GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

1. Empty Traditions 虚假的遗传 (v.1-9)

When Israel first received the law, they build a wall around it to protect it (cf. Heb. 10:1). But Jesus said without right hearts, these traditions are superficial and external. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). Thus, Jesus confronted them by asking, “Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Honoring our parents includes the responsibility of meeting their needs, but tradition allows a person to dedicate his possessions to God as an excuse for not supporting their parents. Jesus condemned them as hypocrites.

当以色列首次接获法律时，他们筑起一道墙来保护它（参：来10:1）。但耶稣说，如果没有正确的心，这些遗传（传统）都是外在、肤浅的。人看外貌，但耶和华看的是内心（撒上16:7）。因此，耶稣当面质问他们：“你们为什么因着你们的遗传犯神的诫命呢？”当孝敬父母，亦包括满足他们的需要之责任，但遗传却允许一人将自己的钱财献给神为借口，而不供养他们的父母。耶稣指责他们是假冒为善的人。

2. Empty Hearts 虚假的心 (v.10-20)

Jesus explained further that the physical has no way of defiling the spiritual – spiritual defilement is from inside. Hypocrites will be offended by the truth (v.12); their outcome is judgment (v.13), and they also lead others to damnation (v.14). While we should warn them when there are opportunities (cf. Jude 23), we are also told to leave them alone, lest we fall into the same falsehood (cf. 2 John 8-11). Sin begins from the heart, and so we must keep our hearts with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:23)

耶稣进一步解释说，物质的东西是不能玷污属灵的——属灵的玷污是由内而发。假冒为善的人会不服真理（12节）；他们的结局是审判（13节），而他们也会领人受咒诅（14节）。如果有机会，我们应该警告他们（参：犹23）；但我们也被告知要远离他们，免得我们陷入相同的谎言（参：约二8-11）。罪是从心里开始的，所以我们必须警惕保守自己的心，因为一生的果效是由心发的（箴 4:23）。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. There are many well-intended Christians in the church and they legalistic insist everyone comply the letters of the law without genuine love and care for others. Are you the well-intended Christian that expect everyone to follow traditions especially man-made rules such that we ignore God’s grace? Please pray to the Lord in response.

教会里有许多善意的基督徒，常常要大家死守律法，却没有真正关爱他人。你是否就是这样的基督徒，常常期望每个人都能遵循遗传，特别是人造的规则，而忽略了神的恩典呢？请在祷告中回应神。

2. Jesus said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Is your heart far away from the Lord?

耶稣说：“这百姓用嘴唇尊敬我，心却远离我。”你的心是否远离主呢？

3. The Bible teaches us to keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life (Prov. 4:23). How do you guard your heart? Is your heart filled with love, grace and compassion or is your heart filled with bitterness, hate and anger? Please pray to God in response.

圣经教导我们要保守自己的心，胜过保守一切，因为一生的果效是由心发出（箴 4:23）。你是如何保守你的心？你的心是否充满着爱、恩典和怜悯，还是充满了苦毒、仇恨和愤怒呢？请在祷告中回应神。

1. The Setting for Great Faith 巨大信心的背景 (15:21)

Jesus’ priority was to minister to God’s people in Israel and offer them the kingdom. However, they rejected Him so He extended the offer to the Gentile. It is here Jesus encounters the Canaanite woman whose faith Jesus described as great Faith.

耶稣首要的任务是服事神在以色列中的子民，并邀请他们进入天国。然而，他们却拒绝耶稣，所以耶稣将这福分拓展至外邦人。就在这里，耶稣遇到一名祂形容拥有“大信心”的迦南妇人。

2. The Qualities of Great Faith 巨大信心的特质 (15:22-27)

The Canaanite woman had been raised in a pagan culture and had no heritage of God’s Word, yet she has such strong faith with so little revelation, that’s why Jesus called her faith great.

