SECTION A
甲部
1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are delighted that you tuned in to listen to us once more.
很高兴你再次收听我们的节目。
3. It is the desire of our heart that God is blessing you through these series of messages.
我们很盼望神借着这些信息，大大地赐福给你。
4. In the last message we left you with a question.
上次节目结束的时候，我给你留了一个问题，
5. What did his father expect his older son to do?
那个父亲期望他的大儿子怎么做？
6. What attitude did the father expect from his older son?
那个父亲期望他的大儿子有什么样的态度？
7. And I want to answer that question now.
今天我就要来回答这个问题，
8. The father had hoped that the older brother would be happy to receive his younger brother.
父亲盼望大儿子能欢欢喜喜地迎接弟弟回家，
9. The father had hoped that the older brother would forgive his younger brother.
父亲盼望大儿子能原谅弟弟，
10. But that was not the case.
但事与愿违。
11. During the life of the time of Jesus,
在耶稣那个时代，
12. The older son was the one whose expected to preside over all of the families festivities.
通常家中所有的宴会，长子都在场。
13. The older son is the chief host in the family banquets.
宴会中长子代表主人家，
14. And in many parts of the world today this is the case too.
在世界上许多地方，直到今天还是这样。
15. The older brother did not have a choice in this matter.
长子没有选择，
16. Even if he’s introvert or shy.
即使他的个性很内向，很害羞，
17. Whatever his personality may be, he has to do his duties.
无论他的性格如何，都要履行自己的责任。
18. But in this case,
但在这个故事中，
19. The older boy was far from taking the leadership.
长子完全袖手旁观，
20. But the opposite was true.
不仅如此，
21. He made a scene outside of the courtyard.
他还在院子外大发脾气。
22. Of course, it was a personal insult to the father.
这对父亲来说是一个侮辱，
23. When the eldest boy refused to fulfill his customary duty,
当长子拒绝履行当时习俗的义务时，
24. He was trampling over the honor of the father underfoot.
就是把父亲的尊严践踏在脚下。
25. That is precisely what the older brother was doing.
这就是故事中大儿子的行为。
26. He was publicly humiliating his father,
他公开地羞辱父亲，
27. And he created an open rupture of their relationship.
他刻意地形成父子关系的破裂。
28. The older boy’s rebellion was just as serious if not more serious than the earlier rebellion of the younger son.
大儿子的悖逆，绝不亚于小儿子的悖逆。
29. I want to remind you of something that I’ve been reminding you of all this time.
我想要再次提醒你，
30. Who is at the center stage here.
这舞台上的主角是谁，
31. It is the father.
是父亲。
32. So, I want you to look very carefully at how the father for the second time in one day.
我想要你仔细看看这位父亲，
33. In the same day,
在同一天里，
34. He would demonstrate his willingness to endure shame.
他两次情愿承受从儿子来的羞辱。
35. In the same day,
在同一天里，
36. He demonstrated self-emptying.
他两次表现出谦卑虚己，
37. All that his children may be reconciled.
只是为了孩子们能和好。
38. In verse 28 of Luke 15,
路加福音15：28，
39. Jesus tells us,
耶稣告诉我们，
40. That the father came out to entreat the older son.
父亲出来劝大儿子，
41. Can you feel with me the shock that must have reverberated throughout the banquet hall,
请和我一起想象一下宴会上宾客的骚动和反应，
