Take the yoke of the Lord

Matthew 11:20-30 (New International Version)
Woe on Unrepentant Cities


20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Rest for the Weary


25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


一、中心內容：Message

內容：Content
1>主耶穌因為看到哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農這三座城的居民，心靈剛硬的程度，而深感詫異。Lord Jesus saw that the residents of Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were stubborn and He was surprised.（v21-24）
2>主耶穌指出：天國奧秘的事，向自以為聰明、有學問，驕傲的人隱藏；卻向自以為沒有學問，謙卑的人顯明。Jesus mentioned about hidden things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children （v25-26）
3>主耶穌表示：他與父上帝，那份彼此相屬、密不可分的關係。（v27）
4>主耶穌宣告：凡就近祂的人，就必得著心靈的安息。（v28-30）

主題：Theme
1>當負主的軛。Take the yoke of the Lord
2>心靈享安息。Spiritual mind at rest

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit?

01>譴責不信者的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who condemns those who do not believe in Him（v20-21）
02>行神蹟的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who does miracles（v20-21）
03>施行審判的上帝。God who judges（v22）
04>天上的父親上帝。God who is the heavenly Father（v25）
05>天地的主宰上帝。God of Heaven and Earth（v25）
06>啟示真理的上帝。God who reveals the truths（v25）
07>旨意美善的上帝。God who shows the goodness（v26）
08>將一切賜給耶穌基督的上帝。God who gives everything His Son（v27）
09>完全認識耶穌基督的上帝。God who fully knows His Son（v27）
10>將上帝表明出來的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who reveals God（v27）
11>歡迎、呼籲人就近祂的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who welcomes and calls His people（v28）
12>為人擔重擔，賜給人安息的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who gives rest to the weary （v28）
13>心地柔和謙卑的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ who is gentle and humble in heart （v29）

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

1>令人詫異的剛硬
主耶穌說：「哥拉汛哪，你要遭殃了！伯賽大啊，你要遭殃了！我在你們當中行過的神蹟要是行在泰爾和西頓，那裏的人早就披麻蒙灰，表示他們已棄邪歸正了。我實在告訴你們，在審判的日子，泰爾和西頓所遭受的懲罰比你們所受的要輕呢！至於你，迦百農啊，你要把自己捧上天嗎？你會給摔進地獄去！我在你們那裏行過的神蹟要是行在所多瑪，它今天一定還存在著！我再告訴你們，在審判的日子，所多瑪所遭受的懲罰比你們所受的要輕呢！」"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."（v21-24）
哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農---等這三座城，都位於加利利海的西北邊。因為主耶穌曾經在那一帶居住過一段時間，所以當地的居民，幾乎都看過主耶穌所行的神蹟，同時聽過不少有關天國的教訓。Korazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum ; these three cities are located in the Northwest of the Sea of the Galilee. Jesus stayed in the area for some time so the local residents have all seen the miracles Jesus did and they have all heard the lessons Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven. 但是令人感到遺憾的就是，他們依然硬著心，始終不願意悔改。所以主耶穌特別為這三座城的居民，感到悲哀與感嘆！But they were still hard in heart and were not willing to repent, so Jesus felt sad for the residents of the three cities.
另外，推羅與西頓係位在腓尼基的海岸，距離加利利海分別有三十五哩與六十五哩， 所多瑪則位在往南約一百哩的地方。In addition, Tyre and Sodom were 35 miles and 65 miles away from the sea of Galilee. Sodom was located about a hundred miles in the south. 居住這三座城裏的百姓都是外邦人。People living in these three cities were all Gentiles. 舊約時代，這三座城的居民作惡多端、聲名狼籍。但是主耶穌，將這三座城的人，拿來跟哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農這三座城的人作比較，說：祂所行的神蹟，若是行在推羅、西頓與所多瑪，他們早就已經悔改了。但是，哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農這三座城的人，竟然不願意悔改。In the time of the old testament, the residents of the three cities were doing evil. But Jesus compared these people to the people of Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. He said the people of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom have all already repented. However, those in Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were unwilling to repent.
顯示：哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農這三座城的人，心靈是剛硬到令人慨嘆的程度。Shows: The residents of Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernuam had hearts so unbelievably stubborn.
反省：當時哥拉汛、伯賽大、迦百農這三座城的人，心靈是剛硬到那樣的程度。今天在我們高雄地區，甚至左營地區的人，心靈狀況會是如何？主耶穌會怎麼看待？此外，我自己的心靈狀況，又是如何？主耶穌怎麼判定？Reflection: How are our hearts compared to the ones in Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum? How would Jesus Christ think of it? What is my own condition?