这名迦南妇人是在异教文化中成长的，没有受到神话语的教导，但在如此之少的启示下，她却有这么坚固的信心，这就是为什么耶稣称她的信心为大。

From her story we can see the qualities that mark all great faith. She is humble and repentant. She is God focused. And she is persistent, reverence and not demanding. In order to test her faith, Jesus set up a barrier of silence and then a double barrier of seeming rejection but the woman persisted with her pleading, worshipped Him at His feet, and even humbled herself and conceded that she was less deserving than the Jews. These are demonstration of unassuming great faith in the Lord.

从她的故事中，我们可以看到所有巨大信心的特质。她谦卑，愿悔改。她专注于神。她坚持不懈，敬畏主，又不强求人。为要试验她的心，耶稣设下两道障碍——沉默及拒绝。然而，女子却坚持恳求，到主的脚前敬拜他，甚至谦卑自己并承认她确实不如犹太人。这是在主里谦卑的大信心。

3. The Response to Great Faith 巨大信心的回应

This woman’s faith was great not because it was stronger or more sincere than that of the Jewish believers – it was great because it was based on so little light. Without having heard the Sermon on the Mount, she came with the humble, meek, mourning and seeking heart that God required for kingdom of heaven (cf. 5:3-6). She kept asking till she received, seeking till she found, knocking till it was opened to her (cf. 7:7). Because of Her faith, Jesus healed her daughter instantly.

这位妇女的信心之所以大，并不是因为它比犹太信徒的信心更坚定或更真诚，而是它原所得的光照很少。她没有听过登山宝训的教导，来时却带着谦卑、哀恸、温柔和渴慕的心到主前；这些都是神所要求的（参：5:3-6）。她不停地求直到获得，不停地寻找直到寻见，不停地叩门直到门打开（参：7:7）。因着她的信心，耶稣立即医治了她的女儿。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. What is faith? Please read Hebrews 11:1 and pray to God.

何为信心？请仔细阅读《希伯来书》第11章1节，并向神祷告。

2. According to this passage, what are the qualities of Great Faith? Do you have great faith?

根据这段经文，巨大信心的特质是什么？你是否有巨大的信心呢？

3. Compare the qualities of great faith with the teaching of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5:1-11. Can you find any similarity? Do you have these qualities? Please examine yourselves before responding to God in prayer.

试比较巨大信心的特质与《马太福音》第5章1至11节登山宝训的教导。它们有什么相似之处呢？你是否具备这些特质？请事先审查自己，再向神祷告。

1. Compassionate Healing of the Gentiles 医治外邦人的善举 (15:29-31a)

Following the incident with the Canaanite woman, Jesus remained in the region of the Gentiles. Though he was not there for the purpose of ministering, but the people recognized Him and they brought those who were lame, crippled, blind, dumb and laid them down at His feet. Jesus saw the needs of the people and healed them saying, “I feel compassion for the multitude.”

随着迦南妇人之事后，耶稣继续在外邦人的地域逗留。虽然祂没计划在那儿展开事工，但众人却认出耶稣，并把瘸腿、残废、瞎眼、哑巴的带到耶稣脚前。耶稣看见众人的需求，就医治他们，说：“我怜悯这众人。”

2. Compassionate Feeding of the Gentiles 喂饱外邦人的善举 (15:32-39)

The crowd that came to Jesus were so great that the healing continued for several days. After the healing Jesus called His disciples and said, “I feel compassion for the multitude, because they have remained with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” So He proceeded to feed the four thousand with “Seven, and a few small fishes.”

寻求耶稣医治的人甚多，叫祂连续医治了好几天。之后，耶稣叫门徒来，说：“我怜悯这众人，因为他们同我在这里已经三天，也没有吃的了。我不愿意叫他们饿着回去，恐怕在路上困乏。”于是，耶稣以“七个饼，还有几条小鱼”喂饱这四千人。

3. Compassionate Ministry glorify God 荣耀神的善行事工 (15:31b)

Jesus had put on a display of unrivalled divine power – He not only cured diseases but restored the crippled, which included people completely without certain body parts; He also created superabundance of food to replace a little. He set Himself totally apart from self-proclaimed divine healers of modern times. At the end of all, the crowd was struck with awe and “glorified the God of Israel”. Worship of God was Jesus’ supreme goal.

