綿羊在右邊山羊在左邊 — 馬太福音讀經隨筆 第25章

馬太福音第二十五章第31—46節是耶穌在這章講的第三個比喻。這個比喻一方麵鼓勵主裏的弟兄姐妹們要有愛心服事最小的那個。最小的那個就是最軟弱的那個弟兄姐妹，他們有的需要被供應吃穿，有的流離他鄉做客旅，有的生病，還有的坐監。主說將這些事做在弟兄中最小的一個身上，就是做在耶穌身上，末日的時候就可承受神的國。這個比喻另一方麵也透露了得救的（即比喻裏的綿羊，馬太福音第十三章比喻為麥子）做的任何一件善事神都是紀念的，而不得救的（即比喻裏的山羊，馬太福音第十三章比喻為稗子）盡管也作了類似的事情，主卻不予紀念。

太25:31 當人子在他榮耀裏、同著眾天使降臨的時候、要坐在他榮耀的寶座上．

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

太25:32 萬民都要聚集在他麵前．他要把他們分別出來、好象牧羊的分別綿羊山羊一般．

Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

太25:33 把綿羊安置在右邊、山羊在左邊。

He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

太25:34 於是王要向那右邊的說、你們這蒙我父賜福的、可來承受那創世以來為你們所預備的國。

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

太25:35 因為我餓了、你們給我吃．渴了、你們給我喝．我作客旅、你們留我住．

for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.

太25:36 我赤身露體、你們給我穿．我病了、你們看顧我．我在監裏、你們來看我。

I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

太25:37 義人就回答說、主阿、我們甚麽時候見你餓了給你吃、渴了給你喝．

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?

太25:38 甚麽時候見你作客旅留你住、或是赤身露體給你穿．

When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

太25:39 又甚麽時候見你病了、或是在監裏、來看你呢。

When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

太25:40 王要回答說、我實在告訴你們、這些事你們既作在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上、就是作在我身上了。

"The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

太25:41 王又要向那左邊的說、你們這被咒詛的人、離開我、進入那為魔鬼和他的使者所預備的永火裏去。

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

太25:42 因為我餓了、你們不給我吃．渴了、你們不給我喝．

for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

太25:43 我作客旅、你們不留我住．我赤身露體、你們不給我穿．我病了、我在監裏、你們不來看顧我。

I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

太25:44 他們也要回答說、主阿、我們甚麽時候見你餓了、或渴了、或作客旅、或赤身露體、或病了、或在監裏、不伺候你呢。

"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

太25:45 王要回答說、我實在告訴你們、這些事你們既不作在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上、就是不作在我身上了。

"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'

太25:46 這些人要往永刑裏去．那些義人要往永生裏去。

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."