灯里需要预备油 — 马太福音读经随笔 第25章

马太福音第二十五章耶稣接着他在第二十四章说的话给门徒们讲了三个比喻。这三个比喻语重心长，因为过两天逾越节耶稣就要被钉十字架了，这是对门徒们的叮咛与嘱咐。第一个比喻是第1—13节，耶稣告诉门徒们要各自早点儿给自己的“灯”预备“油”点上，随时准备迎接主耶稣的再来。油在这里比喻信心或者说耶稣的灵或者说圣灵，灯比喻圣灵所结的果子。我们不知道主什么时候再来，耶稣说那日子，那时辰没人知道。主来的时候如果像那些愚昧的童女一样才去寻找和预备信心就晚了。因此，耶稣在这个比喻里劝勉门徒们早点儿预备信心，早点儿结圣灵的果子像灯一样照亮他人，也提着这盏灯随时迎接主的再来。

太25:1 那时、天国好比十个童女、拿着灯、出去迎接新郎。
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom.
太25:2 其中有五个是愚拙的．五个是聪明的。
Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
太25:3 愚拙的拿着灯、却不预备油．
Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them,
太25:4 聪明的拿着灯、又预备油在器皿里。
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
太25:5 新郎迟延的时候、他们都打盹睡着了。
Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
太25:6 半夜有人喊着说、新郎来了、你们出来迎接他。
But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!'
太25:7 那些童女就都起来收拾灯。
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
太25:8 愚拙的对聪明的说、请分点油给我们．因为我们的灯要灭了。
The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
太25:9 聪明的回答说、恐怕不够你我用的．不如你们自己到卖油的那里去买吧。
But the wise answered, saying, 'What if there isn't enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
太25:10 他们去买的时候、新郎到了．那预备好了的、同他进去坐席．门就关了。
While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.
太25:11 其余的童女、随后也来了、说、主阿、主阿、给我们开门。
Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
太25:12 他却回答说、我实在告诉你们、我不认识你们。
But he answered, 'Most certainly I tell you, I don't know you.'
太25:13 所以你们要儆醒、因为那日子、那时辰、你们不知道。
Watch therefore, for you don't know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
加5:22 圣灵所结的果子、就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
加5:23 温柔、节制．这样的事、没有律法禁止。
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law