神的國賜給能結果子的百姓 — 馬太福音讀經隨筆 第21章

馬太福音第二十一章第33—46節，耶穌用一個比喻概括了整個舊約裏先知們的遭遇和將要來臨的耶穌受難。耶穌用家主比喻天父，園戶比喻那些猶太教裏的祭司長和法利賽人等等，家主派去收果子的仆人們就是舊約裏的那些先知，而家主的兒子就是比喻耶穌自己。耶穌最後說，神的國必從那些園戶奪去，賜給那能結果子的百姓。門徒們行事為人順從聖靈而不順從肉體，乃是能接果子的百姓，因為我們活在神的愛裏。正如保羅在加拉太書裏所說，聖靈所結的果子就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節製。
太21:33 你們再聽一個比喻．有個家主、栽了一個葡萄園、周圍圈上籬笆、裏麵挖了一個壓酒池、蓋了一座樓、租給園戶、就往外國去了。
"Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.
太21:34 收果子的時候近了、就打發仆人、到園戶那裏去收果子。
When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.
太21:35 園戶拿住仆人。打了一個、殺了一個、用石頭打死一個。
The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
太21:36 主人又打發別的仆人去、比先前更多．園戶還是照樣待他們。
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.
太21:37 後來打發他的兒子到他們那裏去、意思說、他們必尊敬我的兒子。
But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
太21:38 不料、園戶看見他兒子、就彼此說、這是承受產業的．來吧、我們殺他、占他的產業。
But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'
太21:39 他們就拿住他、推出葡萄園外、殺了。
So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
太21:40 園主來的時候、要怎樣處治這些園戶呢。
When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"
太21:41 他們說、要下毒手除滅那些惡人、將葡萄園另租給那按著時候交果子的園戶。
They told him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season."
太21:42 耶穌說、經上寫著、『匠人所棄的石頭、已作了房角的頭塊石頭．這是主所作的、在我們眼中看為希奇。』這經你們沒有念過麽。
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?'
太21:43 所以我告訴你們。神的國、必從你們奪去．賜給那能結果子的百姓。
"Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation bringing forth its fruit.
加5:22 聖靈所結的果子、就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
加5:23 溫柔、節製．這樣的事、沒有律法禁止。
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.