第07章 对于伪善者的警告
§1
第07章 对于伪善者的警告
§2
Chap. 7 - A Warning Against Hypocrisy
§3
（本章根据：徒4:32-5:11）
§4
门徒在耶路撒冷宣讲福音的真理时，有上帝为他们的话作证，所以相信的人很多。在这些早期的信徒中，有许多人因犹太人的狂热顽固，而被迫立即与亲友隔绝，因此必须设法供给他们饮食和住处。[1]{AA 70.1 }
§5
As the disciples proclaimed the truths of the gospel in Jerusalem, God bore witness to their word, and a multitude believed. Many of these early believers were immediately cut off from family and friends by the zealous bigotry of the Jews, and it was necessary to provide them with food and shelter. {AA 70.1 }[1]
§6
经上记着说：“内中也没有一个缺乏的。”这话说明了当时的需要是怎样获得补足的。信徒中有钱财和产业的人都欢欢喜喜地乐意献上所有，应付急需。他们把田产房屋都卖了，将价银拿来，放在使徒脚前，“照各人所需要的，分给各人。”[2]{AA 70.2 }
§7
The record declares, Neither was there any among them that lacked, and it tells how the need was filled. Those among the believers who had money and possessions cheerfully sacrificed them to meet the emergency. Selling their houses or their lands, they brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. {AA 70.2 }[2]
§8
信徒这种慷慨的精神乃是圣灵沛降的结果，信从福音的人“都是一心一意的。”有一个共同的旨趣支配着他们，——那就是完成所交付他们的使命；因此贪婪在他们生活中便没有立足之地。他们对于弟兄和对于所拥护之圣工的爱，胜过贪爱钱财产业的心。他们的行为证明他们看人的灵性较比属世的财富更为宝贵。[3]{AA 70.3 }
§9
This liberality on the part of the believers was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit. The converts to the gospel were of one heart and of one soul. One common interest controlled them--the success of the mission entrusted to them; and covetousness had no place in their lives. Their love for their brethren and the cause they had espoused, was greater than their love of money and possessions. Their works testified that they accounted the souls of men of higher value then earthly wealth. {AA 70.3 }[3]
§10
每当上帝的灵掌握了人的生活时，其结果必然如此。凡是心里充满基督之爱的人就必跟从那为我们成了贫穷，叫我们因他的贫穷可以成为富足的主所留下的榜样。他们估量自己从上帝所领受的钱财、光阴、影响力，——这一切的恩赐只不过是推进福音工作的资源。早期的教会就是如此；在今日的教会中，若能看到教友因圣灵的能力而转离对属世事物的爱好，甘心牺牲，以使同胞可以得听福音，则所传的真理就必在听众身上发挥强大的感化力了。[4]{AA 71.1 }
§11
Thus it will ever be when the Spirit of God takes possession of the life. Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ, will follow the example of Him who for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich. Money, time, influence--all the gifts they have received from Gods hand, they will value only as a means of advancing the work of the gospel. Thus it was in the early church; and when in the church of today it is seen that by the power of the Spirit the members have taken their affections from the things of the world, and that they are willing to make sacrifices in order that their fellow men may hear the gospel, the truths proclaimed will have a powerful influence upon the hearers. {AA 71.1 }[4]
§12
亚拿尼亚和他妻子撒非喇的伪善，与一般信徒仁慈的榜样显然相反；他们的所作所为记在经上，在早期的教会史上留下了一个可耻的污点。这两个自命为门徒的人，曾和其它信徒一同分享使徒所传福音的特权。当那一次由于使徒的祷告，以致“聚会的地方震动，他们就都被圣灵充满”时，他们和别的信徒也曾出席。在场的人都大受感动，于是亚拿尼亚和撒非喇在上帝圣灵的直接感化之下，就许愿变卖他们的某项产业，并将价银献给主。[5]{AA 71.2 }
§13
In sharp contrast to the example of benevolence shown by the believers, was the conduct of Ananias and Sapphira, whose experience, traced by the pen of Inspiration, has left a dark stain upon the history of the early church. With others, these professed disciples had shared the privilege of hearing the gospel preached by the apostles. They had been present with other believers when, after the apostles had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 4:31. Deep conviction had rested upon all present, and under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Ananias and Sapphira had made a pledge to give to the Lord the proceeds from the sale of certain property. {AA 71.2 }[5]
