Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-12
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY Is.

Subject: The Good Samaritan, Luke T.,
25.37-Golden Text, Matt. ", 7-M.'a.
DRY Verses, 33, 34-ropic: Love to Our
Fellow Men-Comnentary.
I. How to gain eternal life Tvs. %
2S). %. "a certain lawyer" A
scribe; professional Interpreter Of the
law of Moses. Usually noted scribe
was Il teacher and had a company of
disciples about him. "Stood up" Jesus
must have been in some building, dis
coursing on some subject that sug-
gested the question asked by the law.
yer. Tempted Him." Or tested Him.
The question was not asked from any
desire to know his own duty, but for
the purpose of testing the knowledge
of Jesus. Master" Or teacher, the
same as rabbi. ITO inherit eternal
life" Eternal life is the true spiritual
life of the soul-that which is natural
to it in its highest state, and of all
things in this world is most worthy the
seeking. His question was, How can
I become child of God and possessor
of that true spiritual life that will en-
dure forever?
%. "What is written" AS teacher
of the law he should be able to tell.
and he was able. as his answer shows.
GLOW rcadest thou?' What we gain
from the bible depends upon how we
read it.
~. HE answering said" He replied
by quoting the great summary Of mans
duty toward God in Deut. 60, and Il
statement of the law of love from
Lev. 1913. The lawyer proceeds to
give a correct answer. one which Jesus
approved. "Thou shalt love" The re-
ligion of the Bible does not consist
in good external acts. IN prayers. in
our zeal for Christ, In performing the
deeds of the law, or in being mace
happy, but in love to God and man.
"All thy heart This Is supreme a!iec-
ton to God. The heart is the seat of
the affections, desires, motives and
will. "With all thy soul" lie loves
God with all his soul. or rather, with
all his life. who is ready to give up life
for His sake "All thy strength so
the extent OF giviug ali CT our physical
powers in His service. "All thy mind"
The intellect belongs to God. This en-
braces the whole man. THY neighbor
as myself" This love is the principle
in the heart FROM which flows She
"eoldcn rule Matt. 7:12, i'll practice,
and the perfect keeping OF all the
commandments which refer TO our
LutiCs to our fc!oWmen.
- This Go, and thou shalt live
Shalt have already eternal life, the life
OF Heaven; for this heart of love is
eternal life.
II. Our duty to mankind Illustrated
Tvs. 2J-27). ~. "Desiring to justify
himself" Il. V. The conscience Of
this learned lawyer was touched and
lie saw that he YVES destitute OF tie
love he had just declared to he necrS-
sary III order f. inherit eternal life.
"Who is my neighbour" The degree
in which he had kept the law of love
woul.. depend Oh the answer to this
question. How wide Il circle does
"npil hhor" embrace? Unwind that
word nci"hbor and it measures off tie
Who'll of our earthly life, it covers all
our practical, everyday duties 80.
"irsrS answering; said" Here it was
thai christ could, III It parable. show
low far Judaism WAS from even true
understanding, much more from such
perfect observance of the law, as
would gain Heaven. From Jerusalem
to Jericho" 1t was Il very dangerous
rua'. lying much Of the way in deep
ravjn1 through SDft rocks in which
caves ahpUIdrd, atorIing shelter to
misrY2ants who sailed forth to prey
uDon truvpers. 1t is still necessary 10
have an escort in passing over that
road. 81. Certain priest Jericho
aga IF tln rHS i,lanpnc uf tina
priests who came up to the temple of
Jerusalem in turn to offer the daily
sacrifices, burn incense, and perform
the temple ceremonials. He saw
him. Ard knew that ~ fellow man
WAS suffering and in need. son the
Other side" lie no doubt could frame
many C:,cUsc$ for not stopping. 81.
"LikeWiS4 a Levite." \ Levite was
ore Of the tribe Of Levi; priest was
Of the family of Aaron IN that tribe
The LrNiieS performed the humble ser
vices OF tie temple, as cleaning, carry
ing fHrl, and acting as choristers. Tie
SrriNg5 and lawyers were frequently
Of tbs tribe. which, in fact was set
apart ly Moses as the intellectual
10 ~ in tie lation. PASSED by" His
c1r',u"t Was the same aS tie priests
Ln,' len. These two men would nat
urrliy he expected to befricnd the man
81. ~ certain Samaritan The
Sa,Eart@US were Il heather people,
greatly despised and hated by the
Jews. Had compassion" Although
they had 10 right to expect any help
from Il Samaritan, yet he fastened to
assist the suffering man.
-. Bound up his wounds lie
did The very best he could for the man
with the remedies he had at hand. "On
his own beast This all took time and
cirDrt. but he did not hesitate nor
make excuses. ITO an inn" This
was public house where all corners
were received. 80. con tie morrow"
lie evidently remained with him that
night. "TWo pence" a penny or
Roman Genarius is worth about sixteen
cents, but it would be equivalent to
eight or ten times as much in our day.
3G. "Which-thinkest thou" This
question almost compelled the lawyer
to speak highly of the Samaritan.
WAS ncighbor unto him?" The para.
BE implies not n mere enlargement of
Jewish ideas, but a complete change Of
them. It is truly Il Gospelpnrable, for
the whole old relationship of mere
duty is changed into one Of love. 81.
"Ho thou likewise" He to whom vow
ought thus to show mercy in order to
become his neishbor is your neighhor.
We should be ready to help every per-