MHCC:創世記 18

Chapter 18第十八章

The Lord appears to Abraham. (1-8) Sarah's unbelief reproved. (9-15) God reveals to Abraham the destruction of Sodom. (16-22) Abraham's intercession for Sodom. (23-33) 上帝向亞伯拉罕顯現。（1-8）撒拉因不信受責備。（9-15）上帝曉諭亞伯拉罕所多瑪的毀滅。（16-22）亞伯拉罕為所多瑪求情。（23-33）

Verses 1-8 Abraham was waiting to entertain any weary traveller, for inns were not to be met with as among us. While Abraham was thus sitting, he saw three men coming. These were three heavenly beings in human bodies. Some think they were all created angels; others, that one of them was the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. Washing the feet is customary in those hot climates, where only sandals are worn. We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares, hebrews 13:2 ; nay, the Lord of angels himself; as we always do, when for his sake we entertain the least of his brethren. Cheerful and obliging manners in showing kindness, are great ornaments to piety. Though our condescending Lord vouchsafes not personal visits to us, yet still by his Spirit he stands at the door and knocks; when we are inclined to open, he deigns to enter; and by his gracious consolations he provides a rich feast, of which we partake with him, revelation 3:20 .

1-8亞伯拉罕時刻準備着招待任何疲憊的旅客，因為正如我們現在（作者馬太-亨利的時代——譯者注）一樣，客棧總是不夠。亞伯拉罕正這樣坐着，有三人向他走來。他們是以肉身顯現的三位天使。有人認為這三位全是天使，有人則認為其中有一位是上帝的兒子，也就是那位與亞伯拉罕立約的天使（參閱第16章注釋——譯者注）。洗腳是那些氣候炎熱地區的人們的習慣，那裡的人只穿涼鞋。「不可忘記用愛心接待客旅；因為曾有接待客旅的，不知不覺就接待了天使。」（希伯來書13:2）；不僅要接待主的天使，而且我們在日常生活中應該為了上帝的緣故接待主裡面的最小的弟兄。以愉快的、親切的方式，顯示自己的友好，這是虔誠的重要配飾。儘管我們謙卑的主不會以肉身的形式來訪問我們，但是，他的靈就站在我們的心門口敲門，當我們去開門，他就要進來，以他慈愛的安慰為豐盛筵席，使我們和他一同有份。（啟示錄3:20）

Verses 9-15 Where is Sarah thy wife? was asked. Note the answer, In the tent. Just at hand, in her proper place, occupied in her household concerns. There is nothing got by gadding. Those are most likely to receive comfort from God and his promises, who are in their proper place, and in the way of their duty, Lu 2:8. We are slow of heart to believe, and need line upon line to the same purport. The blessings others have from common providence, believers have from the Divine promise, which makes them very sweet, and very sure. The spiritual seed of Abraham owe their life, and joy, and hope, and all, to the promise. Sarah thinks this too good news to be true; she laughed, and therefore cannot as yet find in her heart to believe it. Sarah laughed. We might not have thought there was a difference between Sarah's laughter and Abraham's, ch. 17:17; but He who searches the heart, saw that the one sprung from unbelief, and the other from faith. She denied that she had laughed. One sin commonly brings in another, and it is not likely we shall strictly keep to truth, when we question the Divine truth. But whom the Lord loves he will rebuke, convict, silence, and bring to repentance, and if they sin before him.

9-15問：「你妻子撒拉在哪裡？」答：「在帳棚里。」此時，她正在她應該在的地方，在為家庭事務操心。遊手好閒者必一無所獲。那些堅守自己的本分，履行自己當行的職責的人，往往是最容易從上帝和他的應許中獲得安慰的（路加福音2:8）。我們總是信得很慢，要一步步地才能相信上帝的旨意。別的人獲得的祝福只是源於上帝普通的慈愛，而信徒們得到的祝福則來自上帝的應許，這應許使他們感到如此甘甜，如此穩固。亞伯拉罕的屬靈上的子孫所得到的生命、快樂、盼望以及一切，都是緣於這應許。撒拉沒法相信這樣的好消息會是真的；她暗笑了，因此在她的心中找不到對這一消息的信心。「撒拉心裡暗笑」。我們可能沒有想到過，撒拉的笑和亞伯拉罕的笑是有區別的（創世記17:17），但是上帝監察人心，他能看到他們兩個人中，一個人的心中是不信，另一個人所懷的是信心。撒拉還否認她笑了。一宗罪往往會帶出另一宗罪，當我們懷疑上帝的真實的時候，我們往往就會變得不再忠於真實。那些上帝所愛的人在他面前犯了罪，他就會責備他們，告訴他們犯了什麼罪，或者向他們沉默，最終將他們帶到悔改之中。

