路加福音 第八章 1:21 Luke Chapter 8:1-21
- 馬克牧師
- Mar 6
- 10 min read
各位弟兄姊妹平安！我們今天來看 《路加福音》第八章，這一章包含許多 重要的小故事，每個故事都有深刻的含義，值得我們 一讀再讀。今天，我們先來閱讀 第 1 節到第 21 節，重點包括 撒種的比喻，以及 耶穌對我們的人生教導。明天，我們將繼續探討 耶穌平靜風浪、趕鬼，以及 醫治血漏婦人的三個神蹟。耶穌用這個比喻來形容上帝的道，真的是非常生動，也非常深刻。這個故事，我讀了很多、很多、很多次，但每一次都有新的角度讓我驚訝——這麼簡單的故事，如何能夠傳遞這麼深遠的道理？而且，這個比喻不僅僅是關於天國的道理，它還涉及到我們日常的教訓，以及我們人生的建造，其實都與它息息相關。首先，我們來看看 四種不同的土地：
石頭地：這種土地 非常堅硬，沒有土壤，種子落在上面無法生根。
淺土石地：地表上有一層薄薄的土壤，但底下全是石頭，種子雖然能發芽，但根扎不深，很快就枯萎了
荊棘地：這片土地上長滿雜草與荊棘，當種子落入其中，會被雜草擠住，無法茁壯成長。
好土：這是肥沃的土地，充滿養分，能夠讓種子生長並結出豐碩的果實。
耶穌隨即解釋，這四種土地代表四種不同的心靈。土壤的狀態，象徵我們的內心——我們對於 上帝的道，是否能夠 接受、理解、實踐，最終會決定我們能結出的果實。首先，我們來談談「硬土」。這種土壤最難以栽種種子，因為它過於堅硬，根本無法讓種子進入，最終只能任由飛鳥來吃掉。在耶穌的時代，這類人指的是 法利賽人、文士、大祭司。他們的心完全剛硬，不願接受耶穌的教導，甚至敵對祂，無論真理如何臨到，甚至真理直接站在他們面前，他們都不願意改變自己的想法。在今天，這類人可能是：🔹 持有其他信仰，已經深植於自己傳統的人。🔹 無神論者，完全否認上帝的存在。🔹 內心充滿自我，不願意承認需要救贖的人。
要向這些人傳福音是極其困難的。當你向他們分享信仰，他們的反應可能是激烈反駁，或者是與你沒完沒了地爭辯，甚至會直接敵對你。
這正如耶穌所說的——種子掉在硬土上，根本無法扎根，最後只能被飛鳥啄食。再來，我們看看淺土。這是一些可能受到感動，參加一次佈道會，參加一次主日聚會，被一次信息感動，接受了上帝的話語，一開始相當歡喜，並且參加教會，參加團契，開始讀經…但是沒有持久。他們喜歡當時的氛圍，可能是音樂，可能是很好吃的食物，可能是一群朋友的感覺。信主有一點像是談戀愛，是有一個蜜月期的。一開始的時候什麼都很好，教會朋友都對你很好，讀經得著很多，禱告好像都有回應。 你要知道，這不是上帝有偏見，對新信徒比較好然後對信主五年十年的人不好，不是這樣的。是因為你的心這時候是好土。但接下來當你碰上挑戰，當你碰上困難，當你碰上痛苦的時候，這是轉折點，這是石頭，你這時候要決定，你是要用力鑿開石頭，和上帝更深入，或是你這時候像是那個快速發芽但是沒有生根的種子，太陽曬了，就枯乾了。有種植過農作物的人會知道，天氣不可能天天下雨，水分是在土壤的深層，也就是說，你必須要和上帝更深入，你要更深入上帝的話語，你必須要和堅持，你要去找活水泉源，當你找到水，當你找到養分，那個會曬乾淺土的陽光（就是那些打擾你的困難，挑戰，痛苦）會讓你成長茁壯，並且會讓農作物更加深入，更加生根，往更深的土壤下去找尋更多的水，更多的養分，而當你往更深的聖經中去找尋，你一定會得著上帝更多的供應。 我們看使徒們的生命就知道，當你與上帝有更深的關係，那些你面對的苦難會變成你最有價值的養分。那些世界認為的痛苦，折磨，挑戰，會成為你和上帝同行最甜美的時光。看看大衛詩篇的背景，大多數是在他被掃羅追殺，被自己的兒子逼迫，被攻擊的時候寫出來了。這些人生歷練成為千古不朽的名著，成為千百年信徒的安慰。我自己的經歷就是如此。當我回顧我的人生，我屬靈成長最多的時候不是那些順風順水的時候，反而是那些經歷虧損，經歷欺騙，經歷背叛的時候。當我在人生中經歷困難，也是我和上帝最靠近的時候 – 如果要說苦難有任何好處，那就是苦難會把我們推向上帝，因著我們心中的痛苦，我們會緊緊抓住上帝。 | 孟子說過一句很有智慧的話：天將降大任於是人也，必先苦其心志，勞其筋骨，餓其體膚，空乏其身，行拂亂其所為，所以忍心動性，增益其所不能。當上天要把重任將在一個人身上，會使他內心痛苦，勞動筋骨，肉體飢餓，空乏身子，打亂行為，目的是要增加他的堅毅心智，讓他更有能力。保羅也說過：萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。上帝愛我們，這是不變的真理。而當過父母的人都知道，愛孩子並不是孩子要什麼給什麼，責打和教訓也是愛的一部分。上帝愛我們，所以祂更清楚什麼對我們最好，痛苦是包裝過後的祝福。真是深刻的一段經文。 第三種，荊棘叢裡的種子。我覺得這是大多數基督徒的景況。記得，魔鬼希望我們遠離福音，因為魔鬼無法勝過上帝，牠唯一的伎倆就是讓我們遠離福音，讓我們忽略，讓我們分心 - 而在這個時代 – 這個充滿令人分心的東西的時代 – 我們手中的手機有千千萬萬的訊息，我們周圍有千千萬萬的廣告，我們有無數的事情可以做，我們有無數的 “東西” 可能會搶奪我們讀經的時間，搶奪我們讚美上帝的時間，搶奪我們聚會的時間。在這個時代，忙碌是最大的敵人。而且我說的不是那些浪費時間的刷手機，打混，看一些無用的短影片這種事情。