Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-05-30
, I>TtAN - DzASOx.
40pfc For the Week Beginning June
LComment by Rev. =. VI. Doyle.


TesIn-How to be a good neighbor.-Luke L.
a-Sz.
THE PARABLE.
The parable of the good Samaritan
was called forth by the question of IA
lawyer, not necessarily a malicious
question, as to eternal life. Christ
asked him the law. He replied, Love
God and thy neigiihor as myself" This
was approved, and he was told TO do ii
md he would have life. Trying 10
evade the personal application Of the
law, he asked. And who is my neigh
bor?" The reply was this parable. IN
which the true spirit Of neighboTiiness
rather than the definition of neigh
Dor is set forth. Christ taught the
lawyer what il WAS 10 be neighborly
rather than who neigl4bor WAS. \
certain man. probably Il Jew, fuu
among thieves on the dangerous road
froil Jerusalem TO Jericho and WAS left
half dead. This was not an unusual
occurrence. and Christ may have re-
lated what actually occurred. A priest
appears. sees the dying man and passes
by on the other side. Levite comes.
looks upon the man. which aggravates
his selhshness. and also passes by.
Then a Samaritan appears upon the
scene. He is of different nationality and
religion from the injured man. He
belongs TO q race who have no deal
ings with the Jews and between whom
there is mutual hatred. But he thinks
III. IL hzf h i'm a
Jew, but fellow being In need of his
sympathy and his help. and he has
compassion on him." His compassion
is practical. He provides for his pres
ent and future needs. In answer TO
Ch-ist's question the lawyer acknowl-
edged that the Samaritan was neigh
Dor to him who fell among the thieves.
Then Jesus said unto him. Go and do
thou likewise
THE INTERPRETATION.
The explanation of this parable as
applied to man is easily made. But
many of the church fathers and re-
formers have been wont 10 see in the
good Samaritan a higher than man,
even Christ Himself, and not without
reason. Man overcome by satan In the
garden of Eden is well typiiied by the
man who had been left half dead by
the thieves. The priest and the Leyite
represent the law which could not save
the half dead man. Then Christ comes
along-the true Samaritan-has com
passion upon fallen humanity, and at
great sacrihce-the sacrifice of Himself
He rescues and saves him-a beauti-
full picture of Christ's neighborliness
and one that should inspire the true
spirit of compassion and benevolence
in US. We should do unto others as
Christ has done unto us.
THE APPLICATION.
This parable teaches Us most forcibly
''how to be a good neighbor." 1t does
not define the word neishbor so much
as il tells Us how to be a true neigh
Dor. 1t teaches Us to see in every
needy man whom we can help a neigh
Dor. 1t utterly disresards caste. wheth-
er national. religious or social 1t OBJ
Hterates all idea of distance. color or
position If we see a man in need, in
want, and we can help him. we are not
to inquire. lis he of my family. my
church, my nation. my color. my So
ciety?" but We are to see in him fell
low human being in need and are to
ask, What can | do to relieve his
need?" And if this is true OF the phys
ical wants of men how much more it
should be true of their spiritual wants,
Millions are still out of Christ and spir
itualy half dead and dying. Their
very helplessness appeals to us. They
are our neighbors. whether in China,
Africa or America Are We playing
the part of n Samaritan toward them
or the part Of the priest and Levite?
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Let the leader explain the parable
and then have an open voluntary dis
cussion Of the topic.
BrBLE READINGS
Lev. xix. Is; Prov. Iii, 27-2o: Hab. il,
10; Math. V. 1918; vii. l.; xxi, 1853;
XIV, 31-46; Rom. i. 14-17: xiii. T-1o:
Eph. ". -.