The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-29
xF x5Ez
The Sunday School Lesson.
SERIES FOR 1896---FIRST QUARTER.
Studies in the Gospel According to Luke.


man not a Jew was regarded by the
Pharisees as a natural enemy. OF this
prevalent 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 heresy hunt, asked
his second question, And ,Uho is my
neighbor?
I. Jesus Answers by a Para
ble,-vs. 30-35.
Doubtless it seemed to the lawyer an
easy task to prove Jesus hereto by
such cross questioning. And to prove
him unorthodox, let us remember, would
be equivalent to turning upon him anew
the food-gates Of Pharisaic execration.
We know nowhere to look for a better
exhibition of mingled sagacity and cour-
age than we find in the reply Jesus made
to the lawyer. Once before, in Galilee,
we recall, when direct statements of his
doctrine would have rendered his utter
ances indictable as heresy or treason,
Jesus found a fortress in parable; from
which he still effectively continued his
spiritual warfare. So now he escapes
the trap eet for him by parable, in
which, however. he breaches his doctrine
with utmost plainness.
Jesus did not ask the lawyers own
opinion on this second test question. He
knew in advance how partial and false
it would be. He gave his own answer in
story of real life.
A mamie did not call him Jew, it
suited his purpose to name him. man
was going down rocky gorge from Je-
rusalem 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 insensibility, and stripping him of
his clothing. left him to die. While he
lay in this sorrowful plight priest by
providential coincidence came that way;
man Of God, a descendant of Aaron, a
man of all others to hear the silent
pleading of a forlorn and helpless fellow
human being. But the priest. after TAX
ing a careful look at the sufferer, deemed
it not we'll to pass too near; he chose
path which led by the other side of the
ravine, and went on his prayerful and
pious way. Soon after Levite, who as
descendant of Levi may have been an
attendant on the priest, followed the
steps of his superior. He was by his in
herited Office under obligations to per-
form the more ordinary and secular du-
ties required by the Mosaic law. AS a
servant of his national religion it fell
within his function to give the stricken
wayfarer relief. He came to where the
poor man was lying, with his bloody
wounds exposed and appealing for help
full pity. But he thought of himself; he
would not rebuke the example of his
priest by seeking to improve upon it.; so
he, with some shameful regrets perhaps,
passed by on the other side. Then, after
period, during which the agony of the
PROSTATE, naked man might almost
awaken pity in the stones about him, a
Samaritan came that way. A Samari-
tan! He is of alien race; he is scorned
by the Pharisees as hereto and enemy.
Surely no good may be looked for in him.
But as soon as he discovers the stricken
man he pauses. He descends from his
beast and briefly INDUCES his compass
sion. The danger to him from the rob-
bers is greater than it was to priest or
Levite; their sacred vestments and pow
erty might protect them; but the Sa-
maritan 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. He is not deferred by fear. From
his scrip he brings wine and oil, to-
cleanse and soothe the sufferers wounds.
Perhaps by shredding his abba he OBJ
tains bandages for the mans bruises; in
his own surplus clothing he finds cover
ing for his nakedness. The very rob
bers. if watching from their coverts. are
too much men not to be awed by such
heroism of humanity. When the poor
man becomes able, the Samaritan lifts
him to his own vacated place on his
beast. He holds him on, walking by his
side, till khan is reached. He there
procures for him shelter and sustenance.
He spends the day and night in ministry
to his needs. On the morrow. when his
own business requires his attention, he
tells the inn keeper that he will be re-
sponsible for the indebtedness which
the unfortunate man may incur during
his recovery, and giving the host 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 trans
cript from real life has been question
among scholars. The tourist is still
shown the reputed spot where the rob-
ber-beaten victim lay by the road, and
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 it's narration must have been imme-
diate and deep.
3. Every Needy Soul is our