耶稣展示了无可比拟的神能——祂不仅治好疾病，也医治残废的，包括有身体部位缺失的人；祂使得少量食物变得丰盛有余。祂将自己与现代所谓的神奇医治者完全分别出来。最后，众人都感到敬畏，并将“荣耀归给以色列的神”。敬拜神是耶稣的至高目标。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Jesus is full of mercy and compassion especially those who are in need. What about you? Are you full of mercy and compassion? Do you know the need of the people around you?

耶稣是充满怜悯和同情心的，尤其是对于有需要的人。你呢？你是否也充满着怜悯和同情心呢？你是否知道周围人的需要呢？

2. Jesus is not so spiritual that he ignores the physical needs of the people. Are you so spiritual that you cannot see the physical needs of people? Please respond to God in prayer.

耶稣并非如此“属灵”，而忽略了人的物质需要。你是否如此“属灵”，以致看不到他人的物质需要呢？请向神在祷告中回应。

3. Although Jesus had compassion over broken bodies and empty stomachs, His supreme concern was for people to know Him as their Lord and Saviour. Likewise, though we are called to minister to one’s physical and temporal needs, the goal of evangelism and Christian living is to “worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23). Pray that you get the ultimate aim right.

虽然耶稣对残缺和挨饿的人有怜悯，但祂的最大关注是人认祂作自己的救主。同样的，虽然我们被呼召服侍人的物质和其他短暂性的需要，但传福音和基督徒生活的目标是“要用心灵和诚实拜他，因为父要这样的人拜他”（约4:23）。请祷告你能正确明白事工的最终目标。

In 16:1-4, Matthew records Jesus’ final invitation to the religious leaders, and by their persistent rejection of Him, they confirmed themselves to be spiritually blind.

马太在16章1至4节中记录了耶稣向宗教领袖们发出的最后邀请；他们执意地拒绝耶稣，证实了他们在灵性上的盲目。

1. The blind demanded a sign from heaven 瞎眼的要求从天上来的神迹 (16:1)

The Pharisees and the Sadducees came together and demanded a sign from Jesus. This was to test Him and find false with Him. In their blindness, they could not see that Jesus Himself was already a sign from heaven.

法利赛人和撒都该人一起来到耶稣前，要求祂显神迹。这是为要试探祂，想要找出耶稣的破绽。然而，他们在自己的盲目里却们无法看到耶稣就是从天上来的神迹。

2. The blind rebuked 瞎眼的受斥责 (16:2-4a)

Jesus knew that another sign, no matter how astonishing, would never convince them since they have already determined to reject Him. Therefore, He rebuked them that they could discern the appearance of the sky, but could not discern “The signs of the times?” As He had declared on an earlier occasion, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The “sign of Jonah” would be the final sign that Jesus gave to the world. That, too, would be rejected by these religious leaders.

耶稣知道就算给他们再显神迹，无论那有多惊天动地，也绝无法说服他们，因为他们已决意拒绝耶稣。因此，耶稣斥责他们虽懂得如何分辨天上的气色，却不能分辨“这时候的神迹”。耶稣早前也同样说过：“约拿三日三夜在大鱼肚腹中，人子也要这样三日三夜在地里头。”“约拿的神迹”将是耶稣给予世界的最后一个神迹，而那也将同样遭到这些宗教领袖的拒绝。

3. The blind abandoned 瞎眼的被弃绝 (16:4b)

Because they would not have Him as Lord and Savior, Jesus left them. The word “left” in Greek means to leave behind and it often carried the idea of forsaking or abandoning. That event marked an important transition in Jesus’ ministry. From this point on, Jesus turned away from those who rejected Him and focused His attention on teaching His own disciples.

由于他们不愿认耶稣为救主，耶稣便离开他们。“离开”这词在希腊文中的意思是遗弃，并经常带有抛弃或弃绝的含义。 这事件在耶稣的事工上是一个重要的转捩点。从此以后，耶稣便离开那些拒绝祂的人，把注意力集中在教导自己的门徒上。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Ask yourself, are you living by faith or are you demanding to see miraculous signs like the Pharisees and Sadducees?

