新约 - 路加福音(Luke)第8章

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,
and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.
Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.
Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.
Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out.
As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"
For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him.
And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.
When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,
and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.
Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
"Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.
Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house
because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.
She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.
Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"
Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
路加福音第八章   第 8 章 

  路 8:2-3> 妇女纵力小,甘愿献己力;今人路未行,竟“谦”自己力不够……你心是如何想的? 

  8:2-3 耶稣把妇女从屈辱和奴役的处境中,提升到能彼此交往和服事。在犹太人的传统中,妇女是不应该接受教师教导的。耶稣容许这些妇女与他同行,正表明所有的人在神面前都是平等的。这些妇女用自己的金钱来支持耶稣的工作。在这里我们略略看见在耶稣的工作背后,有一小群支持者,这些背后的支持虽然并不明显,却非常重要。不管你是在什么位置,你都可以将自己的力量奉献给神。 

  耶稣与妇女 

  路 8:4> 读比喻,要多方理解加上丰富的想像力才可以找出多方的解释,你说是吗? 

  8:4 耶稣常常用比喻来说明属灵的真理。比喻是一些短篇故事,用一些为人熟识的事情或环境,加入崭新的解释,把属灵的真理潜藏在故事中,令听众思想其中的意思,发现其中的真理;对懒惰的人或无心明白真理的人则隐藏真理。读耶稣的比喻时,我们要小心,不要过分地把自己的意思强加入比喻中。一般来说,每个比喻只教导一个重点。 

  路 8:5> 撒种不够准,不能落在好土上,人不信不长,不是我的错是谁? 

  8:5 为什么农夫容许宝贵的种子落在路旁、石头地上或是荆棘中呢?原来这是传统的撒种方法。在一大片耕地上,农夫边走边用手大把大把地撒种,希望能够有最多的种子落在好的土里发芽生根;然而,有些种子会被风吹到路边,石头地上或荆棘中。那些种子不能长成农作物,并不是因为这位农夫有错或是种子不好,而是种子所处的环境太恶劣。我们的责任是把种子(神的信息)撒出去;然而,若我们的努力有时候失败了,也不要灰心,更不应该放弃。要记着,不是每一颗种子都会落在沃土里。 

  路 8:10> 是耶稣故意不让大众明白祂所说的吗?我不明白…… 

  8:10 群众为什么不明白耶稣说的话呢?或许他们正期待一位军事领袖、一个政治家弥赛亚,而耶稣温和的教导风格与他们期望的格格不入。他们可能害怕宗教领袖的压力,又或者是他们不想深入明白耶稣的话。神告诉以赛亚,人们听见却不明白,看见却不晓得(参赛 6:9 ),耶稣面对的群众的反应就是这样。撒种的比喻正勾画出人们对祂其他比喻的反应。 

  路 8:11-15> 四种土壤,四种回应;究竟你是哪一种? 

  8:11-15 “路旁的”,是指那些宗教领袖,他们拒绝相信神的信息。石地的,是指那些跟随耶稣的群众,相信神却从不肯花时间和精神为祂做任何事。荆棘丛所代表的是那些被物质引诱,以致生命中没有空间留给神的人。好土代表的人与以上各种人截然相反,无论要付上什么代价,他们仍会跟随。你究竟是哪一种呢? 

  路 8:16-17> 灯塔的光,叫迷航者得方向,你的光是什么样? 

  8:16-17 耶稣的真理已光照我们,我们就有责任发出亮光,帮助别人。我们要公开见证基督,而不是隐藏的,也不是只顾保全自己的利益,而不将真光传给别人。我们要随时准备好,在机会来临时就向他们提供帮助。 

  路 8:18> 吃东西没有咀嚼会怎么样?只“吃”神的道而不行道,会不会“胃痛”? 

  8:18 应用神的话语,是身体、精神和灵性成长的要素。举例来说,肌肉经过锻炼便会结实,不锻炼就会松弛下来,甚至萎缩。如果你不是在成长中,你便是在衰退中,你根本没有可能长期维持现状。你如何将神的教导用在生活中呢? 

  路 8:21> 耶稣的家人有多少?你可数得出? 

  8:21 耶稣真正的亲人就是那些听了祂的话又遵行的人。只听却不遵行是不够的。正像耶稣爱祂的母亲一样(参约 19:25-27 ),祂也爱我们。祂让我们与祂有亲密的家庭关系。 

  路 8:23> 门徒中有的是有经验的渔夫,竟还那么惊怕,为什么? 

  8:23 加利利海其实是一个大湖,即使今天仍不时有骇人的风浪,有时浪高达六公尺,所以,门徒惊慌是很自然的。即使他们中有几人是渔夫,也知道怎样驾船,但是他们确实面对着一个危险的处境。 

  路 8:25> 人生中浪头多,一来我就无力招架,谁──是谁在那儿帮助我? 

  8:25 当我们遇到人生的风暴时,很容易就会以为神也帮不了忙,只好任由命运之风摆布了。但事实上,神是至高的主宰,祂控制世界的历史,也掌管我们个人的命运。耶稣能平静海上的风浪,祂也能够平静你生命中的风浪。 

  治好被鬼附的人 

  路 8:26> 那个耳熟能详的格拉森是一个怎样的地方? 

