Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-01-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson IlI.-First Quarter, For
Jan. 18, 1914.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Luke X, 1851.
Memory Verse, 25-Golden Text,
Mark xii, 31-commentary by Rev. o.
M. Stearns.


Mark xii, s1-commentary by Rev. D..
M. Stearns.
The record of the good Samaritan is
found only here. but the question with
which the lesson opens, What shall
/ do to inherit eternal life?' is found
also in chapter xviii. Is. and the parallel
passages in Matt. xix, 16; Mark K, IL.
Both in this lesson and in the story of
the rich young ruler our Lord directed
them to the law. for there can be no
life eternal without the conviction of
sin. He came not to call the righteous,
those who think they are righteous,
but sinners to repentance Matt. tx. 13,.
The only Saviour revealed in Scrip
ture is a Saviour for sinners. one who
came to save lost people. There have
been. and always are. those who go
about to establish their own righteous
ness. being ignorant of the righteous
ness of God Rom. X, 81. That which is
necessary to enter the kingdom is the
perfect righteousness of perfect law.
as explained by our Lord in what is
called the Sermon on the Mount. No
mere man ever had of himself such
righteousness: the Lord Jesus Christ
alone fulfilled every jot and title of
the law Matt. v. 49,. and when any
one pleads guilty and comes to Him
and receives Him, they have in Him
an absolutely perfect Righteousness
which God has accepted.
That the law cannot save. but only
convinces of sin. See Rom. iii. 10, 20;
sins and is made unto us righteousness.
See II Cor V, 81; Cor. i. 80. 81; Rom.
K, f. what is written? How read
est thou?' Verse 26) are two questions
Of the utmost Importance. That which
is written by the Holy Spirit is for
ever settled in heaven ops. cxix. S9l,
and we are to receive it as little child
would. believing every word. seeing
everywhere Him of whom Moses in
the law and the prophets did write.
Jesus of Nazareth John i. As; Luke
xiv. 81. Az.
When Philip was asked to explain
the Scripture to the treasurer of Queen
Candace he began at the same Scrip
ture and preached unto him Jesus
(Acts viii, $50, and so it should be al
ways. From Gen. i, to Rev. xii. 81.
we must see Jesus Christ Creator,
Redeemer. Judge. our great High
Priest, the coming King. and to anoint-
ed eyes He may be as plainly seen in
the first verse as the last.
The lawyer was cornered. as we say.
and would fain justify himself. like
those in Luke xvi. Is. 1t is more fat
tering to self to be praised rather than
condemned. 1t is the manner Of men
to seek praise one of another. to desire
the good opinion of men rather than
the approval of God, but the word of
God never fiatters any mere man, it
always condemns him and points him
to the only perfect man. Christ Jesus.
The lawyers question. "Who is my
neighbour" is answered by our Lords
story of the good Samaritan. who is
none other than Himself. The man
from Jerusalem, city of peace. to Jeri-
cho. the condemned city Josh. vi. 90.
may represent the down grade of all
mankind.
The thieves suggest the devil and his
demons. and demon possessed men
and women. whose business it is to
steal and to kill and to destroy Uohn
x. 10,
The priest and Levite who passed
by on the other side represent the utter
inability of the law or ordinances or
any form of righteousness to help the
sinner who is not only half dead. but
wholly dead in trespasses and sins
Eph. ii. 1-3). The conduct of the Sa-
marian has at least seven distinct
points-came where he was, had com
passion. bound up his wounds. poured
in oil and wine. set him on his own
beast, brought him to an inn. took care
of him.
The Lord Jesus came where we
were. came from heaven to earth to
save us, became sin for us. died in
our stead. Our condition is described
All I'D l. %. as udNlHS no SOuIiuntSS,
but wounds. bruises and putrefying
sores. which have not been closed and
bound up nor Modified with ointment
We have recently noticed the COM
passion of Christ upon the shepherd
less multitudes Matt. tx. 26I. and it is
often mentioned. He puts us in His
place He took ours that we might
take His, and by faith in Him we are
made accepted in the Beloved and
stand complete in Him Eph. i. 6. Z;
Col. Ii. 10}. Having redeemed us, He
takes care of us all the way home.
urging us not to be anxious. for our
Heavenly Father knoweth all our need.
and teaching us to cast all our care
upon Him. for He careth for us.
We have found rich spiritual instruc-
ton in the story. but the lawyer saw
simply the unkindness of two and the
kindness of the third and was asked
to decide which was a neighbor to the
man in trouble. The reply was easy.
"He that showed mercy on him." The
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