我们行事为人是凭着信心，不是凭着眼见（林后5:7）。扪心自问：你的行事为人是凭着信心，还是像法利赛人和撒都该人一样，要求看见神迹呢？

2. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him (1 Cor. 2:14). Do you accept wholeheartedly the spiritual things of God? Can you accept the spiritual lessons in the Bible?

属血气的人不领会神圣灵的事，反倒以为愚拙（林前2:14）。你是否全心全意地接受神属灵的事？你能否接受圣经里属灵的教导呢？ 

3. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). Are you walking in the light? Read 1 John 1:5-10 to see how we should walk in the light.

耶稣是世界的光（约8:12）。你是否行在光明中？请阅读《约翰一书》1章5至10节，查看我们究竟应该如何行在光明中。

1. The Parable 比喻 (13:1-9)

Jesus told the story of the sower, who casts his seeds on various grounds. First, on the paths or roads, which are hard and impenetrable, leaving seeds exposed for the birds. Second, on the rocky grounds which have underlying beds of solid rock; germinated seeds cannot have deep roots but sprang upwards instead. Third, the seeds on thorn-infested grounds will eventually be killed by the competition for necessary nutrients. Forth, good soil is soft and loose, free from weeds, and have sufficient depth to support the growth of good plants.

耶稣阐述了一个撒种的故事——他在各种土地上撒了种子。首先，种子落在坚硬的路旁或道路，被小鸟吃了。其次，有落在土浅石头地上的，发芽后不能长根，所以向上发苗。再来，有落在荆棘里的，最终因不敌营养物质的竞争死了。最后，有落在松软的土里的，无杂草、土地够深，能使植物很好地成长。

2. The Point 目的 (13:18-23)

The four soils represent four kinds of heart that hear the gospel. First, the hardened heart allows no penetration of the Word into his mind, leaving him utterly exposed to Satan’s attacks. This is clearly not a believer since he does not understand the Word. Second, the superficial heart has a rapid positive response to the gospel but with no real repentance, his faith is scorched when tested. Falls away is from skandalizō, which means to stumble, fall or scandalize. This is also not a true believer as John said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us (1Jo 2:19). Third, the worldly heart may profess faith, but love for riches and the things of the world soon chokes the gospel out of it. This third soil is infested with thorns that represent the man who is too worldly for the Word to take root and grow in his heart. This is also not a believer since there is no change of hearts and there are no fruits of repentance. His first love is for the things of the world and he is preoccupied with the world. Forth, the receptive heart is rightly prepared to hear and understand His Word. The ultimate mark of a genuine believer is the bearing of fruit.

四种土地分别代表了听到福音后的四种反应。首先，刚硬的心不允许任何话语的渗透，将其完全暴露于撒但的攻击。这显然是一个不信徒，因为他不明白圣经。第二，表浅的心对福音有快速积极的回应，但因没有真正的悔改，他的信心受到试验时就枯乾了。跌倒（skandalizō）的意思是绊倒或诽谤。这也不是一个真正的信徒，如约翰说：“他们从我们中间出去，却不是属我们的；若是属我们的，就必仍旧与我们同在”（约一2:19）。第三，俗世的心虽然宣称自己相信，但那颗对财富和世界的爱很快就会把福音丢弃。第三个土地充满了荆棘，代表这人陷于世俗太深，话语没有办法在他的心中生根发芽。这也是个不信徒，因为他心里没有任何改变，也没有悔改的果子。他钟爱世界，忙于世界。第四，这是一个准备妥当来聆听并明白神话语之心。一个真信徒的最终标志就是结果子。

1. There are four soils represent four kinds of heart that hear the gospel. Which one do you belong? How do you know?

四种土地代表了听到福音后的四种反应。你属于哪一种呢？你又怎么知道？

2. Please examine yourselves to see what is your first love – the world or the Lord?

请审查自己，看你心中所爱的是世界还是主？

3. What kinds of fruit are you bearing to signify your salvation? Can you explain?

你结出的是什么果子，能验证你的救恩？你是否能解释？

1. Parable of the Weeds 稗子的比喻 (13:24-30, 35-43)

In the first parable of Jesus, He shows us who the true believers are; in the second, He shows us what will happen to false believers. He again uses the figure of a farmer sowing seed in his field, but the emphasis here is on what happens to the bad seeds that His enemy had intentionally sowed alongside with the good. Although the servants panicked, the experienced farmer allows both wheat and weeds to grow together until harvest as their roots are intertwined, and wheat that had not yet produced heads of grain would be mistaken for weed. At harvest, qualified reapers will then be able to gather the weeds to be burned. This is what will happen to false believers.

