听说拿破仑升到司令的时候,他就警告他底下的一个将军,这个将军常常对他有点不服气,这个将军比他高了一个头。拿破仑个子不高,他升成司令以后就对这个将军讲:“我告诉你,你比我整整高了一个头,如果你不顺服的话,我早晚会把它变成一样。”那他要不要听?你不听的话,你就会和拿破仑一样高。弟兄姊妹,有些话是要听的。我们看不明白,听不明白。以前有个老师问学生说:“你们可不可以举一个文盲的例子”,一个小孩子举手答到:“苍蝇”,老师说:“为什么?”因为我们家卖的苍蝇纸上写着说‘灭蝇’,它还硬是要飞上去。所以他说这个苍蝇是‘文盲’。很多时候我们基督徒也是,你不要小看这个。明明讲这事不可以碰,这是不可以摸、尝、拿,吃的日子必定死。你看咱们的老祖宗就吃了。你不要怪亚当,一样的原则今天在我们的身上。太多的时候我们知道这样子下去家庭一定破裂,这样子下去我们的健康一定毁了,你如果这样子下去任凭孩子,孩子完了,但是我们好像 do nothing ,我们就任凭它发生,我们就任凭它继续。有些话凡有耳的就应当听 ,你看启示录对七个教会,圣灵所说的话,一再地,每一个教会都加这句话“凡有耳的,就应当听”。说到这件事的重要。
这个比喻里面我们找出至少两个相同的地方,两个不同的地方。你们觉得整个比喻里有哪两个点是相同的?种子是相同的,种子讲到是神的道。马太福音讲到‘这是天国的道理’,马可和路加都讲到‘神的道Word of God’,种子都一样。撒种的人都一样。撒种的人主耶稣在这里并没有解释是谁,但是底下接下来的比喻-稗子的比喻,这个撒好种的是人子。但是这一段圣经主却没有解释,所以撒种的人可能是指主耶稣在这里所传的福音,我们如果要扩大的应用,就是所有传道的,不一定见得是传道人,就是所有传播主的救恩道理的人,把这个种子撒出去了。
Memory Verse: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)
1. 了解此比喻的重要
The importance of understanding this parable
1. 是明白一切其它比喻的根基
It is the foundation of understanding all other parables
-「…你們不明白這比喻嗎?這樣怎能明白一切的比喻呢?」(可4:13)
- “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” (Mark 4:13)
2. 是歷代以來,許多義人和先知所盼望得聽到的
It is what many prophets and righteous men desired to hear throughout the generations
-「…你們的眼睛是有福的,因為看見了;你們的耳朵也是有福的,因為聽見了。 17 我實在告訴你們,從前有許多先知和義人要看你們所看的,卻沒有看見,要聽你們所聽的,卻沒有聽見。」18 「所以,你們當聽這撒種的比喻。(太13:16-18)
- “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18Therefore hear the parable of the sower.” (Matthew 13:16-18)
3. 是與每一位 神兒女都息息相關的重要信息
It is an important message closely related to all children of God
- 「…你們當聽這撒種的比喻。」(太13:18)
- “Therefore, hear the parable of the sower.” (Matthew 13:18)
-耶穌說了這些話,就大聲說:「有耳可聽的,就應當聽!」(路8:8)
- “When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 8:8)
2. 明白此比喻的解釋
Understanding the explanation of this parable
1. 先明白種子與四種土地的真意
First understand the true meaning of the seed and four kinds of soils
2. 再找出其相同與相異之處
Next find out the similarities and differences between them
3. 掌握此比喻的精髓
Grasp the gist of this parable
3. 重視此比喻的實踐
Value the practicing of this parable
● 大哉,敬虔的奧祕,無人不以為然﹗就是 神在肉身顯現,被聖靈稱義,被天使看見,被傳於外邦,被世人信服,被接在榮耀裏。(提前3:16)
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
回饋問題:
Reflection questions:
1. 為什麼撒種的比喻是明白一切其它比喻的根基?
Why is the parable of sower the foundation of understanding all other parables?
2. 撒種比喻的精髓是什麼?
What is the gist of the parable of the sower?
3. 撒種的比喻和我們有什麼切身的關係?我們如何來回應?
What does the parable of the sower have to do with us? How shall we respond to it?.