绵羊在右边山羊在左边 — 马太福音读经随笔 第25章

马太福音第二十五章第31—46节是耶稣在这章讲的第三个比喻。这个比喻一方面鼓励主里的弟兄姐妹们要有爱心服事最小的那个。最小的那个就是最软弱的那个弟兄姐妹，他们有的需要被供应吃穿，有的流离他乡做客旅，有的生病，还有的坐监。主说将这些事做在弟兄中最小的一个身上，就是做在耶稣身上，末日的时候就可承受神的国。这个比喻另一方面也透露了得救的（即比喻里的绵羊，马太福音第十三章比喻为麦子）做的任何一件善事神都是纪念的，而不得救的（即比喻里的山羊，马太福音第十三章比喻为稗子）尽管也作了类似的事情，主却不予纪念。

太25:31 当人子在他荣耀里、同着众天使降临的时候、要坐在他荣耀的宝座上．

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

太25:32 万民都要聚集在他面前．他要把他们分别出来、好象牧羊的分别绵羊山羊一般．

Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

太25:33 把绵羊安置在右边、山羊在左边。

He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

太25:34 于是王要向那右边的说、你们这蒙我父赐福的、可来承受那创世以来为你们所预备的国。

Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;

太25:35 因为我饿了、你们给我吃．渴了、你们给我喝．我作客旅、你们留我住．

for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.

太25:36 我赤身露体、你们给我穿．我病了、你们看顾我．我在监里、你们来看我。

I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

太25:37 义人就回答说、主阿、我们甚么时候见你饿了给你吃、渴了给你喝．

"Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?

太25:38 甚么时候见你作客旅留你住、或是赤身露体给你穿．

When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?

太25:39 又甚么时候见你病了、或是在监里、来看你呢。

When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'

太25:40 王要回答说、我实在告诉你们、这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上、就是作在我身上了。

"The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

太25:41 王又要向那左边的说、你们这被咒诅的人、离开我、进入那为魔鬼和他的使者所预备的永火里去。

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

太25:42 因为我饿了、你们不给我吃．渴了、你们不给我喝．

for I was hungry, and you didn't give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink;

太25:43 我作客旅、你们不留我住．我赤身露体、你们不给我穿．我病了、我在监里、你们不来看顾我。

I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

太25:44 他们也要回答说、主阿、我们甚么时候见你饿了、或渴了、或作客旅、或赤身露体、或病了、或在监里、不伺候你呢。

"Then they will also answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn't help you?'

太25:45 王要回答说、我实在告诉你们、这些事你们既不作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上、就是不作在我身上了。

"Then he will answer them, saying, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn't do it to one of the least of these, you didn't do it to me.'

太25:46 这些人要往永刑里去．那些义人要往永生里去。

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."