Life is more than precious!

Matthew 10:24-33

²⁴"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,^[a] how much more the members of his household!

²⁶"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny^[b]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

³²"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

10:24 「學生不高過老師，奴僕不高過主人。10:25 因此，學生的遭遇跟老師一樣，奴僕的遭遇跟主人一樣，也該滿足了。如果一家的主人被叫作鬼王別西卜，家裏其他的人豈不是要受更大的凌辱嗎？」 10:26 「所以，不要怕人，一切隱藏的事都會被揭發，祕密的事也會被洩露。10:27 我在暗中所告訴你們的，你們要在光天化日之下說出來；你們私下聽到的話，也要當眾宣佈。10:28 那只能殺害肉體、卻不能殺滅靈魂的，不用害怕；要懼怕的是上帝，只有他能把人的肉體和靈魂都投進地獄。10:29 兩隻麻雀固然用一個銅錢就買得到，但是你們的天父若不許可，一隻也不會掉在地上。10:30 至於你們，連你們的頭髮也都數過了。10:31 所以，不要怕，你們比許多麻雀要貴重多了！」 10:32 「那在人面前認我的，我在我天父面前也要認他；10:33 那在人面前不認我的，我在天父面前也不認他。」

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>主耶穌以「學生不高過老師，奴僕不高過主人」為喻，談到只要想起老師或主人所受更嚴厲的逼迫時，自己所受的就算不得什麼，也因此稍得安慰。（v24-25）

Jesus said, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” When it comes to facing severe persecution, a teacher or a master always suffers more than his student or his servant does. Whenever we think of the severe persecution that our Master faced, we will think that the persecution we are facing is much lighter to bear and easier to withstand. Jesus’ words were meant to comfort those who would face persecution for His sake. (V24-25)

2>主耶穌表示：隱藏的事沒有不被揭露出來的。（v26-27）See verses 26 and 27.

3>主耶穌表示：真正該懼怕的，不是只能殺害肉體，來自人的逼迫，乃是能把人的肉體和靈魂都投進地獄的上帝。（v28）See verse 28.
4>主耶穌表示：在上帝的眼中，我們人類的生命，比麻雀更珍貴。（v29-30）See verses 29 and 30.
5>主耶穌表示：凡在人面前認祂的，祂在天父面前也要認他；凡在人面前不認祂的，祂在天父面前也不認他。（v32-33）See verses 32 and 33.

主題：
1>生命誠可貴！Life is more than precious!
2>勿擔心逼迫！ Do not worry about facing persecution.

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？
1>掌管人類肉體和靈魂的上帝。（v28）God rules over flesh and soul. (V28)
2>掌管宇宙萬物的上帝。（v29-30） God rules over the universe.(v29-30)
3>深切瞭解人、疼惜人、保護人的上帝。（v30） God profoundly understands, loves and protects us. (v30)
4>聖父上帝。（v32-33）God, the Father (v 32-33)
5>聖子耶穌基督。（v32-33）Jesus Christ, the Son (v 32-33)


三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>因著耶穌得安慰 Comfort from Jesus
主耶穌說：學生不高過老師，奴僕不高過主人。因此，學生的遭遇跟老師一樣，奴僕的遭遇跟主人一樣，也該滿足了。如果一家的主人被叫作鬼王別西卜，家裏其他的人豈不是要受更大的凌辱嗎？

以 上說法，無非是要使將來遭受逼迫的門徒，藉著想起耶穌所受的逼迫而得著安慰。因為主耶穌所受的逼迫，大大的超過祂的門徒。就是遭受殘酷的鞭刑，而且被釘死 在十字架上。身為老師的主耶穌，都受了這麼殘酷的逼迫，身為門徒所受的還算得了什麼呢！因此，在往後事奉的歲月當中，每逢遭受逼迫時，只要想起主耶穌的遭 遇，就不覺得自己有什麼委屈了！

Verses 24-26 were words to comfort the disciples who would face persecution one day. It reminded them that the persecution that Jesus faced was far greater than that of theirs. He was brutally flogged and crucified. When compared to what Jesus had gone through, the persecution that the disciples faced would have been counted as nothing. Therefore, when we face persecution while serving, it will be much lighter to bear and easier to withstand.
反省：我曾經為了主耶穌的緣故，遭受任何逼迫嗎？想起主耶穌所承受十字架上的苦刑，我的心境又如何呢？是否稍得安慰？
Reflection: Have I ever been persecuted for Jesus’ sake? How do I feel when I think of the excruciating pain Jesus experienced on the cross? Am I comforted because of it?
2>隱密事將被揭露 Things hidden will be exposed
主耶穌說：所以，不要怕人，一切隱藏的事都會被揭發，祕密的事也會被洩露。我在暗中所告訴你們的，你們要在光天化日之下說出來；你們私下聽到的話，也要當眾宣佈。

