你需要助听器吗？
马太福音七章24至27节
24所以，凡听见我这话就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上。
25雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子总不倒塌，因为根基立在磐石上。
26凡听见我这话不去行的，好比一个无知的人，把房子盖在沙土上。
27雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子就倒塌了，并且倒塌得很大。 ”
信息分享
耶稣开始传道的时候，常采用简单的例子和象征说法来讲解道理。但是，大约到祂事奉的最后一年，当群众开始排斥祂，祂便更多采用比喻来教导众人。
祂的用意是希望所讲的故事，只有那些愿意张开属灵眼睛及耳朵的人，才能明白当中的含意。祂曾经多次说过这句话：「凡有耳的，就应当听。」（太十三9）我们今天是否需要用助听器，才能听见祂的话呢？
耶稣所讲的比喻多不胜数。如果把一些简单的例子也计算在内，总数便超过一百个；但按照一般的计算，公认的比喻共有39个。
这些故事涵盖人生的很多方面。当我们看见农人在田里撒种，就想起今天的基督徒正在世界各地撒播神的道的好种。
我们在这些比喻中，看见烘面包的妇人，听见穷寡妇的苦苦哀求，还看见一个东方婚礼和参与婚宴的客人。我们看见渔夫捕鱼和牧羊人放牧；更听见建造在沙土上的房子隆隆倒塌的响声。
这些比喻的主题，包括强调时间的珍贵、责任感的重要，以及将来的赏赐。在全部39个比喻中，有19个谈及钱财的运用。由于所有比喻都涉及人性，我们便很容易发现，自耶稣时代以来，人性一直没有改变。今天的人与古时的人没有两样。
基督说：「凡有耳听的，就应当听。」我们今天是否听得见呢？或是圣经的比喻声如洪钟一般，不单让我们清楚听进耳里，还响彻心中？
DO YOU NEED A HEARING AID?
Matthew 7: 24-27
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Message
They have a strong Eastern flavour but they are so true to life even today that a study of them can be very rewarding.
While he had always used short illustrations and figures of speech, it was in the last year or so when the people had begun to reject him that he started using parables.
His intention was that these stories should only yield their meaning to those whose spiritual eyes and ears were open to his message. He said several times, 'If you have ears, listen.' (Matthew 13:9). Do we today need hearing aids when listening to his words?
It is difficult to count the number of parables. If you include the short illustrations, the total might be over 100 but the generally accepted figure is about 39.
These stories cover so many areas of life. We watch the sower as he strides across the field and we are reminded of Christians today sowing the good seed of the Word of God.
We watch a woman baking bread, we listen to a poor woman pleading her cause. We see an Eastern wedding and the wedding guests. We see the fisherman and the shepherd at work. We hear the crash of a house built on poor foundations.
Time is referred to in these parables. Accountability is stressed.Rewards are mentioned. 19 out of the 39 parables deal with the right or wrong use of money. And because the stories deal with men and women, we realise human nature hasn't changed since Christ's day. It is still the same today.
What did Christ say? If you have ears, listen.' Do we need help with our hearing today or is the message coming through loud and clear?