講定的是一錢銀子 — 馬太福音讀經隨筆 第20章

馬太福音第二十章第1—16節，耶穌打比喻說明了門徒們得救的簡單道理。從這個比喻裏可以看出耶穌講的這個天國的真理與世界的邏輯是相反的。若不理解耶穌的這個比喻，說明我們否定舊我還不夠徹底。這個比喻是說那些自以為給主作工多的人與那些給主作工少的人最後的結果都是一樣的：得到的都是講定的那一錢銀子，即得救進天國。作工多的不要嫉妒作工少的（即耶穌說的不要眼紅），作工少的不要洋洋自得或自慚形愧，因為得救都是本乎神的恩典也因著人的信，即以弗所書所說的“得救是本乎恩，也因著信，這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的”。我們做門徒的，剛強些的願意在主裏多作些工的那就多做些；軟弱些的不能在主裏多作工也可以理解，剛強的不要勉強和論斷軟弱的（見林前，加拉太書和羅馬書），隻要每個人都領受我們是主耶穌重價買來的就好，因為耶穌在約翰福音裏說：“信神所差來的就是作神的工”，每個人都是因信稱義（見羅馬書和加拉太書）！這也是為什麽耶穌說有結果實一百倍的，有結果實六十倍，有結果實三十倍的。是因為我們得救了披帶了耶穌的所賜之義，所以所做的才在神眼裏算為善事。而不是相反即靠做善事去得救（這是世界裏的邏輯），這是神所恨惡的因為這種靠做善事去得救的邏輯是不相信耶穌在十字架上已經救了我們。

太20:1 因為天國好象家主、清早去雇人、進他的葡萄園作工．

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

太20:2 和工人講定、一天一錢銀子、就打發他們進葡萄園去。

When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

太20:3 約在巳初出去、看見市上還有閑站的人．

He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

太20:4 就對他們說、你們也進葡萄園去、所當給的、我必給你們．他們也進去了。

To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way.

太20:5 約在午正和申初又出去、也是這樣行。

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

太20:6 約在酉初出去、看見還有人站在那裏．就問他們說、你們為甚麽整天在這裏閑站呢。

About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'

太20:7 他們說、因為沒有人雇我們．他說、你們也進葡萄園去。

"They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.'

太20:8 到了晚上、園主對管事的說、叫工人都來、給他們工錢、從後來的起、到先來的為止。

When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

太20:9 約在酉初雇的人來了、各人得了一錢銀子。

"When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

太20:10 及至那先雇的來了、他們以為必要多得．誰知也是各得一錢。

When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

太20:11 他們得了、就埋怨家主說、

When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

太20:12 我們整天勞苦受熱、那後來的隻做了一小時、你竟叫他們和我們一樣麽。

saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

太20:13 家主回答其中的一人說、朋友、我不虧負你．你與我講定的、不是一錢銀子麽。

"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius?

太20:14 拿你的走吧．我給那後來的和給你一樣、這是我願意的。

Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

太20:15 我的東西難道不可隨我的意思用麽．因為我作好人、你就紅了眼麽。

Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?'

太20:16 這樣、那在後的將要在前、在前的將要在後了。〔有古卷在此有因為被召的人多選上的人少〕

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

弗2:8 你們得救是本乎恩、也因著信、這並不是出於自己、乃是神所賜的．

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

約6:29 耶穌回答說、信神所差來的、這就是作神的工。

Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."