天国的降临与蒙福之人

 2000年前，拿撒勒人耶稣在地中海东岸的山坡上教导众人。他的听众大多是贫穷、生病、被罗马人占领土地并背负重税的无名之辈。尽管他们看似微不足道，耶稣却宣告：士将要从他们开始。

耶稣开始教导说：“心灵贫乏的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。” 耶稣用“天国”一词描述一种新的现实。在我们有限的视野中，世界充满暴力和堕落，强权和功力至上。但在耶稣眼中，另有一个慷慨至上、充满正义与和平、由爱来定义的世界。这个天国超越我们的现实，听起来可能遥不可及，但耶稣宣告说，这个天国此时此刻就已降临在地上，并且就从这群人开始。

接下来，耶稣继续出人意料的教导：

• 哀痛的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。 耶稣对这些社会底层的听众说，哀伤将要变为喜悦。
• 温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受土地。 这些人无权无势、微不足道，但耶稣说总有一天，这个世界是属于他们的。

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和平的革命与古老应许的实现

这听起来像是耶稣要发动一场革命，但这场革命并非野心勃勃者之间的权力争夺战，而是一群想要服侍彼此的人所发起的运动。他们渴望在人与人、社群与社群、国家与国家之间建立健康的关係。

正如耶稣接下来所说：

• 饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。
• 怜恤人的人有福了，因为他们必蒙怜恤。 想象一下，一群无权无势的无名之辈，以慷慨、宽恕和正义来治理世界，这就是耶稣所说的革命。

然后耶稣接着说：

• 内心清洁的人有福了，因为他们必得见上帝。 耶稣知道我们每一个选择背后的动机往往不那么单一，所以在他看来，只有那些认识到自己需要被改变的人，才能真正做到爱上帝和爱人，才有可能创造真正的和平。这听起来美妙，但其实是一个激进的呼召。

而且耶稣后面的话更加体现了这种呼召的激进之处：

• 使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必被称为上帝的孩子。 天国的新现实不会自然形成，它需要有人来推动，他们要介入到他人的冲突之中，敦促并帮忙开辟一条通往和平的路。
• 为义受逼迫的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。 这样的生活方式非常危险，卷入冲突并倡导和平绝不是一种安逸的生活方式。

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继承者：盐与光

因此，耶稣呼召众人参与这场和平革命，他也指出其高昂的代价：“人若因我辱骂你们，逼迫你们，捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。应当欢喜快乐，因为你们在赏赐是大的。在你们以前的先知人也是这样逼迫他们。”

耶稣和当时的听众都是以色列人。在希伯来圣经中，上帝曾应许要通过以色列来恢复他的国度，重新统管全世界。但随着历史的发展，以色列也堕落了，变得和其他民族一样充满暴力，最终沦为暴虐之国的奴隶。但以色列的先知们却勇于对抗这些王国，大胆斥责他们的堕落。先知说，终有一天上帝的天国要降临在地上，而且要从一小群愿意向上帝献上一切的以色列人开始。

所以耶稣要让他的听众意识到，他们正是这份产业的一部分。这就是为什么耶稣用希伯来圣经中的三个意象来结束这第一段的教导：

• 他先是说：“你们是世上的盐。” 盐是一种用来保存食物的矿物质，在圣经中，盐可以象征上帝与以色列之间长存的盟约。所以耶稣在这里的意思就是，他和这帮同道之人正要一同实现上帝古老且恒久的应许，一起更新这个世界。
• 然后耶稣又说：“你们是世上的光，城造在山上是不能隐藏的。” 他这里引用了一个经典的圣经意象，上帝的光代表他的同在，耶路撒冷圣殿就是一座在山上的城，所以上帝的光就从他的居所中照耀出来。但耶稣的听众并不是统治者，他们甚至都不住在耶路撒冷。然而耶稣却说：“欢呼吧！你们就是上帝的盐，上帝的城，上帝的光！你们都是有福的人，是那个将要向全世界彰显上帝国度的新耶路撒冷。”

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展望未来

可是一群跟随耶稣的无名之辈要如何开启全新的世界呢？所以耶稣要帮助他们重新认识上帝、认识自己，知道我们应该要如何生活、如何对待他人。

另作英文翻译：English version

Jesus’ Teachings: The Arrival of the Kingdom and the Blessed

Two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth taught a crowd on a hillside along the eastern Mediterranean. His audience consisted mostly of the poor, the sick, and the nameless, burdened by Roman occupation and heavy taxes. Though they seemed insignificant, Jesus proclaimed that a new era would begin with them.

Jesus began, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The “kingdom of heaven” described a new reality. In our limited view, the world is filled with violence and corruption, where power and ambition reign. But Jesus envisioned a world defined by generosity, justice, peace, and love. This kingdom transcends our reality and may seem distant, yet Jesus declared it was breaking into the world at that very moment, starting with this group.

Jesus continued with surprising teachings:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” To these marginalized listeners, Jesus said their sorrow would turn to joy.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Powerless and insignificant, they were told the world would one day belong to them.

A Peaceful Revolution and the Fulfillment of Ancient Promises
This sounded like a revolution, but not a power struggle among the ambitious. It was a movement of people serving one another, yearning for healthy relationships between individuals, communities, and nations.

As Jesus continued:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Imagine a group of powerless nobodies governing the world with generosity, forgiveness, and justice—this was Jesus’ revolution.

Then Jesus added:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Jesus knew human motives are often mixed, so only those who recognize their need for change can truly love God and others, creating genuine peace. This is a beautiful yet radical call.

His next words underscored this radical call:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” The kingdom’s new reality doesn’t form naturally; it requires people to intervene in conflicts, urging and forging paths to peace.
“Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This lifestyle is dangerous—engaging in conflict and advocating peace is far from easy.

Heirs: Salt and Light
Thus, Jesus called the crowd to join this peaceful revolution, acknowledging its high cost: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”

Jesus and his audience were Israelites. In the Hebrew Scriptures, God promised to restore his kingdom through Israel, to rule the world anew. But over time, Israel fell into violence like other nations, becoming slaves to tyrannical empires. Yet Israel’s prophets boldly confronted these kingdoms, condemning their corruption. They foretold that one day, God’s kingdom would come, starting with a small group of Israelites fully devoted to God.

Jesus wanted his listeners to see themselves as part of this inheritance. He concluded this teaching with three images from the Hebrew Scriptures:

First, he said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Salt, a preservative, symbolized God’s enduring covenant with Israel. Jesus meant that he and his followers were fulfilling God’s ancient, lasting promise to renew the world.
Then he said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” This echoed a biblical image: God’s light represents his presence, shining from Jerusalem’s temple, a city on a hill. Yet Jesus’ listeners weren’t rulers or Jerusalemites. Still, he declared, “Rejoice! You are God’s salt, God’s city, God’s light! You are the blessed, the new Jerusalem that will reveal God’s kingdom to the world.”

Looking Ahead
But how could a group of nameless followers of Jesus start a new world? Jesus sought to help them rediscover God, themselves, and how to live and treat others.