42. As they watched the father hastily running out leaving the guests?
客人们看到父亲急急忙忙离开会场，
43. Surely you must feel with that father.
你一定能感受到父亲的心情，
44. The feeling of humiliating himself yet one second time in one day.
就在同一天，再次受羞辱，
45. And yet he did it in order to appeal to his son.
他都不介意，只希望儿子肯听他说。
46. A father does not plead with his son.
通常，父亲是不会对儿子低声下气的，
47. It’s supposed to be that the son who does exactly what the father says,
儿子的本分就是绝对遵照父亲所说的去做。
48. The son must fully obey his father,
儿子应当完全顺服父亲。
49. And I want to take your mind up to that father to think of the Heavenly Father.
现在我想请你思想一下我们的天父，
50. God is not supposed to die for sinners.
神原来不该为罪人而死，
51. Sinners are to listen and obey God or else.
罪人应当听从顺服神，不然就要受刑罚。
52. And that is the stumbling block.
但这就是不信神的人的障碍，
53. And that is why there are millions of people refuse to believe in Jesus Christ.
这就是无数的人拒绝相信耶稣的理由。
54. They say, how can God let a perfect man die on the cross for sinners.
他们说，神怎么能让一个完美的人为罪人钉死在十字架上？
55. And this is extraordinary.
这真是太超乎常理了！
56. It is the most incredible part of this whole story that Jesus tells us.
这就是耶稣所说的这个故事中最不可思议的部分，
57. The cross is incredible.
十字架不可思议！
58. None of what is happening in this story
在这个故事里所发生的事，
59. Is the norm,
都不寻常。
60. Or the normal practice.
一般人不会这么作，
61. None of this is what happened normally.
通常也不会发生这种情况，
62. None of this makes cultural or logical sense.
既不合情，又不合理。
63. The father gives himself for both sons irrespectable of their response.
父亲甘愿让两个儿子羞辱他，
64. The father exercised the same self-emptying, sacrificial love in the same day.
他在同一天里，两次表现出同样的虚己和牺牲之爱，
65. And all of this for that reason.
只是为了一个理由，
66. In order that he may visibly and dramatically reach his two different sons.
为了让人清楚看到他是怎样对待这两个不同的儿子，
67. Who were living in two different rebellions.
两个儿子，在两种悖逆中，
68. A way to salvation.
但同样都需要拯救。
69. No wonder the apostle Paul said,
难怪使徒保罗说，
70. That the cross to those who are outside of the faith is nonsense.
十字架对不信的人来说是愚拙的，
71. The perfect God died.
圣洁完美的神为我们而死，
72. In order that he may pay for the punishment for the sins of the wicked.
为要做所有罪人的赎价。
73. And if you are listening to me right now.
正在听这个节目的朋友，
74. And you are among those who have difficulty believing in Jesus Christ.
如果你对于相信耶稣感到有困难的话，
75. I want to tell you something very important.
让我告诉你一件很重要的事，
76. Your pride is refusing to let you believe.
你的骄傲不允许你相信，
77. Your pride is stopping you from believing that your efforts, your prayers will get you to heaven.
你的骄傲让你以为，你的祷告、你的努力可以让你进入天堂，
78. Your pride is telling you that your fast and your alms giving is going to get you to heaven.
你的骄傲告诉你，你的禁食、你的好行为可以带你进入天堂，
79. Bt the truth is not that.
然而事实不是这样的。
80. Just as the father had to pay the price of self-emptying love for the prodigal when he returned home.
正如父亲在浪子回家的时候要付出舍己的爱作为代价，
81. He had to pay the same price when he entreated the older brother.
