迷失的羊

15 許多稅吏和罪人都來聽耶穌講道, 法利賽人和律法教師埋怨說:「這個人竟和罪人來往,還跟他們一起吃飯。」

耶穌給他們講了一個比喻: 「如果你們有人有一百隻羊,走失了一隻,難道他不暫時把那九十九隻留在草場上,去找那隻迷失的羊,一直到找著為止嗎? 他找到後,會歡歡喜喜地把那隻羊扛回家, 並邀來朋友鄰居,說,『我走失的羊找到了,來和我一同慶祝吧!』 我告訴你們,同樣,一個罪人悔改,在天上也要這樣為他歡喜,甚至比有九十九個不用悔改的義人還歡喜。

丟錢的比喻

「又比如一個婦人有十塊錢,不小心弄丟了一塊,難道她不點亮燈,打掃房子,仔細尋找一直到找著為止嗎? 她找到後,會邀朋友鄰居來,說,『我丟的錢找到了,來和我一同慶祝吧!』 10 我告訴你們,同樣,一個罪人悔改,上帝的眾天使也會這樣為他歡喜。」

浪子回頭

11 耶穌又說:「某人有兩個兒子。 12 小兒子對父親說,『父親,請你把我應得的家產分給我。』父親就把財產分給了兩個兒子。

13 「沒過幾天,小兒子帶著他所有的財物出門遠遊去了。他終日在外花天酒地,揮金如土, 14 很快囊空如洗,又遇到嚴重的饑荒,就陷入困境, 15 只好投靠一個當地人。那人派他到田裡去放豬, 16 他餓到恨不得拿餵豬的豆莢充饑,可是連這些也沒有人給他。 17 最後,他醒悟過來,心想,『在我父親家裡,連僱工的口糧都綽綽有餘,我現在卻要在這裡餓死嗎? 18 我要動身回到我父親身邊,對他說,父親,我得罪了天,也得罪了你, 19 今後,我再也不配作你的兒子,請把我當作僱工看待吧。』 20 於是他動身回家。

「他父親遠遠地看見他,就動了慈心,跑上前去抱著他連連親吻。 21 小兒子說,『父親,我得罪了天,也得罪了你,今後,我再也不配作你的兒子。』

22 「父親卻對奴僕說,『趕快拿最好的袍子來給他穿上,給他戴上戒指,穿上鞋, 23 把那隻肥牛犢牽來宰了,讓我們一同歡宴慶祝! 24 因我這兒子是死而復活、失而復得的。』於是他們歡宴慶祝。

25 「那時,大兒子正在田間。當他回來還沒到門口,就聽見家裡傳出奏樂跳舞的聲音。 26 他叫來一個奴僕問個究竟。

27 「奴僕回答說,『你弟弟回來了!你父親因他無災無難地回來,特地宰了那隻肥牛犢。』 28 大兒子很生氣,不肯進去。父親就出來勸他。

29 「他對父親說,『你看,我伺候你這麼多年,從來沒有違背過你的命令,可是你沒有給過我一隻羊羔,讓我和朋友一同歡宴。 30 但你這個兒子在娼妓身上耗盡家財,一回來,你倒為他宰了肥牛犢!』

31 「父親對他說,『孩子啊!你一直在我身邊,我所有的一切都是你的。 32 可是你弟弟是死而復活、失而復得的,所以我們應該歡喜快樂。』」

善用錢財

16 耶穌又對門徒說:「某財主有個管家,有人控告這管家浪費主人的財物。 財主便把管家召來,對他說,『聽說你浪費我的財物,到底是怎麼回事?把帳目交代清楚,你不能再當管家了。』

「管家私下盤算,『主人要辭退我了,怎麼辦呢?鋤地我沒有力氣,討飯我又感到羞恥。 我知道該怎麼辦了!就算被辭退了,也會有人照應我。』 於是,他把欠他主人債的一個一個召來,問第一個,『你欠了我主人多少?』

