【双语灵修】奇妙的捕获！AN AMAZING CATCH!

马太福音 17:24-27 8月10日

到了迦百农，有收丁税的人来见彼得，说：“你们的先生不纳丁税吗？” 彼得说：“纳。”他进了屋子，耶稣先向他说：“西门，你的意思如何？世上的君王向谁征收关税、丁税？是向自己的儿子呢，是向外人呢？” 彼得说：“是向外人。”耶稣说：“既然如此，儿子就可以免税了。 但恐怕触犯他们，你且往海边去钓鱼，把先钓上来的鱼拿起来，开了它的口，必得

一块钱，可以拿去给他们，做你我的税银。”

奇妙的捕获！

“‘你们的先生不纳丁税吗？’彼得说：‘纳。’” -太 17:24-25

尽管我不是钓鱼专家，但我很喜欢钓鱼。当我抛出鱼丝时，我真希望能钓到点甚么。在这个和钓鱼有关的故事中，彼得出去钓到一条特殊的鱼，这条鱼嘴里含着一枚硬币！

当税吏问彼得，耶稣是否缴纳圣殿税时（一种成年男子自愿的“捐献”），彼得回答：“纳。”

后来，耶稣在彼得家里与他谈起这事。尽管耶稣知悉君王的儿子本可以免税，但他们为了避免使人跌倒，耶稣指示他和彼得应该纳税。于是，他让彼得去钓鱼，并告诉他钓到的是一条有一枚硬币的鱼，可以用来缴纳他们两人的圣殿税。

这个令人讶异的故事说明了甚么？耶稣的回答预示了他作为神的儿子，将取代耶路撒冷圣殿，成为真正敬拜和公义的焦点（约翰福音2:19-22；4:21-24）。耶稣的回应也表明，他会供应跟随者所需的一切。此外，耶稣为所有传扬他福音的人，提供了一条明智的建议——要避免不必要地使人跌倒。

虽然我们可能巴不得用钓鱼的方式来缴税，但我们可以确信的是，在基督里，我们的一切需要都会得到满足，并且会有很多机会邀请周围的人来敬拜他。

祷告

主啊，愿祢成为我们敬拜的中心，因我们信靠祢会供应我们一切所需，并帮助我们分享祢的爱。阿们。

Matthew 17:24-27

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

AN AMAZING CATCH!

“Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” [Peter] replied.—Matthew 17:25

Though I’m no expert at it, I love fishing. When I cast my line, I just long to catch something. In this fishing story, Peter goes out to catch a specific fish—one with a coin in its mouth!

When the tax collectors ask Peter if Jesus pays the temple tax (a voluntary “donation” expected of adult men), Peter answers, “Yes, he does.”

Later Jesus speaks with Peter about this at his house. While noting that the children of kings are not expected to pay taxes, Jesus indicates that he and Peter should pay the tax so that they will not “cause offense.” So he tells Peter to cast his line into the lake and that he’ll catch a fish with a coin that he can use to pay both his and Jesus’ temple tax.

What does this striking story suggest? Jesus’ answer points ahead to the time when he, as the Son of God, will replace the Jerusalem temple himself as the focus of true worship and righteousness (see John 2:19-22; 4:21-16). Jesus’ response also shows that he will provide all that his followers will need. In addition, Jesus offers some sound advice for all who share the good news about him—don’t cause unnecessary offense.

Though we might wish we could pay our taxes by fishing, we can be assured that in Christ all our needs will be taken care of and that we will have opportunities to invite the people around us to worship him freely.

May you alone, Lord, be at the center of our worship, as we trust in you to provide for all our needs and to help us share your love. Amen.