Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-11-27
Lesson for November 30
THE GOOD SAMARITAN

LESSON TExT-Luke l0:25-s7
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart and
with all thy soul and with all thy
strength. and with all thy mind: and
thy neighbor as thyself.-Luke 1927.
PRIMARY ToPIC-The Story of a
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Parable OF the
Good Samaritan.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How to Be Good Neighbor.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Whose Neighbor Am II
!. How to Inherit Eternal Life (vv.
25-2S).
/. The Lawyers Question w 25).
Lawyer" here means one versed In
religious law, the Scriptures-not law
yer 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 Influence as a teacher.
He expected Jesus to set forth some
new ceremonies 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.
B. 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.
II. Who Is My Neighbor? (vv 29-SD.
1. The Lawyers Question ". 29l.
This question reveals the insncerity
Vi Int iuNlGi- &4liiHl > dilSWtT Bdu
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
question as to the meaning of words.
2. Jesus Answer wv. 30-37). This
more than answered the lawyers
question In the parable Of the Good
Samaritan He makes clear who is
neighbour and also what it means to
be neighbor. or what loving a
neighbor means Christs answer had
a double meaning He not only made
clear who is my neighbor, but made
it clear that the lawyer was not play
ing the neighbor. He thus was con-
victed of not having been a neighbor.
"a 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 other side of the world. Those
who have the Spirit of Christ can see
their neighbors on every hand.
(2) What being neighbor means.
Our supreme concern should not be
"Who is my neighbour" but Whose
neighbor am II" To be neighbor is,
(a) to be on the lookout for those in
need Of our help ". 33). (b) To
have compassion on the needy ".
33). Christ's compassion was aroused
as He came into contact with those
who we're suffering and in need. All
those who have His nature will be
likewise moved. (c) To give to those
in need (v. 34). Many are willing to
give money to help the poor and
needy, but are unwilling to personal
iy minister to them. Many times the
personal touch Is more important than
the material aid. We should give our
selves as well as our money. (d) To
bind up wounds ". 34). (e) To set
the helpless ones on our beasts while
we walk ". 34). This Is proof that
love is genuine. Christians will deny
! themselves in order to have something
to give to those who have need. This
kind Of sympathy is greatly needed
today 6) To bring to the inn and
take care of the unfortunate ". 34).
Genuine love does not leave its service
incomplete. Much Christian service
| is spasmodic helps and then leaves
man to take care of himself. (g) To
give money ". 35). 1t costs a good
deal to be neighbor Love is the
most expensive thing in the world. 1t
cost God His only Son. 1t cost Christ
His life May we go and do lik ewise