這忙碌的可能是你的工作，可能是你的孩子，可能是你的生意，投資，甚至進修… 請記得，信仰並不是選擇一個就沒有另一個，而是先後順序的問題。 我們得要把上帝放在首先的地位，首要的地位，理解到，先擁有上帝，先來閱讀上帝的話語，先與上帝親近，先與他建立美好的關係。我們每個人都活在荊棘叢裡。差別是我們能不能先往下紮根，先往下找尋美好的養分和水源，然後我們就有能力推開那些荊棘，我們就有力量可以抵抗荊棘的壓迫。最後，就是好土。當你深入話語，當你與上帝深交，當你預備自己的心能夠被灌溉，那麼你就成為了結果子的好樹。而你也得記得，好土上面一定不只有好種子生長，雜草也會，荊棘也會，種過農作物的人都知道，務農是一個不簡單的工作，要除草，要除蟲，要施肥，要灌溉，要保護，想要有豐盛的收成，農夫的辛勤是不可少的。福音的工作也一樣。我們當辛勤工作，努力當一個好農夫。使農作物生長的陽光，空氣，雨水，土地，都是上帝的工作。這就是我們與上帝同工的方式，而上帝也一直都在邀請我們與他同工。今日的屬靈反思：我的心是什麼土壤？福音有進入到我的心了嗎？我是否有和上帝深交，我是否有深深扎根於上帝的話語之中？明天我們繼續閱讀路加福音第八章下半段，耶穌行出平靜風雨，趕鬼，醫治的神跡。感謝各位的聆聽！
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you!
Today, we are reading Luke Chapter 8. This chapter contains many important short stories, each with profound meaning, worthy of reading and meditating on repeatedly. Today, we will first read verses 1 to 21, focusing on the parable of the sower and Jesus' teachings on life. Tomorrow, we will continue to explore three great miracles—Jesus calming the storm, casting out demons, and healing the woman with the issue of blood.
Jesus used this parable to describe the Word of God in an incredibly vivid and profound way.
I have read this story many, many, many times, and yet every time, I am amazed by how such a simple story can convey such deep truths. Not only does this parable speak about the kingdom of heaven, but it also applies to our daily teachings and how we build our lives—everything is closely related to it.
The Four Types of Soil
First, let’s look at the four types of soil Jesus described:
The path (hardened soil) – This soil is so hard that the seeds cannot penetrate, and birds come and eat them.
Rocky soil – There is a thin layer of soil on top, but beneath it is solid rock. The seeds sprout quickly but cannot take deep root, so they soon wither.
Thorny ground – This soil is full of weeds and thorns. The seeds grow, but the thorns choke them, preventing them from thriving.
Good soil – This is fertile land, rich in nutrients, where seeds grow and yield abundant fruit.
Jesus immediately explains that these four types of soil represent four different types of hearts.
The condition of the soil symbolizes the state of our hearts—whether we can receive, understand, and apply God's Word will determine the fruit we bear.
The Hardened Soil
This is the most difficult type of person to evangelize.
