Where is your hope? 哪里是你的盼望 The world has become more chaotic这个世界已经变成更乱. A virus pandemic, 全球病毒大流行 an economic crisis经济危机, soaring unemployment失业率飙升, racial violence种族暴乱, and political turmoil, and so on政治动荡等等. “nation rises against nation国攻打国, and kingdom against kingdom民攻打民.” As people of God作为神子民, our hope is God’s kingdom to come我们的盼望是神的王国降临. In fact 事实上God’s Kingdom has come神的国已经来了, but it’s not yet in its fullness但尚未完全When Jesus comes again耶稣再来时, He will bring a Millennial reign (1,000 year) of His Kingdom on earth with His faithful followers (see Re 20:4-6). 祂将带祂忠心的跟随者一起来地上作王一千年（参阅启20：4-6） That’s what we hope for.这是我们的盼望所在。

The world is not our home! 这世界不是我们的家！For we are unable to live in this world forever因我们无法永远生活在这个世上, this is not our home这不是我们的家, we are just “foreigners” and “exiles” in this world在这个世上我们只是“寄居的”和“客旅”。 Recently, I’ve been thinking about my own life journey of ‘exile’. 最近，我一直在想自己的“客旅”生活。 I moved from a small city to a big city我从小城市移居到大城市, and later on I moved to an international city然后又移到国际城市, and now现在, I’m in NZ. 我在新西兰 I am a foreigner indeed in this world在这个世上我实在是客旅. But every day但每一天, I’m preparing myself for home我为回家作准备, the place where I’ll being staying forever. 那是我将永住的地方 And that’s also the home for all of us to stay in forever那也是我们每一个人将永居的地方. Because our Father in heaven has prepared a place for us因为我们的天父在那里为我们预备了地方. Have you truly realised that你意识到了马? Have you been preparing yourself for that home你为此预备你自己吗? Today今天, we ‘ll continue to look at Matthew 13, to see why we should prepare ourselves for Jesus’ return.我们要继续来看马太福音13章 ,There will be an exciting time将来会有令人兴奋的事, and a painful time for different people who respond to Jesus differently不同的人对福音的不同回应,也会有令人不快的事. Let’s read Matt 13: 24-30, 36-43 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” …36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

1, Summarize the story briefly.简要概括这比喻

Firstly首先, let’s briefly go through the 3W’s in this parable - who, what and when. 让我们看看在这比喻中的三个W Who are they in this parable? 比喻中都有谁？The Son of Man Jesus 人子耶稣–> the sower of the good seed (the people of God) 撒好种的人(神子民). The enemy (devil) 仇敌魔鬼 –> the sower of weeds撒稗子的 (the people of the evil one撒旦的子民). The harvesters 收割的人–> Angels 天使们

What has happened? 发生了什么事？Jesus sows the good seed in his field耶稣在他的田里撒了好种 and the devil also put his people in it魔鬼也把他的子民放了进来. Three things will happen when the last harvest comes最后的收获来临时，将发生三件事. First of all首先, Jesus will send his angels to pull the weeds up and burn them in the fire耶稣会派遣天使将稗子拔出来并用火焚烧. Then然后, he will send His angels to weed out of His Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil主耶稣要差遣他的使者，把一切叫人跌倒和作恶的，从他的国挑出来. They will be thrown into the blazing furnace他们要被丢在火炉里, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth在那里必要哀哭切齿了. Last of all最后, the righteous will be rewarded.义人要被赏赐。When will it happen? 这些事要什么时候发生？At the end of the age before Jesus returns to reign.,在末期主耶稣来掌权之前。

We really need to know the hope of the inheritance of the Kingdom我们确实需要知道这承受国度的盼望, so that we may be inspired and encouraged to change the way we live in this life. 就因此被激励鼓舞，以改变我们今生的生活方式。

