 但我告訴你們,當審判的日子,所多瑪所受的,比你還容易受呢!」 25 那時,耶穌說:「父啊,天地的主,我感謝祢!因為祢將這些事向聰明通達人就藏起來,向嬰孩就顯出來。 26 父啊,是的,因為祢的美意本是如此。 27 一切所有的,都是我父交付我的;除了父,沒有人知道子;除了子和子所願意指示的,沒有人知道父。 28 凡勞苦擔重擔的人可以到我這裏來,我就使你們得安息。 29 我心裏柔和謙卑,你們當負我的軛,學我的樣式;這樣,你們心裏就必得享安息。 30 因為我的軛是容易的,我的擔子是輕省的。」(馬太福音十一20-30)

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” 25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what You were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:20-30)

分享【被拒絕的主,仍然發出邀請】
今天,在這段經文的前半,耶穌嚴肅地責備那些看見神蹟仍不肯悔改的城邑。拒絕並非因為證據不足,而是心不願回轉。令人意外的是,耶穌並沒有停留在審判的語氣中,反而轉向禱告與邀請。祂讚美父向「聰明通達的人」隱藏真理,卻向「嬰孩」顯明,指出神國不是靠人的理解能力進入,而是靠謙卑的回應。

接着,耶穌發出福音書中最溫柔的邀請之一:「凡勞苦擔重擔的人,可以到我這裡來。」(參v.28) 這不是否認責備的真實性,而是在拒絕之後,仍然向願意回轉的人敞開道路。

耶穌邀請人學祂的樣式,戴上祂的軛。這並非換一副更沉重的擔子,而是進入一種新的關係 —— 與主同行、由主引領。安息不是逃離責任,而是在順服中重新得力。被拒絕的主,仍然耐心地等待人回應祂的呼召,這是何等大的恩典!

釋經亮點】
在責備加利利諸城時,耶穌刻意提到「泰爾、西頓、所多瑪」,這並不是隨意舉例,而是極具震撼力的對比。對以色列人而言,泰爾和西頓是外邦、驕傲且在先知書中多次受責備的城市;所多瑪更是罪惡與審判的象徵,是人盡皆知的反面教材。這些城市代表的是「在神的光之外」的地方。

然而,耶穌卻說,若祂在這些地方行過同樣的神蹟,人們早已悔改。這種說法對當時的聽眾極其刺耳,因為它顛覆了熟悉的道德排序:被視為最不可能悔改的外邦與罪惡之城,反而顯得比擁有啟示與神蹟的選民之城更有回應。

耶穌藉此指出,審判的標準不在於宗教身分,而在於人如何回應所領受的光。知道得多、看見得多,卻不悔改,反而使責任更大。這些地名的作用,正是照出人心的驕傲,也為「勞苦得安息」的邀請鋪路 —— 因為真正的安息,唯有向謙卑悔改的人敞開。

反思:你曾否像經文中的城邑一樣,聽見主的話,卻遲遲沒有回應?你目前生命中最沉重的擔子是什麼?它是來自環境的壓力、他人的期待,還是對自己的要求?在這樣的光景中,你是否願意學習耶穌柔和謙卑的樣式,把重擔交給祂,重新進入祂所應許的安息?

禱告:使人安息的主,當我在忙碌與自責中感到疲憊時,謝謝祢仍然向我發出邀請。求祢幫助我放下重擔,學習與祢同行。教我在順服中得著安息,在跟隨中重新得力。以上禱告,奉主耶穌的名求,阿們。