在耶稣的第一个比喻中，祂向我们显示了谁是真信徒。在第二个比喻里，祂让我们知道假信徒会有怎样的结局。祂再次使用一个农民播种的例子，但这里强调的是敌人有意将坏稗子撒在好种子之中，但这坏种子最终会有怎样的遭遇。虽然仆人惊慌失措，但有经验的主人却允许小麦和稗子长在一起直至收割，因恐怕薅稗子，连麦子也连根拔起；再者，小麦尚未长出麦穗前很容易被误认为是稗子。收割时，合格的农夫就会将稗子薅出来，捆成捆，留着烧。这就是假信徒的结局。

2. Parables on Mustard Seed 芥菜种的比喻 (13:31-32)

According to Jesus, size doesn’t matter. Can God’s people survive, less thrive, in the midst of Satan and his evil forces? Firstly, Jesus gave the parable of a mustard seed growing into a tree, illustrating that though the kingdom of heaven started out small and seemingly insignificant, it would one day grow into a large body of believers. When sperma (seed) is used in the New Testament in reference to plants, it is always used of agricultural plants, and of those plants, mustard had seeds that were smaller than all others. Another lesson is that the kingdom of heaven will be a blessing to the rest of the world. When Christians live in obedience to the Lord, they are a blessing to those around them. Individual believers can become the source of benediction to nations.

对耶稣而言，大小并不重要。那么，神的子民是否能在撒旦和祂的邪恶势力中生存下来，甚至茁壮成长呢？首先，耶稣给了一粒芥菜种子长成树的比喻，说明天国起初虽然渺小，看似微不足道，但总有一天会成长并拥有很多信徒。当新约圣经使用sperma（种子）时，它总是用于指农业植物，即作食物的农作物。而在众多农作物当中，芥菜的种子是最小的。另一个学习点就是：天国将会成为世界的祝福。当信徒遵从主命时，他们将是别人的祝福。各信徒能成为他们国家祝福的来源。

3. Parable of the Leaven 酵的比喻 (13:33)

According to Jesus, time does matter. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven and it must be hidden until it was all leavened” (v.33). For everything there is a season (Ecc. 3:1) – spiritual maturity also takes time and we should wait for God’s plan to take its effect in due course.

在耶稣看来，时间是重要的。耶稣说，天国好像面酵，必须藏在三斗面里，直等全团都发起来（太13:33）。凡是都有定时（传3:1）。属灵的成长也需要时间，所以我们应该耐心等待神的计划成熟结果。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. How many times have you wondered why are there so many problems in the church? Do you understand where the problem is coming from? What would your prayer be?

我们多少次会想到教会里为什么有这么多问题？你明白这些问题的来源吗？你的祷告当是怎样的呢？

2. There are times we feel discouraged and helpless, but we need to continue growing because when we are fully grown we will be blessing to the people around us. Let’s pray that the Lord will help us preserve even when we are facing ferocious opposition.

我们很多时候会感到气馁、无奈，但我们仍需要继续成长，因为当我们成熟后，我们能成为周围人的祝福。让我们祷告，即便面对激烈的反对，愿神会保守我们。

3. Patience is a virtue. We need to wait upon the Lord and not to rely on our own understanding. We view situation from our own perspective yet the Lord view the same situation from eternal prospective. Let’s pray that we will trust the Lord and His timing to carry out His plan, not ours.