So today所以今天, I’m gonna talk about why we need to prepare for Jesus’ second coming in light of this parable根据这个比喻，我要和大家分享一下关于为什么我们要为主再来预备自己. But please listen但请听, the primary purpose of Jesus’ teaching on what will happen in the end age isn’t merely to satisfy our curiosity耶稣教导末世将会发生什么的主要目的不是为了满足我们的好奇心. Rather相反, it’s to motivate us to be willing to change the way we live是为了激励我们愿意去改变我们的生活方式, so that we may be qualified for future rewards因此我们可以得着将来的赏赐Now, comes a question 现在，出现一个问题：

2. What do the wheat and the weeds stand for? 麦子和稗子代表什么呢？And what happens at their ending? V.38  到了末期他们的结局又如何呢？

38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one 田地，就是世界。好种，就是天国之子。稗子，就是那恶者之子。Jesus clearly tells us that the wheat stands for the believers. 耶稣清楚地告诉我们麦子就是信徒。And the weeds represent the people who are involved in churches but haven’t been born again. 稗子就是那些来了教会但没有重生的。Therefore, they don’t have the Holy Spirit.因此，他们里面没有圣灵。 Because they don’t repent of their sins, so they still belong to darkness. 他们不认罪悔改，所以仍属黑暗。 The devil sows them into churches for his purpose of causing people to sin against God. 恶者把稗子撒在教会中是为了叫人犯罪得罪神。

But those who are children of God will also cause troubles, divisions, and do evil, when they fail the testing of their faith and open doors for the devil. 但神的子民若是信心考试失败，给魔鬼开了门，也会行恶，制造麻烦或带来纷争。So we are told not to judge but leave room for God to judge. 所以这稗子麦子不是我们自己来审判而是神。 In 1 Peter chapter 1, when it talks about the believers, 在彼得前书第一章，论到信徒时， v. 23 says, For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是借着神活泼常存的道。

Who are the people of God? 谁是属神的子民呢？ The people who receive the gospel 就是那些听了福音--- the imperishable word of God, Jesus Christ, 信了神不能朽坏的真理，耶稣基督and have been born again by repenting of their sins and receiving the Holy Spirit to dwell in them are the people of God. 并认罪悔改，重生了，如今又有圣灵在他们里面的就是属神的。So, if you’ve received Jesus and His grace to forgive your sins and confessed that He is your Lord from your mouth and believed Him in your heart, you have been born again. 所以你若接受耶稣并他赦罪的救恩，口里认耶稣为主，心里信他，你就重生了。You are then the people of God. 你就是属神的子民。

What will happen to the weeds and the wheat in the end age? 到了末期，稗子和麦子的结局又如何呢？

It’s very clear.很清楚了。 Jesus tells us in verse 40, “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 在40节耶稣说：“将稗子薅出来，用火焚烧。世界的末了，也要如此。”The unbelievers who belong to darkness and don’t have the Holy Spirit 不信的人仍属黑暗，没有圣灵在他们心里– the light dwelling in their hearts will be thrown into the fire. 没有光住在里面的要扔在火里烧了。This is also written in the book of Revelation. 20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 在启示录15:20也记载了“若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。”The lake of fire is also known as the second death. 这火湖就是第二次的死。 Re 21:8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” 启21:8 ‘惟有胆怯的，不信的，可憎的，杀人的，淫乱的，行邪术的，拜偶像的，和一切说谎话的，他们的分就在烧着硫磺的火湖里。这是第二次的死。’The second death is eternal death and eternal separation from the God of Hope. 这第二次的死是永远的死，永远与从神来的盼望无份了。Obviously, the lake of fire is the destination of unbelievers. 明显的，不信的人，他们的结局就是火湖（永死）。

