The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
FEBRUARY II.
Lesson Text: "The Good Samari-
TAM" Luke K, 25-37-Golden
Text: Lev. XIX, IS
Commentary.

25. "And behold, certain lawyer stood
up and tempted Him. saying, Master, what
shall do 10 inherit eternal life?" After the
discourse OF the last lesson on humiliation
Jesus rebuked James and John for their un-
charitableness and zeal, which was not of
God, after which He sent out the seventy 10
heal the sick and preach the kingdom (Luke
TX, 40, to K, ICY. Then follow probably the
events and teaching Of John vii, 2, to K, 21,
after which the seventy return and report as
In Luke <. 1924, after which comes the les
son OF To-day, In which the lawyer, one OF
the wise and prudent of vers, 21, is instruct
ed concerning eternalliie. The lawyer was
not so anxious to obtain eternal life as he
was to try Jesus, and like those OF chapter
XII, 81, get Him to sny something whereby
they might accuse Him.
26 "He said unto him What Is written
In the law2 How readest thouT This law
yer was supposed to be we'll versed in the
law OF Moses, and therefore to that the Lord
directed him. Many questions are asked to-
day which should tie answered by: What is
written How readest thou? instead ofby ar
gument or words Of ours.
o. 'And he, answering. said, Thou shalt
love the Lord, thy God, with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy mind, and thy
neighbor as thyself." He quoted promptly
and correctly from Deut. VI, 8, and Lev.
xix, 1S. he did not lack know edge. He
could quote from the Scriptures better than
truth does not save any one. It Is the re-
ception and application OF the truth, or
rather Of Him who Is the truth; that gives
eternal life.
2s. Sand He said unto him: Thou hast
answered right This do, and thou shalt
live" II any one could perfectly keep the
law OF God from his youth up, as summar-
lied In the quotations CT this lawyer he
would have life and need no Saviour, or, as
1t is written In Gal. ILL.,, 81, IF there had
been law given which could have given
by the law" There Is nothing wrong with
or lacking In the law. The failure Is in
guilty man, who cannot keep Gods holy law
and whose mouth is shut by 1t (Rom. vlu.,
8 ILL.,, 19).
2s. "But he, willing to justify himself,
said unto Jusus, And who is my neighborb?"
He could not say he had kept the law; It
condemned him and proved him guilty, but
he was not willing TO own 1t and plead
guilty. He would rather, II possible. estsb-
iish his own righteousness, thus proving
himself ignorant OF Gods righteousness,
even the Christ with whom he was talking.
who Is the end Of tho law for righteousness
to every one that believeth" (Rom. K, 8, 4 !;
II Cor. ", 2I).
80. "And Jesus, answering, said, A car
tain man went down from Jerusalem to
Jericho and fell among thieves, which
stripped him Of his raiment and wounded
him and departed, leaving him half dead"
By clear and simple illustration Jesus
would patiently show this one who tempted
II N the meaning OF the word "neighbor."
The poor robbed AMI wounded and helpless
man Is suggestive Of the forlorn and help
cast down, but the sinner is wholly and not
half dead (Eph. H., s..
81. "And By chance there came down a
certain priest that wsy, and when he saw
him he passed by on the other side" The
priests lips should keep knowledge (Mal.
H., y. tut Jesus said to the lawyers thar
they had taken away the key Of knowledge,
not entering themselves and hindering
those who would enter Quke xi., 52). He
cause they loaded people with burdens
which they themselves would not touch with
one Of their fingers (xi., 46).
80. "And likewise Levite, when he was
at the place, came and looked on him and
passed by on the other side" Levi Is the
third person of whom 1t Is said IN Scripture
that he walked with God (Gen. ", "a VI, 8 /
Nal. IL. g., but not all Of his posterity
walked with God, or there would not be this
record OF this one. The Levltes were joined
with the priests In the ministry OF the tenn
pie (Num. will, 19). !
33. 'But certain Samaritan, as he jour-,
neyed, came where he was, and when he
saw him he had compassion upon him.,
Let US remember that Jesus Is talking to a
Jewish lawyer; that priests and Levitesi
were the highest and supposed to be the
holiest OF religious dignitaries among the
Jews, and that Samaritans were a class with
whom the Jews had no dealings (John w.,
81. Therefore, Jesus Is finding something
good in despised outsider, as we might
say, in speaking thus OF this Samaritan.
"a. "And went to him and bound up his
wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set
him on his own beast and brought him to an
inn and took care OF him." Here is won
derful man surely, an outcast In Jewish
eyes, worse than q nobody in the eyes Of
priests and Levltes, but see his conduct and
observe that 1t Is the Lord Jesus who is tell
ing US all this and learn at least one thing
that 1t Ia not outward name or fame that
the Lord looks upon, but actions and mo-
tiyes.
85. "And on the morrow, when he de-
parted, he took out twopence and gave them
to the most and said unto him, Take care OF
him, and whatsoever thou spendest more
when I come again I will repay thee" II
the poor, helpless one is suggested OF the
sinner, who can the good Samaritan be but
Jesus Himself, an outcast and despised by
the Jews, nobody In the eyes OF priests and
Levites, scribes and Pharisees, yet see His
heart full OF compassion as He goes about
doing good.
36. (Which now Of those three, thinkest
thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among
the thieves?" Jesus has not directly an
swered the question, "Who Is my neighbour"
but He has told His story. he has shown
the picture, and now he would have the
lawyer answer his own question. Do not
fail to notice In the last verse the words,
"When come again, will repay thee" and
compare Luke XIV, "A Rev. xxii., -.
ST. Sand he said, He that sheweth mercy
on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go and
do thou likewise" All commands to do
good things addressed to unsaved people
are to convince them Of their inability to do
the same, that 80 they may confess their
sintulness and helplessness and receive Jesus
as their salvation. This Is the work OF God
that ye believe on Him, and to believe on
Him is to receive Him (John vi, 29; T., 12).
Until We receive Him we are still in the flesh
end therefore cannot please God from. WILL,
8, 81. The remaining verses OF Luke <. show
as that He Himself is the one thing needful
for saints as we'll as sinners. Helper.