The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-03-05
Lesson for March 8
THE GOOD SAMARITAN

THE GOOD SAMARITAN
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt not
Avenge, nor bear any grudge against
the children of thy people, but thou
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I
am the Lord.
LESSON TExT-Luke 1o:s5-s7.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus' Story OF
JUNIOR ToPIC-Jesus' Story of
Real Friend.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Serving and Sharing.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
1C-The Stewardship Of Life.
I. How to Inherit Eternal Life
wv. 25-3S).
l. The lawyers question ". 25). The
term lawyer" here means one verSed
in religious law-the Scriptures, not
lawyer in our modern sense Of that
term. 1t would more nearly CORE
spond to our theological professor.
The lawyers object was to trip Jesus,
to induce him to take such stand
as would weaken his influence as
teacher. He expected Jesus to set
IUIlH SOIIG new CEREMONIES
would conflict with or disparage the
law of Moses.
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 robbed
him of his own weapon.
8. The lawyers reply ". 27. He
made an intelligent answer, declar-
Ing 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). The straight
forward 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 nor can have such love.
His sinful condition precludes its pos
sibility. Mans failure to measure up
to this requirement is his condemna-
ton. The lawyer keenly felt this
thrust. He was defeated on his own
grounds and convicted of guilt.
u. Who Is My Neighbor wv. 29-37).
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-
ton as to the meaning of words.
2. Jesus answer wv. 30-37). Jesus
reply more than answered the lawyers
question. In the Parable Of the Good
Samaritan he makes clear who is a
neighbor, and also what 1t means to
be neighbor and what loving a neigh
Dor means. Christ's 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.
a. Who is my neighbour This des-
titute and wounded man. left on the
wayside by the robbers. is a man who
needs neighbor. My neighbor, there
fore, is the one who needs my help,
whether he lives next door or on the
other side Of the world. It does not
regard locality, nationality. or blood
relation.
b. What being a neighbor means.
Our supreme concern should not be
'"Who is my neighbour" but Whose
neighbor am II" To be a neighbor is !:
~ To be on the lookout for those
in need of our help ". 33). 1t is keen
to discern the needs Of those with
whom it is brought into contact. (2)
To have compassion on the needy ".
33). Christ's compassion was aroused
as he came into contact with those
who were suffering and in need. (3)
To give to those in need ". 34). Love
does not calculate the cost of it's &C.
lions. Whenever there is calculation
of cost, there is the expression of
selfishness. Many are willing to give
money to help the poor and needy
but are unwilling personally to min
lister to them. The true neighbor gives
himself as we'll as his money
az To bind up wounds ". BAY. II
we have eyes to discern. we shall see
many wounds about us that need at
tention. (5) To set the helpless ones
on our beasts while we walk ". 34).
This is the proof Of the genuineness
of our love. Those who are like Christ
will deny themselves in order to have
something to give to those who are in
need. (6) To bring to the inn and
take care Of the unfortunate ". 34).
Genuine love does not leave it's serv-
ice incomplete. True love follows up
the needy. 60 To give money ". 35).
It costs good deal to be a neighbor.
Love is the most expensive thing in
the world. 1t cost God his only Son.
1t cost Jesus Christ his life.
This parable has been through the
centuries the classic illustration of
Z fpI1o Nhricfian observation-disclosures