免得他們死後來到這痛苦的地方 — 路加福音讀經隨筆 第16章

路加福音第十六章第19—31節，耶穌打了一個比喻說一個討飯的和一個財主先後死了。活著的時候討飯的去這個財主家討過飯，財主是否施舍過食物給他不得而知，但是估計這個討飯的想要財主飯桌上掉下來的零碎充饑，財主都沒給過。在陰間，財主一直被火焚燒，極其痛苦，但他舉目遠遠的望見亞伯拉罕，又望見拉撒路在亞伯拉罕懷裏得安慰。財主要拉撒路過來幫他點水涼涼他的舌頭，亞伯拉罕告訴他，由於有深淵相隔，拉撒路過不到那邊去。財主又要求亞伯拉罕打發拉撒路複活去給他的五個弟兄作見證，免得他們死後也來到這痛苦的地方，因為這個財主認為有一個從死裏複活的人到他的五個弟兄那裏去，他們必要悔改。亞伯拉罕就回答他說若他的弟兄“不聽從摩西和先知的話，就是有一個從死裏複活的，他們也是不聽勸”。是啊，耶穌就是那位從死裏複活的救世主，為罪人死在十字架上，可是每個人都信他嗎？

路16:19 有一個財主、穿著紫色袍和細麻布衣服、天天奢華宴樂。
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
路16:20 又有一個討飯的、名叫拉撒路、渾身生瘡、被人放在財主門口、
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
路16:21 要得財主桌子上掉下來的零碎充饑．並且狗來餂他的瘡。
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
路16:22 後來那討飯的死了、被天使帶去放在亞伯拉罕的懷裏．財主也死了、並且埋葬了。
It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
路16:23 他在陰間受痛苦、舉目遠遠的望見亞伯拉罕、又望見拉撒路在他懷裏．
In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
路16:24 就喊著說、我祖亞伯拉罕哪、可憐我吧、打發拉撒路來、用指頭尖蘸點水、涼涼我的舌頭．因為我在這火焰裏、極其痛苦。
He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.'
路16:25 亞伯拉罕說、兒阿、你該回想你生前享過福、拉撒路也受過苦．如今他在這裏得安慰、你倒受痛苦。
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
路16:26 不但這樣、並且在你我之間、有深淵限定、以致人要從這邊過到你們那邊、是不能的、要從那邊過到我們這邊、也是不能的。
Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'
路16:27 財主說、我祖阿、既是這樣、求你打發拉撒路到我父家去．
"He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
路16:28 因為我還有五個弟兄．他可以對他們作見證、免得他們也來到這痛苦的地方。
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'
路16:29 亞伯拉罕說、他們有摩西和先知的話、可以聽從。
"But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
路16:30 他說、我祖亞伯拉罕哪、不是的．若有一個從死裏複活的、到他們那裏去的、他們必要悔改。
"He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
路16:31 亞伯拉罕說、若不聽從摩西和先知的話、就是有一個從死裏複活的、他們也是不聽勸。
"He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"