The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-09

trary to the traditional Interpretation of
the Mosaic Law. The Pharisees have
added to the old law, 7Nou shall Io0e thy
neigh6oy, the modifying words (Mat. 5:43l
BIT Hiou shat late thine enemy. Every
man not a Jew was regarded by the Phari-
sees as natural enemy. OF this preva-
lent partialism the lawyer was an exponent.
He now ventured to test Jesus soundness
on this Interpretation of the law He
therefore, seeking to justify himself in his
heresyhunt, asked his second question,
And aOAo is my neteA60v?
2. Jesus Answers by a Parable,
VS.. 3o-3s.
Doubtless it seemed to the lawyer an
easy task to prove Jesus hereto under
this new inquiry. And to prove him un-
orthodox on the Pharisaic Interpretation
of the law would be equivalent to turning
upon him the foodgates of Pharisaic exc
Grafton.
We know not where to look for better
exhibition of ready sagacity and calmness
of courage than we find in the reply Jesus
made to the lawyer. Once before, in Cali
lee, when direct statements of his doctrine
would have rendered Jesus utterances in
dictable as heresy or treason, he found
fortress in parable; from which he still eff
fectively continued his spiritual warfare.
So now he escapes the trap set for him by
parable, in which, however, he breaches
his doctrine with utmost plainness.
Jesus did not ask the lawyers own opin-
ion on this second test-question. Heknew
in advance how partial and false it would
be. He gave his own answer in story of
real life.
A man,--he did not call him a Jew, it
suited his purpose to name him a man,
was going down the rocky gorge from Jeru-
salem to Jericho; the robber-infested road
popularity known as "the bloody way" He
fell into the hands of robbers; and making
resistance to their demand, they assaulted
him and dubbed him into insensbility;
and stripping him of his clothing, left him
to die, and already half dead. While he
lay in this sorrowful plight priest by
providential coincidence came that way;
man of God, descendant of Aaron, a
man of all others to hear the silent plead
iuS, VI lOllOiH anu HClDlCSS lSllOW-
human being. But the priest, having taken
a careful look at the sufferer, deemed it
not well to pass too near; he chose path
which led by on the other side of the
favine, and went on his prayerful and pious
way. Soon after Levite, who as de-
scendant of Levi may have been an attend
ant on the priest, followed the steps of his
Ia H,, s,Io
under obligation to perform the more or
binary and secular duties required by the
Mosaic law as a practical servant of his
national religion it fell directly within his
function to give the stricken wayfarer re-
lief. And he did somewhat more than his
predecessor. He came at least to where
the poor man was lying, with his bloody
wounds exposed and appealing for helpful
pity. But the Leyite thought of himself;
he would not rebuke the example of his
priest by seeking to improve upon ii: so
he, with some shameful regrets perhaps,
passed by ON the other side. Thea, after
period, during which the agony of the
PROSTATE naked man might almost awaken
pity IN the stones about him, Samaritan
came that way. A Samaritan! The word
is the synonym of hereto. He is of alien
race; he is scorned by the Pharisees as an
enemy. Surely no good may be looked for
in him. But when he discovers the stricken
man he pauses. He descends from his
beast and briefly INDUCES his compassion.
The danger to him from the robbers is
greater than it could have been to priest
II IL =. 7
erty might protect them but the Samaritan
is an alien, and moreover has money in
his possession. Nevertheless he does not
hesitate. The robbers may be even now
watching him from the clefts. But he is
not deferred by fear. From his scrip he
brings wine and oil, to cleanse and sooth
the sufferers wounds. Perhaps by shred
ding his abba, he obtains bandages for the
mans bruises; in his own surplus clothing
he finds covering for his nakedness. The
very robbers, if watching from their COW
erts, were too much men not to be awed
by such heroism of humanity. When the
poor man becomes able, the Samaritan
hereto lifts him to his own vacated place
on his beast. He holds him on, walking
by his side, till khan is reached. He
here proc"res for him shelter and susie
nances. He spends the day and the night
in ministry to his needs On the morrow,
when his own business requires his atten-
ton, he tells the innkeeper that he will be
responsible for the Indebtedness which the
unfortunate man may incur during his re-
covery, and giving the host an earnest of
three dollars and saying that he will pay
for the rest when he comes again, the Sa-
marian goes on his way.
Whether this story was not literally from
real life, has been question among schol-
airs. The tourist is still shown the reputed
spot where the robber-beaten victim lay by
the road, as well as the grotto to which the
robbers fed. In any case it was to the
hearers of Jesus story so akin to realities
that the effect of its narration must have
been immediate and deep.
3. Every Needy Soul is our
NeighbOr,-vs. SO, 81.
1t was now time to ask the lawyer a
question: Which Of these three, Minkest
thou, Pr0ved nsigh6oy unto him that fell