the desire of ages-第95部分
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e。〃
The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees。 He had been studying the Scriptures with a desire to learn their real meaning。 He had a vital interest in the matter； and had asked in sincerity； 〃What shall I do？〃 In his answer as to the requirements
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of the law； he passed by all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic precepts。 For these he claimed no value； but presented the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets。 This answer； being commended by Christ； placed the Saviour on vantage ground with the rabbis。 They could not condemn Him for sanctioning that which had been advanced by an expositor of the law。
〃This do； and thou shalt live；〃 Jesus said。 He presented the law as a divine unity； and in this lesson taught that it is not possible to keep one precept； and break another； for the same principle runs through them all。 Man's destiny will be determined by his obedience to the whole law。 Supreme love to God and impartial love to man are the principles to be wrought out in the life。
The lawyer found himself a lawbreaker。 He was convicted under Christ's searching words。 The righteousness of the law； which he claimed to understand； he had not practiced。 He had not manifested love toward his fellow man。 Repentance was demanded； but instead of repenting； he tried to justify himself。 Rather than acknowledge the truth； he sought to show how difficult of fulfillment the commandment is。 Thus he hoped both to parry conviction and to vindicate himself in the eyes of the people。 The Saviour's words had shown that his question was needless； since he had been able to answer it himself。 Yet he put another question； saying； 〃Who is my neighbor？〃
Among the Jews this question caused endless dispute。 They had no doubt as to the heathen and the Samaritans； these were strangers and enemies。 But where should the distinction be made among the people of their own nation； and among the different classes of society？ Whom should the priest； the rabbi； the elder； regard as neighbor？ They spent their lives in a round of ceremonies to make themselves pure。 Contact with the ignorant and careless multitude； they taught； would cause defilement that would require wearisome effort to remove。 Were they to regard the 〃unclean〃 as neighbors？
Again Jesus refused to be drawn into controversy。 He did not denounce the bigotry of those who were watching to condemn Him。 But by a simple story He held up before His hearers such a picture of the outflowing of heaven…born love as touched all hearts； and drew from the lawyer a confession of the truth。
The way to dispel darkness is to admit light。 The best way to deal with error is to present truth。 It is the revelation of God's love that makes manifest the deformity and sin of the heart centered in self。
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〃A certain man；〃 said Jesus； 〃was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho； and he fell among robbers； which both stripped him and beat him； and departed； leaving him half dead。 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way： and when he saw him； he passed by on the other side。 And in like manner a Levite also； when he came to the place； and saw him； passed by on the other side。〃 Luke 10：30…32； R。 V。 This was no imaginary scene； but an actual occurrence； which was known to be exactly as represented。 The priest and the Levite who had passed by on the other side were in the company that listened to Christ's words。
In journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho； the traveler had to pass through a portion of the wilderness of Judea。 The road led down a wild； rocky ravine； which was infested by robbers； and was often the scene of violence。 It was here that the traveler was attacked； stripped of all that was valuable； wounded and bruised； and left half dead by the wayside。 As he lay thus； the priest came that way； but he merely glanced toward the wounded man。 Then the Levite appeared。 Curious to know what had happened； he stopped and looked at the sufferer。 He was convicted of what he ought to do； but it was not an agreeable duty。 He wished that he had not come that way； so that he need not have seen the wounded man。 He persuaded himself that the case was no concern of his。
Both these men were in sacred office； and professed to expound the Scriptures。 They were of the class specially chosen to be representatives of God to the people。 They were to 〃have compassion on the ignorant； and on them that are out of the way〃 （Heb。 5：2）； that they might lead
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men to understand God's great love toward humanity。 The work they were called to do was the same that Jesus had described as His own when He said； 〃The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me； because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor； He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted； to preach deliverance to the captives； and recovering of sight to the blind； to set at liberty them that are bruised。〃 Luke 4：18。