他也付出同样的代价来劝导大儿子。
82. And by the same token.
同样的，
83. Only when you surrender your pride and accept what God did for you, will you know the peace of God.
只有当你放下骄傲，接受神为你所成就的，你才能体会神所赐的平安。
84. Only when you surrender your pride and receive the forgiveness of God will you have salvation.
只有当你放下骄傲，接受神的宽恕时，你才能得到救恩。
85. In verse 31 of Luke 15,
路加福音15：31说，
86. The father uses a very deep endearment term, oh, my boy.
父亲用了一个充满深情的称呼，儿啊！
87. Those Pharisees to whom Jesus was speaking represented the older boy.
那些在听耶稣讲话的法利赛人就是这个大儿子，
88. They knew not only the laws but also the traditions.
他们不仅知道律法，也熟悉传统，
89. They followed these traditions with the strictest details.
他们牢牢地守住传统和律法的规条，
90. But their hearts were in the far country.
但他们的心却在远方游荡。
91. Through Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Isaiah.
借着以西结、耶利米和以赛亚这几位先知，
92. God was telling his people that it is the condition of the heart that he is concerned with.
神告诉祂的百姓，祂所看重的是人的心，
93. It is their inner attitude that he is concerned about.
祂看重人内心的态度，
94. Not the outward form of religion.
而不是外表的宗教样式。
95. Just as God in Christ was reconciling those outside of the old covenant to himself through the cross.
正如神通过十字架与所有在旧约之外的人们和好一样，
96. So will God also only save those who were in the old covenant through the cross.
祂也要通过十字架与旧约之民和好。
97. Even though the Pharisees stayed home in the old covenant and kept the rules.
即便是像大儿子的法利赛人，他们像大儿子待在家里，死守旧约的律法，
98. They can only be saved by the change of their heart.
但唯有借着真心的悔改才能得救，
99. And that is why Jesus left the ending of this parable up in the air.
这就是为什么耶稣没有讲完这个比喻的结局。
SECTION B
乙部
1. The grand finale as it were, of this story…
这个故事的结局可能就是，
2. Could be that the older brother one day will cry with the mob saying,
大儿子有一天和群众一起喊着说：
3. Crucify the father, crucify the father.
钉死父亲！钉死父亲！
4. But rejecting his love does not stop him from continuing to love both the older and the younger son.
然而，即使他们拒绝祂的爱，也不能阻止祂爱两个儿子的心。
5. To those who are in the old covenant in name only,
对那些只是名义上相信旧约的人，
6. And to those who are in the new covenant in name only.
还有那些只是名义上相信新约的人，
7. God is opening his arms to both.
神都张开双臂欢迎他。
8. But I want to bring this story to a personal level.
但我想把这个故事更个人化一点，
9. What was the older brother really saying?
大儿子想说的究竟是什么呢？
10. He was saying,
他是在说，
11. Hey, what about me?
喂，那我呢？
12. Do you appreciate my faithfulness?
你不重视我的忠诚吗？
13. Do you admire my hard work?
你不赞赏我的勤劳吗？
14. And just as sibling rivalry and competition can brew below the surface.
就如同兄弟姐妹之间会有争竞嫉妒，
15. So does the rivalry among Christian brothers and sisters.
基督徒弟兄姐妹之间也同样会有。
16. When children convince themselves that parents love the other sibling more than they love them,
当孩子们以为父母爱其他孩子超过爱自己的时候，
17. They can go out of their way either to hurt their parents or to work hard to prove that they are worthy of their parents’ love.