Verses 16-22 The two who are supposed to have been created angels went toward Sodom. The one who is called Jehovah throughout the chapter, continued with Abraham, and would not hide from him the thing he intended to do. Though God long forbears with sinners, from which they fancy that the Lord does not see, and does not regard; yet when the day of his wrath comes, he will look toward them. The Lord will give Abraham an opportunity to intercede with him, and shows him the reason of his conduct. Consider, as a very bright part of Abraham's character and example, that he not only prayed with his family, but he was very careful to teach and rule them well. Those who expect family blessings must make conscience of family duty. Abraham did not fill their heads with matters of doubtful dispute; but he taught them to be serious and devout in the worship of God, and to be honest in their dealings with all men. Of how few may such a character be given in our days! How little care is taken by masters of families to ground those under them in the principles of religion! Do we watch from sabbath to sabbath whether they go forward or backward?

16-22兩個天使向所多瑪走去。另一位在本章中一直被稱為耶和華的，還繼續與亞伯拉罕在一起，而且，他沒有向亞伯拉罕隱瞞他打算做什麼。上帝長時間容忍罪人，而罪人以為上帝沒看到或者沒在意；然而，當上帝憤怒的日子來到，他將會注視罪人們。上帝給亞伯拉罕機會，使亞伯拉罕可以向他求情，並且告訴亞伯拉罕他這麼做（毀滅所多瑪——譯者注）的理由。想想看，作為亞伯拉罕的美好品格和榜樣的一部分，他不僅和他的家人一起祈禱，而且他很認真地教導、約束他們。那些希望家庭蒙祝福的人，必須在家庭中憑良心盡責。亞伯拉罕沒有往家人的頭腦中灌輸懷疑的紛爭，而是教導他們認真而虔誠地敬拜上帝，並讓他們以誠實對待一切的人。如此的品格，在我們這個時代何其少見！現在的一家之長，很少還注重使自己的家人站在信仰的真理上面。我們有沒有在一個又一個的主日中關注他們是進步了還是退步了？

Verses 23-33 Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for the whole place, but Lot was miraculously delivered. Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God upon your families, your friends, your neighbourhood. To this end you must not only pray, but you must live like Abraham. He knew the Judge of all the earth would do right. He does not plead that the wicked may be spared for their own sake, or because it would be severe to destroy them, but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. And righteousness only can be made a plea before God. How then did Christ make intercession for transgressors? Not by blaming the Divine law, nor by alleging aught in extenuation or excuse of human guilt; but by pleading HIS OWN obedience unto death.

23-33這裡記載了聖經中第一次重要的禱告。這次禱告是為着使所多瑪得着赦免。亞伯拉罕真誠地祈求，如果所多瑪中還有少量的義人，那麼希望所多瑪得到赦免。從亞伯拉罕那裡我們能夠學到，我們對罪人應該懷有怎樣的憐憫，我們應該多麼真誠地為他們祈禱。這裡我們還能看到，一個義人的懇切祈禱能有多麼大的功效！確實，亞伯拉罕為整個所多瑪求情沒有成功，但是，羅得卻奇蹟般地獲救了。這鼓勵我們可以盼望，通過真誠的祈禱，上帝的祝福將臨到你的家人，你的朋友，你的鄰居。要實現這個，你不僅需要祈禱，而且必須像亞伯拉罕一樣生活。亞伯拉罕知道，上帝——全地的審判官，必行公義。所以，他沒有為那些惡人的罪行開脫，也沒有因為覺得毀滅這些惡人會過於嚴厲而祈禱，他祈禱的理由是或許在所多瑪中還有義人。只有義才能作為在上帝面前辯護的理由。那麼基督是怎樣在上帝面前為罪人求情的？不是指責上帝的律法太嚴格，也不是請求酌情減輕懲罰或為人的罪行開脫，而是以他自己的順服至死來為罪人代求的。--【譯】趙威&【搬】何葉^-^~2012年3月26日(一)09:15 (CST)