第18章 撒种的比喻
§1
第18章 撒种的比喻
§2
Chapter 18- Parable of the Sower.
§3
耶稣整夜祷告，清早下到海滩来找门徒，他们正在近岸打鱼。祂不会长时间不被百姓打扰。群众一知道基督在海边，就云集而来。他们的人数越来越多，以致祂四面受挤。祂站着教训他们时，群众越来越密集，他只好上了一艘船，稍微划离岸边，使人们能有更好的机会看到和听到祂继续讲道。{2SP 232.1}[1]
§4
Jesus had spent the entire night in prayer, and he came down to the beach in the early morning to look for his disciples who were fishing near the shore. He could not long remain undisturbed by the people. As soon as it was known that Christ was by the sea-side, the multitude flocked to him. Their numbers increased so that he was pressed upon all sides. As he stood teaching them, the crowd became so dense that he stepped into a boat, and pulling out a little from the shore, gave the people a better opportunity to see and hear him, as he continued his discourse. {2SP 232.1}[1]
§5
祂经常采用这种方法逃脱彼此拥挤要进到祂面前的热心群众。这样祂就能对他们说想要他们听到的话而不被打断。救主坐在一个渔夫的简陋小船里，教导海滩上的听众生命之道。祂耐心地对待那些受试探苦害的人，温柔仁慈地对待忧伤的人和灰心的人。祂的话在许多人心中得到了回应。来自祂神圣指示的亮光涌入许多人暗昧的心中。{2SP 232.2}[2]
§6
He frequently adopted this plan to escape from the eager throng that crowded upon each other to get into his presence. In this way he could speak the things that he desired them to hear without interruption. The Saviour, seated in the rude boat of a fisherman, taught the words of life to the listening people upon the beach. He was patient with those who were laboring under temptation, tender and kind to the sorrowing and disheartened. His words found a response in many hearts, and light from his divine instruction poured in upon many darkened minds. {2SP 232.2}[2]
§7
天上的使者看见这种情景，有何等的感想啊！他们荣耀的元帅，坐在一只渔船上，被不停的海浪摇来摇去，向挤到水边的听众传讲救恩！那为天上所尊荣的主，在露天之下对平民宣讲得救的重大道理。然而祂工作的环境没有比这更合适的了。那横在前面的田野，普照大地的阳光，以及湖光山色，都可以作为祂讲道的材料，来引证祂的教训，使人心受更深刻的印象。{2SP 232.3}[3]
§8
What a scene was this for angels to contemplate! Their glorious Commander, sitting in a fishermans boat, swayed to and fro by the restless water, and preaching salvation to the listening crowd that are pressing down to the waters edge! He who was the honored of Heaven teaches his grand doctrine of deliverance in the open air to the common crowd. Yet he could have no more magnificent scene for his labors. The lake, the mountains, the spreading fields, the sunlight flooding the earth, all furnish subjects by which his lessons can be impressed upon the human mind. {2SP 232.3}[3]
§9
在平原上有撒种和收割的人在并肩忙碌着，一个在撒种，另一个在收割早麦。多产的山谷和小山的斜坡都披着美丽的衣裳。海滩上可以见到光秃的岩石，空中鸣响着鸟儿的歌唱声。海鸟掠过水面。耶稣便趁着这个机会从自然界吸取会铭记在听众心中的教训。祂用周围的景色来举例说明祂的道理，以便日后每当这些景物映入他们眼帘的时候，他们就会想起耶稣从这些景物所吸取的真理教训。他们会天天得到提醒，想起他们从祂所领受的宝贵指示。{2SP 233.1}[4]
§10
In plain sight are the sowers and the reapers, side by side, the one casting the seed, and the other harvesting the early grain. The fruitful valleys, and the hill sides are clothed in beauty. The barren rocks are seen upon the beach, and the birds make the air vocal with their music. The sea-fowls skim upon the surface of the water. Jesus takes this opportunity to draw lessons from nature that will sink into the minds of his listeners. He employs the scenery about him to illustrate his doctrine, so that in the future, whenever these objects are presented to their eyes, their thoughts will revert to the lessons of truth drawn from them by Jesus. They will be daily reminders of the precious instruction which they had received from him. {2SP 233.1}[4]
§11
耶稣就这样坐着，看着祂面前的生动景象，说出了历经各代一直传到我们这时的比喻，它的朴实简明在今日与一千八百多年的那个早上在加利利海边赐下这个比喻时一样纯洁美好：{2SP 233.2}[5]
§12