他们要么就是使父母伤心，要么就是拼命努力，想要证明他们配得父母的疼爱。
18. But in reality,
但事实上，
19. They do not comprehend that their parents love them equally.
他们不明白父母爱孩子的心是一样的。
20. The father here loves both sons equally.
这个父亲以同等的爱来爱这两个儿子，
21. So, before you become quick to judge the older brother let’s look at ourselves.
所以在你批判这大儿子之前，先自我审视一下，
22. Sometimes I feel like that older brother.
有时候我觉得自己就像大儿子，
23. There are many Christians who are like that older brother.
有很多基督徒都像大儿子，
24. Because we do not comprehend the patience of God, the long-suffering of God and the justice of God.
因为我们无法理解神的忍耐，神的恒久的挚爱，和祂的公义。
25. We say, God why don’t you do something about these sinners.
我们说，神啊，你怎么不处置这些罪人呢？
26. And when we see a sinner repent, we don’t rejoice.
当我们看到一个罪人悔改的时候，我们非但不高兴，
27. And through it all we get self-centered and we say, hey, what about me?
反而自私地说，喂，那我呢？
28. Don’t I deserve a feast?
我难道不配得这场庆祝的宴席吗？
29. Don’t I deserve a reward?
我不该得到点什么赏赐吗？
30. And in asking these questions, we are totally neglecting our younger prodigals.
在问这些问题的时候，我们完全忽略了我们的浪子兄弟，
31. Those younger prodigals who are lost in despair.
这些浪子失落了。
32. I want you our listening audience to just use your imagination for a minute.
亲爱的朋友，我想请你运用一下你的想象力，
33. If this returning repentant son had met the older brother first,
如果这个悔改的浪子回家时先遇到了哥哥，
34. The younger boy would never have come home.
这个小儿子可能永远都不会再回来了。
35. Imagine the self-righteous, indignant attitude of the older brother.
想象一下大儿子那种自以为义，而又傲慢的态度，
36. And I’m gong to ask you, do you have that kind of attitude.
请问，你有这样的心态吗？
37. Is it because of you people say, who wants this Christianity?
人们因为看见了你就说，谁还会想成为基督徒呀！
38. Is it because of your attitude some people say I don’t want anything to do with this Christianity?
有些人因着你的态度，他们说，我才不愿意和基督教有任何关系呢！
39. But I want to tell you tonight that the world needs to see men and women who are committed to Jesus Christ.
今天我想告诉你，世人想要看见真正的基督徒。
40. They are committed to Jesus Christ, not to a denomination.
一群委身给耶稣基督，而不是忠于宗派的人；
41. Committed to Jesus Christ, not to a religious system.
一群委身给耶稣基督，而不是忠于宗教组织的人；
42. Committed to Jesus Christ, not to a set of man-made rules.
一群委身给耶稣基督，而不是忠于教条法规的人。
43. What the world wants to know, is how to have power to live above the muck of sin,
这个世界需要知道，怎样才能过一个胜过罪恶权势的生活，
44. How to have victory over sin,
如何战胜罪恶，
45. How to see the world from God’s perspective.
如何从神的角度看待世界。
46. And I’m going to tell you a very short story and I’ll conclude.
在结束前我想告诉你一个小故事，
47. There was a pioneer missionary to a tribe of people called the Batak people.
从前有一位到巴塔克族人那里传福音的拓荒宣教士，
48. As he studied the customs and the traditions of the Batak people.
他在学习巴塔克族人的习俗和传统的时候，
49. He found many noble laws and good principles.
发现了许多高尚的法律条文和道德规范。
50. And just before he ended his time, with no apparent success whatsoever.
然而他的福音工作不太成功，就在他快要离开的时候，
51. The chief of the tribe summoned him.
族长召见了他。
52. The chief said to him,
族长对他说，
53. Our laws are just as good as your laws.
我们的律法和你的律法一样好，
54. We too have laws that says that you must not steal nor take your neighbors wife or bear false witness.
我们的律法也写着说，不可偷盗、不可作假见证、不可贪恋别人的妻子，
55. And when someone breaks the law, he is punished.
如有人犯法，他就一定会被惩罚。
56. At that moment, the missionary had a discernment from God.
就在这个时候，宣教士被神的灵感动，
57. And he said to the chief.
就对族长说，
58. My master gives us power to keep these laws.
我的主给我们能力去持守这些律法。
59. The chief was startled.
族长很吃惊，
60. He wanted to know more about this power.
他想要多知道一些关于这个能力的事。
61. And in 6-month’s time, the chief and thousands of others professed faith in Jesus Christ.
半年之后，族长和全族许多人都归信了耶稣基督，
62. Today their half a million Christians among the Batak people.
如今有50万的巴塔克基督徒。
63. Let me remind you as I close.
在结束时我还想提醒你，
64. Jesus plus nothing equals salvation.
只要有耶稣，就有救恩，
65. Because he is the power of God unto salvation.
因为祂就是神救赎的大能，
66. Therefore, keeping all of the rules minus Jesus equals damnation.
因此除他以外，别无拯救。
67. The decision is yours.
但决定权在你手中，
68. And I’m going to pray with you to make the right decision tonight.
我今天要和你一起来做这个正确的决定，让我们祷告，
69. Heavenly Father.
天父，
70. You know every listener who’s listening t us right now.
你认识每一个收听我们节目的朋友，
71. You know where they are.
你知道他们在哪里，
72. Where they are physically and where they are spiritually.
你知道他们肉体和心灵的位置，
73. And I pray for every older brother out there.
我为所有在外的大儿子来祷告，
74. Who thinks that he’s going to get to heaven by keeping the rules.
这些人以为通过好行为就可以上天堂，
75. That they may repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ.
求你使他们可以悔改归向耶稣基督。
76. I pray for all those younger brothers out there.
我也为所有在外的小儿子祷告，
77. Who are in the far country.
他们还在游荡，
78. That they may turn and repent of their sins.
愿你使他们认罪悔改，转头回家。
79. We thank you for answering our prayers, because we pray in Jesus’ name.
谢谢你听我们的祷告，奉基督耶稣的名，
80. Amen.
阿们。
