派使者去求和 — 路加福音讀經隨筆 第14章

路加福音第十四章第25—35節，耶穌說若有人想跟從他就需要忽略（原文為恨）自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命。耶穌這句話是說若有人想跟從他就不要愛自己的家人或拋棄他們嗎？肯定不是，否則這與神要門徒們愛人如己是矛盾的。我覺得耶穌這句話的意思是說人若想跟從耶穌就需要不怕家人的反對，就需要忽略父母和妻子的勸導，遵循耶穌的教導去行事為人，並否定自己在世界裏所學的關於得救的思維邏輯（即把所學的世界的東西釘在十字架上，或者說否定舊我：通過相信耶穌得救，而不是通過所學的世界裏的途徑和邏輯去尋求得救），看重天國的福分而看輕世界裏的名利，隻有這樣才能做耶穌的門徒：這就是撇下一切所有的，背起十字架跟從耶穌。耶穌說這就好比一個人蓋樓他需要預先計算所需要的花費，也好比出去帶兵打仗，若覺得打不過，就趁另一方還遠的時候派使者去求和。耶穌就是拯救我們的使者，他道成肉身替我們死在十字架上擔當了我們的罪，在末日到來之前，替我們談妥了得救的條款，賜給了我們永生。信耶穌就必得救！若做不到如此跟隨耶穌，就好比鹽失了味，隻能被丟棄了。

路14:25 有極多的人和耶穌同行．他轉過來對他們說、
Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them,
路14:26 人到我這裏來、若不愛我勝過愛自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命、就不能作我的門徒。〔愛我勝過愛原文作恨〕
"If anyone comes to me, and doesn't disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple.
路14:27 凡不背著自己十字架跟從我的、也不能作我的門徒。
Whoever doesn't bear his own cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple.
路14:28 你們那一個要蓋一座樓、不先坐下算計花費、能蓋成不能呢。
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?
路14:29 恐怕安了地基、不能成功、看見的人都笑話他、
Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,
路14:30 說、這個人開了工、卻不能完工。
saying, 'This man began to build, and wasn't able to finish.'
路14:31 或是一個王、出去和別的王打仗、豈不先坐下酌量、能用一萬兵、去敵那領二萬兵來攻打他的麽。
Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
路14:32 若是不能、就趁敵人還遠的時候、派使者去求和息的條款。
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace.
路14:33 這樣、你們無論甚麽人、若不撇下一切所有的、就不能作我的門徒。
So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple.
路14:34 鹽本是好的．鹽若失了味、可用甚麽叫它再鹹呢。
Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it?
路14:35 或用在田裏、或堆在糞裏、都不合式．隻好丟在外麵。有耳可聽的、就應當聽。
It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."