Sitting thus, and looking upon the animated scene before him, Jesus uttered the parable that has been handed down to us through the ages, as pure and beautiful today in its unadorned simplicity as when it was given that morning on the Sea of Galilee more than eighteen hundred years ago:-- {2SP 233.2}[5]
§13
“你们听啊！有一个撒种的出去撒种。撒的时候，有落在路旁的，飞鸟来吃尽了；有落在土浅石头地上的，土既不深，发苗最快，日头出来一晒，因为没有根，就枯干了；有落在荆棘里的，荆棘长起来，把它挤住了，就不结实；又有落在好土里的，就发生长大，结实有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的；又说：有耳可听的，就应当听”（可4:3-9）！{2SP 233.3}[6]
§14
Hearken; behold, there went out a sower to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth; but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. {2SP 233.3}[6]
§15
上帝的儿子就福音传播所举的这个惊人例证引起了人们的热心关注。讲的人使听的人心夺神移。他们的心灵受了激励，许多人因新的宗旨而怦然心动。他们醉心于主的道理，其原则是那么使人高尚却很容易明白。耶稣所教导的崇高的属灵造诣在他们看来是很可取的。然而许多人后来又与世人混杂时，他们在那里所受的感动不久就从心中消逝了。在主临格的神圣亮光之下看起来十分可憎的罪恶，又被他们犯错的心紧紧抱住了。不利的环境、世上的挂虑和试探使他们故态复萌，再度陷入冷淡之中了。{2SP 234.1}[7]
§16
This striking illustration of the spreading abroad of the gospel of the Son of God engaged the earnest attention of the people. The speaker carried with him the minds of his hearers. Their souls were stirred, and many a heart throbbed with the animation of a new purpose. They were charmed with a doctrine so ennobling in its principles, yet so easily understood. The high spiritual attainments which Jesus taught seemed then very desirable. But how soon the impressions there received were to pass from the minds of many, when they again mingled with the world. The sins that had seemed so heinous under the holy light of the Masters presence, would be clasped again to their erring hearts. Unfavorable surroundings, and worldly cares and temptations would cause them to relapse again into indifference. {2SP 234.1}[7]
§17
但有些听道的人却从那一刻开始过起更圣洁的生活，天天实行基督教训的原则。祂讲道的主题既由他们面前的场景作了说明，就永不会从他们心中磨灭。各样的土地，有的只生荆棘和毒草，覆着一层泥土的岩石，撒种的人和他们的种子，这一切都在他们眼前，使祂的话在他们心中留下了其它事物留不下的印象。{2SP 234.2}[8]
§18
But others who listened commenced from that moment a holier life, carrying out daily the principles of Christs teachings. The subject matter of his discourse, illustrated by the scene before them, would never be effaced from their minds. The varied ground, some producing only thistles and noxious weeds, the ledges of rock covered with a surface of earth, the sowers with their seed, all being before their eyes, fastened his words in their minds as nothing else could have done. {2SP 234.2}[8]
§19
现有的局面使耶稣讲了撒种的比喻。跟从基督的人失望了，因为祂并不建立一个新的国度。他们久已渴望一位会使他们得尊贵得荣耀成为一个国家的弥赛亚，而今他们的期望既没有实现，他们就不肯接受祂为他们的救赎主了。就连祂所拣选的门徒都变得没有耐心了，因为祂并没有夺取现世的权柄，祂的亲戚也对祂失望并拒绝了祂。他们曾这样对祂说：“你离开这里上犹太去吧，叫你的门徒也看见你所行的事。人要显扬名声，没有在暗处行事的；你如果行这些事，就当将自己显明给世人看”（约7:3,4）。{2SP 235.1}[9]
§20
The existing state of things led Jesus to give the parable of the sower. The people who followed Christ had been disappointed that he did not set up a new kingdom. Long had they looked for a Messiah who would exalt and glorify them as a nation, and now that their expectations were not realized, they refused to receive him as their Redeemer. Even his chosen disciples were becoming impatient that he did not assume temporal authority, and his relatives were disappointed in him and rejected him. They had addressed him in these words: Depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy disciples may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world. {2SP 235.1}[9]
§21