忍耐是一种美德。我们需要等候耶和华而不是倚靠自己的聪明。我们往往只从自己的角度看待事物，但主是以永恒的角度看待相同的事物的。让我们祷告我们能够相信神和祂的时序实施祂对我们的计划，而不是实施我们对自己的计划。

1. Joy of the Kingdom 天国的喜乐 (13:44-46)

The kingdom of heaven represents the true saving knowledge of God. In both parables, salvation is deemed priceless to the person who finds it. It becomes the source of true joy, where one will be willing to sacrifice all that he had to in order to possess the recognized treasure.

天国代表了对神救恩的真正认识。在这两个比喻中，救恩对那寻见的人被视为无价之宝。它成为了真实喜乐的来源，即人愿为了拥有这财宝而牺牲一切。

2. Judgment of the Kingdom 天国的审判 (13:47-52)

The parable of the fishing net is a frightful warning on what happens to the wicked when they are separated from the righteous in the last days (cf. v.40-43). They will be cast into hell, with constant torment, misery and pain of both body and soul. Knowing these, a true disciple of the kingdom who is entrusted with old revelations and new truths, are to proclaim the significance of both.

渔网的比喻是一个可怕的警告——末日时，恶人将从义人中被分别出来，受审判（参：40-43节）。他们将被掷入地狱，受着对身体和灵魂永无止境的折磨和痛苦。明白了这些后，领受天国的旧启示和新真理的真门徒必须传扬这两者的信息。

3. Jettison the King and His Kingdom 天国与君王被弃 (13:53-58)

Jesus returned to Nazareth, where people knew Him as a boy and young man. Though He had earlier taught and worked miracles in other parts of Galilee (4:23), their basic attitude towards Him had not changed. They were still astonished by His wisdom and power, refusing to recognize His divine origin because of His seemingly ordinary human background. Due to their unbelief, they dammed up His flood of blessing to them (cf. Mark 6:5; Matt. 7:6; 12:38-39).

耶稣回到了拿撒勒；那里的人从耶稣小的时候就认识祂。虽然祂早前已在加利利教导和行神迹了（太4:23），但他们对耶稣的态度基本上没有改变。他们对耶稣的智慧和全能仍感讶异，但却因为祂那看似俗人的背景，拒绝承认祂的神性。因着他们的不信，耶稣阻断了向他们施与的诸般祝福（参：马6:5；太7:6, 12:38-39）。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

“凡先知，除了本地本家之外，没有不被人尊敬的”（太 13:57）。 耶稣被拒绝的原因不是因为祂的教导，而是因这祂与他们有的熟悉关系。“亲不尊，熟生蔑”这句话确实没错。我们有多少次拒绝了自己人，原因是我们认为对他们已经很熟悉，认为我们非常了解他们，所以不去仔细聆听他们的教导或观察他们的属灵成长？请祷告我们能爱我们的兄弟姊妹，接受他们，并尊重他们的教导。

1. The Motivation for the Murder 杀人的动机 (14:1-4)

The reason Herod wanted to kill John the Baptist because John pointed out his sin of taking his brother’s wife. However, he did not do it for he feared what consequence it may bring if he had beheaded John the Baptist.

希律王想杀死施洗约翰的原因是因为约翰指出了希律王的罪，即取自己哥哥的妻子。然而，由于他害怕斩杀施洗约翰后可能带的后果，所以此事一直作罢。

2. The Occasion of the Murder 杀人的机会 (14:4-12)

But when Herod’s birthday came, he promised with an oath to give Herodias’ daughter whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, the daughter requested the head of John the Baptist. And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths. John the Baptist became the first martyr in the New Testament for speaking the truth.

但是，当希律王的生日来临，他向希罗底的女儿起誓，应许随她所求的。经过母亲的提示，这女儿便要求要施洗约翰的头。虽然希律王甚是忧愁，但因自己所起的誓，就吩咐人去执行了。如此，施洗约翰就成为新约圣经里第一个为真理而牺牲的殉道者。

3. The Reaction to the Murder 他人的反应 (14:5-13)

When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there in a boat, and to a lonely place by Himself. As the gospel of Mark fill us in on the reason: rest a while (Mark 6:31). The guilt of Herod is clear to himself because when he heard of Jesus, he told them that John has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Jesus (Mat 14:2).