However, verse 43 tells us that the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. 但43节却告诉我们“那时义人在他们父的国里，要发出光来，像太阳一样。” Who are they? 他们是谁？Psa 37:5 says, Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 5 当 将 你 的 事 交 托 耶 和 华 ， 并 倚 靠 他 ， 他 就 必 成 全 。6 他 要 使 你 的 公 义 如 光 发 出 ， 使 你 的 公 平 明 如 正 午。In other words换句话说, they are those who commit their ways to the Lord and put their trust in Him rather than trusting in the self, and they will shine like the sun他们是那些将自己交托神和倚靠祂不依靠自己的人，他们要像太阳一样发光. They are believers that will go into the eternal Kingdom 他们是信而将要进入永恒国度的But strangely, if it was only that simple that the believers go to eternity, and the unbelievers go to eternal fire, 但奇怪的是，如果只是信就永生，不信就永死这么简单的话， what was the point of Jesus teaching the bible to His believers? 耶稣为什么还要给他的信徒讲解圣经呢？And if it was only that simple, 如果只是那么简单的话，what is the point of a born-again Christian seeking maturity and wholeness in Christ? 为什么重生的基督徒还要追求“长成基督的身量”和 基督里的完全呢？Actually, it is not that simple! 其实没那么简单。Definitely, the unbelievers go to eternal fire.确实，不信的结果就是扔在火湖里，那火是不灭的。 But something happens among the believers when Jesus returns to reward His people. 但当耶稣再来的时候，他要赏赐那信他的人。

3. What will happen to the believers in the end age?  V.42-43末世信徒将发生什么事（42-43节）

We notice that between verse 43 – 我们注意到第43节—the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father 义人将如太阳在他们父的国里发光，and verse 40 –和第40节—the unbelievers will be burned in the fire. 不信的人将被火焚烧。There’s verse 41- 42 – 这两节中间加入了第41-42节—“They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “丢在火炉里，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。” Who are they who will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when Jesus returns to reign on earth? 当耶稣再来、在地上掌权作王时，哀哭切齿的人是谁呢? In the book of Matthew several times Jesus himself mentioned 马太福音中主耶稣几次提到，that there will be people weeping and gnashing of teeth. 那时将会有人哀哭切齿。In Matthew chapter 8, 马太福音8章，when Jesus was amazed at the Romans Centurion’s faith, 耶稣希奇罗马百夫长的信心， he said to those following him, 祂对跟从祂的人说： “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith, I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “我实在告诉你们：这么大的信心，就是在以色列中，我也没有遇见过。我又告诉你们：从东从西，将有许多人来，在天国里与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各一同坐席；惟有本国的子民，竟被赶到外边黑暗里去，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。” In the light of this context, 根据上下文，firstly, we see that Jesus was talking to those who followed him. 首先我们看到耶稣说话的对象是那些“跟从他的人”。 Secondly, he was talking about how man’s faith qualifies him for the banquet of the Lamb. 其次，祂讲到拥有怎样信心的人才有资格赴羔羊的婚筵。 Jesus was contrasting the faith of the centurion with the faith of many of the people of Israel. 耶稣将百夫长的信心与许多以色列人的信心对比。Thirdly, “the children of the kingdom”, 第三，“本国的子民”，the Jew who didn’t have that faith would be cast out into outer darkness 没有信心的犹太人将被赶到外边黑暗里去，where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 在那里必要哀哭切齿了。

The word translated as “weeping” means to cry. “哀哭”在原文的意思是哭泣， And the word "gnashing" primarily means “biting” or “chattering”. “切齿”原意是指“咬”或“颤抖”，They can represent feelings of sorrow and regret. 它们表达出悲伤、后悔的情感。Another place where Jesus again mentioned the wedding banquet in Matthew 22,  另一处耶稣再次提及婚筵是在马太福音22章，he said in verse 11-13, 11-13节他说：  “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” “11王进来观看宾客，见那里有一个没有穿礼服的，12就对他说：‘朋友，你到这里来怎么不穿礼服呢？’那人无言可答。13于是王对使唤的人说：‘捆起他的手脚来，把他丢在外边的黑暗里，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。’14因为被召的人多，选上的人少。”

Here our Lord Jesus tells us 这里主耶稣告诉我们，that those who don’t wear wedding clothes 那些不穿礼服的人，will be put outside where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 将被丢在外面，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。Many are called, 被召的人多， Christians are all called, 信徒都是被召的，but few are chosen. 但是选上的人少。 Who is qualified to be at the wedding banquet? 谁有资格去参加那婚筵?Do you want to be there? 你想去吗?Yes! 想去!But you must wear wedding clothes. 但你必须得穿上礼服。