§14
过后，亚拿尼亚和撒非喇起了贪心，致使圣灵担忧。他们开始后悔不该许那一次的愿，因此，很快就丧失了那因愿为基督圣工成就大事，而使他们心里火热的甘美感应。他们认为自己未免过于草率，所以必须重新考虑所作的决定，于是二人商谈了一下，决定不履行自己的诺言。虽然如此，但他们既见到那些割舍自己财产供给穷苦弟兄需要的人，在信徒中备受重视；又羞见弟兄们看出他们的自私之心，竟吝惜自己所已庄严奉献给上帝的财产，所以他们在经过考虑之后，决定还是变卖他们的财产，而假装将全部价银捐作公款，但实际上却为自己留下一大部分。这样，他们就可以靠公款维持生活，同时又可得到弟兄们的重视。[6]{AA 72.1 }
§15
Afterward, Ananias and Sapphira grieved the Holy Spirit by yielding to feelings of covetousness. They began to regret their promise and soon lost the sweet influence of the blessing that had warmed their hearts with a desire to do large things in behalf of the cause of Christ. They thought they had been too hasty, that they ought to reconsider their decision. They talked the matter over, and decided not to fulfill their pledge. They saw, however, that those who parted with their possessions to supply the needs of their poorer brethren, were held in high esteem among the believers; and ashamed to have their brethren know that their selfish souls grudged that which they had solemnly dedicated to God, they deliberately decided to sell their property and pretend to give all the proceeds into the general fund, but really to keep a large share for themselves. Thus they would secure their living from the common store and at the same time gain the high esteem of their brethren. {AA 72.1 }[6]
§16
然而上帝是憎恶伪善与虚谎的，亚拿尼亚和撒非喇在对待上帝的事工上竟敢玩弄诡计；他们竟欺哄圣灵，因此他们的罪行受到了迅速而可怖的刑罚。当亚拿尼亚带来他的奉献时，彼得说：“亚拿尼亚！为什么撒但充满了你的心，叫你欺哄圣灵，把田地的价银私自留下几分呢？田地还没有卖，不是你自己的吗？既卖了，价银不是你作主吗？你怎么心里起这意念呢？你不是欺哄人，是欺哄上帝了。”[7]{AA 72.2 }
§17
But God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible judgment. When Ananias came with his offering, Peter said: Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. {AA 72.2 }[7]
§18
“亚拿尼亚听见这话，就仆倒断了气；听见的人都甚惧怕。”[8]{AA 73.1 }
§19
Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. {AA 73.1 }[8]
§20
彼得问道：“田地还没有卖，不是你自己的吗？”并没有什么不正当的压力加在亚拿尼亚的身上，强迫他奉献财产充作公益之用。他是出于自愿而行的。殊不知他在企图欺骗门徒的事上，却已经欺哄全能者了。[9]{AA 73.2 }
§21
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? Peter asked. No undue influence had been brought to bear upon Ananias to compel him to sacrifice his possessions to the general good. He had acted from choice. But in attempting to deceive the disciples, he had lied to the Almighty. {AA 73.2 }[9]
§22
“约过了三小时，他的妻子进来。还不知道这事。彼得对她说：你告诉我，你们卖田地的价银，就是这些吗？她说：就是这些。彼得说：你们为什么同心试探主的灵呢？埋葬你丈夫之人的脚，已到门口，他们也要把你抬出去。妇人立刻仆倒在彼得脚前，断了气。那些少年人进来，见她已经死了，就抬出去，埋在她丈夫旁边。全教会和听见这事的人都甚惧怕。”[10]{AA 73.3 }
§23
It was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. {AA 73.3 }[10]
§24
无穷的智慧者看明了这一次显著表现神的忿怒乃是必需的，以便防止这幼稚的教会趋于腐化。那时信徒的人数迅速地增加。如果在悔改人数激增中，而加入的男女虽口称侍奉上帝，实际上却崇拜玛门，这就必危及教会了。这一次的惩罚既证明人不能欺骗上帝，因他洞悉人心中隐藏的罪恶，也证明他是轻慢不得的。这件事是命定作为对教会的一番警告，要导使他们避免伪装与假冒的行为，并要当心不可夺取上帝之物。[11]{AA 73.4 }
§25
Infinite Wisdom saw that this signal manifestation of the wrath of God was necessary to guard the young church from becoming demoralized. Their numbers were rapidly increasing. The church would have been endangered if, in the rapid increase of converts, men and women had been added who, while professing to serve God, were worshiping mammon. This judgment testified that men cannot deceive God, that He detects the hidden sin of the heart, and that He will not be mocked. It was designed as a warning to the church, to lead them to avoid pretense and hypocrisy, and to beware of robbing God. {AA 73.4 }[11]
