免得他们死后来到这痛苦的地方 — 路加福音读经随笔 第16章

路加福音第十六章第19—31节，耶稣打了一个比喻说一个讨饭的和一个财主先后死了。活着的时候讨饭的去这个财主家讨过饭，财主是否施舍过食物给他不得而知，但是估计这个讨饭的想要财主饭桌上掉下来的零碎充饥，财主都没给过。在阴间，财主一直被火焚烧，极其痛苦，但他举目远远的望见亚伯拉罕，又望见拉撒路在亚伯拉罕怀里得安慰。财主要拉撒路过来帮他点水凉凉他的舌头，亚伯拉罕告诉他，由于有深渊相隔，拉撒路过不到那边去。财主又要求亚伯拉罕打发拉撒路复活去给他的五个弟兄作见证，免得他们死后也来到这痛苦的地方，因为这个财主认为有一个从死里复活的人到他的五个弟兄那里去，他们必要悔改。亚伯拉罕就回答他说若他的弟兄“不听从摩西和先知的话，就是有一个从死里复活的，他们也是不听劝”。是啊，耶稣就是那位从死里复活的救世主，为罪人死在十字架上，可是每个人都信他吗？

路16:19 有一个财主、穿著紫色袍和细麻布衣服、天天奢华宴乐。
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
路16:20 又有一个讨饭的、名叫拉撒路、浑身生疮、被人放在财主门口、
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
路16:21 要得财主桌子上掉下来的零碎充饥．并且狗来餂他的疮。
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
路16:22 后来那讨饭的死了、被天使带去放在亚伯拉罕的怀里．财主也死了、并且埋葬了。
It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
路16:23 他在阴间受痛苦、举目远远的望见亚伯拉罕、又望见拉撒路在他怀里．
In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
路16:24 就喊着说、我祖亚伯拉罕哪、可怜我吧、打发拉撒路来、用指头尖蘸点水、凉凉我的舌头．因为我在这火焰里、极其痛苦。
He cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.'
路16:25 亚伯拉罕说、儿阿、你该回想你生前享过福、拉撒路也受过苦．如今他在这里得安慰、你倒受痛苦。
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
路16:26 不但这样、并且在你我之间、有深渊限定、以致人要从这边过到你们那边、是不能的、要从那边过到我们这边、也是不能的。
Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'
路16:27 财主说、我祖阿、既是这样、求你打发拉撒路到我父家去．
"He said, 'I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house;
路16:28 因为我还有五个弟兄．他可以对他们作见证、免得他们也来到这痛苦的地方。
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'
路16:29 亚伯拉罕说、他们有摩西和先知的话、可以听从。
"But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
路16:30 他说、我祖亚伯拉罕哪、不是的．若有一个从死里复活的、到他们那里去的、他们必要悔改。
"He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
路16:31 亚伯拉罕说、若不听从摩西和先知的话、就是有一个从死里复活的、他们也是不听劝。
"He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"