马太福音9:35 – 10:1 | Matthew 9:35 – 10:1 |
耶稣走遍各个城镇乡村,在他们的会堂里教导人,传天国的福音,并且使各样的疾病和各样的症状痊愈。 | Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. |
耶稣看见众人,就对他们动了怜悯之心,因为他们困苦流离,像羊没有牧人那样。 | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. |
于是他对自己的门徒们说:“收割的工作多,而工人少。所以你们要祈求收割的主催促工人参与他的收割工作。” | Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” |
耶稣召来他的十二个门徒,赐给他们权柄,能驱赶污灵,也能使各样的疾病和各样的症状痊愈。 | Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. |
收割时耕农最后的作业。无可否认,一路来的努力,不就是期待收割时的喜悦。丰收,即过好年;歉收,便挨肚子。
收割其实是紧要的,必须要快,不然谷子脱了、鸟儿啄了、秋雨淋了。因此收割之时,不但必须手脚快,还要手脚多!所以不难看到每逢收割季节,农民一家老少妇孺都下田帮忙,以免错过了天时之利。其迫切感不下于十万火急!
如此看,不难了解耶稣之心急。当耶稣看见许多人困苦流离,不但动了怜悯之心,还动了火燎之心急。
急一、耶稣时日无多,未听见天国福音的人更多。
急二、耶稣一人能力有限,未必能传天国福音到地极。
急三、天国近了。
急四、人人的寿命有限,不能担保人人长眠前能等到天国福音。
于是耶稣派了他的十二个门徒出去传讲天国的福音(马太10:1 ; 马可3:14 & 6:7 ; 路加9:1-2 )。又派七十人去传讲神的国(路加10:1)。直到耶稣受死复活后还交待门徒们去使万民成为耶稣的门徒 (马太28:19-20 ; 马可16:15 ; 路加 24:46-47 ; 使徒1:8)。