The angels of heaven look upon the distress of God's family upon the earth； and they are prepared to co…operate with men in relieving oppression and suffering。 God in His providence had brought the priest and the Levite along the road where the wounded sufferer lay； that they might see his need of mercy and help。 All heaven watched to see if the hearts of these men would be touched with pity for human woe。 The Saviour was the One who had instructed the Hebrews in the wilderness； from the pillar of cloud and of fire He had taught a very different lesson from that which the people were now receiving from their priests and teachers。 The merciful provisions of the law extended even to the lower animals； which cannot express in words their want and suffering。 Directions had been given to Moses for the children of Israel to this effect： 〃If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray； thou shalt surely bring it back to him again。 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden； and wouldest forbear to help him； thou shalt surely help with him。〃 Ex。 23：4； 5。 But in the man wounded by robbers； Jesus presented the case of a brother in suffering。 How much more should their hearts have been moved with pity for him than for a beast of burden！ The message had been given them through Moses that the Lord their God； 〃a great God； a mighty； and a terrible；〃 〃doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow； and loveth the stranger。〃 Wherefore He commanded； 〃Love ye therefore the stranger。〃 〃Thou shalt love him as thyself。〃 Deut。 10：17…19； Lev。 19：34。
Job had said； 〃The stranger did not lodge in the street： but I opened my doors to the traveler。〃 And when the two angels in the guise of men came to Sodom； Lot bowed himself with his face toward the ground； and said； 〃Behold now； my lords； turn in； I pray you； into your servant's house； and tarry all night。〃 Job 31：32； Gen。 19：2。 With all these lessons the priest and the Levite were familiar； but they had not brought them into practical life。 Trained in the school of national bigotry； they had become selfish； narrow； and exclusive。 When they looked upon the wounded man； they could not tell whether he was of their nation or not。 They thought he might be of the Samaritans； and they turned away。
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In their action； as Christ had described it； the lawyer saw nothing contrary to what he had been taught concerning the requirements of the law。 But now another scene was presented：
A certain Samaritan； in his journey； came where the sufferer was； and when he saw him； he had compassion on him。 He did not question whether the stranger was a Jew or a Gentile。 If a Jew； the Samaritan well knew that； were their condition reversed； the man would spit in his face； and pass him by with contempt。 But he did not hesitate on account of this。 He did not consider that he himself might be in danger of violence by tarrying in the place。 It was enough that there was before him a human being in need and suffering。 He took off his own garment with which to cover him。 The oil and wine provided for his own journey he used to heal and refresh the wounded man。 He lifted him on his own beast； and moved slowly along with even pace； so that the stranger might not be jarred； and made to suffer increased pain。 He brought him to an inn； and cared for him through the night； watching him tenderly。 In the morning； as the sick man had improved； the Samaritan ventured to go on his way。 But before doing this； he placed him in the care of the innkeeper； paid the charges； and left a deposit for his benefit； and not satisfied even with this； he made provision for any further need； saying to the host； 〃Take care of him； and whatsoever thou spendest more； when I come again； I will repay thee。〃
The story ended； Jesus fixed His eyes upon the lawyer； in a glance that seemed to read his soul； and said； 〃Which of these three； thinkest thou； proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers？〃 Luke 10：36； R。 V。
The lawyer would not； even now； take the name Samaritan upon his lips； and he made answer； 〃He that showed mercy on him。〃 Jesus said； 〃Go； and do thou likewise。〃
Thus the question； 〃Who is my neighbor？〃 is forever answered。 Christ has shown that our neighbor does not mean merely one of the church or faith to which we belong。 It has no reference to race； color； or class distinction。 Our neighbor is every person who needs our help。 Our neighbor is every soul who is wounded and bruised by the adversary。 Our neighbor is everyone who is the property of God。
In the story of the good Samaritan； Jesus gave a picture of Himself and His mission。 Man had been deceived； bruised； robbed； and ruined by Satan； and left to perish； but the Saviour had compassion on our
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helpless condition。 He left His glory； to come to our rescue。 He found us ready to die； and He undertook our case。 He healed our wounds。 He covered us with His robe of righteousness。 He opened to us a refuge of safety； and made complete provision for us at His own charges。 He died to redeem us。 Pointing to His own example； He says to His followers； 〃These things I command you； that ye love one another。〃 〃As I have loved you； that ye also love one
