马太福音9:35-10:8
恩惠、平安从父神和救主耶稣基督归于你们。阿们。
如果我要问你谁是历史上最伟大的传道人，牧师或者布道家，我们可能会想到自己熟悉的一些人，比如奥古斯丁、马丁路德、加尔文，或者20世纪的宋尚节，倪柝声，当代比较有名的葛培理、唐崇荣等等。但是你们想过没有，其实最伟大的传道人、牧师、布道家是主耶稣祂自己。今天的福音经文告诉我们：“耶稣走遍各城各乡，在会堂里教训人，宣讲天国的福音，又医治各样的病症。”（9:35）耶稣不仅是我们所传的那一位，而且也是“道成肉身”的那道，更进一步说，祂自己就是“自传”的道。祂把悔改和信福音的天国道理传讲给世人，带领人进入天国，得着救恩，得着神儿女的身份。我们仔细看下主耶稣这位传道人，传福音者，这位牧者。
首先是关于传福音的对象，向谁传天国的福音。我们知道福音是给万民的，马太福音最后一章末尾也说：“你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”（太28:19-20）。但是当我们思想传福音对象的时候，我们总误以为只是给不信的人，或者说未信的人。但我们看到，主耶稣在今天的福音经文中特别强调：“外邦人的路，你们不要走；撒玛利亚人的城，你们不要进；宁可往以色列家迷失的羊那里去。随走随传，说‘天国近了！’”（太10:5-7）
弟兄姐妹们，我们基督徒，受洗归入主名下的人，也常常需要主耶稣和祂话语的怜悯，因为我们也常常“困苦流离，如同羊没有牧人一般。”（太9:36）羊，一定需要有牧人看顾、看管。之前我们讲过，离了羊群、离了牧人的羊一定会被狼吞吃掉，是没有能力抵御那恶者的攻击的。从信仰的角度来说，离群的羊、自以为可以不需要牧人，甚至误以为自己可以牧养自己的信徒，到头来都会被那恶者、那遍地游行、寻找可吞吃的人的掳走，会被世界的贪婪和败坏吞嗤和同化掉。
主耶稣对门徒又说：“要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。所以，你们当求庄稼的主打发工人出去收割他的庄稼。”（太9:38）结合上下文我们不难看出，我们已经信的人也是主的庄稼。我们需要主的工人不断地收割，按着季节和收成，不断地收割到谷仓里。在座的各位有些比较熟悉种庄稼，或者院子里的瓜果蔬菜。如果时候到了，庄稼或者果实成熟了，你不收割，不把果子及时摘下来会发生什么？会烂掉，而且新的果子也不会长出来，整个菜园子或者庄稼地就会毁坏了，必须重头再来。尤其是菜园子，你如果按时候收割，那么新的、更好的果实就会结出来。
所以，没有所谓离开基督（大牧者）的基督徒，也没有离开教会（信徒群体）的基督徒。同时，也可以说，没有不需要牧师、牧者的基督徒，因为主耶稣自己亲自呼召十二门徒，并且差遣他们出去，祂自己建立了地上的教会，祂自己设立教会的圣职：“祂所赐的，有使徒、有先知，有传福音的，有牧师和教师，为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体。”（弗4:11-12）用主耶稣自己的比喻，换句话说，没有可以自己收割的庄稼，没有自己牧养自己的羊。今天的时代一个特色就是个人主义，消费主义，独立精神，自力更生。尤其是在美国，什么都讲究独立性（independent）。但应用在教会生活上，就是错误的，也会带来很多属灵的问题和混乱。
“要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。”这句经文也当是我们信徒对自己需要的祷告。我们自己无时无刻需要我们的大牧人耶稣基督，并且需要祂差遣忠心的工人来收割我们这些庄稼地，牧养我们这些时常走迷的羊。而主的应许和供应就是祂向我们施怜悯的彰显。有时候我们会错误地认为，只有有圣经读，有几个人聚在一起查经就可以了，只有有好的讲道视频可以看就好了，不需要什么牧师来牧养，我们需要的只是信息和工具。然而，主耶稣给教会的计划，给我们信徒的安排却不是这样。教会生活和圣职背后有更深层的属灵意义和属灵争战。“耶稣叫了十二个门徒来，给他们权柄，能赶逐污鬼，并医治各样的病症。”（太10:1）而且我们再看马太福音末章的大使命经文：“耶稣近前来，对他们（十一个门徒）说：‘天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒……。”（太28:18-19）
很多时候，我们误以为这个是针对所有基督徒的命令和吩咐，所以每一次你听到有人谈论宣讲，就是指每一个基督徒的使命和责任。不要误会，延伸应用这段经文，当然可以说是指基督整个教会和所有信徒。彼得前书2:9“惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有尊君的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。”我们每个基督徒都是承担着旧约祭司的属灵职分，一起为万民代祷，向人宣扬、见证主的救恩和美名。但是，但是，上面马太福音两段经文都让我们看到，这里涉及到教会的“权柄”问题。很多时候我们一谈论权柄，就觉得是一个非常糟糕、非常负面、非常过时的词汇，可能大家想到的就是腐败和滥用，以及专权。但是，神设立教会，就赋予教会圣职和相应的权柄，是为了信徒的益处，以及让教会宣扬福音按着秩序更加有效地进行。
当我们按照主耶稣自己的吩咐和安排过教会生活，领受主耶稣和祂所差遣的工人的牧养和看顾的时候，我们就活在主耶稣的怜悯中，充满主的恩典，有能力靠着主耶稣的权柄，祂话语的权柄，以及同样地，祂的仆人牧师的权柄，能够抵御世界的引诱，抵御豺狼魔鬼的袭击，能够一同安然走向天堂，平安度过一切世上的风浪。借用今天旧约的经文，我们也和以色列人一样，走在旷野，出埃及那为奴之地，走向应许之地。以色列人走旷野、出埃及容易吗？不容易。我们也不要想我们基督徒在地上的天国旅程会是一帆风顺的，我们也会像以色列人那样叛逆、抱怨、自立为王，自我满足，抵挡神的仆人，贪婪、贪爱世界等等。“我向埃及人所行的事，你们都看见了，且看见我如鹰将你们背在翅膀上，带来归我。”（出19:4）我们需要记得，神已经为我们成就了大事，那就是耶稣这位大牧者为羊舍命，死在十字架上，为我们打败魔鬼和世界的俘虏。就像罗马书经文所说：“惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。”（罗5:8）
