經文
Scripture
弟兄們，你們是憑著應許作兒女的，如同以撒一樣。當時，那按著肉體生的迫害了那按著聖靈生的，現在也是這樣。然而經上是怎麼說的呢？是說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去！因為使女的兒子絕不能與自由婦人的兒子一同承受產業。」弟兄們，這樣看來，我們不是使女的兒女，而是自由婦人的兒女了。
“Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.’ So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”
— 加拉太書四章28–31節
— Galatians 4:28–31
一、保羅的比喻：兩種出生，兩種身份
1. Paul’s Analogy: Two Births, Two Identities
保羅在加拉太書4:21–31用亞伯拉罕的兩個兒子，說明兩種不同的屬靈身份和道路。
Paul uses Abraham’s two sons in Galatians 4:21–31 to explain two different spiritual identities and paths.
| 以實瑪利 | 以撒 |
|---|---|
| 使女夏甲所生 | 自由婦人撒拉所生 |
| Born to Hagar, the slave woman | Born to Sarah, the free woman |
| 按肉體生 | 憑應許、靠聖靈生 |
| Born according to the flesh | Born through promise and by the Spirit |
| 代表靠人的努力和表現 | 代表靠神的應許和恩典 |
| Represents reliance on human effort and performance | Represents reliance on God’s promise and grace |
| 帶來奴役 | 帶來自由 |
| Leads to slavery | Leads to freedom |
保羅不是說以實瑪利這個人沒有價值，也不是說神不愛他。他是在用創世記的故事，說明兩種不同的屬靈原則。
Paul is not saying that Ishmael as a person had no value or that God did not love him. He is using the Genesis story to explain two different spiritual principles.
以實瑪利的出生，部分來自亞伯拉罕和撒拉想用自己的方法成就神的應許。
Ishmael’s birth came partly from Abraham and Sarah trying to fulfill God’s promise through their own method.
以撒的出生，則完全出於神的應許和能力。
Isaac’s birth came entirely from God’s promise and power.
二、為甚麼以實瑪利「迫害」以撒？
2. Why Did Ishmael “Persecute” Isaac?
第29節所說的「迫害」，來自創世記21:9。那裡記載，以實瑪利「戲笑」以撒。
The “persecution” in verse 29 comes from Genesis 21:9, where Ishmael “mocked” Isaac.
「戲笑」不只是普通的玩耍，也可能帶有嘲弄、輕視或敵意的意思。
“Mocked” does not mean merely ordinary play; it may carry the sense of scoffing, contempt, or hostility.
保羅把這件事理解為：按肉體生的，會逼迫按聖靈生的。
Paul understands this event as showing that the one born according to the flesh persecutes the one born according to the Spirit.
這不是說所有年長的人都會逼迫年輕人，也不是說所有家庭衝突都是屬靈爭戰。
This does not mean that all older people persecute younger people, nor that all family conflicts are spiritual warfare.
保羅的重點是：當人靠律法、表現和自我努力尋求義時，往往會反對那些單靠恩典和信心的人。
Paul’s point is that those who seek righteousness through law, performance, and self-effort often oppose those who rely solely on grace and faith.
在加拉太教會，這表現為有人教導外邦信徒：必須受割禮、遵守摩西律法和猶太節期，才能真正屬於神的子民。
In the Galatian church, this appeared as teaching that Gentile believers had to receive circumcision, observe the Mosaic Law, and keep Jewish festivals to truly belong to God’s people.
三、「趕出去」是甚麼意思？
3. What Does “Cast Out” Mean?
第30節引用創世記21:10，撒拉對亞伯拉罕說：「把使女和她兒子趕出去。」
Verse 30 quotes Genesis 21:10, where Sarah tells Abraham, “Cast out the slave woman and her son.”
保羅引用這句話，不是叫信徒排斥某個民族、家庭或個人，也不是說神憎恨夏甲和以實瑪利。
Paul quotes this not to call believers to reject an ethnic group, family, or individual, nor to say that God hates Hagar and Ishmael.
他的重點是：靠律法稱義的體系，不能與靠恩典稱義的福音同時成為承受產業的根基。
His point is that the system of justification by law cannot stand alongside the gospel of justification by grace as the basis for inheritance.
