【双语灵修】同一枚硬币的两面TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

路加福音 10:25-37

有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：“夫子，我该做什么才可以承受永生？”耶稣对他说：“律法上写的是什么？你念的是怎样呢？”他回答说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的神，又要爱邻舍如同自己。”耶稣说：“你回答的是。你这样行，就必得永生。”那人要显明自己有理，就对耶稣说：“谁是我的邻舍呢？”耶稣回答说：“有一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在强盗手中。他们剥去他的衣裳，把他打个半死，就丢下他走了。偶然有一个祭司从这条路下来，看见他，就从那边过去了。又有一个利未人来到这地方，看见他，也照样从那边过去了。唯有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里，看见他，就动了慈心，上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处，包裹好了，扶他骑上自己的牲口，带到店里去照应他。第二天拿出二钱银子来，交给店主说：‘你且照应他，此外所费用的，我回来必还你。’你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？”他说：“是怜悯他的。”耶稣说：“你去照样行吧。”

8月17日

同一枚硬币的两面

“我岂是看守我兄弟的吗？” - 创世记 4:9

有时我们会意识到，两件事物虽然看起来截然不同，实则紧密相连，甚至浑然一体—我们常形容它们如同“同一枚硬币的两面”。

神的诫命“不可杀人”便是如此。当祂吩咐我们不可伤害或杀害任何人时，同时也在呼召我们去关爱并保护邻舍的生命。尽管我们可能认为这是两件不同的事，但它们其实是紧密相关的。

在耶稣所讲的好撒马利亚人的比喻中，两位犹太宗教领袖对一个在荒僻路边被打得半死的人视而不见。出于恐惧、冷漠，或是觉得此时施以援手并不合时宜或不方便，他们从那流血的人身边走过了。随后，一个撒马利亚人—在当时是被犹太人所藐视的群体，路过此地，他停下来救助了那人。他包裹了那人的伤口，并带他去旅店照料。

“不可杀人”这条诫命的另一面，是要求我们爱邻舍，正如这则比喻中的撒玛利亚人所行的一样。《圣经》中充满了对爱护与捍卫生命的呼吁和榜样：赒济饥饿的人、收留卑微弱势的人、款待客旅、保护弱者免受权势欺凌、确保公义彰显在所有人身上，甚至要爱我们的仇敌。

若果我们未能爱护并关怀身边的人，我们就是在违背第六诫。

祷告

主耶稣，正如你向众人—甚至向你的仇敌—彰显了慈爱，求你帮助我们去爱护并关怀我们身边的每一个人。奉你的名求，阿们。

Luke 10:25-37

MONDAY, AUGUST 17

TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” —Genesis 4:9

Sometimes we recognize that two things are closely related or even the same, although they appear to be different— and we describe them by saying they are like two sides of the same coin.

God’s command “You shall not murder” is an example of this. While he orders that we may not harm or kill anyone, God is also calling us to care for and protect our neighbor’s life. Although we might think these are two different things, they are very closely related.

In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, two Jewish religious leaders ignore a man who has been left beaten and half dead on a deserted road. Out of fear, indifference, or a sense that it’s not timely or convenient to help, they pass by the bleeding man. Then a Samaritan, someone despised by the Jews in that day, comes along, and he stops to help the man. He binds up the man’s wounds and takes him to an inn to be cared for.

The flip side of the command “You shall not kill” involves loving our neighbor, just as the Samaritan in this parable did. The Bible is full of calls to and examples of loving and protecting life: feeding the hungry, housing the vulnerable, welcoming strangers, shielding the weak from the powerful, ensuring justice for all, and even loving our enemies.

If we fail to love and care for the people around us, we are breaking the sixth commandment.

Lord Jesus, just as you have shown love to all, even your enemies, help us to love and care for all the people around us. In your name, Amen.