From the book of Revelation, 从《启示录》中,we see that the Wedding Banquet will happen in chapter 19我们看到婚筵出现在第19章， which is prior to the coming of the new heaven and the new earth in chapter 21, 在21章的新天新地之前， where all the believers will be there,那时所有的信徒都会在那里， and that’s right before Christ’s Thousand Year reign on earth in chapter 20. 此时正是20章里“基督在地上掌权一千年”之前。

As a result, 因此，weeping and gnashing of teeth will happen when the Banquet comes, “哀哭切齿”正发生在婚筵到来之时，but before the Thousand Year reign on earth in chapter 20:1-6, 却是在20章1-6节地上“千年国度”之前， and also before the judgment of the dead in Chapter 20: 11-15. 更是在20章11-15节审判死去的人之前。The bible tells us, 圣经告诉我们,  “The Lord will judge His people (Heb 10:30)” “主要审判他的百姓。”（来10:30） “judgement begins with God’s household (1 Peter 4:17)” “审判要从　神的家起首”（彼前 4:17)So it has nothing to do with the judgment of the dead 因此这件事不是关乎审判死人，because at that time the hour of the judgement of the unbelievers hasn’t come yet, 因那时对非信徒的审判还未来到， but will have something to do with the reward of attending the Wedding of the Lamb.这乃是关乎谁能得着赴羔羊婚筵的赏赐。In other words换句话说, weeping and gnashing of teeth has nothing to do with losing salvation哀哭切齿和不得救无关, but has something to do with losing the reward.但却和得不着这赏赐有关

In Re 19:7-8, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 【启19:7-8】7我们要欢喜快乐，将荣耀归给他。因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇也自己预备好了，8就蒙恩得穿光明洁白的细麻衣。这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义。

Who is qualified to be at the wedding banquet? 谁有资格赴羔羊的婚筵?His bride –就是祂的新妇— His church has made herself ready by wearing fine linen. 祂的教会已经穿上细麻衣预备好了。 Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the Saints. 细麻衣预表圣徒所行的义，The clothing represents the righteous acts that believers have done by God’s grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit. 预表信徒藉着神的恩典、靠圣灵的能力所行的义。 However, 可是，would people of God act carnally instead of righteously? 神的子民会不会行在肉体里却不行在（基督的）义里? Would people of God act unfaithfully? 神的子民会不会不忠心?  

In Matthew 24, 《马太福音》24章，the parable of the unfaithful servant, 关于不忠心仆人的比喻中，Jesus himself says that when he returns 耶稣说当祂再来、to reward His faithful servants, 奖赏祂忠心仆人的时候，the unfaithful servant will be punished 那不忠心的仆人将被处治，and they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 他们必要哀哭切齿了。

1 John 3: 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 神小子们哪，不要被人诱惑。行义的才是义人，正如主是义的一样。 (约翰一书 3:7) Positionally地位上, righteousness is also credited to us who are Christians as the same as Abraham对上帝称基督徒为义和亚伯拉罕一样. Practically实际经历中, the fruit in our life must be seen to be like Christ’s righteousness我们生命的果子当有基督的义果. Because faith without deeds is death信心没有行为是死的。

For instance, God says, 比如，神说， forgive and love your enemies. 饶恕并爱你的仇敌。We say, “why should I forgive him who hurt me?” 我们却说，“他伤害我，我为什么还饶恕他？”God says, “give money to the poor.” 神说，“把钱分给穷人。” We say, “why should I give? 我们却说：“我为什么要给？My family needs that money too.” 我家里也需要钱。”The choice of choosing to trust in God and His words, 是信神和神的话，or to trust in what we see or what we think, 或者信我们所见所想，and the choice of choosing obedience or disobedience to God’s commands是选择顺服神的诫命，或选择悖逆神的诫命， will determine whether we will receive a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of Jesus or not. 将决定了我们在进入耶稣永恒国度时是否受到盛大的欢迎（是否是丰富进入神的国）。Though it’s all about God’s grace and mercy, 尽管一切都是神的恩典和怜悯，but we have freewill to choose to obey or not.但我们仍有自由意志去选择听从或不听从。 Jesus says in Luke 11:28, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” 耶稣说：「是，却还不如听　神之道而遵守的人有福。」(路加福音 11:28) Do Christians disobey the word of God they’ve heard? 会有基督徒听了道，不听从的吗? Yes. There are many. 会，很多不听从的。