「他回答說,『一百桶油。』

「管家說,『這是你的帳,快坐下,改成五十吧!』

「管家又問另一個,『你欠多少?』

「他回答說,『一百石麥子。』

「管家說,『這是你的帳,改成八十石吧。』

「主人誇獎這個不義的管家精明。因為今世的兒女在處理世事方面比光明的兒女更精明。

「我告訴你們,要善用今世[a]的錢財,廣結朋友。這樣,當錢財不管用時,他們會接你們到永遠的居所。

見微知著

10 「一個人在小事上忠心,在大事上也會忠心;在小事上靠不住,在大事上更靠不住。 11 如果你們不能忠心地處理今世的財富,誰會把真正的財富交託給你們呢? 12 如果你們不能忠心地處理別人的產業,誰會把你們名下的產業交給你們呢? 13 一個僕人不能服侍兩位主人,因為他不是恨這位、愛那位,就是重這位、輕那位。你們不能又事奉上帝,又崇拜金錢。」

警戒貪財的法利賽人

14 法利賽人向來貪財,他們一面聽一面嗤笑耶穌。 15 耶穌對他們說:「你們在人面前自以為義,但上帝能看透你們的心。因為世人所看重的東西在上帝看來卻是可憎的。 16 約翰還沒有來以前,律法書和先知書是你們的準則。他出來後,上帝國的福音開始廣傳,人人都在努力進上帝的國。 17 不過,就是天地都消失,律法的一點一劃也不會失效。 18 任何人休妻另娶,就是犯通姦罪,娶被休的女子也是犯通姦罪。」

財主和乞丐

19 耶穌又說:「有個財主天天衣著華麗,生活奢侈。 20 又有一個名叫拉撒路的乞丐身上長滿了膿瘡,被人放在財主家門口。 21 他渴望吃到財主桌上掉下來的食物殘渣,卻只有狗來舔他的瘡。

22 「後來,乞丐死了,天使帶他到亞伯拉罕身邊。財主也死了,被人埋葬了。 23 他在陰間受折磨,抬頭遠遠地看見亞伯拉罕和他身邊的拉撒路, 24 就喊著說,『我的先祖亞伯拉罕啊!求你可憐我,派拉撒路用指尖蘸點水來潤潤我的舌頭吧!我在這火中實在痛苦不堪。』

25 「亞伯拉罕說,『孩子啊!你要想想,你生前享福,而拉撒路受苦;如今他在這裡得到安慰,而你受折磨。 26 況且,在你我中間隔著一道深淵,這邊的人不能到你那邊去,你那邊的人也不能到這裡來。』

27 「財主說,『我的先祖啊,那麼求你派拉撒路去我父親家裡, 28 因為我有五個弟兄。讓拉撒路去警告他們,以免他們也來到這痛苦的地方。』

29 「但是亞伯拉罕卻說,『他們可以聽從摩西和眾先知的話呀!』

30 「財主回答說,『我的先祖亞伯拉罕啊!他們不會聽的。但如果有一個死而復活的人去警告他們,他們肯定會悔改!』

31 「亞伯拉罕說,『如果他們不聽從摩西和眾先知的話,即使一個人從死裡復活,他們也不會信服。』」

Footnotes

  1. 16·9 今世」希臘文是「不義」。

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(A)

15 Now the tax collectors(B) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”(C)

Then Jesus told them this parable:(D) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?(E) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’(F) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.(G)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’(H) 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(I)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.(J) 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’(K) So he divided his property(L) between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth(M) in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.(N) 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned(O) against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.(P)

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.(Q) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe(R) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger(S) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;(T) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.(U)

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry(V) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property(W) with prostitutes(X) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”(Y)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.(Z) So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“‘Nine hundred gallons[b] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[c] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world(AA) are more shrewd(AB) in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.(AC) I tell you, use worldly wealth(AD) to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.(AE)

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,(AF) and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,(AG) who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”(AH)

14 The Pharisees, who loved money,(AI) heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.(AJ) 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves(AK) in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.(AL) What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Additional Teachings

16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John.(AM) Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached,(AN) and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.(AO)

18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(AP)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.(AQ) 20 At his gate was laid a beggar(AR) named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.(AS) Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham,(AT) have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’(AU)

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things,(AV) but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.(AW) 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them,(AX) so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses(AY) and the Prophets;(AZ) let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’(BA) he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages
  2. Luke 16:6 Or about 3,000 liters
  3. Luke 16:7 Or about 30 tons