如果人說：「我信耶穌，但我還必須靠割禮、節期和律法行為，才能完全被神接納」，這就等於把基督的十字架變得不完整。
If someone says, “I believe in Jesus, but I still need circumcision, festivals, and works of the Law to be fully accepted by God,” this makes Christ’s cross incomplete.
保羅要加拉太信徒拒絕的，不是某些人，而是那種「靠人的表現換取救恩」的神學。
What Paul calls the Galatians to reject is not certain people, but the theology of earning salvation through human performance.
四、「憑應許作兒女」是甚麼意思？
4. What Does “Children of Promise” Mean?
第28節說，信徒「憑著應許作兒女，如同以撒一樣」。
Verse 28 says believers are “children of promise, like Isaac.”
這表示：
This means:
- 我們不是靠血統成為神的子民。
- We do not become God’s people through ancestry.
- 我們不是靠割禮、節期或宗教表現取得身份。
- We do not gain identity through circumcision, festivals, or religious performance.
- 我們不是靠自己的道德成就賺取救恩。
- We do not earn salvation through moral achievement.
- 我們是藉著信靠基督，領受神在恩典中賜下的應許。
- We receive God’s gracious promise through faith in Christ.
「如同以撒一樣」表示，真正的承受者不是靠自己製造出來，而是由神應許和能力所生。
“Like Isaac” means that the true heir is not self-produced but born through God’s promise and power.
五、「自由婦人的兒女」帶來甚麼自由？
5. What Freedom Comes from Being Children of the Free Woman?
第31節總結說：「我們不是使女的兒女，而是自由婦人的兒女了。」
Verse 31 concludes, “We are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”
這個自由包括：
This freedom includes:
1. 從定罪中得自由
1. Freedom from Condemnation
基督已經擔當罪的刑罰，信徒不再需要靠不斷的自我懲罰來證明悔改。
Christ has borne sin’s penalty; believers no longer need endless self-punishment to prove repentance.
2. 從恐懼中得自由
2. Freedom from Fear
神的接納不取決於我今天表現得多好，而是取決於基督已經完成的工作。
God’s acceptance does not depend on how well I perform today, but on Christ’s finished work.
3. 從比較中得自由
3. Freedom from Comparison
我不需要靠勝過別人來證明自己更有價值。
I do not need to surpass others to prove my worth.
4. 從宗教表演中得自由
4. Freedom from Religious Performance
靈修、聚會、奉獻和服事是好的，但它們不能成為賺取神愛的條件。
Devotion, church attendance, giving, and ministry are good, but they cannot become conditions for earning God’s love.
5. 從自我中心中得自由
5. Freedom from Self-Centeredness
自由不是放縱肉體，而是靠聖靈活出愛、聖潔和責任。
Freedom is not indulging the flesh but living out love, holiness, and responsibility through the Spirit.
六、以實瑪利是悲劇人物嗎？
6. Was Ishmael a Tragic Figure?
以實瑪利確實是一個令人難過的人物。他的出生、母親和家庭背景，都不是他自己選擇的。
Ishmael is indeed a tragic figure. His birth, mother, and family background were not choices he made.
保羅不是在嘲笑以實瑪利，也不是說他天生被神厭棄。
Paul is not mocking Ishmael or saying he was naturally rejected by God.
保羅是在用他的故事，說明一個屬靈原則：靠肉體和人的努力，不能承受神在基督裡的應許。
Paul uses his story to explain a spiritual principle: relying on the flesh and human effort cannot inherit God’s promise in Christ.
這也提醒我們，不要用一個人的出身、家庭、過去或失敗，來判斷他在神面前的價值。
This also reminds us not to judge a person’s worth before God by their background, family, past, or failures.
七、救恩的機會是給所有人的
7. Salvation Is Offered to All
你所寫的「在救恩的事上，你和我都可以選擇作神的兒女；因為這得救的機會是給所有聽到福音之人的」，需要稍作補充。
Your statement, “In salvation, you and I can choose to become God’s children, because this opportunity is given to all who hear the gospel,” needs slight clarification.
福音確實是向所有人宣告的；凡聽見福音並信靠基督的人，都可以領受救恩。
The gospel is indeed proclaimed to all; all who hear it and trust Christ may receive salvation.
