3 月 27 日 预苦期第三周 星期四

(周家熹牧师 荣恩堂)

经文-路加福音 13:1-9

13 正当那时，有人将彼拉多使加利利人的血掺杂在他们祭物中的事告诉耶稣。 2 耶稣说：“你们以为这些加利利人比众加利利人更有罪，所以受这害吗？ 3 我告诉你们：不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡。 4 从前西罗亚楼倒塌了，压死十八个人，你们以为那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪吗？ 5 我告诉你们：不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡。”

6 于是用比喻说：“一个人有一棵无花果树栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不着， 7 就对管园的说：‘看哪，我这三年来到这无花果树前找果子，竟找不着。把它砍了吧，何必白占地土呢？’ 8 管园的说：‘主啊，今年且留着，等我周围掘开土，加上粪， 9 以后若结果子便罢，不然，再把它砍了。’”

经文反思

你有没有觉得自己比别人强？(停顿几分钟，诚实地反思。）当你审视自己的私心杂念、良好的行为举止、礼貌的言语、履行宗教/教会义务、做澳大利亚的好公民时，你是否结出了福音的果子？在这段经文中，耶稣指出这群加利利人比其他所有的加利利人都是更坏的罪人，因为他们被彼拉多处死了。彼拉多怎么样？上帝会怎样对待彼拉多？当杀戮发生时，上帝在哪里？在这里，耶稣借此机会提醒人们，当我们不悔改我们的罪时，真正的死亡就来了。除非你悔改，否则你也会灭亡。

耶稣介绍了基督徒的悔改，指出我们在上帝面前是罪人。上帝呼唤我们悔改。我们准备好面对上帝不可避免的、即将到来的审判了吗？在这个寓言中，不结果子的树得到了最后的警告，要求它改变。否则，这棵树就会被砍掉。耶稣还提醒听众，他们应该在上帝的怜悯中趁早悔改。上帝寻找的不是人类自我荣耀的行为，而是人们内心真正的悔改。真正的悔改会带来心灵的转变--这种转变会改变我们与上帝和他人的关系。你悔改你的罪了吗？

祷告

亲爱的三位一体上帝，我今天来到你面前，为自己的罪、羞耻和罪恶感所累。正如诗篇作者大卫王所祷告的：'神啊，求你按你坚固的慈爱怜悯我；求你按你丰盛的慈爱涂抹我的过犯。求你洗净我的不义，洁净我的罪。因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪也常在我面前，只因你犯了罪，行了你眼中看为恶的事。愿耶稣的宝血洁净我，洗净我，使我在你面前再无瑕疵。奉耶稣的名，阿门。

应用

今天/今晚抽出一些时间，找一个安静的地方。带上一本日记本，写下你在过去几个月里可能背负的任何罪孽/羞耻/内疚，或者你还没有克服的罪孽，这样当你继续与心中的偶像战斗时，记得听到耶稣的声音说你的罪已被赦免。所以，承认并悔改你的罪吧。告诉别人你的罪和挣扎，请他们为你祷告。罪越被揭露，我们就越准备好被神的大能改变。

27 March The Thursday in the Third Week of Lent

(Rev Elijah Chiew Glory Methodist Church)

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Reflections on the Scripture

Have you ever felt that you are better than others? (Pause for a few minutes to reflect honestly.) When you examine your private thoughts, your good behaviour, polite words, your fulfillment of religious/church duties, and being a good citizen of Australia, are you bearing the fruit of the gospel? In this passage, Jesus points out that this group of Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered death by Pilate. How about Pilate? What would God do to Pilate? Where was God when the killings happened? Here, Jesus took the opportunity to remind the people that true death comes when we do not repent of our sins. But unless you repent, you too will perish.

Jesus introduces Christian repentance and points out that we are sinners before God. God calls us to repent of our sins. Are we ready to face the inevitable, coming judgment of God? In this parable, the tree which does not bear fruit is given the last warning to change. If not, the tree will be cut off. Jesus also reminds the audience that they should repent while they still have time in the mercy of God. God is not looking for human works that are self-glorifying, but for true repentance of the hearts of people. True repentance brings transformation in our hearts - this transformation will change our relationship with God and others. DO you repent of your sins?

Prayer

Dear merciful and gracious Triune God, I come to you today, burdened by my sins, my shame and my guilt. As psalmist King David prayed, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have sinned and done what is evil in your sight.’ May the blood of Jesus cleanse me and wash me clean so that I am without blemish once again before your sight. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Application

Put aside some time today/tonight and find a quiet place. Take a journal with you and write down any sins/shame/guilt you may have carried with you in the past months, or sins that you have not overcome, so as you continue to battle with the idols of your heart, remember to hear the voice of Jesus that says your sins are forgiven. So confess and repent from your sins. Tell someone about your sins and struggles and ask them to pray for you. The more the sins are in the light, the more we are ready to be transformed by the power of God.