跟随祂的人感到苦恼，因为有学问的人和富有的人最不乐意接受耶稣为他们的救主。他们感受到了所加给他们夫子的污名，因为作祂门徒的一般是贫穷、受苦、卑微阶层的人。他们自问，文士和法利赛人、先知学校的教师们为什么不承认祂就是盼望已久的弥赛亚呢？为了对付这种疑惑和不满，耶稣讲了这个比喻。群众离开后，那十二个门徒和别的信徒聚集到祂周围，请祂解释这个比喻。“耶稣对他们说：上帝国的奥秘只叫你们知道，若是对外人讲，凡事就用比喻，叫他们看是看见，却不晓得；听是听见，却不明白；恐怕他们回转过来，就得赦免。又对他们说：你们不明白这比喻吗？这样怎能明白一切的比喻呢”（可4:11-13）？祂用这些话说明，祂的例证是要唤醒听众们心中思想。他们若是愿意得到更充分地解释，就可以问祂，象门徒们所做的一样，就必得到解答。{2SP 235.2}[10]
§22
His followers were mortified that the learned and wealthy were not the most willing to accept Jesus as their Saviour. They felt the stigma that attached to their Master, because it was the poor, the afflicted, and the humbler class generally, who became his disciples. Why, they asked themselves, did not the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers in the schools of the prophets, acknowledge that he was the long-looked-for Messiah? It was to meet this doubt and discontent that Jesus spoke this parable. When the multitude had departed, the twelve with the other believers gathered about him, and asked him to explain it to them. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables; that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? In these words he explained that his illustrations were to awaken thought in the minds of his hearers. If they desired a fuller explanation of his words they could ask it of him, as the disciples had done, and receive it. {2SP 235.2}[10]
§23
法利赛人明白这比喻，却假装不理解其含意。他们闭眼不看，恐怕会看见，塞耳不听，恐怕会听见；所以他们的心就不会受感动。他们既故意无知和执意盲目，就要受报应。祂常用比喻施教的一个原因是因为犹太人的奸细总是在伺机报怨祂。耶稣便定意揭露他们的伪善和恶行而不使自己遭受被他们逮捕和监禁的危险，免得因而断绝祂来要在百姓中间做的工作。{2SP 236.1}[11]
§24
The Pharisees understood the parable, but affected not to perceive its meaning. They closed their eyes lest they should see and their ears lest they should hear; therefore their hearts could not be reached. They were to suffer retribution for their willful ignorance and self-imposed blindness. One reason why he taught so much in parables was that the spies of the Jews were ever watching to find cause for complaint against him. Jesus designed to expose their hypocrisy and evil deeds without laying himself liable to the danger of being arrested and imprisoned by them, and thus cut off from the work which he came to do among the people. {2SP 236.1}[11]
§25
祂可以用比喻讲扎心的真理，显明必须揭露的罪恶，而不担心违背他们的规条。他们能应用祂的比喻，因为他们不会听不出祂的意思，但他们却不能谴责祂在讲道时使用简明的例证。{2SP 236.2}[12]
§26
He could speak cutting truths in parables, reveal the iniquity that it was necessary to expose, without any fear of their laws. They could make the application, for they could not fail to recognize his meaning, yet they were powerless to condemn him for using a simple illustration in his discourse. {2SP 236.2}[12]
§27
耶稣的话也含蓄地责备了祂的门徒，因为他们很迟钝，没有理解祂的意思。在撒种的比喻中，祂已说明了祂来到世上要教导的道理。他们若是连这么容易明白的事都听不懂，又怎么能听懂祂要用比喻向他们讲的更大的真理呢？祂还说过要向他们启示上帝国度更大的奥秘，因为他们比外人更密切地跟从祂和顺从祂。他们必须敞开心门接受指示并立刻相信。{2SP 236.3}[13]
§28
The words of Jesus implied a reproof to his disciples, because of their dullness to comprehend his meaning; for in the parable of the sower, he had illustrated the doctrine he had come to the world to teach. If they could not discern things so easily to be understood, how could they fathom greater truths that he would declare to them in parables? He also said that he would reveal greater mysteries concerning the kingdom of God unto them who followed him so closely and obeyed him than unto those who were outside of his companionship. They must open their minds to instruction and be ready to believe. {2SP 236.3}[13]
§29
那些已经心肠刚硬喜爱夸耀和仪式的人，并不希望明白祂的教训，内心也不渴望上帝的恩典之工。这等人将仍旧处在他们自己选择的无知之中。但那些与天国联络并接受基督的人却会明白祂的话，获得上帝之国的实际知识。基督乃是亮光与真理之源。而那等因任何原因忽视现有熟悉真理之机会的人，没有正确地使用自己的理解力，却拒绝相信他们眼睛所见到耳朵所听到的。他们必被撇弃在黑暗里。他们虽然看见，却不愿意理解；虽然听见，也不愿意明白。上帝的真理涉及太多舍己和个人的纯洁，对他们体贴肉体的心思没有吸引力，他们便用偏执和不信关闭了心门。{2SP 237.1}[14]
