路加福音 第十二章 12:35-59 Luke Chapter 12:35-59
- 馬克牧師
- Mar 19
- 8 min read
各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們一起來讀《路加福音》第12章後半段。這裡有兩個很重要的主題：第一個是「警醒的僕人」，第二個是「人與人的紛爭」。
首先我們來看「警醒的僕人」。耶穌在這裡提醒我們，作為祂的僕人，我們應該要隨時保持警醒。意思就是說，我們不是那種什麼都不做、懶洋洋地躺著等神來的人，而是要好好預備自己。
耶穌用燈和束腰來做比喻。在古代，燈是要細心維護的，一根棉芯浸在油裡，如果不小心，火就會熄滅。僕人的責任就是把燈維持好，隨時為主人預備好光亮。無論主人是深夜還是三更半夜回來，僕人都要保持清醒、準備好開門迎接。
至於「束上腰帶」這個動作，在古代代表著進入工作狀態。換句話說，我們不是換上睡衣、鬆開腰帶準備睡覺的人，而是隨時整裝待發、隨時可以行動的僕人。
耶穌要我們知道，主人什麼時候回來不是我們該猜的，僕人要做的就是警醒，隨時準備好。
然後耶穌又說，一個好僕人是「忠心又有見識」的。什麼意思呢？就是一個很有主動性的人。他不需要主人每天來叮嚀，他知道自己該做什麼，就會主動去完成。而且他還能把主人交代的事辦得井井有條、按時安排得好好的。
這樣的僕人，主人當然會提拔，這是理所當然的事。
你想想看，我們在生活中也是這樣啊。如果你有10個員工，其中只有一個是認真負責、還會提前想到老闆沒交代但需要做的事，甚至做得比預期更好，你會怎麼樣？當有重要任務時，你一定是交給這樣的人，而不是那些只做表面、甚至敷衍了事的下屬。
基督徒也一樣。我們理當隨時保持生命的主動性，警醒著，注意著，看看有什麼我們可以做的，可以幫忙的，時時省察我們的生命，我們的燈（靈性）需不需要修剪和維護，我們的服事（衣服）是否有束上帶子，用心去做每一件事情？
接下來，從49節開始，耶穌的語氣忽然變得非常嚴厲，甚至帶著一點「殺氣」。祂說：「我來是要把火丟在地上」，然後又說：「我來並不是叫地上太平，而是叫地上起紛爭。」
祂接著講到，一家五口要分成三對二，甚至父母和子女之間都會起紛爭。這裡很多人可能會疑惑：耶穌不是和平之子嗎？為什麼祂說這樣的話？難道祂希望世上充滿衝突嗎？這不是和我們常常講的「基督徒要與人和睦」的教導互相矛盾嗎？
其實，當我們往下繼續讀，看到後面關於「窄門」的教導，還有第14章「做門徒的代價」時，我們就會慢慢明白：耶穌不是鼓勵紛爭，而是在提醒我們，當屬世的價值觀遇上屬神的真理，衝突就是必然的。
這並不是說我們要主動與家人為敵，而是當我們選擇跟隨耶穌，當我們堅持真理時，自然會遇到來自家人、朋友，甚至社會的質疑和對立。信仰與世界的價值觀會起衝突，這是無法避免的事。
如果你是家中第一代信主的人，你一定能夠體會這種感覺。當你開始去教會、開始改變你的生活方式、開始帶著聖經回家，可能家人會覺得奇怪，甚至會反對你。他們可能不理解你為什麼改變，甚至覺得你背離了家族的傳統信仰。輕微的反應可能只是質疑、不以為然，但嚴重一點，可能會有指責、責備，甚至被排斥。
這些衝突不是我們想要的，但當我們決定走這條路時，就要有心理準備，因為這正是耶穌在提醒我們的——真正的跟隨祂，是要付出代價的。
在接下來的章節，我們會繼續分享「窄門」和「做門徒的代價」，當我們把這些經文連起來看，就能更清楚地明白耶穌的心意。
弟兄姊妹，如果你現在正經歷信仰帶來的家庭張力，不要灰心，因為耶穌早已告訴我們這是必經的路。讓我們為彼此禱告，也為我們的家人禱告，求神用祂的恩典和愛，慢慢軟化人心，把衝突變成福音的契機。
最後，耶穌也提醒我們一件非常重要的事——要懂得「看時候」。
祂教導我們，不僅要了解自己身處的時代，更要對現今的世界有一份成熟的敏銳度。要看見社會的趨勢，也要能察覺屬靈的趨勢。每個世代，都有不同程度的屬靈挑戰；在不同的國家、不同的社區裡，我們都需要懂得觀察時機、分辨方向，才能隨時預備好，去成就神要我們做的工。
耶穌提醒我們，不要硬著頸項，逆著神所安排的節奏和趨勢而行。很多時候，神透過環境、透過趨勢、透過各種變化來提醒我們，祂的計畫正在進行中。我們要學習敏銳地察覺，而不是愚昧地抗拒。
最後兩節經文更帶來一個強烈的警告——「要有時間的緊迫感。」耶穌說，我們就像是在路上和對頭一起去見審判官的人；在審判之前，你最好趕緊和對頭和好。什麼意思呢？祂是在提醒我們，每一個人都得罪了上帝，而在上帝的審判還沒有臨到之前，我們應該把握機會，趕緊悔改、與神和好。
不要以為我們還有很多時間，不要像那個懶惰的僕人一樣，只顧著吃喝玩樂、欺壓同伴，而忘記了主隨時會來。 耶穌提醒我們：你要有一顆隨時準備好的心，隨時保持謹慎、警醒，不要鬆懈。因為沒有人知道主什麼時候再來。
弟兄姊妹，讓我們提醒自己：現在就是最好的時候，不要再拖延。願我們都能成為忠心有見識的好僕人，隨時預備好，迎接主的再來。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續分享第十三章。願上帝賜福大家！
Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you all.Today, we are reading the second half of Luke chapter 12. There are two very important themes here: the first is “The Watchful Servant,” and the second is “Conflict Among People.”