2>聰明反被聰明誤
那時候，耶穌說：「天父，天地的主，我感謝你；因為你向聰明、有學問的人所隱藏的事，卻向沒有學問的人啟示出來。是的，天父啊，這樣的安排都是出於你的美意！25At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.（v25-26）
主耶穌接著解釋，人之所以不信，其中攔阻之一，就是心中的驕傲。也就是自以為聰明、通達。這種人被有限的知識，蒙蔽了心靈的眼睛，導致看不見基督榮耀的大能。Jesus explained that one of the reasons people refused to believe was pride in the heart. They are self-conceited. They are misled by the limited knowledge and the minds, and this prevents them to see the glory of God.
因此，主耶穌藉著禱告，指出一個事實，就是：上帝向聰明、有學問的人所隱藏的事，卻向沒有學問的人啟示出來。Therefore, through prayers, Jesus Christ showed the fact that He has hidden things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. 顯然，就信仰角度來看，自以為聰明的人，有時反被聰明所誤。因此，唯有存心謙卑、自以為不足的人，反而容易得著這福份。Through the point of view of faith, those who think themselves wise and smart are often mistaken. Therefore, those who are humble often receive the blessings.
反省：針對救贖福音真理，我的態度如何？是否自以為很聰明、很有學問、懂很多？還是抱持著謙卑、自以為不足的態度？我是否聰明反被聰明誤？Reflection: What is my attitude toward the gospel of truth and salvation? Do I consider myself smart or do I have a humble attitude?

3>父與子親密關係
主耶穌又說：我父親已經把一切都給我了。除了我父親，沒有人認識兒子；除了兒子和兒子所願意啟示的人，也沒有人認識父親。"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.（v27）
主耶穌接著談到天父上帝與祂之間的關係，強調祂與天父之間的關係，是親密而且合一的。Jesus then talked about the relationship between himself and the Heavenly Father which is in unity and very close.首先提到，天父上帝已經把一切都給了祂。意思就是說：祂在世上所擁有的一切，都是上帝所賜的。而且，祂在世上所作的一切，也都是照著上帝的旨意。First He mentioned that all things have been committed to him by His Father, which meant everything he had on Earth were all given by God. Also, everything he did on Earth were acted according to God’s will.
接著又提到，除了祂的父親，沒有人認識兒子；除了兒子和兒子所願意啟示的人，也沒有人認識父親。意思就是說：除了天父上帝之外，沒有人真正認識耶穌基督；另外，若不藉著耶穌基督，也沒有人能夠真正認識天父上帝。Then he said that “no one know s the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” In addition, if it is not through Jesus Christ, no one would really know God. 因此，耶穌基督是上帝的形象，是上帝在世上的彰顯。因此，唯獨認識耶穌基督，才能真正認識上帝。Therefore, Jesus Christ is the imagine of God, so one can only fully know God if knowing Jesus Christ.
反省：我對三位一體（聖父、聖子、聖靈）的上帝，有多少認識？我是否極力追求更深認識主耶穌？同時藉著認識主耶穌，進一步認識天父上帝？Reflection: How much do I know about the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) of God? Do I seek to get to know Christ the Lord? By knowing the Lord Jesus, do I understand better God?


4>負主軛得享安息
主耶穌說：來吧，所有勞苦、背負重擔的人都到我這裏來！我要使你們得安息。你們要負起我的軛，跟我學，因為我的心柔和謙卑。這樣，你們就可以得到安息。我的軛是容易負的；我的擔子是輕省的。"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."（v28-30）
擔重擔是每一個時代的人，十分普遍的現象。主耶穌以負軛，來形容人生的重擔，或心靈所受的綑綁。軛是套在牛、馬的頸肩，用來駕馭牛馬犁田、馱物的工具。Burden is a very common phenomenon to people of every generation. Jesus used the yoke to describe the burden of life. The yoke is used to control the horses and oxen to plow the fields or to carry the tools.
主耶穌引用軛，來形容生命中的枷鎖、重擔。生命中的枷鎖、重擔，就像一只重大的軛，駕馭在人的生命當中，成為一種無法承受的負擔。The burden of life is like a great yoke which controls our lives and which will eventually become unbearable.
另外，所謂的軛，主耶穌也常常用來形容當時法利賽人的作為，就是將「遵守律法」的事，繁複到成為一種重擔，就像被「軛」轄制住一樣。In addition, Jesus also often used yoke to describe the “law abiding” of the Pharisees which becomes a burden.
重點是：主耶穌發出一個邀請，就是邀請所有在生命中負軛的人，可以來到祂面前。凡來到他面前的，就必得享安息。The main point is that Lord Jesus invited everyone to go to Him because he will give rest. 尤其呼籲來到祂面前的人，必須學習像祂一樣，存著一顆柔和謙卑的心，讓上帝的靈自由在他裏面運行，當到達一個地步時，也甘願背起主的軛。And those who go to Him must learn from Him, to be gentle and humble in heart, to find rest in soul. 如果人一直背著自己的軛，枷鎖與重擔永遠無法脫離。但是，當來到主面前，尤其背主的軛時；主也必背起我們的軛，這樣我們就輕省多了。And just like He said: ”For my yoke is easy and my burden in light”
反省：目前的我，還獨自背負重擔、踽踽獨行？還是將一切重擔卸給主？我還獨自背負著軛？還是已經來到主面前，同時背負起主的軛來？Reflection: Am I currently carrying my burden alone? Or did I come before God to carry His’?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用Prayer / Life application