4 月 3 日 预苦期第四周 星期四

(张慕洁牧师 神恩堂)

经文-路加福音 15：1-3，11 下-32

15 众税吏和罪人都挨近耶稣，要听他讲道。 2 法利赛人和文士私下议论说：“这个人接待罪人，又同他们吃饭。”

3 耶稣就用比喻说：11...“一个人有两个儿子。 12 小儿子对父亲说：‘父亲，请你把我应得的家业分给我。’他父亲就把产业分给他们。 13 过了不多几日，小儿子就把他一切所有的都收拾起来，往远方去了。在那里任意放荡，浪费资财。 14 既耗尽了一切所有的，又遇着那地方大遭饥荒，就穷苦起来。 15 于是去投靠那地方的一个人，那人打发他到田里去放猪。 16 他恨不得拿猪所吃的豆荚充饥，也没有人给他。 17 他醒悟过来，就说：‘我父亲有多少的雇工，口粮有余，我倒在这里饿死吗？ 18 我要起来，到我父亲那里去，向他说：“父亲，我得罪了天，又得罪了你。 19 从今以后，我不配称为你的儿子，把我当做一个雇工吧！”’ 20 于是起来，往他父亲那里去。相离还远，他父亲看见，就动了慈心，跑去抱着他的颈项，连连与他亲嘴。 21 儿子说：‘父亲，我得罪了天，又得罪了你。从今以后，我不配称为你的儿子。’ 22 父亲却吩咐仆人说：‘把那上好的袍子快拿出来给他穿，把戒指戴在他指头上，把鞋穿在他脚上， 23 把那肥牛犊牵来宰了，我们可以吃喝快乐！ 24 因为我这个儿子是死而复活，失而又得的。’他们就快乐起来。 25 那时，大儿子正在田里。他回来，离家不远，听见作乐跳舞的声音， 26 便叫过一个仆人来，问是什么事。 27 仆人说：‘你兄弟来了，你父亲因为得他无灾无病地回来，把肥牛犊宰了。’ 28 大儿子却生气，不肯进去。他父亲就出来劝他。 29 他对父亲说：‘我服侍你这多年，从来没有违背过你的命，你并没有给我一只山羊羔，叫我和朋友一同快乐。 30 但你这个儿子和娼妓吞尽了你的产业，他一来了，你倒为他宰了肥牛犊！’ 31 父亲对他说：‘儿啊！你常和我同在，我一切所有的都是你的。 32 只是你这个兄弟是死而复活、失而又得的，所以我们理当欢喜快乐。’”

经文反思

这段浪子的比喻不仅讲述悖逆的归回，更揭示隐藏的迷失。小儿子的悖逆显而易见，他离家、挥霍、最终悔改归来。但大儿子呢？他虽未曾远走，却在父家里失落，活在自义与苦毒之中。他守本分，却不明白父亲的心；他忠于规矩，却缺乏爱和怜悯。这提醒我们，信仰不是单靠外在行为，而是与父神建立真实的关系。你是否也像大儿子那样在“家中流浪”？还是像小儿子呢？你是否靠着行为而非恩典站立？今天，让我们省察自己，回归父神的心意。

祷告

慈爱的天父，我们不愿再活在自我欺骗中。求你光照我们的内心，让我们真实地悔改，不论是像小儿子远离你的悖逆，还是像大儿子虽守规矩却缺乏爱和怜悯。求你怜悯我们，使我们真正明白父神的心，进入你的恩典与喜乐中。奉主耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！

应用

今天安静在神面前，思考自己是否仅仅是“在家”的基督徒，却未曾真正进入父神的心意。求神破碎我的自义，让我经历祂真实的爱。

今天主动去接触一位你曾忽视或论断的弟兄姊妹，与他分享神的恩典。用父神的眼光看待他，不带批判，而是带着怜悯与接纳，让神的爱成为你的行动。

3 April The Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent

(Rev Barnabas Zhang Immanuel Methodist Church)

Scripture - Luke 15:1-3，11b-32

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable:

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods

that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Reflections on the Scripture

The parable of the prodigal son not only tells of the return of the rebellious but also reveals the hidden lostness. The younger son’s rebellion is obvious—he leaves home, squanders his wealth, and eventually repents and returns. But what about the older son? Although he did not leave, he was lost in his father’s house, living in self-righteousness and bitterness. He fulfilled his duties but failed to understand his father's heart; he was faithful to the rules but lacked love and mercy. This reminds us that faith is not based merely on outward behavior but on establishing a real relationship with the Father. Do you, like the older son, wander "at home"? Or are you like the younger son? Do you stand on behavior rather than grace? Today, let us examine ourselves and return to the heart of the Father.

Prayer

Loving Father, we no longer want to live in self-deception. Please shine a light on our hearts and help us to truly repent, whether like the younger son, who rebelled and turned away from You, or like the older son, who followed the rules but lacked love and mercy. Have mercy on us and help us truly understand the heart of the Father, entering into Your grace and joy. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

Application

Take time today to be still before God and reflect on whether you are simply a "Christian at home," without truly entering into the Father’s heart. Ask God to break your self-righteousness and allow you to experience His true love.

Today, take the initiative to approach a brother or sister you have neglected or judged and share God's grace with them. Look at them through the Father’s eyes, not with criticism but with mercy and acceptance, letting God’s love be expressed through your actions.