The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-08-21

GOLDEN TEXT-As we have therefore
opportunity. let us do good unto all men.
especially unto them who are Of the
household Of faith.-Gal. 6:10.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL-Gal. 81. 1.
10: James 2:14-l6.
PRIMARY TOPIC-showing kindness to
others.
JUNIOR ToP1c-Helping the needy.
INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Our RESPONSE
oility for the welfare Of others.
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-The
Christian ideal Of brotherhood.
The subject chosen by the lesson
committee for today, based upon this
text, is Social Responsibility" When
we consider the real meaning of the
text 1T Is hard to understand why the
committee chose such q subject. How
ever, let us with open minds and
hearts study the text, for it is of
great Importance. Christ's object was
to lead the lawyer Theological pro.
fessor) to understand the need of God.
!. Eternal Life Through Obedience
to the Law wv. 25-2S).
l. The lawyers question ". 25). The
lawyer" was one who expounded the
Mosaic law. The nearest position cor.
responding thereto in modern life is
the theological professor. His Ques.
tion vas not an effort to ascertain the
truth. but to entrap Jesus. He not
only had a wrong motive, but a defec-
tive theology. He thought that eter.
nal life could be secured by doing
obedience. He did not know that edo.
Ing" meant keeping the law In its mi.
nutest parts, which is an utter impos.
sibility for fallen men that failure to
measure up to the least demand Of the
law exposed him to the curse of God
(Gal. 3:10).
2. The lawyer answering his own
question ". 27). Christ's counter.
question sent him to the law, of which
he gave a fine summary. Supreme
love to God and love to ones neigh
Dor as to ourselves is the whole OF
mans duty. 1t is true as Jesus said
This do and thou shalt live" ". 2S)
But no one has G kept the law
"There is zone righteous, no not one
lRom. 3:1O). "All have sinned ant
come short Of the glory of God" (Itom
3:23). "By the deeds Of the law there
shall no flesh he justified in his sight
(Rom. 3:20). by the law IL tn,
knowledge Of sin" (Rom. 1920.
u. Being a Nelohbor wv. 29-37.
!. The lawyers question ". 29). HI
evidently keenly felt the force O.
Christ's argument, for he sought tt
justify himself by asking, "Who is m!
neighbour" This inquiry betr7ys hi.
lack of that love which is the fulfill
ment of the law (Rom. 1870. Low,
never inquiries as to whom to love, bu
"Where is some one who needs m!
love?" Christ convicted him on hi,
w grounds.
.. Jesus answer wv. 30-37). He an
swered by a parable in which q certain
man fell among thieves on his way t.
Jericho and was severely wounded
While in this helpless condition {
priest passed by, not even coming
near; also a Levite. who was interest
ed enough to look on him, but no
enough to help him. Finally a Sa
marian came where the wounded mar
was and, moved by compassion fol
him, bound up his wounds and brought
him on his own beast to the inn
where he vas cared for at the Samari
tan's expense. In reply to Jesus
question the lawyer declared that tn,
Samaritan was neighbor to the unfor
tunate man; and Jesus commando
him to go and do likewise ". 30. by
this Jesus showed him that the impor
tant question is not, "Wlo is m!
neighbour but "WhOse neighbor an
~ Jesus came seeking those tt
whom he could be %neighbor. Those
who have his Spirit will he trying tt
be %neighbors instead Of hunting neigh
bOrs.
Those who love God supremely will
IS they pass along the highways o.
life, minister to the broken anc
wounded souls in the spirit of a neigh
boris love, regardless Of nationality, re
ligion, character o. color. May W
hear the voice Of Jesus saying, &c.
and do thou likewise"