Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
for SUNDAY ScbNb.
STAR LESSON FOR JULY IS.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN" Lax. 1.as7.
Introduction.
BY Rev. ! E. Gilbert. DID,,
SECRETARY AxERcAS SOCIETY RELlorous EDUCATION


CONTExT-we cannot fix the order
of events between last lesson and this, ow-
ing to the fact that no one Of the evan
geiists presents continuous narrative.
Luke Is probably the chief historian. This
we know. that Jesus was slowly advancing
on His journey to Jerusalem. The seventy
sent to prepare the people for His coming
discharged their duty with fidelity and re-
turned to the Maseer with great JOY. to re-
count what had transpired, dwelling with
much satisfaction upon their authority over
evil spirits. Immediately after our Lord
offered His thanks to the Father that the
mysteries of the kingdom had been con-
cealed from the wise men and granted to
babes. evidently referring to those disciples.
It was also about that time that He up
braided the northern cities In which SO
many wonderful deeds had been wrought,
and predicted their utter overthrow and de-
struction. Then followed His words of
congratulation and blessing addressed to
those about Him. After which the MARIA
tive is abruptly broken to admit the pas
sage Of our present lesson.
COLLOQUY-At the close Of one Of
Christ's addresses lawyer engaged HIM in
public conversation. assuming the attitude
Of learner All others remained silent.
Two questions were raised: How inherit
eternal life?" and Who is my neighbour"
the second growing out of the consideration
of the first. The lawyer manifested no
malice. Being well versed In the Mosaic
code, and deeming that to be the only au-
thoritative standard of religious doctrine,
he desired to test Jesus (for that is the
meaning of the word rendered Tempt and
to determine the knowledge and skill of this
20 fr.op her fray1 Ho a n tYr-
duced the most perplexing question OF the
time. Plato, born B. c. 4s0, and other
Greeks, by the light of reason. became con-
WINGED that the soul survives the body, and
scholars afterward held the same view.
Old Testament writer's assumed future
state q Sam. xii:23; Kings, xx:21; Jo-.
xix :26). but gave nothing very definite con-
corning it. Neither philosophy nor Old
Testament scripture satisfied the longings
of the heart or the questionings of the
mind. Consequently there was much anx-
iety mark, KID and some skepticism
Matt. Xxii:23), which the rabb1s endeav-
ored to remove by ransacking the sacred
writings (John, y:39). the lawyer natural
ly sought Christ's opinion, perhaps because
He had just alluded to the subject CAatt.,
iii:S-9). The interest Of the colloquy was
increased by it's form. When the lawyer
questioned or made statement Jesus did
the same. There were two questions and
two assertions on each side but Jesus pre-
ceded His second question with story
of the good Samaritan. This was very
adroit method. 1t compelled the lawyer to
answer himself to study his subject under
the guidance Of Jesus according to stand
ard with which he was familiar. We must
not expect to find the whole truth in the
lesson. but SO much as the lawyer could
receive.
Eternal Life.
LEGAI-The lawyers question, what
must l dor put the next life on Legal
basis. Jesus might have shifted 1t, as
Paul did acts xvi:3D, to the gospel basis.
but he chose to leave it there and discuss
1t along that line. By request the lawyer
stated what he understood to be, the legal
requirement supreme love of God and self
measured love to ones neighbor, quoting
from Moses Oeut., Wis; Lev, xix:S),
summary of the dialogue, which it is said
pious Jews were accustomed to repeat every
day. By SO doing he was true to his call
ing lisa, viii 800, showing his acquaintance
with the spirit of the Scriptures. And
Jesus approved his words, with admirable
frankness displayed on other occasions
mark, xii:34; Luke. vii:43). In proof that
Jesus admitted this legal bass of life, 1t
may be mentioned that afterward HE
quoted the same answer to another law
yer Matt Xii:3T-39.) In this He re-
affirmed the law (Neh., ix:29; Eek, xx:1D,
which He and His apostles always sought
to maintain and honor duke, XVIII; Rom
and so the TWO were III dCcoTU-du
interesting spectacle, indeed, the Lord of
glory, agreeing with learned man who
spent his life In legal studies and pursuits.
GOSPEL-But was there no difference
between the lawyer and Jesus? If not,
why had the latter come into the world.
and why did he denounce lawyers? duke.
xi:46) Or, was this man unlike others OF
his class? All, there was wide and radi-
cal difference. The lawyer. inquired after
the what, and not the how The closing
words of Jesus, This do" might have set
him right He ought to have realized his
lack of the required love, the one great
lack of his people Oeut, v:29), which the
law revealed, but could not supply (Rom.,
viii:3) and he should have inquired OF
Christ the method of obtaining 1t Gal,
iii:24. Moreover, he might have learned
from his own Scriptures. which he pro-
fessed to venerate and study, that the hu-
man heart is desperately wicked Ger,
xvii:9) and that 1t is incapable of such
love until renewed Deut, xxx:6. And that
would have prepared for the Gospel mode
of life-repentance, faith remission, regen-
Grafton duke, xxiv:4647;e Rom, Villa.
But. alas the lawyer knew what was
necessary and evidently felt condemned by
his own conscience, yet, anxious to 1ustl-
fy himself (Rom., x:3. and to appear better
than he was. he dismissed this subject and