讲定的是一钱银子 — 马太福音读经随笔 第20章

马太福音第二十章第1—16节，耶稣打比喻说明了门徒们得救的简单道理。从这个比喻里可以看出耶稣讲的这个天国的真理与世界的逻辑是相反的。若不理解耶稣的这个比喻，说明我们否定旧我还不够彻底。这个比喻是说那些自以为给主作工多的人与那些给主作工少的人最后的结果都是一样的：得到的都是讲定的那一钱银子，即得救进天国。作工多的不要嫉妒作工少的（即耶稣说的不要眼红），作工少的不要洋洋自得或自惭形愧，因为得救都是本乎神的恩典也因着人的信，即以弗所书所说的“得救是本乎恩，也因着信，这并不是出于自己，乃是神所赐的”。我们做门徒的，刚强些的愿意在主里多作些工的那就多做些；软弱些的不能在主里多作工也可以理解，刚强的不要勉强和论断软弱的（见林前，加拉太书和罗马书），只要每个人都领受我们是主耶稣重价买来的就好，因为耶稣在约翰福音里说：“信神所差来的就是作神的工”，每个人都是因信称义（见罗马书和加拉太书）！这也是为什么耶稣说有结果实一百倍的，有结果实六十倍，有结果实三十倍的。是因为我们得救了披带了耶稣的所赐之义，所以所做的才在神眼里算为善事。而不是相反即靠做善事去得救（这是世界里的逻辑），这是神所恨恶的因为这种靠做善事去得救的逻辑是不相信耶稣在十字架上已经救了我们。

太20:1 因为天国好象家主、清早去雇人、进他的葡萄园作工．

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.

太20:2 和工人讲定、一天一钱银子、就打发他们进葡萄园去。

When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

太20:3 约在巳初出去、看见市上还有闲站的人．

He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.

太20:4 就对他们说、你们也进葡萄园去、所当给的、我必给你们．他们也进去了。

To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way.

太20:5 约在午正和申初又出去、也是这样行。

Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.

太20:6 约在酉初出去、看见还有人站在那里．就问他们说、你们为甚么整天在这里闲站呢。

About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'

太20:7 他们说、因为没有人雇我们．他说、你们也进葡萄园去。

"They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.'

太20:8 到了晚上、园主对管事的说、叫工人都来、给他们工钱、从后来的起、到先来的为止。

When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

太20:9 约在酉初雇的人来了、各人得了一钱银子。

"When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.

太20:10 及至那先雇的来了、他们以为必要多得．谁知也是各得一钱。

When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.

太20:11 他们得了、就埋怨家主说、

When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,

太20:12 我们整天劳苦受热、那后来的只做了一小时、你竟叫他们和我们一样么。

saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'

太20:13 家主回答其中的一人说、朋友、我不亏负你．你与我讲定的、不是一钱银子么。

"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius?

太20:14 拿你的走吧．我给那后来的和给你一样、这是我愿意的。

Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.

太20:15 我的东西难道不可随我的意思用么．因为我作好人、你就红了眼么。

Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?'

太20:16 这样、那在后的将要在前、在前的将要在后了。〔有古卷在此有因为被召的人多选上的人少〕

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

弗2:8 你们得救是本乎恩、也因着信、这并不是出于自己、乃是神所赐的．

for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

约6:29 耶稣回答说、信神所差来的、这就是作神的工。

Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."