§30
Those who had hardened their hearts to love pomp and ceremony did not wish to understand his teachings nor desire the work of Gods grace within their hearts. This class would remain in ignorance of their own choosing. Those who connected with Heaven, and received Christ, who is the source of light and truth, would understand his words and gain practical knowledge concerning the kingdom of God. But those who, for any reason, neglected their present opportunities of acquaintance with the truth, and did not rightly use their powers of comprehension, but refused to be convinced by what their eyes saw and their ears heard, would be left in darkness; seeing they would not perceive, and hearing, they would not understand. The truths of God involved too much self-denial and personal purity to attract their carnal minds, and they closed their hearts with bigotry and unbelief. {2SP 237.1}[14]
§31
大教师祝福了祂的门徒，因为他们的眼睛看见、耳朵听见并且信了。祂说：“从前有许多先知和义人要看你们所看的，却没有看见，要听你们所听的，却没有听见”（太13:17）。然后耶稣就向门徒解释了祂所讲的比喻中描绘的各等人。{2SP 237.2}[15]
§32
The great Teacher blessed his disciples because they both saw and heard with eyes and ears that believed. Said he, Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see these things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Jesus then explained to his disciples the different classes represented in the parable he had given them. {2SP 237.2}[15]
§33
撒种的人基督在撒种。有些心地刚硬如路面的人对神圣智慧的教训毫无感觉。他们不喜爱上帝的要求，只喜欢随从本性的冲动。许多人在听基督的重要教训时就信了。他们相信祂的话，决心过圣洁的生活，但是当撒但带着其邪恶的暗示来到时，善种还没来得及发芽生长，他们就被战胜了。{2SP 238.1}[16]
§34
Christ, the Sower, scatters the seed. There are the worldly ones, whose hearts are like the hard-beaten highway, insensible to the teachings of divine wisdom. They love not the requirements of God, and follow their natural impulses. Many are convinced as they listen to the important lessons of Christ. They believe his words, and resolve to lead holy lives, but when Satan comes with his evil suggestions, they are overcome before the good seed has fairly sprung into life. {2SP 238.1}[16]
§35
要是心田因深切的悔罪而得到开垦，他们就会见到自己贪爱世界的私心、自己的骄傲和贪财是多么邪恶，就会丢弃这一切。真理的种子就会深入已经预备好的心田，且会生长结实。但恶习惯久已摆布他们的生活，以致他们良好的决心听到那试探者的声音就是消失了。“那撒在路旁的，就是人听了道，撒但立刻来，把撒在他心里的道夺了去”（可4:15）。{2SP 238.2}[17]
§36
Had the soil of the heart been broken up by deep repentance for sin, they would have seen how wicked was their selfish love of the world, their pride and avarice, and would have put them away. The seeds of truth would have struck deep into the fallow ground prepared for them in the heart, and would have sprung up and borne fruit. But evil habits had so long held sway over their lives that their good resolutions had vanished before the voice of the tempter. And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. {2SP 238.2}[17]
§37
有些人高兴地接受了宝贵的真理；他们极其热心，并且表示大为惊诧，人们竟然都看不出对他们来说那么清楚明白的事。他们敦促别人也去信奉他们所发现那么令人满意的道理，轻率地谴责犹豫不定的人和那些仔细权衡并全面考虑真理证据的人。他们称这种人是冷淡不信的人。但及至考验来到，这些热心的人就踉跄跌倒了。他们并不接受十字架作为自己信仰生活的一部分，而是转离了它，他们的热沈泄了气，不肯背起十字架。{2SP 238.3}[18]
§38
There are those who receive the precious truth with joy; they are exceedingly zealous, and express amazement that all cannot see the things that are so plain to them. They urge others to embrace the doctrine that they find so satisfying. They hastily condemn the hesitating and those who carefully weigh the evidences of the truth and consider it in all its bearings. They call such ones cold and unbelieving. But in the time of trial these enthusiastic persons falter and fail. They did not accept the cross as a part of their religious life, and they turn from it with dampened ardor, and refuse to take it up. {2SP 238.3}[18]
