Middletown transcript., 1922-12-09
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 10
THE STORY OF THE GOOD
SAMARITAN

GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt love thy
neghbor as thyself.-Lev. 1918.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Showing Kindness
to a Stranger.
JUNIOR ToPIC-The Story of the Good
Samaritan
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Being a Good Neighbor.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPlt
Who Is My Neighbor?
I. How to Inherit Eternal Life wv.
25-2s).
1. The Lawyers Question ". 29).
Lawyer" here means one versed IN
religious law-the Scriptures. Ihis
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
fluence as teacher. He expected
Jesus to set forth some new cere-
monies which would conflict with OF
disparage the law.
2. 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 ". 2D. 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 ". 2S) 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.
u. Who is My Neishbor wv. 20
80.
1. The Lawyers Question ". 29).
This question reveals the insincerity
of the lawyer. Christ's 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 ques
tion as to the meaning of words.
2. Jesus Answer wv. 3037). Christ's
reply more than answered the law
yers question. In the parable Of the
Good Samaritan He makes clear who
Is 4 neighbor, and also what 1t mean:
to be neighbor, or what loving 6
neighbor means. Christs answer hat
double meaning. He not only made
clear who is my nelghbor, 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.
Q) Who is my neighbour This des
titute and wounded man left on tn,
highway by the robbers Is the mai
who needs nelghbor. My neighbor
help, whether he lives next door o
on the outside of the world. Thos
who have the Spirit of Christ can se
J their neighbors on every hand
(2) What being a neighbor. means
Our supreme concern should not b
, "Who is my neighbor?" bat "Whos
neighbor am I?' To be neighbor
(a) to see those about US who nee
help ". 33). Love is keen to discer
need. We should be on the lookou
, for those in need of our hell
, (b) Have compassion on the need
, ". 33). Christ's compassion wa
aroused as He came into contact wit
, those who were suffering and In neet
All those who have His nature wi
, be likewise moved. (c) Give to thos
/. In need ". 34). Many are willing
| give money to help the poor and need.
, but are unwilling to personally mini
/. ter to them. Many times the person,
2 touch is more important than the M
e terial aid. We should give ourselvt
as well as our money. (d) Bind U
wounds (y. 34). (e) Set the helple.
ones on our beasts while we wal
p ". 34). This is proof that love
. genuine. Christians will deny ther
. selves in order to have something
. give to those who have need. TIL
. kind Of sympathy is greatly needle
, today. (f) Bring to the inn and tal
q care of the unfortunate ". 34). Ge
2 uine love does not leave It's service I
). complete. Much Christian service
g spasmodic helps and then leaves
$ man to take care of himself. (g) Gil
n money ". 35). 1t costs a good de
n to be a neighbor. Love is the mo
V expensive thing In the world. 1t CO
o God His only Son. 1t cost Christ H
+ life. May we go and do likewise!