在生命上需要儆醒豫备,在服事上需要忠信精明
国度豫言关于教会的一段包括两方面:儆醒豫备的一面和忠信精明的一面。儆醒豫备与我们基督徒的生命有关。我们都需要为着主的来临儆醒豫备。在二十四章,两面都包括了。在生命上我们需要儆醒豫备,在服事上我们需要忠信精明。
两个比喻是补充的话
虽然这两方面在二十四章都包括了,但还不完全。因此,二十四章所包括的每一面,需要二十五章里补充的话。马太二十五章一至三十节完成了二十四章关于信徒的一段。童女的比喻完成了儆醒豫备这件事。我们该如何儆醒豫备,启示在童女的比喻中。马太二十五章十三节,就是童女比喻的最后一节,说,“所以你们要儆醒,因为那日子、那时辰,你们不知道。”这话与二十四章四十二节很相像,指明二十五章一至十三节,是二十四章四十至四十四节为着被提而儆醒那段话的完成。同样的原则,二十四章四十五至五十一节和二十五章十四至三十节,这两段都是论到忠信精明。马太二十五章三十节说到把无用的奴仆扔在外面黑暗里,与二十四章五十一节是平行的。这指明二十五章十四至三十节是二十四章四十五至五十一节的完成,论到对主的工作忠信。
儆醒预备是藉着圣灵的充满,忠信精明是藉着圣灵的恩赐
儆醒的路是藉着圣灵的充满,藉着有额外的油。凭着我们自己,我们不能儆醒也不能豫备好。得着额外的油,惟一的路是藉着圣灵的充满。这是我们儆醒豫备的路。同样的,在主的服事上忠信精明,乃是藉着属灵的恩赐。没有属灵的恩赐,我们就没有能力忠信或精明。我们的忠信精明,在于我们从主所领受的恩赐。因此,二十五章有那灵的充满和那灵的恩赐。那灵给我们生命的充满,也给我们服事的恩赐。这全在于那灵。我们如何能儆醒?惟有藉着圣灵的充满。我们如何能忠信?惟有藉着圣灵的恩赐。
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Being Watchful and Ready & Being Faithful and Prudent – Matt. 24:44
The section of the prophecy of the kingdom concerning the church covers two aspects: the aspect of being watchful and ready and the aspect of being faithful and prudent. Watchfulness and readiness are related to our Christian life. We all need to be watchful and ready for the Lord’s coming. As we have seen, in chapter twenty-four both aspects are covered. In life we need to be watchful and ready, and in service we need to be faithful and prudent.
Two Parables Are Complementary Words
Although both these aspects are covered in chapter twenty-four, they are not covered fully. Thus, in chapter twenty-five there is the need of a complementary word for each aspect covered in chapter twenty-four. Matthew 25:1-30 completes the section in chapter twenty-four concerning the believers. The parable of the virgins (25:1-13) completes the matter of watchfulness and readiness. How to watch and be ready is revealed in the parable of the virgins. Matthew 25:13, the last verse of the parable of the virgins, says, “Watch therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” This word, very similar to 24:42, indicates that 25:1-13 is a completion to 24:40-44 concerning watchfulness for rapture. In the same principle, both 24:45-51 and 25:14-30 are sections on faithfulness and prudence. Matthew 25:30, which speaks of casting the useless slave into outer darkness, is parallel to 24:51. This indicates that 25:14-30 is a completion to 24:45-51, which concerns faithfulness for the Lord’s work.
To Be Watchful by Infilling of the Holy Spirit; To Be Faithful and Prudent by the Spiritual Gifts
The way to be watchful is through the infilling of the Holy Spirit; it is by having the extra portion of oil. By ourselves we can be neither watchful nor ready. The only way to have the extra portion of oil is by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. This is the way for us to be watchful and ready. Likewise, the way to be faithful and prudent in the Lord’s service is through the spiritual gifts. Without the spiritual gifts, we do not have the ability to be faithful or prudent. Our faithfulness and prudence depend upon the gifts we have received of the Lord. Therefore, in chapter twenty-five we have both the infilling of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. The Spirit affords us the infilling for life and also the gifts for service. It all depends upon the Spirit. How can we be watchful? Only by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. And how can we be faithful? Only by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.