  8:26 格拉森地区是加利利海东南的一个外邦地区,或称为十城,这些是受希腊文化影响的自治城市。犹太教认为猪是不洁的动物,不饲养猪,外邦人却没有这个禁忌。 

  路 8:27-28> 污鬼真奇怪,如果可以更清楚它们就好了…… 

  8:27-28 这些污鬼立即就认出耶稣来了。它们知道祂是谁,以及祂的大能。污鬼是撒但的差役,它们很有能力,又具破坏性。今天它们仍很活跃,时刻试图破坏人与神的关系。信徒应该知道真有污鬼和被鬼附的事,但是我们不可因对邪灵好奇而涉入其中(参申 18:10-12 )。只要我们抵挡魔鬼,它便会离我们而去(参雅 4:7 )。 

  路 8:29-31> 一“群”原来有这么多的…… 

  8:29-31 无底坑是监禁撒但和它的差役的地方(参启 9:1 ; 20:1-3 ),所以污鬼求耶稣不要赶它们到那里。污鬼的名字叫“群”,“群”是罗马军队最庞大的部队,约有三千至六千名军人。这个人不是被一个鬼附身,而是被许多鬼附身。 

  路 8:33> 作恶的鬼,耶稣容它存活;作恶的世代,耶稣也让它存留,耶稣何不将之毁灭? 

  8:33 耶稣为什么只治好被鬼附的人,而不干脆把这些污鬼消灭或赶到无底坑去?因为时候未到。今天我们也可能会问“耶稣为什么还不回来?”同样是时候未到,但这个时候必会来临。启示录记载耶稣将来会胜过撒但和一切罪恶。 

  路 8:33-37> 个人价值抬头,个人利益高升,若要你为着别人的需要而放弃自己的利益,你可甘心? 

  8:33-37 污鬼毁灭了猪群,使放猪的人损失了财产;不过,猪和钱可以和人的生命相比吗?有人从魔鬼的权力底下得了自由,但是村民只挂念自己的钱包。人们往往看个人的利益比别人的需要更重要。人类历史上的无数次战争,有不少是为了经济利益而发动的。不论在哪里,不公平和压迫往往都是因追求财富而引起的,也不断有许多人为金钱而被牺牲掉。想想看,你的决策是否影响别人,你是否宁愿选取一种比较简朴的生活也不要从别人身上图利? 

  路 8:38-39> 生命改变,最易察觉的是什么人?耶稣吩咐那人向家人述说改变,你可有这样做? 

  8:38-39 一般情况下,耶稣都吩咐被治好的人不要张扬被治好的事,不过他却吩咐这个人回到他的家人那里,告诉他们神为他做了些什么。为什么?( 1 )耶稣知道,对于那些知道那人从前境况的人来说,他是一个有力的见证人,能为这神迹作证。( 2 )耶稣希望藉着那人把信息带到外邦地区,以便扩展祂的工作。( 3 )祂知道外邦人并不期待弥赛亚来临,所以他们不会拥立祂为王,改变祂的计划。当神介入你的生命后,不要害怕与家人和朋友分享你奇妙的经历。 

  路 8:41> 常常我都想知道,俯伏敬拜的模样是怎样的?真想知道那表示了什么? 

  8:41 会堂是当地敬拜的中心,管会堂的人负责管理、保养维修工作,并监督敬拜。要他跪在一位外来的教师脚前,恳求他医治自己的女儿,是非比寻常的,耶稣却因为他如此谦卑的信心而答允他( 8:50 , 54-56 )。 

  路 8:43-48> 轻轻一摸病就除──有时候,你也有此信心,可你的手是否只停留在空中? 

  8:43-48 耶稣走过人群时,有许多人围着祂,要穿过这大群人是很困难的,但这个妇女不顾一切地穿过人群去摸耶稣。当她这样做时,她的病立刻痊愈了。这些尾随耶稣的群众,跟这个伸出手来摸耶稣的女人有多大的分别啊!许多人只是略略的认识祂,但生命并没有因这模糊的认识而有任何改变或改善;惟有那凭着信心的,神才放出医治的能力。你是只略略地认识神,还是知道祂的恩典,以信心伸出手来,求祂医治你的身体和灵魂呢? 

  路 8:45> 不洁的女人祂也摸,没人爱的人祂都爱,人的价值如何分? 

  8:45 耶稣不是不知道是谁摸祂,只是祂希望那女人上前来,表白自己。祂希望她明白,不是祂的衣裳有神奇的特性使她得到医治,而是因为她对祂的信心,祂也许想藉此教导群众。根据犹太律法,男人摸着一个血漏的妇人就算他为不洁(参利 15:19-28 ),不管她的血漏是正常还是因疾病而起的。因此犹太男人避免触摸她们,甚至不注视、不与她们交谈。耶稣在数百人面前宣称这不洁的妇人摸祂,又医治她,表明这一位受苦的女人像一切神所创造的,应该得到尊重和照顾。 

  路 8:56> “不要把所做的事告诉别人”──耶稣常常这样说,你知道为何? 

  8:56 为什么耶稣嘱咐女孩的父母不要跟别人谈论祂治好他们的女儿呢?因为得医治的事实本身就是强而有力的证明,同时祂不想人们只知道祂是一个行神迹的人,祂要人接受祂的教导,叫他们的灵魂得到医治。──《灵修版圣经注释》