当耶稣听见后，祂便独自一人乘上小船到旷野地去。《马克福音》告诉了我们其原因：为了休息一段时间（可6:31）。希律清楚知道自己有罪，因为当他听见耶稣的传闻时，他说施洗的约翰从死里复活了，所以耶稣能施行这些异能（太14:2）。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. How do we react when our brothers or sisters point out our sin? Do we response differently from Herod? Pray that we are willing to humble ourselves and repent for the glory of God.

当兄弟姊妹指出我们的罪时，我们有什么反应？是否有别于希律王呢？请祷告我们能为了神的荣耀愿意谦卑自己，并认罪悔改。

2. Herod was so happy when Herodias’ daughter danced for him on his birthday that he gave a promised that he regret later. How often we give a blanket promise we cannot keep or regret later. Pray that we always prudent and humble in our thoughts and words.

当希罗底的女儿在希律王的生日跳舞时，希律王甚是高兴，以致给予一个随之后悔的​​承诺。我们是否也曾经许下自己无法遵守或会后悔的空头承诺呢？让我们祷告我们能常常在思想和言语中保持谨慎与谦卑。

3. When Jesus heard about the murder of John the Baptist, he withdrew privately to a solitary place. It is alright to grieve, to be alone and to recuperate for a short time. This is what Jesus did – a short time. The next verse we see Him out in the ministry again. Pray that we would take time to pray and re-orientate ourselves after tragedy but do emerge stronger in ministry for the glory of God.

当耶稣听到关于施洗约翰被杀时，祂便独自一人到旷野地去。当人感到悲伤，需要短暂的时间独处休息并没错。这就是耶稣所做的。下一节，我们便马上看见耶稣继续展开事工。请祷告我们能在不幸之事后，能花时间祷告，重组自己，然后为了神的荣耀加倍努力事奉。

1. The Compassion of Christ 基督的怜悯 (14:13-14)

Upon news of John’s death, Jesus withdrew from Capernaum to be alone for refreshment. However, out of selfish motives (cf. John 6:2), the crowd would not leave Him alone. When Jesus saw them, he had compassion on them and started ministering to them again.

听到施洗约翰的死讯后，耶稣独自一人离开迦百农以恢复精力。不过，人群出于自私的动机（参：约6:2），不愿离开耶稣。当耶稣看见他们，就怜悯他们，并开始再教导群众。

2. The Sufficiency of Christ 基督的充足 (14:15-18)

Seeing the coming crowd, Jesus asked Philip and Andrew on how they would be fed (John 6:5-6). Though they were with this Lord and Creator of the universe, their immediate response was to see their own lack, despite repeated promptings (John 6:7-9, v.16-17). Finally, Jesus told His disciples to go to Him, as He displays to them His sufficiency.

看着人群，耶稣便问腓力和安得烈要如何喂饱他们（约6:5-6）。即使他们与宇宙的创造主同在，而尽管耶稣再三提示，腓力和安得烈的第一反应仍是先看到自己的不足（约6:7-9，16-17节）。最后，耶稣叫祂的门徒过来，向他们显示自己的充足性。

3. The Abundance of Christ 基督的丰盛 (14:19-21)

Here, the disciples’ dullness of perspective is overruled by Jesus’ display of power. After giving thanks to the Father, there was apparently a continuous multiplication from five loaves and two fishes as the disciples walking and giving out the food among the crowd. There were about five thousand men who ate, aside from women and children, which indicates the total crowd could have been as large as 25,000. The people not just ate but were full, with 12 baskets filled with leftovers. The people were so awed that “they wanted to take Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15).

这里，耶稣全能的展现完全掩盖了众门徒迟钝的洞察力。在感谢天父后，门徒似乎可以从那五饼二鱼永无止境地将食物分发到人群中。除了妇女和孩童，约有五千男人吃饱了，也就是说当下约有两万五千人吃足了。人们不单是吃，而是都吃饱了，且剩下的食物能装满12个筐。因此，人们感到十分敬畏，便“强迫他做王”（约6:15）。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Jesus confirmed the disciples’ need to show compassion for those in need, even when the needy are fickle and undeserving, and at times do so at personal expense. Do you show compassion only to whom you are in favour of (Matt. 5:46-47)?

