聖經的重要信息：管教--一個你不喜歡的詞
希伯來書十二章1至11節
1我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，
2仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌（或作：仰望那將真道創始成終的耶穌）。他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。
3那忍受罪人這樣頂撞的，你們要思想，免得疲倦灰心。
4你們與罪惡相爭，還沒有抵擋到流血的地步。
5你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話，說：我兒，你不可輕看主的管教，被他責備的時候也不可灰心；
6因為主所愛的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。
7你們所忍受的，是神管教你們，待你們如同待兒子。焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢？
8管教原是眾子所共受的，你們若不受管教，就是私子，不是兒子了。
9再者，我們曾有生身的父管教我們，我們尚且敬重他，何況萬靈的父，我們豈不更當順服他得生麼？
10生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們；惟有萬靈的父管教我們，是要我們得益處，使我們在他的聖潔上有分。
11凡管教的事，當時不覺得快樂，反覺得愁苦；後來卻為那經練過的人結出平安的果子，就是義。
信息分享
我們今天要談到的這個詞，或許也是我們不喜歡聽見，當然更不願意經歷的。可是，它在舊約聖經裡經常出現；在新約裡，也以不同的形式出現過多次。單是在今天選讀的經文中，這個叫「管教」的詞便出現了10次。英文KJV版本中文譯作「使……內疚/懊悔」。無論哪個版本，都不是討人喜歡的詞。
「管教」一詞的原意是「教導孩童」。懲罰是教導孩童的唯一方式嗎？當然不是。做父母的，如果只懂得用懲罰來管教兒女，他們只能算是虐待兒女。
教導孩童包括很多方面，例如教誨、勸勉、指導等。唯有這些教導方式都不起作用的時候，懲罰才會派上用場。
我們的天父也會管教祂的兒女，但只為了一個確切的目標：使我們長成祂兒子耶穌基督的模樣。因此，當我們隨己意而行的時候，祂不會袖手旁觀。記得大衛的話嗎？「黑夜白日，你的手在我身上沉重。」（詩卅二4）
今天的經文告訴我們，神必管教祂所愛的兒女。我們要記著是誰在管教我們，既然祂是我們的父神，祂必知道甚麼對我們最好，而祂的管教永遠是出於愛。
我們年少時受肉身父親的管教，地上父親所知的畢竟有限（10節）。神對我們的管教是一生一世的，祂有完全的智慧。地上父親為的是我們的今生；天父所看的，卻不但是我們的今生，還有永恆的將來。祂豈不是更值得我們信靠嗎？
今日經文：
「因為主所愛的，祂必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。」（來十二6）
GREAT WORDS OF THE BIBLE: CHASTENING - A word we may not like
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Message
Here is a word we may not like to hear and certainly would rather not experience it. Occurring frequently in the Old Testament, it is also spoken of in various ways in the New Testament. In today's reading, the word 'discipline' is used 10 times. In the KJV, the word is 'chastening'. Either word is something not many people like.
But the word in the original actually means 'child training'. Is punishment the only kind of training? Certainly not. Any parent who believes that could only be described as sadistic.
Child training has many aspects. Guidance, counsel, and instruction are all included. Only when continued disregard for those important parts of training does punishment in one form or another enter into it.
Our Heavenly Father does discipline His children but with a definite purpose in mind - to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. He doesn't let us go along on our own road without doing something about it. What did David say? 'Day and night your hand was heavy upon me. ' (Psalm 32:4)
Our reading speaks of the Lord disciplining those He loves. We need to remember who is doing the disciplining. If it is the Lord, then He obviously knows what is best for us. And it would always be done in love.
We all had fathers for a few short years (v.10) and their knowledge was imperfect. God will discipline us through our whole life. His knowledge is divinely complete. Our father's aim is our earthly future, while God's aim includes both our earthly and heavenly future. Why don't we trust Him more?
A VERSE FOR TODAY: Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. (Hebrews12:6)