【双语灵修】先知的挑战THE PROPHET’S CHALLENGE

马太福音 21:18-27

早晨回城的时候，他饿了。 看见路旁有一棵无花果树，就走到跟前，在树上找不着什么，不过有叶子，就对树说：“从今以后，你永不结果子！”那无花果树就立刻枯干了。 门徒看见了，便稀奇说：“无花果树怎么立刻枯干了呢？” 耶稣回答说：“我实在告诉你们：你们若有信心，不疑惑，不但能行无花果树上所行的事，就是对这座山说：‘你挪开此地，投在海里！’，也必成就。 你们祷告，无论求什么，只要信，就必得着。”

耶稣进了殿，正教训人的时候，祭司长和民间的长老来，问他说：“你仗着什么权柄做这些事？给你这权柄的是谁呢？” 耶稣回答说：“我也要问你们一句话，你们若告诉我，我就告诉你们我仗着什么权柄做这些事。 约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？是从天上来的，是从人间来的呢？”他们彼此商议说：“我们若说从天上来，他必对我们说：‘这样，你们为什么不信他呢？’ 若说从人间来，我们又怕百姓，因为他们都以约翰为先知。” 于是回答耶稣说：“我们不知道。”耶稣说：“我也不告诉你们我仗着什么权柄做这些事。”

星期二

三月三十一日

先知的挑战

“你们祷告，无论求什么，只要信，就必得着。” - 太 21:22

神藉着回应祂子民的祷告去显示祂的信实。

在今天所读的经文中，一棵不结果子的无花果树受到耶稣的判决。宗教领袖询问耶稣有关祂的权柄，当祂向他们提到那位叫人人都悔改的先知施洗约翰（《马太福音》 3章）时，他们感到不安。先知是蒙神呼召去引导、安慰和挑战人去遵循神旨意的人。藉着预备人的心，来接受耶稣为神应许的救主，约翰指示人来到耶稣那里。耶稣自己亦指示人到祂那里去，作为找到与神同享丰盛永恒生命的途径。

在这个星期其余几天，耶稣要为我们牺牲自己的生命，在祂完成事工的最后几个小时，我们看到祂继续在作工，祂教训门徒，又催促所有人，包括宗教领袖们，去察看自己的内心、悔改、祈求信实之神的赦免。这是找到神愿望所有人都能享受到的生命的唯一途径。

耶稣与无花果树的互动，是一种实物教学法，表明耶稣希望宗教领袖结出他们应有的果子，就是指引神的子民去悔改和相信神，而不是担忧自己的权柄和地位。

耶稣邀请所有人来相信祂，信心的恩赐是赐给所有相信的人的。来相信、接受和得生命吧！

祷告

主耶稣，求你让我们对你充满信心。愿我们在你里面扎根，好叫我们能为你作见证，并结果子。奉你的名祈求，阿们。

Matthew 21:18-27

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

THE PROPHET’S CHALLENGE

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” —Matthew 21:22

God shows his faithfulness by responding to the prayers of his people.

In our reading today, a fig tree that does not bear fruit receives judgment from Jesus. The religious leaders ask Jesus about his authority, and he makes them uncomfortable by reminding them of the work of John the Baptist, a prophet who called everyone to repent (Matthew 3). A prophet is someone called by God to guide, comfort, and challenge people to follow the ways of God. John pointed people to Jesus by preparing them to receive him as the promised Savior, and Jesus pointed people to himself as the way to find full, eternal life with God.

In the remainder of this week in which Jesus would give up his life for us, we see Jesus at work in the final hours of his ministry, teaching his disciples and urging everyone, including the religious leaders, to look inside their hearts, to repent, and to ask the faithful God for forgiveness. It’s the only way to find the life that God wants everyone to enjoy.

Jesus’ interaction with the fig tree is a kind of object lesson showing that he wants the religious leaders to bear fruit as they are called to do—that is, pointing God’s people to repentance and faith rather than being concerned about their own authority and status.

Jesus invites everyone to have faith. The gift of faith is for all who believe.

Believe, receive, and live!

Lord Jesus, fill us with faith in you. May we be your witnesses and bear fruit because we are rooted in you. In your name we pray. Amen.