耶稣教导门徒在任何情况下都要向有需要的人施予怜悯；即便他们是善变、不配的一群，我们甚至也要克己利人。你是否只向你心仪的人施予怜悯呢（太5:46-47）？

2. We are tempted to think that had we been in the disciples’ position, we would have immediately thought of asking Jesus to feed the crowd. Yet, how many times have we faced a crisis that seemed overwhelming and insurmountable and failed to consider the Lord’s power?

我们也许会禁不住觉得如果自己是在场的门徒，定能立即想到要叫耶稣来喂饱这人群。然而，又有多少次，当我们面临一个似乎势不可挡、不可克服的问题时，我们并没有想到主的全能呢？

3. Ours is a God of abundant providence, but just as the food did not begin to multiply until after the disciples started distributing it. Not only we need to trust God but we also need to obey Him. We will see His grace if only we trust and obey. Let’s pray that we would trust and obey.

我们的神是丰盛有余的；然而，直到门徒开始分发食物之后，食物才开始成倍增加。同样的，我们不仅需要信靠神，也需要顺服祂。当我们开始信靠和顺服后，方能看见祂的恩典。让我们祷告，叫我们会信靠和顺服神。

1. Humility and Dependence 谦卑与信靠 (11:25-26)

Those who trust in their own intelligence and reject God’s wisdom are excluded from His kingdom. But if we go to Jesus like children who have no means to help themselves, we are accepted before Him. Salvation requires us to be humble and believe what the Lord has provided for us. This is what it means to be “poor in spirit.”

凡依靠自己的聪明，并拒绝神的智慧的，都与神的国度无份。但是，如果我们像孩子般，知道自己无助，就此来到耶稣面前，祂必接纳我们。救恩需要我们谦卑，相信主给予我们的供应。这就是“虚心的人”之意。

2. Election and Faith 拣选与信心 (11:27-28a)

Salvation is not in man’s intelligence or wisdom but based on God’s sovereign election and grace. He reveals Himself to those whom He has chosen so that they are able to respond in faith, and submit to His lordship.

得救不在乎人的聪明智慧，全凭神主要拣选谁并向谁施恩。祂向祂所拣选的人揭示自己，好让他们能以信心回应，并降服于基督为主。

3. Obedience and Submission 听从与顺服 (11:29-30)

A yoke was made of wood, hand-hewn to fit the neck and shoulders of the animal in order to control it. Jesus is calling those who are exhausted, weary and burdened to turn to Him. If they would only stop relying on themselves, turn to Christ and submit and obey him, they will find rest. Only if we are willing to let go of our self-will and take up the yoke of Christ – meaning he becomes our Lord and Master – then can we have rest.

轭是一块手工凿成的木头；它系在动物的肩颈上，为要控制它们。耶稣在召疲惫不堪、劳苦重担的人投向祂。如果他们能够不再依靠自己，转向基督并顺服于祂，耶稣就会使他们得安息。唯有当我们愿意放下自我，担负基督的轭——就是让耶稣成为我们生命的主，我们才能得享安息。

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

1. Are you the wise and understanding, or are you like little children, ready to trust and believe the Word of God? Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)

你是否有智慧、有见识，还是像小孩子般，即刻投靠并相信神的话呢？你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明（箴3:5）。

2. “No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matt. 11:27). What does this mean? Do you pray for the salvation of your loved ones?

“除了父，没有人知道子；除了子和子所愿意指示的，没有人知道父。”（太 11:27）。这是什么意思？你是否有为所爱之人的救恩祷告？

3. Why does Jesus call those who labor and are heavy laden to take up his yoke? It is not adding weight to the person who is already heavy laden? What does it mean?

为什么耶稣要召凡劳苦重担的人来当负祂的轭呢？这不是在加重那人的负担吗？这究竟是什么意思？