我们在教会中不断地领受主的怜悯，不断地汲取从神而来的力量，也就能够为神作见证。“你们白白地得来，也要白白地舍去。”（太10:8）求主帮助我们，不停止聚会，在教会中规规矩矩，按着神的吩咐过教会生活，并且随时随处传扬福音。奉圣父、圣子、圣灵的名。阿们。
Matthew 9:35–10:8
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
If I were to ask you who the greatest preacher, pastor, or evangelist in history was, we might think of some familiar names, such as Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, or John Sung and Watchman Nee from the 20th century, or well-known contemporary figures like Billy Graham, Stephen Tong, and others. But have you ever considered that the greatest preacher, pastor, and evangelist is actually the Lord Jesus Himself? Today’s Gospel text tells us: “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” (Matt. 9:35). Jesus is not only the One whom we preach, but He is also the Word made flesh; furthermore, He Himself is the Word that "preaches itself." He proclaimed the heavenly truth of repentance and faith in the Gospel to the world, leading people into the kingdom of heaven to receive salvation and the status of children of God. Let us look closely at the Lord Jesus as this preacher, evangelist, and shepherd.
First, concerning the recipients of the Gospel—to whom the gospel of the kingdom is preached. We know that the Gospel is for all nations, as the very end of the final chapter of Matthew says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19–20). However, when we think about the recipients of the Gospel, we often mistakenly assume it is only for unbelievers or the unchurched. Yet, we see that the Lord Jesus places a special emphasis in today’s Gospel text: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matt. 10:5–7).
Brothers and sisters, we Christians—those who have been baptized into the Lord's name—also constantly need the mercy of the Lord Jesus and His Word, because we too are often “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36). Sheep absolutely need a shepherd to care for and watch over them. As we have discussed before, sheep that leave the flock and the shepherd will inevitably be devoured by wolves; they have no power of their own to resist the attacks of the evil one. From the perspective of faith, stray sheep—believers who think they do not need a shepherd, or who even falsely believe they can shepherd themselves—will ultimately be carried away by the evil one, who prowls around looking for someone to devour. They will be swallowed up and assimilated by the greed and corruption of the world.
