看不到父親恩典的大兒子 — 路加福音讀經隨筆 第15章

路加福音第十五章第11—32節，耶穌為了說明哪些人是得救的，就對法利賽人和文士打了個比喻。這個比喻說一個人有兩個兒子。小兒子要求父親把他應得的家業分給他，他父親就把家業分給了他和哥哥。小兒子把所得的家業收拾起來就奔赴他鄉了，在他鄉過著青春年少的叛逆生活，很快浪費完了所有資財。又遇著那地方大遭饑荒，他恨不得拿豬所吃的豆莢充饑，但是並沒有人給他。他不得不回到老家。父親熱烈歡迎了他回來，把最好的袍子戒指和鞋子給他穿戴上，並宰了肥牛犢慶祝。大兒子從田裏勞作回來卻很生氣，對父親說：“我服事你這多年，從來沒有違背過你的命。你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔叫我和朋友一同快樂，但你這個兒子和娼妓吞盡了你的產業，他一來了你倒為他宰了肥牛犢”。父親就對他說：“兒阿，你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的，隻是你這個兄弟是死而複活失而又得的，所以我們理當歡喜快樂”。

父親開始的時候把財產不僅分給了小兒子，還分給了大兒子。小兒子亂花用完了所得資財；而大兒子雖是他所得資財的主人卻做了奴仆，從未享用過所分的財產。大兒子說他服事父親多年從來沒有違背過父命，這句話本身就誇張，並且他遵父命心裏卻一直是充滿了苦毒嫉妒怨恨。如果這個大兒子為他的父親做事很情願快樂，心裏很愛父親與家人，卻為什麽總想著宰隻羊羔與朋友而不是與父親和家人一同快樂？他的弟弟在外漂泊，聽說弟弟回來了卻很生氣。父親勸他，他卻一肚子牢騷與委屈，輕易地誹謗他弟弟嫖娼。大兒子明明是產業的主人，卻一直做奴仆。可見，這個大兒子看不到父親的恩典，他的心中沒有父親的愛，他覺得他需要用他的服事來換取父親的羊羔與愛，可是父親卻告訴他：“我一切所有的都是你的”，也就是說大兒子可以隨時吃山羊羔。耶穌是我們每個人的替罪羔羊，不需要交換，隻要信就必得著！這是神的恩典。

路15:11 耶穌又說、一個人有兩個兒子。
He said, "A certain man had two sons.
路15:12 小兒子對父親說、父親、請你把我應得的家業分給我．他父親就把產業分給他們。
The younger of them said  his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them.
路15:13 過了不多幾日、小兒子就把他一切所有的、都收拾起來、往遠方去了．在那裏任意放蕩、浪費資財。
Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.
路15:14 既耗盡了一切所有的、又遇著那地方大遭饑荒、就窮苦起來。
When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.
路15:15 於是去投靠那地方的一個人．那人打發他到田裏去放豬。
He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
路15:16 他恨不得拿豬所吃的豆莢充饑．也沒有人給他。
He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.
路15:17 他醒悟過來、就說、我父親有多少的雇工、口糧有餘、我倒在這裏餓死麽．
But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger!
路15:18 我要起來、到我父親那裏去、向他說、父親、我得罪了天、又得罪了你．
I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
路15:19 從今以後、我不配稱為你的兒子、把我當作一個雇工吧。
I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."'
路15:20 於是起來往他父親那裏去。相離還遠、他父親看見、就動了慈心、跑去抱著他的頸項、連連與他親嘴。
"He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
路15:21 兒子說、父親、我得罪了天、又得罪了你．從今以後、我不配稱為你的兒子。
The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
路15:22 父親卻吩咐仆人說、把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿．把戒指戴在他指頭上．把鞋穿在他腳上．
"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
路15:23 把那肥牛犢牽來宰了、我們可以吃喝快樂．
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
路15:24 因為我這個兒子、是死而複活、失而又得的。他們就快樂起來。
for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.
路15:25 那時、大兒子正在田裏．他回來離家不遠、聽見作樂跳舞的聲音．
"Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
路15:26 便叫過一個仆人來、問是甚麽事。
He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.
路15:27 仆人說、你兄弟來了．你父親、因為得他無災無病的回來、把肥牛犢宰了。
He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.'
路15:28 大兒子卻生氣、不肯進去．他父親就出來勸他。
But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.
路15:29 他對父親說、我服事你這多年、從來沒有違背過你的命．你並沒有給我一隻山羊羔、叫我和朋友、一同快樂．
But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
路15:30 但你這個兒子、和娼妓吞盡了你的產業、他一來了、你倒為他宰了肥牛犢。
But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
路15:31 父親對他說、兒阿、你常和我同在、我一切所有的、都是你的。
"He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
路15:32 隻是你這個兄弟、是死而複活、失而又得的、所以我們理當歡喜快樂。
But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"