信心迎接我王

 

摘要

恩典則可以歡喜地走入黑暗,單純地跟隨聖經的話語,不管環境怎樣,不論自然的證明是真或假。恩典始終信靠上帝的道。



馬太福音2:1–12
1 當希律王的時候,耶穌生在猶太的伯利恆。有幾個博士從東方來到耶路撒冷,說:2 「那生下來作猶太人之王的在哪裡?我們在東方看見他的星,特來拜他。」3 希律王聽見了,就心裡不安;耶路撒冷合城的人也都不安。4 他就召齊了祭司長和民間的文士,問他們說:「基督當生在何處?」5 他們回答說:「在猶太的伯利恆。因為有先知記著,說:
6 猶大地的伯利恆啊,
你在猶大諸城中並不是最小的;
因為將來有一位君王要從你那裡出來,
牧養我以色列民。」
7 當下,希律暗暗地召了博士來,細問那星是什麼時候出現的,8 就差他們往伯利恆去,說:「你們去仔細尋訪那小孩子,尋到了就來報信,我也好去拜他。」9 他們聽見王的話就去了。在東方所看見的那星忽然在他們前頭行,直行到小孩子的地方,就在上頭停住了。10 他們看見那星,就大大地歡喜;11 進了房子,看見小孩子和他母親馬利亞,就俯伏拜那小孩子,揭開寶盒,拿黃金、乳香、沒藥為禮物獻給他。12 博士因為在夢中被主指示不要回去見希律,就從別的路回本地去了。

這些博士在此教導我們真正的信心。在他們聽到講道和先知的話語之後,他們並沒有閒著,或者遲遲不相信!我們只要看他們經歷了這麼多的阻礙!首先,他們犯了一個錯誤:去首都耶路撒冷,卻沒有找到祂。明星消失了 … … 之後,他們害怕了… …
毫無疑問,他們仍然是血肉之體,並不能脫離這些想法。他們為了自己的信心,而在進行一場美好、激烈的戰鬥。本性的理智不能在這樣的環境里穩固站立。他們的理智會在他們沒有找到期盼的王的時候,就立刻撅嘴,並變得傲慢 … …
看啦,理智和本性總是這樣,他們不能超過他們的感覺。如果他們沒有感到(上帝的存在),他們就立刻否定上帝,如同詩人所描寫的:心裡說「沒有上帝(詩14:1)!魔鬼必在他們心裡做工。如果引領他們的是宇宙之光,他們必找不到上帝——不!這光必引導他們進入地獄的深淵!自然之光和恩典之光不是朋友。自然本能地尋求知識,在相信之前,一定試圖要凡事清楚明白。而恩典則是在明白之前相信!因為這個理由,自然不能超出她自己的光。而恩典則可以歡喜地走入黑暗,單純地跟隨聖經的話語,不管環境怎樣,不論自然的證明是真或假。恩典始終信靠上帝的道。——馬丁路德(AE 76:102-103)(《馬太福音2:1-12的講道》)


Faith Hails Our King
Matthew 2:1–12
The Visit of the Wise Men
2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 「Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.」 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, 「In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 「 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ 」
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 「Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.」 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

These Magi here teach us the true faith. After they heard the sermon and the word of the prophet, they were not idle or slow to believe—and look at the obstacles and hindrance they faced! First, they made a mistake and came to Jerusalem, the capital, and did not find Him. The star disappeared. …… Moreover, they were frightened……
Without a doubt they were still one part flesh and blood and were not free from such thoughts and notions. They underwent a good, strong battle for their faith. Natural reason could in no way have held its own here. If they had not found the king as they had expected, they would have at once pouted and become arrogant……
See, reason and nature always do this; they go no farther than they can feel. If they no longer feel, they at once dare to deny God and say as the psalmist says of them: Here 「there is no God」 (Psalm 14 [:1]). The devil must be here. This is the light of the universities which is to lead them to God—indeed, into the abyss of hell! The light of nature and the light of grace cannot be friends. Nature wants to perceive and be certain before it believes. Grace believes before it perceives. For this reason, nature does not go further than her own light. Grace joyfully steps out into the darkness, follows the mere word of Scripture, no matter how it appears; whether nature holds it true or false, [grace] clings to the Word. by Matin Luther (AE 76:102-103)(Church Postil II: sermon for Epiphany on Matthew 2:1-12)


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