The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1919-08-22


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 subject. How
ever, let us with open minds and
hearts study the text, for 1t Is OF
great importance. Christ's object was
to lead the lawyer Theological pro-
fessor) to understand the need of God.
I. Eternal Life Through Obedience
to the Law wv. 25-28).
1. The lawyers question ". 25). The
Sawyer" was one who expounded the
Mosaic law. The nearest position cor
responding thereto in modern life is
the theological professor. His ques-
ton was not an effort to ascertain the
truth, but to entrap Jesus. He not
only had a wrong motive, but defec-
tive theology. He thought that eter-
nal life could be secured by doing
obedience He did not know that do.
ing" meant keeping the law in it's 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. 3:1O).
2. The lawyer answering his own
question ". 27). Christs counter
question sent him to the law, OF which
he gave 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" ". .29).
But no one has ever kept the law.
''There is none righteous, no not one"
(Rom. 3:1O). "All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God" (Rom.
1929. "By the deeds of the law there
shall no flesh be justified in his sight"
(Rom. $500. "By the law is the
knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3 :20).
II. Being Neiehbor wv. 29-9D.
1. The lawyers question ". 29). He
evidently keenly felt the force OF
Christ's argument, for he sought to
Justify himself by asking, "Who is my
neighbour" This inquiry betrays his
lack Of that love which is the fulfill
ment of the law (Rom. 3:10). Love
never inquiries as to whom to love, but
"Where is some one who needs my
lover" Christ convicted him on his
own grounds.
2. Jesus answer wv. 30-37). He an
swered by parable in which certain
man fell among thieves on his way to
Jericho and was severely wounded.
While in this helpless condition
priest passed by, not even coming
near; also Levite, who was interest
ed enough to look on him, but not
enough to help him. Finally Sa-
marian came where the wounded man
was and, moved by compassion for
him, bound up his wounds and brought
him on his own beast to the inn,
where he was cared for at the Samari-
tan's expense. In reply to Jesus
question the lawyer declared that the
Samaritan was neighbOr to the unfor-
tunate man; and Jesus commanded
him to go and do likewise ". 30. BY
this Jesus showed him that the impor-
tant question is not, "Who is my
neighbour" but "Whose neighbor am
II" Jesus came seeking those to
whom he could be neighbor, Those
who have his Spirit will be trying to
be neighbors instead of hunting neigh
bOrs.
Those who love God supremely will,
as they pass along the highways of
life, minister to the broken and
wounded souls in the spirit of neigh
boris love, regardless of nationality, re-
ligion, character or color. May we
hear the voice of Jesus saying, 60