新约 - 路加福音(Luke)第2章

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,
and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.
After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
路加福音第二章   第 2 章 

  路 2:1> 人间的君王被看为神,真正的神乏人问津,你想那是一个怎样的世代? 

  2:1 路加是惟一把所记录的事件与世界历史联系起来的福音书作者,他的叙述主要以希腊读者为对象,他们对当时的政治情况既感兴趣又很熟识。巴勒斯坦由罗马帝国统治,凯撒亚古士督是第一任统治者。人们看罗马的统治者像神一样,然而真正道成肉身的神,却是那位在马槽中的小婴孩。两者放在一起,成了强烈的对比。 

  路 2:1> 人口普查得真是时候,不是巧合?是…… 

  2:1 罗马政府的人口普查是为征兵服役和征收税款而设的。犹太人不用服兵役,却不能避免要缴交税项。神要把祂的儿子带到世上来,亚古士督的命令正是在神的完美计划中。 

  路 2:3-6> 他们长途跋涉到伯利恒却没有栖身之所,难道神竟不顾念顺服祂的人? 

  2:3-6 罗马政府的命令迫使约瑟长途跋涉回故乡伯利恒登记。约瑟必须和他的未婚妻一同上路,因她随时会生产。但到达伯利恒后,他们找不到栖身的地方。遵行神的旨意,并不保证会有舒适的生活,但神却应许我们每一件事,包括不舒适的生活,在祂的计划中都是有意义的。 

  往伯利恒去的旅程 

  路 2:4> 基督当生在伯利恒,但约瑟和马利亚并不是住在那儿的,神的话岂不会落空…… 

  2:4 神掌管整个历史,尽管耶稣的父母并不住在伯利恒,但藉着凯撒亚古士督的御旨,耶稣仍然按着预言在伯利恒城降生(参弥 5:2 )。再者,约瑟和马利亚都是大卫的后裔,先知预言弥赛亚要出自大卫的谱系,这话也应验了(参赛 11:1 ;耶 33:15 ;结 37:24 ;何 3:5 等)。 

  路 2:7> 婴孩一定要用布包着? 

  2:7 人们习惯用布包着婴儿使他暖和,给他安全感。现在许多中东国家仍流行用布包着婴儿的做法。 

  路 2:7> 荣耀君王马槽生?怎么与人所期望的不同?你会觉得自己期望的常与神所行的大不同吗? 

  2:7 这里提到马槽,所以传统上信徒都认为耶稣是生于马厩里。马厩通常都是一些石洞穴,在石墙上挖出喂饲槽──马槽,马厩的环境既黑暗又肮脏。犹太人期望神应许他们的弥赛亚会生在堂皇高贵的王宫里,从没想到弥赛亚君王会在这样的地方出生。我们不要让自己的期望来限制神的工作,在这个被罪恶覆盖的污秽世界里,哪里需要神,神就在那里工作。 

  路 2:8> 神的儿子降生了,定要宣告给世人听,可是神所选的对象不是我们所想像的…… 

  2:8 神继续向人启示祂的儿子,对象却是我们意想不到的。路加记述天使向野地的牧羊人宣告耶稣的降生。这些牧羊人牧放的羊可能是为圣殿作献祭用的,以求罪得赦免。这里,天使邀请这些牧羊人去迎接神的羔羊(参约 1:36 ),就是永远除去全世界罪恶的羔羊。 

  路 2:8-15> 与人分享一定是很快乐的,看那些牧羊人──你生命中有了耶稣,可有与人分享? 

  2:8-15 这是一个多么伟大的宣告啊!牧羊人被吓呆了,不过他们的惧怕马上变为喜乐,因为天使宣告弥赛亚降生了。他们首先跑去看那婴孩,接着,便把这消息传开。耶稣是你的弥赛亚,你的救主。你是否每天都期望藉着祷告和祂的话语与祂相遇?你曾否因为发现你的主实在奇妙,而禁不住要与你的朋友分享? 

  路 2:9-10> 这大喜的信息我也有分?可是我这样卑微…… 

  2:9-10 历史上最伟大的事已成就了!弥赛亚已降生!犹太人一直期待的一天终于来到了。这个消息给卑微的牧羊人听见了。耶稣降生的好消息临到所有人,包括平凡的人和每个谦卑接受祂的人。不论你是谁、做什么工作,你都可以在生命中拥有耶稣。不要以为要有非凡的资格才能得着耶稣,祂接纳这样的一个你。 

  “我怕!”“不要怕!” 

  路 2:11-14> 耶稣来,带给你什么?是病得医治?心得安慰?你,可有想过? 