§26
这一件上帝恨恶贪婪、诡诈和虚假的事例，乃是他所发危险的信号；不单是给予早期的教会，也是给予后来各世代的。亚拿尼亚与撒非喇先起了贪婪的意念。那想将他们已经应许献给主的财物为自己保留一份的欲念，终于使他们犯了诡诈和伪善的罪。[12]{AA 74.1 }
§27
Not to the early church only, but to all future generations, this example of Gods hatred of covetousness, fraud, and hypocrisy, was given as a danger-signal. It was covetousness that Ananias and Sapphira had first cherished. The desire to retain for themselves a part of that which they had promised to the Lord, led them into fraud and hypocrisy. {AA 74.1 }[12]
§28
上帝使福音的宣传倚赖他子民的工作与奉献。各项乐意捐和十分之一乃是主圣工的经常收入。上帝在所托付给人的财产中，有权要求属他的一份，——那就是十分之一。至于人是否要多奉献，则可由各人自行决定。但每当人心受圣灵的感动所激励，而立约特别献出一部分钱财时，则该立约的人对于那已经奉献的一份就再没有权利了。人与人所订立的这一类约言尚须信守；何况与上帝所订立的岂不更当信守么？人在良心的法庭上所订立的约愿，难道还不如人与人之间所签订的契约具有约束力么？[13]{AA 74.2 }
§29
God has made the proclamation of the gospel dependent upon the labors and the gifts of His people. Voluntary offerings and the tithe constitute the revenue of the Lords work. Of the means entrusted to man, God claims a certain portion,--the tenth. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will give more than this. But when the heart is stirred by the influence of the Holy Spirit, and a vow is made to give a certain amount, the one who vows has no longer any right to the consecrated portion. Promises of this kind made to men would be looked upon as binding; are those not more binding that are made to God? Are promises tried in the court of conscience less binding than written agreements of men? {AA 74.2 }[13]
§30
当神的光异常清楚而有力地照在人心上时，那习惯成性的私心便会松手，而有捐助上帝圣工的意向了。但人们切莫以为可得以履行自己所订的约言而不遭受撒但的反对。他决不愿看见救赎主在地上的国度建立起来。所以他示意说认捐的数字太大了，可能使他们的力量受到损失，以致不能购置产业或满足自己家属的愿望。[14]{AA 74.3 }
§31
When divine light is shining into the heart with unusual clearness and power, habitual selfishness relaxes its grasp and there is a disposition to give to the cause of God. But none need think that they will be allowed to fulfill the promises then made, without a protest on the part of Satan. He is not pleased to see the Redeemers kingdom on earth built up. He suggests that the pledge made was too much, that it may cripple them in their efforts to acquire property or gratify the desires of their families. {AA 74.3 }[14]
§32
使人享有财富之福的乃是上帝，他之所以这样行，乃是要使他们能协助推进他的圣工。他赐下阳光和甘霖。他使植物生长。他赐予健康和获得货财的能力。我们一切的福惠都是由他博施之手而来的。因此，他也希望人献纳什一及各种捐款，如感恩捐、乐意捐、赎罪捐等，将财物的一部分奉还给他，借以表示他们的感恩。人若遵照神所定的计划将财物，——就是全部收益的十分之一，及各项乐意捐，缴入仓库，就必有充足的款项来推动圣工了。[15]{AA 75.1 }
§33
It is God who blesses men with property, and He does this that they may be able to give toward the advancement of His cause. He sends the sunshine and the rain. He causes vegetation to flourish. He gives health and the ability to acquire means. All our blessings come from His bountiful hand. In turn, He would have men and women show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes and offerings--in thank offerings, in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. Should means flow into the treasury in accordance with this divinely appointed plan,--a tenth of all the increase, and liberal offerings,--there would be an abundance for the advancement of the Lords work. {AA 75.1 }[15]
