The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-23
EvERYBODY'S BIBLE BOX.


On Luke 1890 we read as fol-
| Iows-"A certain man went down
! from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell
| among thieves which stripped him of
his raiment and wounded him and de-
parted leaving him half dead Did
| the man and his raiment represent
anything in this parable? If SO, who
did the thieves represent? Also, who
| did the priest and the Levite repre-
sent mentioned in verses 81 and 80?
| (E. E. NJ
Answer.-This is a part of a para
3 BILE which the Lord Jesus set forth as
an illustration showing to the lawyer,
who had asked the question-''And
what constituted a neighbor. The
man. his 'raiment," the thieves
| the priest and the 'Levite" are all
parts of the illustration and complete
the parable. In the language and lit
erature of all nations there is not TO
be found anywhere a finer or more
emphatic illustration than that used
by the Master in portraying the prop
er attitude of mind and heart to DE
manifested toward the fellow man.
The force of our Lords illustration is
only seen when it is remembered that
the Levites were specially set apart
for holy service to the Lord as in
structors of the people, to guide them
by word and example in the ways OF
the Lord. and when it is further re-
membered that the priests also be
family chosen of the Lord for the very
highest service toward himself and
toward the people of Israel The PIC
ture is still further heightened when
we recall that the SamaritanS were
mixed people, whom the Jews de
spised and with whom they would
have no dealings.-John 4:9. All
men are neighborS but all men do not
fulfill the divine law of love in deal
ing with their neighbors. In the light /!
of this parable, how wise and just |
are the words of the Savior-''ThoU !
shalt love thy neighbor as myself"
OWN you kindly give your eX-
PLANTATION of Genesis sc; and Psalm
95:1O, in which it says that Goo !
"grieved % 1 cannot understand how {
it would be possible for the Almighty !
God to have been grieVed by any
thing. If the Creator was "grieved' |
on the occasions mentioned. then He |
must have been in a disappointed /
frame of mind throughout all of the
history of the race, as mankind has
continually gone contrary to the |
wishes of the Lord as expressed in |
the Scriptures. (Undecided)
Answer.-The Heavenly Father has |
never been ''grieved" in the sense in |
which we ordinarily use that word, in |
the sense of being disappointed The |
Creator has never been surprised over |
the outcome of human affairs, but, |
knowing the end from the beginning,
He arranged His wondrOus plan OF |
salvation even before the fall of man i
into sin and death, as the Scriptures |
clearly reveal. He foreknew the ger |
eral corruption into which the race |
would be plunged, and that the del |
uge would be necessary to wipe out the |
evil order of things existing in Noah S |
time. He knew that the Jewish ma |
ton would never keep His law, and |
foretold that they would be cast aside. |
He also knew that the world |
would continue to go contrary to HIS |
will. Therefore, He has permitted the !
evil conditions to exist until the ap- |
pointed time for them to come to an
end, when His own righteous rule and t
authority will be established in the |
earth, and when all things shall be .
made new. Gods justice was
''grieved." His law was violated, but |
He has never been disappointed.
Q.-Does Matthew PASS teach that
wars and rumors of wars are a sign
of the last days of the present order
of things? %. A. Al
Answer.-We think not Wars and
rumors of wars have characterized
earth's history. with varying fire.
Quency and cruelty, ever since the fall
that the time of the end of the Chris
tan Era, or end of the dominion of
the prince of this world will wit
ness a more general and widespread
involving all the powers of earth.
The indications of such an uprising
we see in the rapid and worldwide
development of the principles OF
Communism Already mems hearts
are beginning to fail them for fear Of
those things coming upon the EARTH |
and the clouds, which continue to
grow darker, are fast overspreading
the whole heavens. Before manyI