The Lord Jesus then said to His disciples: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:38). Looking at the context, it is not difficult to see that we who already believe are also the Lord’s harvest. We need the Lord’s laborers to continually harvest us, according to the seasons and the yield, gathering us into the granary. Some of you here are quite familiar with farming crops or growing fruits and vegetables in your yards. If the time comes and the crops or fruits are ripe, what happens if you do not harvest them or pick them in time? They will rot, new fruit will not grow, and the entire garden or field will be ruined—you would have to start all over again. Especially in a vegetable garden, if you harvest at the proper time, new and better fruit will come forth.
Therefore, there is no such thing as a Christian apart from Christ (the Chief Shepherd), nor is there a Christian apart from the Church (the community of believers). At the same time, it can also be said that there is no Christian who does not need a pastor or shepherd, because the Lord Jesus Himself personally called the twelve disciples and sent them out. He Himself established the Church on earth, and He Himself instituted the holy ministry of the Church: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11–12). To use the Lord Jesus' own metaphors: in other words, there is no harvest that can harvest itself, and there are no sheep that can shepherd themselves. A defining characteristic of our modern era is individualism, consumerism, an independent spirit, and self-reliance. Especially in America, independence is emphasized in everything. But when applied to church life, this is erroneous and brings about much spiritual trouble and chaos.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” This scripture should also be our prayer as believers regarding our own needs. We need our Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, at every single moment, and we need Him to send faithful laborers to harvest us, His harvest fields, and to shepherd us, His frequently straying sheep. The Lord’s promise and provision are the very manifestation of His mercy toward us. Sometimes we wrongly think that as long as we have a Bible to read, a few people gathered to study scripture, or good sermon videos to watch, that is enough; we think we don't need a pastor to shepherd us, and that all we need are information and tools. However, the Lord Jesus’ plan for the Church and His arrangement for us believers is not like that. Church life and the holy ministry carry a deeper spiritual significance and involve spiritual warfare. “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” (Matt. 10:1). Furthermore, let us look again at the Great Commission text in the final chapter of Matthew: “And Jesus came and said to them [the eleven disciples], ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...’” (Matt. 28:18–19).
Many times, we mistakenly think this command and instruction is directed at all Christians indiscriminately, so whenever you hear someone talk about proclaiming, they assume it refers to the mission and responsibility of every individual Christian. Do not misunderstand: as an extended application of this text, it can certainly be said to refer to the entire Church of Christ and all believers. First Peter 2:9 says: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Every Christian bears the spiritual office of the Old Testament priesthood, interceding together for all nations, proclaiming and witnessing to the Lord's salvation and glorious name. However—however—both of the aforementioned passages from Matthew show us that this involves the issue of "authority" within the Church. Often, as soon as we talk about authority, we feel it is a terrible, negative, and obsolete word; people probably think of corruption, abuse, and authoritarianism. Yet, when God established the Church, He endowed it with the holy ministry and corresponding authority for the benefit of believers, and so that the Church’s proclamation of the Gospel could proceed more effectively and according to good order.
When we live our church life according to the Lord Jesus’ own command and arrangement, receiving the shepherding and care of Jesus and the laborers He has sent, we are living within the mercy of the Lord Jesus. We are filled with the Lord's grace and are empowered—by the authority of Jesus Christ, the authority of His Word, and likewise, the authority of His servants, the pastors—to resist the temptations of the world and the attacks of wolves and the devil. Together, we can safely journey toward heaven and peacefully pass through all the storms of this world. To borrow from today’s Old Testament reading, we, like the Israelites, are walking through the wilderness, having departed from Egypt, that land of slavery, and are heading toward the Promised Land. Was it easy for the Israelites to walk through the wilderness and leave Egypt? It was not. Nor should we think that our earthly journey as Christians in the kingdom of God will be entirely smooth sailing. We too will be like the Israelites—rebellious, complaining, setting ourselves up as kings, self-satisfied, resisting God's servants, greedy, and loving the world. “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.” (Ex. 19:4). We need to remember that God has already accomplished great things for us, namely, that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for the sheep, died on the cross, and defeated the devil and the captors of this world for us. Just as the text in Romans says: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8).
As we continually receive the Lord's mercy in the Church and constantly draw strength from God, we are enabled to bear witness for Him. “You received without paying; give without pay.” (Matt. 10:8). May the Lord help us not to neglect gathering together, but to live our church life properly and orderly according to God’s commands, and to preach the Gospel at all times and in all places.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.