擁抱失敗 Embrace Failures

福傳系列之六：擁抱失敗（瑪10:24-33）

讀任何一段聖經的文字，必須掌握它的上文下理。一般要認識該段文字之前發生了甚麼事，今天的經文也不例外。
「沒有徒弟勝過師父，沒有僕人勝過他主人。」（瑪10:24）倘若不看上文下理，憑空解釋，會得出有問題的結論。例如：把這句話理解成為「沒有人的成就，能夠超越他的老師」便大錯特錯了。這樣的論點是犯駁的，倘若真是這樣，何來進步呢？要知道庸碌的老師也可以激發出不甘平凡的學生，不少僱主真的沒有能力駕馭本領比他高強的僱員。

所以，我們把它放在上文下理看吧！上文講述的是傳教士所遭受的迫害，本文之中，耶穌也有提及「不要怕那殺害肉身，而不能殺害靈魂的」（10:28）。所以，這句話應該解釋成為「門徒所受的迫害，遠遠不及主耶穌所受的迫害」，因為所有的迫害，耶穌基督都一力承擔了（詠69:10；羅15:3）！

在世俗人的眼中，耶穌是一個失敗者。祂被自己的徒弟出賣，恥辱地死在十字架上。雖然信徒們聲稱他復活了，但到底有多少人，包括信徒們自己，相信他真的復活了呢？倘若用這個角度理解，結論是「門徒的失敗，不及主耶穌的失敗。」那麼，在傳教的事業上，我們還要計較成敗得失，計算成本效益嗎？

「若人們稱家主為『貝耳則步』，對他的家人更該怎樣呢？」（10:25）這裡是「貝耳則步」第一次出現的句子，沒有「上文」可供參考，要到第十二章纔有，這就是「下理」的意思。在那裡，法利塞人譭謗耶穌憑魔王「貝耳則步」驅魔（12:24）。因此門徒們應有心理準備，遭受妒忌的人譭謗。耶穌基督有能力澄清，但我們可能百辭莫辯。即使永遠含冤莫白，也不用氣餒，因為我們不再是僕人，而是有幸成為主的家人了！
主啊！當祢來為王時，請祢記念我（路23:42）。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：steemit.com

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Evangelization (VI): Embrace Failures (Matthew 10:24-33)

In order to read any biblical passages properly, we need to understand the context. Usually, we need to know what happened previously. The passage today is no exception.
“No disciples is above his teacher, no slave above his master.” (Matthew 10:24) If we interpret this verse out of context, we will come up with a questionable conclusion. For example, if we interpret this to mean “Nobody’s achievement can surpass his teacher’s”, this is totally wrong. This interpretation is contradictory. If this is right, where comes progress? We have to admit that incompetent teachers may stimulate students who refuse to be ordinary and there are many employers who can’t handle more outshining employees.

Put into context of previous discourse on persecutions met by missionaries as well as the verse Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (10:28) a proper interpretation of verse 24 should be “The persecution suffered by the disciples is less grave than that suffered by Jesus”. It is because Jesus Christ has shouldered all the persecutions for us (Psalms 69:10, Romans 15:3)!

In the eyes of the secular world, Jesus was a failure. He was betrayed by one of His apostles. He died shamefully on the cross. Although his believers claim that He has risen, how many, including Christians themselves, genuinely believe so? Understood in this perspective, the obvious conclusion is “The disciples’ failures can’t surpass Lord Jesus’ failures”! Then, should we care about successes and failures, should we calculate cost-benefit-analysis in evangelization?

“If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!” (10:25) It is the first time “Beelzebul” appears in Matthew. There is no precedence to refer to. We have to wait until chapter 12 where the Pharisees defamed Jesus, say that He exorcised with the power of Beelzebul. Thus disciples should be prepared to meet defamation. Jesus Christ has the power to clarify but we don’t. So don’t be discouraged even if we have been framed because we are no longer slaves but members of the household!
Lord! Remember me when You come into Your kingdom (Luke 23:42). Amen.