Wednesday, July 15, 2009

两个根基和建筑师 Parable of the Two Builders (Matt 7:21-28)

这里提到两个建筑师,他们都在建造房屋,其中一个是聪明的。因为他把房屋建在磐石上,而另一个无知的建筑师,他把房子建在沙土上。巴勒斯坦的地形多山多石,要在磐石上打地基是很苦难的事。通常在夏季是,河床干枯,在低地就会露出平坦的沙土,当然要在沙土上建造是容易多了。但是夏天过去,秋天来到,只要一场暴风雨,河水涨潮,在沙土上的房子就会倒塌,毁坏。

把生命建造在磐石上的人,是指听见主的话就去行的人。无知的人把房子盖在沙土上,是因为缺乏远见而选择容易的道路。但是一旦考验来时或生命遇见困境时,信仰就陷入危机了。圣经说听见就去行的人有福了。听命胜于献祭。

It says here two builders who are building their houses. The wise man builds his house on a rock, while the foolish one builds his on the sand. Palestine is naturally a land of hills and mountains, and as a result, it is subject to violent rains and sudden floods. The Jordan River annually rises to a dangerous level then turns rapid and furious. The streams that run through the hills could sweep everything they ran through. Houses that are erected within the reach of these sudden deluges, especially those founded on sand could be eradicated.

With this in mind, Jesus illustrated the benefit of obeying His words. It is not enough to hear them; they must be obeyed. He says, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.”(v.24) He compared a person who hears and obeys Him to a man who builds his house on a rock. He then described that the wise man who builds his house, which is saying his whole life, on the rock is of genuine subjection to God. Conversely, the disobedient ones who build their life on the sand lose their faith once they face a trial due to the weak foundation. Obedience is better than sacrifice.