§39
这等人若是一直生活平顺，道路通畅，凡事顺心，就会很象始终如一的基督徒。然而他们遇到火炼的试验就会昏厥；他们不能为真理的缘故忍受羞辱。曾经如此欣欣向荣生长的真理种子干枯死掉了，因为它的根在干旱的时候支撑不住。本应使它更有活力地向下扎根向上生长的事，却使整棵植物干死了。正如夏天的骄阳使耐旱的庄稼生长成熟，却使虽然鲜绿但扎根不深的植物枯死一样，因为其柔嫩的根须不能深入坚硬的石头地。{2SP 239.1}[19]
§40
If life moves smoothly with this class, if their way is never crossed, if all things are in harmony with their inclinations, they appear to be consistent Christians. But they faint beneath the fiery test of temptation; they cannot endure reproach for the truths sake. The good seed that had sprung into so flourishing a plant, withers and dies because it has no root to sustain it in the time of drought. The very thing which should have caused the fibers to strike down deeper and send up more vigorous growth, parches and kills the whole plant. Just so the hot summer sun, that strengthens and ripens the hardy grain, withers and destroys that which, though fresh and green, has no depth of root, because the tender fibers cannot pierce the hard and stony ground. {2SP 239.1}[19]
§41
这等人只要愿意，就可以耕耘自己的心田，使之富饶，以便真理能够深深扎根；不过这包含太多忍耐和舍己。他们要付出太大的努力才能在自己的生活中做出根本的改变。他们一受责备就觉得受了冒犯，会与那些离弃耶稣的门徒一起说：“这话甚难，谁能听呢？”“那撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，立刻欢喜领受，但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了”（约6:60；可4:16,17）。{2SP 239.2}[20]
§42
These persons could cultivate and enrich the soil of their hearts, if they would, so that the truth would take deeper hold; but this involves too much patience and self-denial. It costs them too much effort to make a radical change in their lives. They are easily offended by reproof, and ready to say with the disciples who left Jesus, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the words sake, immediately they are offended. {2SP 239.2}[20]
§43
耶稣描绘了落在长满野草的被忽视了的田埂或小片土地里的种子，野草把长在它们中间的宝贵植物挤住了；那些植物便渐渐生病死掉了。许多人衷心响应真理的声音，但他们却没有正确地领受和珍爱它。他们在心田里给了真理一点地方，却不预备土壤，根除在那里生长茂盛的毒草，并且时时警醒以妨它们再长出来。生活的挂虑，钱财的迷惑，对所禁止之事的渴望，在好种能结出果子之前就把爱公义的心挤出去了。骄傲、情欲、爱自己的心、爱世界的心，连同嫉妒和恶意，是不能和上帝的真理并存的。有野草过度生长的土地需要彻底开垦，照样，基督徒也需要殷勤省察那些会使他永远灭亡的错误过失。惟有靠着耶稣的圣名和力量付出忍耐恳切的努力，才能消除属肉体之心的邪恶倾向。但那些容让自己的信心被撒但不断增长的影响胜过的人，必落入比他们听取生命之道前更恶劣的状况。“还有那撒在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，后来有世上的思虑、钱财的迷惑，和别样的私欲进来，把道挤住了，就不能结实”（可4:18,19）。{2SP 240.1}[21]
§44
Jesus represents the seed as falling into neglected borders and patches covered with rank weeds which choke the precious plants that spring up among them; they grow sickly and perish. Many hearts respond to the voice of truth, but they do not properly receive and cherish it. They give it a place in the soil of the natural heart, without preparing the ground and rooting out the poisonous weeds that flourish there, and watching every hour in order to destroy them should they again appear. The cares of life, the fascination of riches, the longing for forbidden things, crowd out the love of righteousness before the good seed can bear fruit. Pride, passion, self-love, and love of the world, with envy and malice, are no companions for the truth of God. As it is necessary thoroughly to cultivate the soil that has once been overgrown with weeds, so it is necessary for the Christian to be diligent in exterminating the faults that threaten his eternal ruin. Patient, earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus, can alone remove the evil tendencies of the natural heart. But those who have allowed their faith to be overcome by the growth of Satans influences, fall into a worse state than that which they occupied before they heard the words of life. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. {2SP 240.1}[21]
