2023-09-25 周一 国度的实际与外表

经文:祂回答说,因为诸天之国的奥秘,只给你们知道,不给他们知道。(太十三11,另译)

马太五、六、七章启示国度内在的实际。这里诸天之国的宪法分为七段:国度子民的性质;国度子民对世界的影响;国度子民的律法;国度子民的义行;国度子民的理财;国度子民待人的原则;以及生活工作的根基。在这七段里,我们看见国度属天和属灵的实际。这不是行为,或仅仅外面的生活;这乃是在实际里诸天的国。关于国度实际这一段,一切都是实际、纯洁、属灵且属天的。

关于国度基本的点,就是需要区别国度内在的实际和国度的外表。十三章主要的是启示诸天之国的外表,这一章的情形完全不同。这一章有稗子,和不再从其类的大树。这指明它的性质改变了。我们看见有外表而没有实际的表面东西。随着稗子和大树,还有面酵。这一切东西都在国度的外表里,使国度的外表成为搀杂品。

今天的基督教国正符合马太十三章诸天之国外表的图画。在基督教国里,有无数的稗子、庞大的外表、和腐败的酵。然而,在五、六、七章看不见这些东西,那里的每样东西都是实际、纯洁、属灵且属天的。但在十三章我们看见何等的搀杂!

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The Reality of the Kingdom and Its Outward Appearance — Matt. 13:11

In chapters five, six and seven of Gospel of Matthew reveal the inward reality of the kingdom. The constitution of kingdom of heavens is divided into seven sections: the nature of the kingdom people; the influence of the kingdom people upon the world; the law of the kingdom people; the righteous deeds of the kingdom people; the dealing of the kingdom people with riches; the principle of the kingdom people in dealing with others; and the ground of the kingdom people’s living and work. In these seven sections we see the heavenly and spiritual reality of the kingdom. This is not behavior or mere outward living; it is the kingdom of the heavens in reality. In this section regarding the reality of the kingdom everything is real, pure, spiritual, and heavenly.

The basic point concerning the kingdom is the need to differentiate between the inward reality of the kingdom and the outward appearance of the kingdom. Chapter thirteen concerns with the appearance of the kingdom, is altogether different. In this chapter we have the tares and a great tree which is no longer according to its kind. We see something of a façade, an appearance without reality. Along with the tares and the façade, there is also leaven. All these things, found in the appearance of the kingdom, cause the appearance of the kingdom to be a mixture.

Today’s Christendom exactly matches the portrait in Matthew 13 of the outward appearance of the kingdom of the heavens. In Christendom there are millions of tares, a great façade and corrupting leaven. However, none of these things is found in chapters five, six and seven, where everything is real, pure, spiritual and heavenly. But what a mixture we see in chapter thirteen!