台灣俚語說：鴨蛋再密也有縫。或有成語說：法網恢恢，疏而不漏。又有所謂：凡走過的，必留下痕跡。以上台灣俚語或成語，其實都是先人經驗的累積、智慧的結晶。這話一點都不假！
因此，我們千萬不要以為：反正神不知、鬼不覺，所以就在暗地裏，專做一些偷雞摸狗、見不得人的醜事。切記！一切隱藏的事都會被揭發，祕密的事也會被洩露。尤其上帝是無所不知的真神，祂甚至鑒察我們的心思意念。在上帝面前，絕對隱藏不了！
See verses 26 and 27.

A Taiwanese proverb says “Eggs are not without pores.” There is no escape from under the law. No one can walk without leaving a track behind. These are words of wisdom passed down from the experienced forefathers. It rings true all the time.
Do not ever think that no one sees what you do in secret. Keep this in mind, every hidden thing will be revealed and every secret will be exposed. God knows everything and He knows our heart and mind. No one can hide before Him!

反省：針對「隱藏的事，會被揭發；祕密的事，會被洩露」一事，我是否相信？是否體會？
Reflection: Do I believe that hidden things will be revealed and secret things will be exposed? Do I experience something like that?
3>惟有上帝當懼怕 Be afraid of God only
主 耶穌說：那只能殺害肉體、卻不能殺滅靈魂的，不用害怕；要懼怕的是上帝，因為只有祂能把人的肉體和靈魂都投進地獄。主耶穌為了堅固門徒，讓他們勇於面對逼 迫，就告訴他們說，那逼迫你們的，頂多只能殺害你們的身體，卻無法殺害你們的靈魂。那能夠殺滅靈魂的，就只有上帝而已。因此，我們所當懼怕的，其實是「能 把人的肉體和靈魂都投進地獄」的上帝，而不是逼迫我們的人。言下之意：不順從上帝，比殉道更可怕！
To strengthen His disciples, Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

We need not be afraid of anyone except God, because He is the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell. The consequence of disobeying God is scarier than to be martyred.

反省：我對上帝有多少認識？我對上帝的態度如何？是否打從心底敬畏祂？
Reflection: How much do I know of God? What is my attitude toward Him? Do I revere Him from the bottom of my heart?
4>上帝珍惜的生命 God values life
主 耶穌接著又說：兩隻麻雀固然用一個銅錢就買得到，但是你們的天父若不許可，一隻也不會掉在地上。至於你們，連你們的頭髮也都數過了。所以，不要怕，你們比 許多麻雀要貴重多了！為了強調人類生命的價值，主耶穌特別拿麻雀，來跟人類的生命相比。祂說：連那麼不值錢的麻雀，上帝都如此眷顧、愛護，何況是人類，上 帝當然更加看重。主耶穌尤其以「連頭髮上帝都數過」來形容，上帝是如何入微的瞭解、關心、珍惜我們。

Jesus tells us in verses 29-31 that the hairs of our head are all numbered by God. It reveals God’s care for us; God knows every detail of our life and sees us as precious ones.
反省：我是否瞭解生命的意義？是否知道生命的價值？我是否欣賞、尊重他人生命的價值？是否接納、肯定自己生命的意義？
Reflection: Do I understand the meaning and value of life? Do I appreciate and respect the value of other people’s lives? Do I accept and affirm the meaning of my life?
5>認與不認的結局 The consequences of acknowledging and not acknowledging the Lord
主耶穌說：那在人面前認我的，我在我天父面前也要認他；那在人面前不認我的，我在天父面前也不認他。此處所謂：認主耶穌的「認」字，不僅指口頭上的承認，更指認同祂的處境，尤其與祂連結在一起，願意與祂同生死、共患難的人。另外，所謂不認主耶穌的「不認」這個字，表示：否認、拒絕、不認識，宣告與祂無關的人。這兩種人的結局截然不同！

See verses 32-33.

To acknowledge Jesus means not only to do it through the words of our mouth, but also to identify ourselves with His stand. Particularly, we need to be united with Him and to be willing to die with Him and suffer His sufferings. Those who do not acknowledge the Lord are the ones who deny, refuse and do not know Him. They have nothing to do with Him. For those who acknowledge the Lord and those who do not, the consequences are different indeed.
反省：我除了在家、在教會以外，吃飯前是否禱告？是否表明基督徒的身份？
Reflection: Do I say grace before meals other than in my house and at church? Do I show my identity as a Christian?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用