I knew a born-again Christian who had been involved in church communities for ten years but didn’t forgive his mother-in-law until his death. 我认识一位重生基督徒，虽然他在教会里呆了十年，却到死也不饶恕他的岳母。Once, I asked him, 有一次我问他， “Do you want to set yourself free by forgiving your mother-in-law?” “你想要饶恕你岳母好让自己得释放吗？”He said, 他回答说， “no. I can’t forgive her because she hurt me deeply by looking down on me, 不，我就是不饶恕，她大大伤害了我， when I was poor and didn’t have money to marry her daughter…因我和她女儿结婚时没钱，她就看不起我…but I know Jesus loves me and He has been so good to me over these years, 但我知道耶稣爱我，这么多年都爱我，and I’ll be with Him forever, 我相信我会永远和祂在一起，I’ve repented of my sins and forgiven everyone except my mother-in-law. 我已经悔改我的罪，除了我岳母，我饶恕其他所有人。” He died of bowel cancer when he was 33 years old and didn’t forgive his mother-in-law. 他33岁死于肠癌，还是没有饶恕岳母。

Will one day Jesus ask him是否有一天耶稣会问他：‘Why did you call me Lord, Lord, and didn’t do what I said?”“你为什么称呼我“主啊，主啊”，却不遵我的话行呢？” Now, you may start to question in your heart, 听到这里，你心里也许开始怀疑，“Am I qualified to be at the Wedding Banquet?” “我够格参加婚宴吗？”Stop judging yourself. 停止论断自己。 Let’s wake up and put our trust in God! 醒来，信靠神！ It’s all about God’s grace and how we respond to His commands in faith. 一切都是神的恩典，和我们该如何以信而行神的命令。Without faith it’s impossible to please God, 人非有信，不能得神的喜悦，we are not only to believe that He exists but also to believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.我们不但信有神，且信祂赏赐恳切寻求祂的人。

The last bible passage, 还有最后一节经文，2 Tim 2:20-22, In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 在大户人家，不但有金器银器，也有木器瓦器；有作为贵重的，有作为卑贱的。 人若自洁，脱离卑贱的事，就必作贵重的器皿，成为圣洁，合乎主用，预备行各样的善事。 你要逃避少年的私欲，同那清心祷告主的人追求公义、信德、仁爱、和平。 (提摩太后书 2:20-22)

In God’s big house, 在神的大家庭里，there are vessels of gold and silver, 有金器银器，and also of wood and clay, 也有木器瓦器，you may consider yourself as vessels of wood and clay, 你可能认为自己是木器瓦器， because you think that you’re just for common use. 因你觉得自己很普通。 But no one is born being of gold and silver which represents the life of Christ, 但没有人生下来就是金器银器，那是指基督的生命，even Moses had been prepared and refined for 40 years in the desert before he was mightily used by God. 就连摩西也在旷野里经过40年的预备和打磨，才能被神大大使用。We all need to be cleansed and sanctified from being of wood and clay我们都需要洗净、成为圣洁，脱离木器瓦器的光景，- being carnal minded. 就是脱离肉体的思维。 We are still on the way! 我们还在途中！God gives us time to get ourselves ready for the invitation. 神给我们时间为参加婚宴做准备。He wants us to be there! 祂盼望我们出现在婚宴中！We are invited! 我们已被邀请！ But we need to prepare: 我们仍需预备：

Flee the evil desires of youth just like Joseph the son of Jacob did! 像雅各的儿子约瑟那样，逃避少年人的私欲！

Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace in Christ! 追求基督里的公义、信心、爱和平安！

Walk along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart! 和那些存清洁的心求告主耶稣的人同行！

Get yourself ready for Jesus’ return! 为耶稣再来预备自己！