Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-12-09
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 10
THE STORY OF THE GOOD
SAMARITAN


golden TEXT-Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself-Lev. 1918.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Showing Kindness
to a Stranger
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Story of the Good
Samaritan.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Being a Good Neighbor,
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Who Is My Neighbor!
I. How to Inherit Eternal Life (vv.
1929.
1. The Lawyers Question w.. 29).
Lawyer" here means one versed in
religious law-the Scriptures. This
does not mean lawyer in our modern
sense of that term. 1t would more
nearly correspond to a theological
professor The lawyers object was
to trap Jesus--to induce Him to take
such a stand as would weaken His in
f1uence as teacher He expected
Jesus to set forth some new cere-
monies which would conflict with or
disparage the law.
q Jesus Question ". 26) Though
Jesus knew the motive of the lawyer
He. did not evade his question. He
sent him to the law-the field which
was familiar to him He thus was
robbed of his, own weapon.
8. The Lawyers Reply ". 27). He
made an intelligent answer declaring
that the entire content of the law
! was embraced in love to God and man.
This expresses the whole of human
duty.
4. Jesus Reply ". 28) This
straightforward answer went to the
heart of the lawyer. Perfect love to
God and man is truly the way of life
No man has yet had or can have such
love. His sinful condition precludes
its possibility. Mans failure to meas
ure up to this requirement is his con
demnation. The lawyer keenly felt
this thrust. He was defeated on his
own grounds and convicted of
guilt.
II. Who Is My Neighbor wv. 90
37.
1. The Lawyers Question ". 29).
This question reveals the insincerity
Of the lawyer. ChriSts answer had
reached his conscience and now he
seeks to escape the difficulty by ask
ing a captious question. Lawyer-like
he sought to get off by raising a ques-
ton as to the meaning Of words.
2. Jesus Answer wv. 3037). Christs
mora than aDcuarod tho law
yer's question. In the parable of the
Good Samaritan He makes clear who
is neighbor, and also what it means
to be a neighbor, or what loving
'neighbor means. Christs answer had
double meaning. He not only made
clear who is my neighbor, but made
1t clear that the lawyer was not play
ing the neighbor He thus was con
victed of not having been a neigh
Dor.
% Who is my neighbor? This des-
titute and wounded man left on the
highway by the robbers is the man
who needs a neighbOr. My neighbor,
therefore is the one who needs my
help, whether he lives next door or
on the outside of the world. Those
who have the Spirit of Christ can see
their neighbors on every hand
(2) What being a neighbor means.
Our supreme concern should not be
who Is my neighbour" but "Whose
neighbor am T." To be q neighbor is
(a) to see those about us who need
help ". 33).e Love is keen to discern
need. We should be on the lookout
for those in need of our help
(b) Have compassion on the needy
". 33). Ohrist's compassion was
aroused as He came into contact with
those who were suffering and in need
All those who have His nature will
be likewise moved. (c) Give to those
in need ". 34) Many are willing to
give money to help the poor and needy.
but are unwilling to personally minis
ter to them. Many times the personal
touch is more important than the ma
terial aid We should give ourselves
as we'll as our money. (d) Bind up
wounds ". 34). (e) Set the helpless
ones on our beasts while we walk
w.. 34). This is proof that love is
genuine. Christians will deny them
selves in order to have something to
give to those who have need. This
kind of sympathy is greatly needed
today. 81 Bring to the inn and take
care of the unfortunate (v. 34l. Gen
uine love does not leave it's service in
complete. Much Christian service Is
spasmodic. helps and then leaves a
man to take care of himself. (g) Give
money w. 3d.. 1t costs good deal
to be neighbor. Love is the most
expensive thing in the world Ii cost
God His only Son. 1t cost Christ His
life. May we 60 aud do likewise!