穿礼服的宾客 — 马太福音读经随笔 第22章

马太福音第二十二章第1—14节，耶稣又打了一个比喻。一个王给他儿子准备了娶亲的筵席，各样都齐备了，打发仆人出去，请那些被召的人来赴席，但他们却找各种理由不肯来，有去种地的，有去做买卖的，有的把仆人干脆杀了。这些被邀请的人不相信有免费的筵席，不如用这个时间去赚钱。于是王大怒，烧毁了他们的城。然后王派仆人请了那些没有被事先邀请的人来赴筵席，其中一个人没穿礼服，王命令把他捆绑起来扔到黑暗里去了。这个比喻是说天父将他的儿子耶稣赐下来，将罪人从这邪恶淫乱的世代拯救出来，人只要相信耶稣就得救，这是神准备的多么美好的一个免费筵席啊，很多犹太人作为预先被召的神的子民，却不领情不悔改。神遂将福音传到外邦，很多外邦人却领受了，穿上了耶稣的义服，即穿礼服的宾客与耶稣一起坐席。
太22:1 耶稣又用比喻对他们说、
Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,
太22:2 天国好比一个王、为他儿子摆设娶亲的筵席。
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,
太22:3 就打发仆人去、请那些被召的人来赴席．他们却不肯来。
and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast, but they would not come.
太22:4 王又打发别的仆人说、你们告诉那被召的人、我的筵席已经预备好了、牛和肥畜已经宰了、各样都齐备．请你们来赴席。
Again he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast!"'
太22:5 那些人不理就走了．一个到自己田里去．一个作买卖去．
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise,
太22:6 其余的拿住仆人、凌辱他们、把他们杀了。
and the rest grabbed his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
太22:7 王就大怒、发兵除灭那些凶手、烧毁他们的城。
When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
太22:8 于是对仆人说、喜筵已经齐备、只是所召的人不配。
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy.
太22:9 所以你们要往岔路口上去、凡遇见的、都召来赴席。
Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.'
太22:10 那些仆人就出去到大路上、凡遇见的、不论善恶都召聚了来．筵席上就坐满了客。
Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
太22:11 王进来观看宾客、见那里有一个没有穿礼服的。
But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing,
太22:12 就对他说、朋友、你到这里来、怎么不穿礼服呢。那人无言可答。
and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless.
太22:13 于是王对使唤的人说、捆起他的手脚来、把他丢在外边的黑暗里．在那里必要哀哭切齿了。
Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.'
太22:14 因为被召的人多、选上的人少。
For many are called, but few chosen."