《約翰福音》Day14
《你有自由嗎？》
31 耶穌對信祂的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒； 32 你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」 33 他們回答說：「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。祢怎麼說『你們必得以自由』呢？」 34 耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。 35 奴僕不能永遠住在家裏；兒子是永遠住在家裏。 36 所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。 37 我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫，你們卻想要殺我，因為你們心裏容不下我的道。 38 我所說的是在我父那裏看見的；你們所行的是在你們的父那裏聽見的。」
39 他們說：「我們的父就是亞伯拉罕。」耶穌說：「你們若是亞伯拉罕的兒子，就必行亞伯拉罕所行的事。 40 我將在神那裏所聽見的真理告訴了你們，現在你們卻想要殺我，這不是亞伯拉罕所行的事。 41 你們是行你們父所行的事。」他們說：「我們不是從淫亂生的；我們只有一位父，就是神。」 42 耶穌說：「倘若神是你們的父，你們就必愛我；因為我本是出於神，也是從神而來，並不是由着自己來，乃是祂差我來。 43 你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢？無非是因你們不能聽我的道。 44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們父的私慾你們偏要行。牠從起初是殺人的，不守真理，因牠心裏沒有真理。牠說謊是出於自己；因牠本來是說謊的，也是說謊之人的父。 45 我將真理告訴你們，你們就因此不信我。 46 你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢？我既然將真理告訴你們，為甚麼不信我呢？ 47 出於神的，必聽神的話；你們不聽，因為你們不是出於神。」
48 猶太人回答說：「我們說祢是撒馬利亞人，並且是鬼附着的，這話豈不正對嗎？」 49 耶穌說：「我不是鬼附着的；我尊敬我的父，你們倒輕慢我。 50 我不求自己的榮耀，有一位為我求榮耀、定是非的。 51 我實實在在地告訴你們，人若遵守我的道，就永遠不見死。」 52 猶太人對祂說：「現在我們知道祢是鬼附着的。亞伯拉罕死了，眾先知也死了，祢還說：『人若遵守我的道，就永遠不嘗死味。』 53 難道祢比我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕還大嗎？他死了，眾先知也死了，祢將自己當作甚麼人呢？」 54 耶穌回答說：「我若榮耀自己，我的榮耀就算不得甚麼；榮耀我的乃是我的父，就是你們所說是你們的神。 55 你們未曾認識祂；我卻認識祂。我若說不認識祂，我就是說謊的，像你們一樣；但我認識祂，也遵守祂的道。 56 你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看見了就快樂。」 57 猶太人說：「祢還沒有五十歲，豈見過亞伯拉罕呢？」 58 耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我。」 59 於是他們拿石頭要打祂；耶穌卻躲藏，從殿裏出去了。 (約翰福音八31-59)
31 To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” 39“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of Your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God Himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
48 The Jews answered Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and He is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that You are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet You say that whoever obeys Your word will never taste death. 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do You think You are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know Him, I know Him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and obey His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to Him, “and You have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:31-59)
48 The Jews answered Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and He is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” 52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that You are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet You say that whoever obeys Your word will never taste death. 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do You think You are?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55 Though you do not know Him, I know Him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and obey His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to Him, “and You have seen Abraham!” 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:31-59)
分享【人以為的自由】
耶穌對信祂的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒；你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」(v.31-32) 然而，他們卻回應說：「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。」(v.33) 這句話其實帶著一種自信 —— 他們以為自己是自由的，因為有身份、有傳統、有信仰。
但耶穌指出更深的現實：「所有犯罪的，就是罪的奴僕。」(v.34) 原來，人最大的捆綁，不是外在環境，而是內在的罪。人可以外表自由，內心卻被慾望、驕傲與罪惡牽引而不自知。這種捆綁，比任何外在束縛更深。耶穌更進一步宣告：「天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。」(v.36) 真正的自由，不是隨心所欲，而是從罪中被釋放，可以活出神原本設計的生命。
可惜的是，當耶穌揭露這真相時，人們不但沒有接受，反而想要殺祂 (v.59) 。原來，最難接受的，不是沒有自由，而是承認自己其實不自由。今天，我們也可能以為自己掌控人生，但其實仍被一些看不見的力量牽引。你有自由嗎？
【釋經亮點】
經文中，猶太人強調自己是亞伯拉罕的後裔 (v.33)，這不只是民族身份，更是與神立約的記號。在猶太拉比傳統中，亞伯拉罕被視為「信心與順服的典範」，甚至有教導指出：真正屬亞伯拉罕的人，是行他所行的人 (一些猶太教口傳妥拉，如《米書拿》中提到：跟隨亞伯拉罕腳蹤的人，才算他的子孫) 。換句話說，拉比傳統本身也不只看血統，而重視生命的延續。
然而，在實際信仰中，身份仍然容易被簡化為外在標誌 —— 出生、律法、傳統。耶穌正是在這一點上作出挑戰：若只是自稱屬於亞伯拉罕，卻不活出他的信心與順服，其實已經偏離了真正的意義 (v.39)。也就是說，屬靈身份不是單靠承繼，而是由生命回應所顯明。
這帶出一個重要提醒：即使在最重視傳承的信仰群體中，也不斷出現同一個張力 —— 身份與生命之間的落差。今天我們同樣可能擁有屬靈背景、教會經歷，甚至正確神學，卻未必活出真正的信心。原來，神所看重的，不只是你「從哪裡來」，而是你「活得像誰」。
反思：我是否以為自己自由，卻其實被一些習慣或罪捆綁？我對自由的理解，是隨心所欲，還是活在真理中？今天，我願不願意讓主釋放我，得著真正的自由？
禱告：主耶穌，祢是真理，但我很多時卻活在自以為的自由裡。求祢光照我，讓我看見那些我不願承認的捆綁，使我不再被罪掌控。也求祢幫助我常常活在祢的話語中，使我在祢裡面得著真正的自由。讓我不只是想做自己，而是願意成為祢所喜悅的人。以上禱告，奉主耶穌的名求，阿們。
Posted in 2026-04-JohnA