  2:11-14 犹太人等候基督,有些是想祂能从罗马的统治下释放他们;另外一些希望祂能救他们脱离肉体的疾病。然而,耶稣医治他们的疾病,建立属灵国度的同时,也将他们从罪恶里释放出来。祂的工作远远超越了任何人所能想像的:付上罪的代价,开创与神和好的路。祂赐给我们的,远超过政治上或肉体上短暂的改变──祂赐给我们一颗存到永远的新心。 

  路 2:14> 耶稣降生真不同凡响,天军也为祂歌唱。他们在唱什么?你猜猜…… 

  2:14 耶稣降生的故事洋溢着美妙的音乐,二千年来给作曲家无数的灵感。天使所唱的赞美诗称为“荣耀颂”,是根据拉丁译文的第一个字而命名的。这首诗歌历来深受众人喜爱,也是现代圣诗、传统圣诞歌和古老的礼拜赞美诗的根据。 

  路 2:21-24> 神的儿子耶稣,大概也不用守什么礼仪吧…… 

  2:21-24 犹太人家庭在婴儿出生后不久便会举行几个仪式:( 1 )割礼:每一个男婴都在出生后第八天接受割礼和命名(参 1:59-60 ;利 12:3 ),割礼象征着犹太人与外邦人不同,他们与神有独特的关系(参 1:59 的注释)。( 2 )赎长子礼:头生的儿子出生后一个月便要献给神(参出 13:2 , 11-16 ;民 \cs15 18:15-16 ),仪式是通过献祭,把孩子从神那里买赎回来。这是表示父母承认孩子是属于神的,惟有神才有能力赐人生命。( 3 )母亲洁净礼:女性产下男婴后四十天内,或产下女婴后八十天内,在礼仪上算是不洁净的,不能进入圣殿。在她的隔离期届满的那一天,夫妇要带一只羊羔作燔祭,一只雏鸽作赎罪祭献给神,祭司会把这些祭牲献上,并宣布她洁净了。如果一只羊羔太贵,他们负担不起,可以多带一只雏鸽来代替。约瑟和马利亚就是这样做的。 

  耶稣是神的儿子,祂的父母仍然照着神的律法,举行这些礼仪。所以,耶稣不是生在律法之上的,而是完全地履行律法。 

  路 2:32> 如果祂来,是只作犹太人的王,那我,我…… 

  2:32 犹太人很熟习旧约的预言,知道弥赛亚是他们国家的祝福,但他们没有留意预言说祂不仅为犹太人带来救恩,也要拯救全世界(参赛 49:6 )。许多人以为,祂来只拯救祂自己的百姓;路加要他的希腊裔读者清楚晓得,耶稣来是要救所有相信的人,不论是犹太人,还是外邦人。 

  马利亚 

  路 2:33> 听到预言,约瑟和马利亚甚是希奇,为什么? 

  2:33 约瑟和马利亚感到“希奇”、诧异,因为西面说耶稣是神所赐的恩典,他又认出耶稣是弥赛亚,并且,他还说耶稣是全世界的光。这是马利亚第二次听到世人关于她儿子的预言,第一次是在伊利沙伯迎接她的时候,她称马利亚为主的母亲( 1:42-45 )。 

  路 2:34-35> 其实我也不太明白,耶稣来竟会使人跌倒? 

  2:34-35 西面预言有些人会因耶稣而跌倒(参赛 8:14-15 ),又有些人会因祂而兴起(参玛 4:2 )。人们不是欢喜快乐地接受祂,便是全然地拒绝祂,没有中立的态度。耶稣的母亲马利亚则因为人们普遍都拒绝耶稣而伤心,这是路加福音第一次提到悲哀的地方。 

  路 2:36-37> 家有一老,如有一宝,这句话在现代恐怕不再通行吧…… 

  2:36-37 虽然西面和亚拿已经很老了,他们仍然希望见到弥赛亚。他们得圣灵引导,成为耶稣降生之后,首先为祂作见证的其中两个人。犹太人传统上很敬重长辈,西面和亚拿都是长者,所以他们所说的预言特别有分量。然而,我们的社会重视青年人的朝气多过老年人的智慧,经常忽略老人家能够作出的贡献。我们作为基督徒,应尽力扭转这种价值观,鼓励年长的人分享他们的智慧和经验。我们要仔细聆听他们的话,与他们交朋友,帮助他们挖掘事奉神的途径。 

  路 2:36-37> 我所认识的先知,就是会说预言的,还有其他?我不知道,你知道吗? 

  2:36-37 这里称亚拿为女先知,显示她与神有很亲密的关系。先知和女先知不一定要预测将来发生的事,他们主要的工作是代神说话,宣扬祂的真理。 

  路 2:39> 耶稣自出生便要四处飘泊…… 

  2:39 约瑟和马利亚是立即返回拿撒勒,还是留在伯利恒一段日子(参太 2:1-23 )? 38 至 40 节之间明显相隔了几年,他们有足够的时间在伯利恒找居住的地方,逃到埃及躲避希律的愤怒,及后在安全时返回拿撒勒。 

  路 2:40> 所罗门求智慧神就给他,耶稣与神亲近也得着智慧;得智慧的秘诀难道是…… 

  2:40 耶稣充满智慧,这不是一件令人希奇的事,因为祂与天父保持亲密的接触。神慷慨地把智慧赐给所有祈求的人(参雅 \cs15 1:5 ),只要我们学效耶稣,与神同行,我们的智慧也可以与日俱增。 

  路 2:41-42> 逾越节,犹太人三大节期之一,我只知其名而不知其意,你可知道? 