In Jesus’ time, these people were the Pharisees, the scribes, and the high priests. Their hearts were completely hardened, and they absolutely refused to accept the truth. No matter what Jesus taught, even when the Truth Himself stood before them, they refused to change their minds.
In today’s world, these people may be:🔹 Those who hold to other religious beliefs deeply rooted in their traditions.🔹 Atheists who completely deny the existence of God.🔹 Those full of self-righteousness, unwilling to admit their need for salvation.
Evangelizing to these people is extremely difficult. When you share the Gospel with them, their response may be aggressive arguments, endless debates, or even outright hostility.
This is exactly what Jesus described—seeds falling on hardened soil, unable to take root, only to be eaten by birds.
The Rocky Soil
This describes people who are initially moved by the Gospel.
They attend a revival meeting, join a Sunday service, or hear a message that touches their hearts. They accept God’s Word with joy and enthusiastically join church activities, attend fellowship, and start reading the Bible.
However, they lack endurance.
They might have been drawn in by the worship music, the good food, or the warm community. Faith can sometimes feel like falling in love—there’s a "honeymoon phase". At the beginning, everything feels great—the church friends are welcoming, reading the Bible feels refreshing, and prayers seem to be answered quickly.
But here is the key: It’s not that God favors new believers and later neglects those who have been in the faith for years. Rather, their hearts were initially "good soil," but challenges reveal their true condition.
When difficulties arise—when they face trials, suffering, or hardships—they reach a turning point. This is the "rock".
At this moment, they must choose:
Dig deeper, break through the rock, and draw closer to God
Wither like the seed that quickly sprouted but had no deep roots
Anyone who has grown crops knows that rain does not fall every day. The real water source is deep underground.
This means that you must go deeper in your faith. You need to go deeper into God’s Word and persevere. You must seek the living water.
When you find it—when you receive nourishment from God’s Word—then the "scorching sun" (your trials, challenges, and suffering) will not destroy you. Instead, it will help you grow stronger. Your roots will reach deeper into the Bible, and God will provide abundantly for you.
Look at the lives of the apostles. When you have a deeper relationship with God, the suffering you face will become the very thing that strengthens you. The world sees suffering as affliction, but God turns it into the sweetest time of intimacy with Him.
Consider David’s Psalms—many of them were written when he was being hunted by Saul, betrayed by his son, and under great distress. These painful experiences produced timeless masterpieces, bringing comfort to believers for thousands of years.
I can testify to this personally.
Looking back on my life, I see that the times when I grew the most spiritually were not the easy, smooth seasons. Instead, it was the times of loss, betrayal, and hardship.
During my struggles, I was closest to God. If suffering has any benefit, it is this: it pushes us toward God. In our pain, we cling to Him more tightly.
The Chinese philosopher Mencius once said:
"When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests his heart with suffering, exhausts his body with labor, starves him with hunger, and exposes him to hardships, so that his mind is sharpened and his abilities are strengthened."
Paul also said:
"All things work together for good for those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
God loves us—that is unchanging truth. Any parent knows that love doesn’t mean giving a child everything they want—discipline and correction are also part of love.
God knows what is best for us. Suffering is often a blessing in disguise.
The Thorny Soil
I believe this describes most Christians today.
Remember, Satan wants to keep us away from the Gospel. He knows he cannot defeat God, so his only strategy is to distract us and pull us away from God’s Word.
In this age of distraction, our phones bombard us with notifications, social media fights for our attention, and work, family, investments, and responsibilities overwhelm us.
The biggest enemy today is busyness.
I’m not just talking about wasting time on social media. Even good things—your career, your children, your studies, your business—can choke your spiritual life.
Faith is not about choosing between one or the other—it’s about putting things in the right order.
We must put God first.
If we first seek God’s Word, if we prioritize our relationship with Him, then we will have the strength to push back against the thorns and resist their oppression.
The Good Soil
When you immerse yourself in God’s Word, deepen your faith, and prepare your heart, you become the good soil that bears much fruit.
But remember—good soil also grows weeds and thorns.
Anyone who has farmed knows that gardening requires constant work—weeding, watering, fertilizing, and protecting crops. A farmer’s diligence is necessary for a bountiful harvest.
The same applies to our faith.
We must work diligently in the Gospel. The sun, rain, air, and soil come from God—that is His work.
And He invites us to work with Him.
Today’s Spiritual Reflection
What kind of soil is my heart?
Has the Gospel truly taken root in me?
Am I deeply rooted in God’s Word, or am I being choked by distractions?
Tomorrow, we will continue reading Luke 8, exploring Jesus’ miracles of calming the storm, casting out demons, and healing the sick.
Thank you for listening!
Comments