Let’s first look at “The Watchful Servant.”Jesus reminds us that as His servants, we must always stay alert. This means we are not supposed to be idle, lying around waiting for God to act, but rather we should actively prepare ourselves.
Jesus uses the lamp and the belt as illustrations.In ancient times, lamps required careful maintenance — a wick soaked in oil could easily go out if not watched closely. The servant’s responsibility was to keep the lamp burning, always ready to provide light for the master, no matter if he returned late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
As for “having your belt fastened,” this symbolized being in a state of readiness for work. In other words, we are not to be in pajamas with belts loosened and ready for sleep, but rather dressed and ready for action at any moment.
Jesus teaches us that it’s not the servant’s job to guess when the master will return. The servant’s job is to stay vigilant and always be prepared.
Jesus also says that a good servant is “faithful and wise.” What does this mean? It means someone who is proactive, who doesn’t need constant reminders from the master. He knows what needs to be done and takes the initiative to do it, managing the master’s household in an orderly and timely manner.
Naturally, such a servant will be promoted by the master — this is only logical.Think about it in real life: if you have 10 employees, but only one is diligent, responsible, and even anticipates tasks that the boss hasn’t yet mentioned, doing them thoroughly and well — who would you entrust with more important assignments? Certainly not those who only do the bare minimum or act carelessly.
As Christians, it’s the same. We should constantly live with initiative, staying watchful, looking for ways to serve and help, regularly examining our spiritual life — asking ourselves if our lamp (spiritual vitality) needs trimming and tending, and if our service (our “clothing”) is ready and done with care.
Next, starting from verse 49, Jesus’s tone suddenly becomes very serious, even fierce. He says, “I have come to bring fire on the earth,” and “I did not come to bring peace, but division.”
He goes on to say that in a family of five, they will be divided three against two, even father and son, mother and daughter will have conflicts.This might leave us wondering: Isn’t Jesus the Prince of Peace? Why would He say this? Does He want conflict in the world? Doesn’t this contradict the teaching that Christians should live in peace with others?
But as we read on — seeing the teachings on the narrow door and later in chapter 14 about the cost of discipleship — we begin to understand. Jesus is not encouraging conflict; He is telling us that conflict is inevitable when worldly values meet God’s truth.
It’s not that we are to deliberately be at odds with our family members. But when we choose to follow Jesus, when we stand firmly on God’s truth, conflict with family, friends, and even society will come naturally. Faith and worldly values clash — that’s unavoidable.
If you are the first believer in your family, you likely understand this. When you start attending church, changing your lifestyle, and bringing a Bible into your home, your family may find it strange or even oppose you. They might not understand why you’ve changed, and they may feel you are abandoning the family’s traditional beliefs. At first, it might just be questioning or disapproval, but it could escalate to blame, rejection, or being excluded.
This conflict isn’t something you want, but when you choose this path, you need to be mentally prepared — this is exactly what Jesus is warning us about. Truly following Him comes with a cost.
In the coming chapters, we will continue to share about the “narrow door” and the cost of discipleship. When we read these passages together, we will better understand Jesus’s heart.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you are currently experiencing tension in your family because of your faith, do not lose heart. Jesus has already told us this is part of the journey. Let’s pray for one another, and also pray for our families, asking God to soften hearts with His grace and turn conflict into opportunities for the gospel.
Finally, Jesus reminds us of something very important — to be able to “discern the times.”
He teaches us that we should not only understand the times we live in but also have mature discernment regarding the world around us. We need to see social trends and be sensitive to spiritual trends. Every generation faces different spiritual challenges, and in every country, in every community, we need to observe carefully, discern wisely, and be ready to do the work God has called us to.
Jesus warns us not to stubbornly resist or go against the rhythm and direction God is setting. Often, God uses the environment, trends, and changes to remind us that His plan is unfolding. We need to learn to perceive this, rather than foolishly resist.
The final two verses give us a strong warning — “have a sense of urgency.”
Jesus says we are like people on the way to meet a judge with an adversary — before the judgment comes, it’s best to reconcile quickly. What does that mean? It’s a reminder that each of us has sinned against God, and before His judgment comes, we should seize the chance to repent and be reconciled with Him.
Don’t assume you still have lots of time. Don’t be like the lazy servant who eats, drinks, and mistreats others, forgetting that the Master could come at any moment.
Jesus reminds us: keep a heart that is always ready, always cautious, and watchful — never slack. Because no one knows when the Lord will return.
Brothers and sisters, let’s remind ourselves: now is the best time. Don’t delay.
May we all become faithful and wise servants, always prepared for the Lord’s return.
Thank you for listening! Tomorrow, we will continue with chapter 13. May God bless you all!
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