§34
可惜人们的心因自私而致刚硬，像亚拿尼亚和撒非喇一样，他们竟试图扣留价银的一部分，而同时还假装履行上帝的要求。许多人在自私的放纵上浪费金钱。人们只愿自己的享乐并满足自己的嗜好，同时却几乎心有不甘地以微薄的捐款献给上帝。他们竟忘记上帝有一天会严正地要他们为他所赐财物的用途交帐，而且他也决不再悦纳他们缴入府库的那少量捐献，正如他拒绝亚拿尼亚与撒非喇的捐献一般。[16]{AA 75.2 }
§35
But the hearts of men become hardened through selfishness, and, like Ananias and Sapphira, they are tempted to withhold part of the price, while pretending to fulfill Gods requirements. Many spend money lavishly in self-gratification. Men and women consult their pleasure and gratify their taste, while they bring to God, almost unwillingly, a stinted offering. They forget that God will one day demand a strict account of how His goods have been used, and that He will no more accept the pittance they hand into the treasury than He accepted the offering of Ananias and Sapphira. {AA 75.2 }[16]
§36
上帝要我们从那些伪誓者分所应得的严厉惩罚上，看明他对于一切伪善与欺骗是何等地深恶痛绝。亚拿尼亚和撒非喇在假装已奉献一切所有的事上，欺哄了圣灵，结果他们既丧失了今生的生命，也丧失了来生的生命。那位惩罚他们的同一上帝，现今也谴责一切虚伪的罪。说谎言的嘴是他所憎恶的。他论到那进入圣城的人说：“凡不洁净的，并那行可憎与虚谎之事的，总不得进那城。”（启21:27）务要严格遵守说实话的习惯。务要使之成为生活的一部分。轻诺寡信，口是心非，并为配合一己私图而假装，无异乎是信仰的破灭。“所以要站稳了，用真理当作带子束腰。”（弗6:14）那说假话的人就是廉价出卖自己的灵魂。他的虚言伪行或者在危急情况下似乎有用；他也许这样可在商业上得到他用正当方法所不能得到的发展；但他最后会走到不敢相信任何人的地步。他自己既是一个虚伪的人，因此他对别人的话也不信任了。[17]{AA 75.3 }
§37
From the stern punishment meted out to those perjurers, God would have us learn also how deep is His hatred and contempt for all hypocrisy and deception. In pretending that they had given all, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, and, as a result, they lost this life and the life that is to come. The same God who punished them, today condemns all falsehood. Lying lips are an abomination to Him. He declares that into the Holy City there shall in no wise enter . . . anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. Revelation 21:27. Let truth telling be held with no loose hand or uncertain grasp. Let it become a part of the life. Playing fast and loose with truth, and dissembling to suit ones own selfish plans, means shipwreck of faith. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. Ephesians 6:14. He who utters untruths sells his soul in a cheap market. His falsehoods may seem to serve in emergencies; he may thus seem to make business advancement that he could not gain by fair dealing; but he finally reaches the place where he can trust no one. Himself a falsifier, he has no confidence in the word of others. {AA 75.3 }[17]
§38
在亚拿尼亚和撒非喇的事件上，那欺哄上帝的罪迅速地受到了惩罚。在教会后来的历史中，时常发现这同样的罪；就在我们这个时代，也有许多人犯了这罪。虽然没有立时看到上帝不悦的迹象，但是这种罪的极恶可憎，在他看来并不稍减于使徒时代。警告已经发出了；上帝已经很清楚地显明了他对这种罪行的憎恶；凡是耽于虚伪和贪婪之罪的人，当可确知他们正是在毁灭自己的灵魂。[18]{AA 76.1 }
§39
In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, the sin of fraud against God was speedily punished. The same sin was often repeated in the after history of the church and is committed by many in our time. But though it may not be attended by the visible manifestation of Gods displeasure, it is no less heinous in His sight now than in the apostles time. The warning has been given; God has clearly manifested His abhorrence of this sin; and all who give themselves up to hypocrisy and covetousness may be sure that they are destroying their own souls. {AA 76.1 }[18]