但聖經也提醒我們，人能夠信靠基督，最終是因為神的恩典和聖靈的工作。
Yet Scripture also reminds us that a person’s ability to trust Christ ultimately comes from God’s grace and the Spirit’s work.
因此，我們可以說：
Therefore, we can say:
福音的邀請是給所有人的；凡願意信靠基督的人，都可以成為神的兒女。
The gospel invitation is for all; all who trust Christ may become God’s children.
但我們不要把救恩說成完全由人的意志決定，好像神只是被動等待。
But we must not present salvation as determined entirely by human will, as though God were passively waiting.
八、今天的實際應用
8. Practical Application for Today
1. 不要回到律法主義
1. Do Not Return to Legalism
問自己：
Ask yourself:
- 我是否靠靈修、聚會、服事或道德表現，來換取神的愛？
- Do I rely on devotion, church attendance, ministry, or moral performance to earn God’s love?
- 我是否因為自己做得好而驕傲？
- Do I become proud because I perform well?
- 我是否因為自己失敗而覺得神不再接納我？
- Do I feel God no longer accepts me because I have failed?
2. 不要用出身或過去定義自己
2. Do Not Define Yourself by Background or Past
你的家庭、民族、教育、失敗或過去的罪，都不能高過神在基督裡賜給你的身份。
Your family, ethnicity, education, failures, or past sins do not outrank the identity God gives in Christ.
3. 不要輕看仍在掙扎的人
3. Do Not Despise Those Still Struggling
既然神接納了我們這些本不配的人，我們也應該接納軟弱、受傷和仍在成長的人。
Since God has accepted us though we were unworthy, we should welcome the weak, wounded, and growing.
4. 靠聖靈活出自由
4. Live Out Freedom by the Spirit
自由不是放縱，而是有能力愛神、愛人、行善和承擔責任。
Freedom is not indulgence but the ability to love God, love others, do good, and take responsibility.
九、禱告
9. Prayer
親愛的天父：
Dear Heavenly Father,
感謝祢藉著基督使我成為祢的兒女，也使我成為自由婦人的兒女。求祢使我不忘記，我的身份不是靠血統、割禮、宗教表現或道德成就而來，而是靠祢的應許和恩典。
Thank You for making me Your child through Christ and for making me a child of the free woman. Keep me from forgetting that my identity comes not from ancestry, circumcision, religious performance, or moral achievement, but from Your promise and grace.
主啊，求祢使我不因自己的表現而驕傲，也不因自己的失敗而自卑。當我與人比較時，求祢提醒我，祢已經接納我；當我覺得不配時，求祢提醒我，祢的恩典足夠。
Lord, keep me from becoming proud because of my performance or inferior because of my failures. When I compare myself with others, remind me that You have accepted me. When I feel unworthy, remind me that Your grace is sufficient.
求祢使我不回到靠律法稱義的奴役，也不把自由變成放縱。求祢賜我聖靈的能力，使我能愛祢、愛人、行善，並承擔責任。
Keep me from returning to the slavery of justification by law, and from turning freedom into license. Give me the Spirit’s power to love You, love others, do good, and take responsibility.
求祢使我不輕看軟弱的人，也不因自己的出身或過去而否定自己。願我在家庭、教會、職場和社會中，活出在基督裡的自由和盼望。
Keep me from despising the weak, and from denying myself because of my background or past. Help me live out the freedom and hope found in Christ in family, church, work, and society.
奉主耶穌基督的名祈求，阿們。
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
結語
Conclusion
加拉太書4:28–31的核心是：
The central message of Galatians 4:28–31 is:
我們不是靠肉體、律法或人的努力承受產業，而是靠神的應許和基督的恩典成為自由的兒女。
We do not inherit through the flesh, the Law, or human effort, but become free children through God’s promise and the grace of Christ.
因此，今天不要回到靠表現換取接納的奴役，也不要把恩典變成放縱；要在基督裡作自由的兒女，靠聖靈活出愛、聖潔和責任。
Therefore, do not return to the slavery of earning acceptance through performance, nor turn grace into license. Live as a free child in Christ, walking by the Spirit in love, holiness, and responsibility.
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