The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-08
BY
J.E. Gilbert, LID
Secretary of American
Society of Religious
Education.

point demanding attention is this, that true
ncighbor love ovcrleaps the bounds Of nationality
and prejudice and is as broad Us humanity. 1t
even goes out toward enemies (Matt, v: iD.
This is Christian, not because Christ first taught
it, for it had been previously enioined Deut.
xii: l. Lev. xix: "a; | Kings viii: jO), but
because Jesus rescued this doctrine from neglect
and made it prominent in His System q john
iii: III, one of the fundamentals Of His world
wide mission Mark xvi: 81. The recital captured
the lawyer, who promptly confessed that the
Samaritan had proved himself a nciGlbor Then
Jesus as lie did before, pressed the matter 10
personal and practical issue by exhorting the
leaGalist to go and do likewise, bringing Inn
again TO the place where human depraTty and
hclplessnoss appear.
JEWlSH,-The force Of our Lords teaching on
the neighhor question will appear more fully by
exhibiting the character Of the Jews at that
time Because of the work assigned to them
(Gen, xXii ls), they ought to have been broad
and generous. Whereas, they were narrow and
exclusive calling the people Of other nations dogs
Matt XIV: 28-2O. Their priests had become
uniathtul der, v: 81, mere hirelings CMal, j:
lO), falling TO serve the people, The law had
been so construed as to authorize and encourage
the hatred of enemies Matt v: 43). 1t il
probable that the Samaritans, a mongrCl race,
were superior TO them duke xviii 1G). And so
our Lord had made picture before one Of their
COncclted and ScltHghloOuS representatives,
showing him that the love required toward a
ncighbor had been lost out of the national life.
And when he said "Go thou and do likewise, "
making the Samaritan an example of better
Things, lie administered a severe but meritcd re-
buke.
INSTRUCTIONS.
FOR THAT TIME.-The lawyer found what he
| sought and more, answers to his questions and
disclosures of his own shortcomings and the
| needs Of his people. Auaigned and convicted
by the whole law which he easily quoted he took
refuge in questions concerning the scope Of the
lesser half Of the law, only to be overwhelmed
by the portrayal of the bigotry and selhshness
SO common, but odous And Jesus closed the
interview, a master indeed both in knowledge
| and skill, His sentence, like a sharp arrow
| piercing the hard heart of one who cared more
| for intellectual bubbles than for righteousness.
FOR ALL TIME.-True religion is the same
| everywhere and always. Its essence is love in
its twofold manifestation. Love is the law
Of the spiritual world as gravitaton is Of the
| Thess iv: o.. He who lives by love IS perfect
the place where love reigns psalm viii: 2O
Matt vi; l0). That is perversion without q
change of heart (Matt. xii; 33), and that is
bad heart that does not control action. Right
| living is the fruitage Of a good heart. II mer
| are justified by faith, their faith Is justified by
| their works (James ii; HIS. "This do" ant
| "do thou likewise" are Christs calls TO the new
life described in the law made possible by His
grace Odatt 2s; Eph. ii; s., resulting in eter
nal life John iv; l4).