穿禮服的賓客 — 馬太福音讀經隨筆 第22章

馬太福音第二十二章第1—14節，耶穌又打了一個比喻。一個王給他兒子準備了娶親的筵席，各樣都齊備了，打發仆人出去，請那些被召的人來赴席，但他們卻找各種理由不肯來，有去種地的，有去做買賣的，有的把仆人幹脆殺了。這些被邀請的人不相信有免費的筵席，不如用這個時間去賺錢。於是王大怒，燒毀了他們的城。然後王派仆人請了那些沒有被事先邀請的人來赴筵席，其中一個人沒穿禮服，王命令把他捆綁起來扔到黑暗裏去了。這個比喻是說天父將他的兒子耶穌賜下來，將罪人從這邪惡淫亂的世代拯救出來，人隻要相信耶穌就得救，這是神準備的多麽美好的一個免費筵席啊，很多猶太人作為預先被召的神的子民，卻不領情不悔改。神遂將福音傳到外邦，很多外邦人卻領受了，穿上了耶穌的義服，即穿禮服的賓客與耶穌一起坐席。
太22:1 耶穌又用比喻對他們說、
Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,
太22:2 天國好比一個王、為他兒子擺設娶親的筵席。
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
太22:3 就打發仆人去、請那些被召的人來赴席．他們卻不肯來。
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
太22:4 王又打發別的仆人說、你們告訴那被召的人、我的筵席已經預備好了、牛和肥畜已經宰了、各樣都齊備．請你們來赴席。
Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"'
太22:5 那些人不理就走了．一個到自己田裏去．一個作買賣去．
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
太22:6 其餘的拿住仆人、淩辱他們、把他們殺了。
and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
太22:7 王就大怒、發兵除滅那些凶手、燒毀他們的城。
When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
太22:8 於是對仆人說、喜筵已經齊備、隻是所召的人不配。
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy.
太22:9 所以你們要往岔路口上去、凡遇見的、都召來赴席。
Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.'
太22:10 那些仆人就出去到大路上、凡遇見的、不論善惡都召聚了來．筵席上就坐滿了客。
Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
太22:11 王進來觀看賓客、見那裏有一個沒有穿禮服的。
But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing,
太22:12 就對他說、朋友、你到這裏來、怎麽不穿禮服呢。那人無言可答。
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless.
太22:13 於是王對使喚的人說、捆起他的手腳來、把他丟在外邊的黑暗裏．在那裏必要哀哭切齒了。
Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.'
太22:14 因為被召的人多、選上的人少。
For many are called, but few chosen."