《由伴徒到叛徒》Day 02

猶大的生命焦點

1 逾越節前六日,耶穌來到伯大尼,就是祂叫拉撒路從死裏復活之處。2 有人在那裏給耶穌預備筵席;馬大伺候,拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。3 馬利亞就拿著一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏,抹耶穌的腳,又用自己頭髮去擦,屋裏就滿了膏的香氣。4 有一個門徒,就是那將要賣耶穌的加略人猶大,5 說:「這香膏為甚麼不賣三十兩銀子賙濟窮人呢?」6 他說這話,並不是掛念窮人,乃因他是個賊,又帶著錢囊,常取其中所存的。7 耶穌說:「由她吧!她是為我安葬之日存留的。8 因為常有窮人和你們同在,只是你們不常有我。」(約翰福音十二1-8)

「一個人不能事奉兩個主;不是惡這個、愛那個,就是重這個、輕那個。你們不能又事奉上帝,又事奉瑪門 。」(馬太福音六24)

貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財,就被引誘離了真道,用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。(提摩太前書六10)

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, 5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (John 12:1-8)

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

分享:十二使徒可算是耶穌最親密的人,在跟隨耶穌的日子裡,經歷了各種醫病趕鬼的神蹟,又聽了很多耶穌的教導,生命理應有一定的成長。然而,猶大卻有別與其他十一位使徒,他仍然是一個被金錢捆綁的罪人。也許,金錢成為了猶大與耶穌之間阻隔的牆,以致猶大並沒有從耶穌身上學到什麼。

《約翰福音十二》記載了馬利亞以極貴的真哪噠香膏膏耶穌。猶大質疑馬利亞的行動是一種浪費,表面上他以賙濟窮人作借口,實際上他只是希望從中獲利。這顯示了他貪婪和不誠實的本性,為了金錢不擇手段,聖經甚至形容他是個賊。猶大的想法與馬利亞的行動成為了強烈的對比。馬利亞又豈會不知道香膏的價值?但當時在她心裡就只有耶穌是最尊貴的,她願意為耶穌付出所有,沒有什麼事物能夠與耶穌相比。相反,猶大眼中只有金錢,就不能夠看見耶穌的重要。耶穌曾教導:「一個人不能事奉兩個主」(參馬太福音六24) 這話正好應用在猶大身上。

金錢,絕對是一個引誘人離開真道的陷阱。(參提摩太前書六10) 金錢的陷阱讓我想起一個獵人捉猴子的故事。獵人善用了猴子貪戀香脆核桃的弱點來捕捉牠們。獵人會在猴子常常出現的大石頭上鑿一個洞,洞口僅能伸開手掌進去,獵人把核桃放在洞裡,若是猴子抓著核桃不放,手就不能伸出來,那就會被困住,獵人就能輕而易舉地捕捉牠們。也許,猶大一直都沒有學懂放手,一生人都牢牢的捉住金錢,然後就被世界困住了。

反思:一個人不能事奉兩個主,給你什麼提醒?除了金錢,還有什麼事物有可能成為你的陷阱呢?

禱告:親愛的天父,求祢幫助我們認清金錢的可怕,並克服貪婪的心。求祢賜給我們清潔的心,專心追求祢的國度,不被錢財誘惑,單單事奉祢、榮耀祢。以上禱告,奉主耶穌得勝的名求,阿們。