新约 - 希伯来书(Hebrews)第12章

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;
to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,
because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."
The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
for our "God is a consuming fire."
希伯来书第十二章   来 12:1> 这许多的见证人──你会想起谁?人家可会想起你? 

  12:1 “这许多的见证人”包括了这章所载的人物,他们的信心是对我们的鼓励,我们不是孤单地挣扎,也不是第一个在生活问题中挣扎的人。有些人已经跑完了他们的路程,并且取得胜利,他们的见证激励我们向前奔跑,同样得胜。我们所继承的“遗产”是这样的好,真叫人得鼓舞! 

  来 12:1-4> 为主奔跑,只是人世的事何其多,教人烦扰──快看看圣经所言?里面说的是── 

  12:1-4 基督徒的生活是艰难的,需要放弃一切危害我们与神关系的事物,忍耐地奔跑,并藉着圣灵的能力对抗罪恶。要成功地过这种生活,我们必须仰望耶稣。若我们的目光偏离主,只看到自己或四周的环境,便会失足跌倒。我们应当为主奔跑,而不是为自己,所以必须时常仰望祂。 

  来 12:3> 重担压肩,愁苦绕心,孤单对影自相怜?黑暗背后,好像有点光…… 

  12:3 当我们遇到困难和挫折时,很容易便只看眼前,但我们并不孤单,仍能得到很多支持。很多人所经历的情况,远比我们更困难,他们都成功地经过了。受苦是训练基督徒成长的途径,使我们能更忍耐,最终尝到胜利的甜美。 

  来 12:4> 人受逼迫苦难当,我想放弃可以不可以? 

  12:4 这些读者正遭受迫害,但未到要牺牲性命的地步。由于他们仍然活着,作者督促他们继续往前奔跑,正如基督没有放弃一样,他们也不应放弃。 

  来 12:5-11> 被责骂,被管束,谁喜欢?就算是神──啊,这…… 

  12:5-11 哪一位父亲更爱自己的孩子呢?是任凭孩子做可能伤害自己的事的父亲,还是那位纠正、训练,甚至惩罚孩子,帮助他们分辨对错的父亲呢?被神纠正和管教是不好受的,但祂的管教正反映出祂深爱着我们。当神纠正你时,应视之为神爱你的凭证,并且求问祂要教导你什么。 

  来 12:11> 为何你要这样管我?这样不准、那样不可以──对神的管教,你的态度不会这样吧…… 

  12:11 我们可以怎样回应神的管教?( 1 )无可奈何地接纳;( 2 )充满自怜地接纳,并认为自己不应受这样的管教;( 3 )愤怒、生神的气;( 4 )感激地接纳,就像对慈父一样的回应。你认为应该怎样选择呢?你又怎样选择呢? 

  来 12:12-13> 神你的要求可真高,我怎能胜任? 

  12:12-13 神不但管教儿女,更是要求极高的教练,祂将我们推往能力的极限,并要我们过有纪律的生活。虽然我们可能认为自己不能得胜,但跟从基督,从祂那儿取得力量,便可以继续前行,更可以用不断增长的力量来帮助身边在挣扎中的软弱的人。 

  来 12:12-13> 我的手已垂,还要抬?我的脚已酸,还要走?其实,我又能做多少?──你有话说── 

  12:12-13 “所以”一词提示我们,接着所说的事是非常重要的!我们的心思意念不应只想着自己,其他人会跟着我们的样子做,我们自称为主而活,便有责任为别人树立好榜样。你的言行是让别人更易信主、跟随基督、在基督里成熟,还是令效法你的人感到无所适从和迷失? 

  来 12:14> 明明是不太喜欢他,还要与他和睦,我…… 

  12:14 读者对预备人敬拜的洁净礼仪应该非常熟识,也知道要进入圣殿,人必须“圣洁”或“洁净”。罪恶常常拦阻我们到神那里去,所以,我们要见神,便必须除去生活中的罪(参诗 24:3-4 )。圣洁与和睦有关连,先与神有正确的关系,我们才能与其他的信徒建立良好的关系。虽然我们不一定能喜欢所有的信徒,但要效法基督就必须追求与众人和睦。 

  来 12:15> 怨恨?我不会这样严重的,顶多是……哎,我…… 

  12:15 正如一粒小种子可以长成一棵大树一样,我们心里所出现的苦毒,可以影响最深交的基督徒友谊。当我们让“失望”转化成“不满”,又或将过去的伤痛积压在心上时,就会生出苦毒的根来,引致嫉妒、纷争和邪恶。但是,若圣灵充满了我们的生命,就能治愈带来苦毒的伤口,我们便不会再有怨恨了。 

  来 12:16-17> 懊悔,有时候真的于事无补,你有这样的感觉吗? 

  12:16-17 以扫的故事说明了错误和罪恶有时会带来深远的影响(参创 25:29-34 ; 27:36 ),即使悔改和宽恕也不一定能除去罪的恶果。你所作的决定是基于现在的欲望,或是你长远的需要?应当先衡量可能产生的长远影响,才作出决定和行动。 

  来 12:18-24> 在西奈与锡安面见神,前后之别在哪儿? 

  12:18-24 以色列人在西奈山与神会面时是何等的惊恐,在锡安山与神见面时却是何等的喜乐,这真是一个强烈的对比!耶稣所带来的改变,是何等的大!基督降世之前,神看似遥不可及,叫人恐惧;但基督降世后,神藉基督欢迎我们到祂面前来,不要轻忽神的邀请啊! 

  来 12:22> 天上的耶路撒冷,好像遥不可及…… 

  12:22 作为基督徒,我们现在已是“天上的耶路撒冷”的一分子了,基督掌管我们的生命,圣灵常与我们同在,我们也可以与信徒甜蜜地分享、相交。(有关全备和最终的赏赐和天家的情况,请参启 21 章。) 

  来 12:27-29> 世界终会被毁,我们今天的指望…… 

  12:27-29 这个世界最后会被彻底毁灭,只有神的国永远长存。跟随基督的人在神国里都有分,不必怕摇撼、震动,或火烧。若我们对将来缺乏信心,这数节经文可以帮助我们重建信心,不论发生什么事情,我们的将来都是建立在永不摧毁的稳固根基上。不要将信心放在那些会摧毁的事物上,应当将生命建立在基督和祂那永不动摇的国度里(参太 7:24-29 )。 

  来 12:29> 烈火,我们的神原是这样的,还有…… 

  12:29 蜡蠋的小火焰跟森林大火中那咆哮般的火舌实在无法比拟,我们甚至无法靠近火场,纵然有最先进的灭火设备,火势也常非人力所能控制。同样,神也不在我们的控制之下,我们不能认为通过祈祷可以强迫祂做什么事。然而,祂是充满怜悯的神,祂把我们从罪和死亡中拯救出来。所有无价值和充满罪恶的东西都会被神震怒之火焚烧干净,只有美好的、奉献给神的和公义能够存留。 ──《灵修版圣经注释》