§45
少数人的心象经过充分耕耘的好土，接受了真理的种子并且结出了大量的果子来荣耀上帝。耶稣发现一些恳切的基督徒，他们在好事上富足，真诚地尽心尽力。“那撒在好地上的，就是人听道，又领受，并且结实，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的”（可4:20）。{2SP 240.2}[22]
§46
Few hearts are like the good soil, well-cultivated, and receive the seeds of truth and bring forth abundant fruit to the glory of God. But Jesus finds some earnest Christians, rich in good works and sincere in their endeavors. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred. {2SP 240.2}[22]
§47
基督就这样用一个简要而全面的比喻描绘了祂来教导之人的品格。属世的心思，邪恶的性情，刚硬的心肠，都被展现在祂的听众面前。祂就这样回答了我们今日常常听到的问题：基督在地上亲自传道时，祂的工作为什么那么没成效呢？祂的生活是以良善怜悯的奇事为特征的；但祂在治好受苦的人，赶出苦害人的鬼魔时，却留给人们自己去做纠正他们邪恶性情的工作。祂指教他们如何将自己人性的努力与祂的神能联合起来，并且藉着祂的力量胜过缠累他们的罪恶。{2SP 241.1}[23]
§48
Thus Christ represents the characters of those whom he came to teach, in a brief and comprehensive parable. The worldly-minded, the evil-disposed, the hard-hearted, are all exhibited to the minds of his hearers. He thus answers the question that we often hear today: Why was the work of Christ productive of such meager results, during his personal ministry upon earth? Miracles of goodness and mercy marked his life; but while he healed the afflicted, and cast out the demons that persecuted men, he left to themselves the work of correcting the evils of their natures. He instructed them how to unite their human efforts with his divine power, and triumph through his strength over the sins that beset them. {2SP 241.1}[23]
§49
必须有这种经验才能使基督徒品格有道德的力量并适合进入天庭。耶稣并没有利用神秘的力量迫使人们相信祂。祂让他们自愿选择祂或是拒绝祂。并没有直接的能力强迫他们顺从，摧毁上帝所赐给人类的道德上的行动自由。撒种的比喻清楚地阐明了人心的各种倾向，以及基督不得不对付的各等人，也说明了祂的服务没有更成功地产生直接效果的原因。{2SP 241.2}[24]
§50
This experience was necessary in order to give moral power to the Christian character and fit it for the courts of Heaven. Jesus employed no miraculous agency to compel men to believe in him. They were left to choose or reject him, of their own free will. No direct power was to force them into obedience, and destroy the free moral agency that God has given to man. The parable of the sower plainly sets forth the tendencies of the human heart, and the different classes with which Christ had to deal, and also explains the reasons that his ministry was not more successful in its immediate effects. {2SP 241.2}[24]
§51
耶稣的比喻原是要引起一种求问的精神，以便更清楚地说明真理。当祂这样指教门徒祂话语的意思时，百姓又聚集来听祂，祂的教训就被许多听众领受并存在心里了。耶稣的讲道并不仅仅针对智力较差的人，也针对在场的聪明有教养能提出周密的批评的人。文士、法利赛人、医生、官长、律法师以及各国的代表都在那里听祂讲道；但在那广大的会众中，却无一人反驳祂的话。{2SP 241.3}[25]
§52
The parables of Jesus were designed to arouse a spirit of inquiry which would result in a clearer exposition of the truth. As he was thus instructing his disciples in the meaning of his words, the people again gathered about to listen, and his teachings were received and cherished in the minds of many who heard them. These discourses of Jesus were not merely to a class of inferior minds; but there were intelligent and cultivated persons present who were capable of the closest criticism. Scribes, Pharisees, doctors, rulers, lawyers, and the representatives of all nations, were there to hear; yet there were none to gainsay his words in all that vast assembly. {2SP 241.3}[25]