  2:41-42 按照神的律法,每一个男人每年都要上耶路撒冷三次过大节期──逾越节、七七节、住棚节(参申 16:16 )。在春季,犹太人庆祝逾越节,记念神带领犹太人出埃及的那一晚,神的天使击杀埃及地所有首生的人和牲畜,却越过以色列人的家庭(参出 12:21-36 )。紧随逾越节的是一星期的无酵节。在这三个大节期中,逾越节是最重要的。 

  路 2:43-45> 其实我很奇怪他们竟不察觉耶稣不见了,那个耶稣也真有意思…… 

  2:43-45 耶稣满了十二岁,就算是大人了,所以在节期中不是经常和父母在一处。为避免在路上遇到贼匪,过节的人多数会结队而行。习惯上,妇人和孩子走在前面,男人殿后。十二岁的男孩可以跟着母亲,也可以加入随后的一班人中,马利亚和约瑟都以为耶稣与对方一组人在一起。当群众离开耶路撒冷时,耶稣却留了下来,全神贯注地与宗教领袖讨论。 

  路 2:46-47> 十二岁的耶稣在圣殿中和宗教领袖讨论,不太可能吧?你看清楚没有?真是祂? 

  2:46-47 在犹太地,圣殿是一个学习的好地方。使徒保罗曾在耶路撒冷跟当时第一流的老师迦玛列学习,可能就是在圣殿里学习(参徒 22:3 )。过逾越节时,犹太地位崇高的律法教师都会聚集在一起,彼此教导和讨论重大的真理课题。弥赛亚的来临毫无疑问会是一个热门的讨论课题,因为每一个人都期待着祂即将来临。耶稣热忱地聆听和寻根究底。教师们感到惊讶,并非因为祂太年轻,而是因为祂极具智慧。 

  路 2:48> 你手所栽培的,将来要高过你,也要离开你,这刻你会不想他长大吗? 

  2:48 马利亚需要让自己的孩子长大成人,成为神的儿子和弥赛亚。要让自己一手栽培的人离开自己,或将自己亲手筹划的计划交予他人并不容易。看到孩子长大成人,学生成为老师,下属升为管理人员,自己的想法变成事实,都令我们既喜且忧。当我们需要放手,让这些人和事继续发展时,纵然会感到伤痛,但仍要放手。让我们的后辈展翅翱翔,闯进神所期望的高天去吧。 

  路 2:49-50> 身为神子,也没有轻看作为人子的责任;我们却会用很多藉口去推搪家人,不是吗? 

  2:49-50 这是第一次显示耶稣知道自己是神的儿子。即使祂知道自己真正的父是天父,也没有拒绝地上的父母,祂与他们回到拿撒勒,在他们的教养下又生活了十八年。神的子民不会蔑视人伦关系或家庭责任。神的儿子都服从祂在地上的父母,那么我们就更应该敬重家人了,千万不要用事奉神作为藉口,忽略我们的家人。 

  路 2:50> 他们知道祂是神的儿子,却不明白祂;我们也知道祂,可我问你,你了解祂吗? 

  2:50 耶稣的父母不明白祂说“我父的事”是什么意思,他们察觉不到耶稣在分别祂地上的父亲和天上的父亲。虽然他们知道祂是神的儿子,但他们不知道祂完成使命的方法。此外,他们将耶稣和祂的弟弟妹妹们一起抚养(参太 13:55-56 ),就好像抚养普通的孩子一样。他们知道祂是独特的,却不知道祂究竟想着些什么。 

  路 2:52> 耶稣三十岁才传道,在这之前祂做什么? 

  2:52 圣经没有记载耶稣此后十八年的生活,但毫无疑问,祂不断学习和成长。作为家中的长子,祂要协助约瑟做木匠的工作。约瑟可能在这段期间死去,留下祂来担起养家的责任。这种平凡人的生活使耶稣能实实在在地了解犹太的百姓。 

  路 2:52> 独有灵性足够吗?独有智慧足够吗?人的成长还有…… 

  2:52 这章圣经让我们看到,虽然耶稣很独特,但祂的童年和少年时期都跟平常的人一样。祂的成长与我们一样。祂的体格和智慧均有增长,祂与其他人相处融洽,神也喜爱祂。一个完整的人生是平衡的,耶稣在体格、智慧、社交和灵性上都有和谐的发展,信徒也应该重视这几方面的发展。──《灵修版圣经注释》