538. LUK 10:30-37. THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luk_10:30-37. The Good Samaritan

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead: and by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side," &c.’97Luk_10:30-37.

This parable was delivered on the occasion of a certain lawyer, standing up with a view to perplex the Saviour. Under a feigned purpose, he asked a very important question’97What he should "do to inherit eternal life?" Luk_10:25. Jesus knowing all that was in his heart, and resolving to convict him out of his own mouth, and at the same time to show him the fallaciousness of pharisaic reasoning, replies, that he must do what is written in the law, Luk_10:26. The lawyer then repeats the two great commandments, Luk_10:27. To which Christ answered, "This do, and thou shalt live," Luk_10:28. But anxious to justify himself, he raises the question, as to who should be understood by his neighbor. This question forms the basis of the inimitable parable then delivered. And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho," &c. Observe in the parable,

I. The distressed condition of a fellow-creature. A traveller is on his way from the metropolis of Judea to Jericho, and is surprised and seized by a band of robbers. The distance, though only about sixteen miles, was through an exposed and dangerous country. Some parts of the road were rocky and mountainous, and not inhabited, affording places of retreat for robbers and highwaymen.

Our traveller, alone and unprotected, becomes an easy prey to them. They not only take his property, but they strip him of his clothes, and wound him, leaving him only just alive. Prostrate on the ground, with his wounds open, and probably the gore flowing therefrom, he is helpless, and ready to perish.

What a spectacle of distress and misery! What a proof of the cruelty and ferocity of the depraved heart of man! Of what vileness men are capable’97in some respects more to be dreaded than the savage beast of prey that roams abroad in the forest.

In this state of suffering and peril the wretched man lays, when we are called to witness,

II. The embodiment of selfishness in two travellers who are passing by.

1. A certain priest. Of these a great many resided at Jericho, and therefore would often have occasion to pass to Jerusalem. As he drew near, he beheld the wounded man on the other side of the way, and without doing more than gazing on his mangled fellow-being, he hastens on his journey. He neither stops nor speaks to him, but leaves him in his misery and helplessness, without compassion or aid. Next came,

2. A Levite. Another of the sacred profession, whose office was to assist the priests in the public services of religion. He, when he came near, just looked on him’97saw more fully his condition than the priest had done: but this was all, for he then held on his journey, and administered no help to the almost dying sufferer. How vile and hard-hearted were these two men! How they degraded their own humanity, and especially sinned against the offices which they held. As men they were base enough, but as religionists they were execrable. Under what a spirit of self-delusion and vain hypocrisy they were living. At this juncture, when both priest and Levite had left the man to perish, we are directed,

III. To see an exhibition of love and mercy where we should not have expected to find it. "But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed," &c., Luk_10:33.

The sufferer was a Jew; and between the Jews and the Samaritans a deadly prejudice and hostility existed. Besides, they were reckoned a selfish and unfeeling people. He, therefore, might have passed on with the utmost indifference, without exciting our surprise. But mark how contrariwise he acted.

1. His eye affected his heart. "When he saw him, he had compassion," Luk_10:33. He recognized a fellow-creature in distress and suffering, and his soul was melted, and his sympathies aroused.

2. Bis feet hastened to him. He stayed not to gaze at a distance, nor hurried past the scene, but under the genial influence of mercy, he ran to the spot where the sufferer lay.

3. His hands ministered to him. "He bound up his wounds," and thus stayed the effusion of blood. He poured in oil and wine to allay the pain, and to heal them. "He set him on his own beast," as he was unable to walk. He watched over him with the utmost care. Travelled gently as the sufferer could bear. He conveyed him to the nearest tavern’97commended him especially to the host. He gave him twopence, or about one shilling and threepence of our money, to pay the charge; and he engaged to pay any other expense that might be incurred in ministering to his future wants. Here was genuine kindness, tender compassion, in which all that is lovely and beautiful were combined. We see that from its rise to its termination, it was sincere, and ardent, and self-denying. And it was to an unknown individual, and one of a nation which he abhorred. But self and prejudice were both sacrificed on the altar of humanity, goodness, and mercy. Observe,

IV. The inevitable conclusion to which the querulous lawyer was forced. Now says the Great Teacher, "Which of these three was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?" Luk_10:30. He replied, "He that showed mercy on him," Luk_10:37. Then said Christ to the lawyer, "Go and do thou likewise," Luk_10:37.

(1.) Think of the Samaritan, and admire his spirit.

(2.) Have equally generous feelings towards all thy suffering fellow-creatures.

(3.) Imitate him when such circumstances shall be presented before thine eyes. And the parable says the same to us. The love of our neighbor, which is one of the great essentials of true religion, involves all that the Samaritan felt and did. Nothing less than this is love. And this, beautiful as it was, was nothing more. Never ask with a view of evading duty, who is my neighbor? For remember,

"Thy neighbor! it is he whom thou

Hast power to aid and bless;

Whose aching heart, or burning brow,

Thy soothing hand may press.

Where’er thou meet’st a human form,

Less favored than thine own;

Remember, ’tis thy neighbor worm,

Thy brother, or thy son."

Learn,

1. The fallacy of that religion which is devoid of mercy and compassion.

2. See under what an awful delusion "professors of religion may live. As in the case of the priest and Levite.

3. Cherish the spirit, and imitate the conduct of the Lord Jesus’97"Who went about doing good."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS