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THE KING’S BUSINESS
was dangetous to help, as the robbers might be near, or he might himself be sus pected of the crime. Furthermore, he was an important functionary and returning from his priestly functions, and work like this could be left to some more common place man. Further still, the, Levite was just behind and he would attend to the case. Yes, there are always plenty of ex cuses for not playing a neighbor’s part. Before blaming the priest, let us ask our selves whether we never pass on the other side. Now comes the Levite, who stood ) next to the priest in the service of God, and he is the next one that we would ex pect to help. Does he? Oh no, he, too, passed by on the other side. Perhaps he saw the priest do it and thought it quite justifiable to do what his superior did. Tuesday, Dcember 14. Luke 10:33-37. Now comes the Samaritan, one whom every Jew despised (John 4:9; 8:48). There was a sharp sting for the lawyer’s pride in this. The Samaritan would have far better excuse than priest, or .Levite for passing by. Nobody expected anything of a Samaritan, and besides, the man who lay there half dead would never have helped him in like extremity, he would have snubbed and cursed him. It is a beautiful picture. (1) “He saw him” ; how blind our eyes are to the misery about us. (2) “He was moved with compas sion does the misery you see really move you? (3) He “came to him;” we can never help misery at a distance. (4) He' “bound up his wounds;” there are many wounds today that need binding up. ( 5 )_ He “set him on his own beast;” how few there are whose compassion is so thor ough-going that they are willing to walk that the other man may ride. ( 6 ) He “brought him to an inn, and took care of him;” he did not leave his work half done. Most of us help a man once or twice in temporal things, or-spiritual, and then leave him to shift for himself as best he can. When he had done all. and left, he made provision for future necessities. The slory gives us a picture of true love. Every line
should be studied closely. It cost the Sa maritan much to act this way; love is a very expensive thing. Jesus Himself most fully fills out the picture of the Good Sa maritan. The sinner is the man fallen among robbers, on the way from God’s city to the city under a curse, stripped, beaten, forsaken, half dead, no help in priest or Levite. Jesus is the despised Sa maritan, who comes where the sinner is and sees him, is moved with compassion, goes to him, binds up his wounds, pours in the oil and wine of the Spirit, sets him on His own beast, walks Himself, brings him to an inn, takes care of him; provides for every want, pays all his debts, is coming again and will reward His servants for everything done \vhen He comes. The Lord pointed His story by a question. The lawyer saw the point, but hadn’t the grace to say right out, “The Samaritan.” Then comes our Lord’s final thrust, “Go and do thou likewise.” . The lawyer had. started out to test Jesus, but had been tested him self and found utterly wanting. He wenl: away convicted. Wednesday, December IS. Luke 10:38-42. Again we are at Bethany, and at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, one of the most loved spots on earth to Jesus. Not many in those days were so ready to receive Jesus into their homes as was Martha, but she was richly repaid, then and afterward. Mary took her place at Jesus’ feet as a learner. There at His feet she “heard His word.” . There is no other place so good to learn as at Jesus’ feet. It matters little at. the feet' of what great theologian we may have studied, if ,we have riot learned at the feet of Jesus we have not learned much.- In the eleventh chap ter of John, we shall again see Mary at Jesus’ feet in supplication (John ll:3 2 )v It is not likely that she would ever have found her way to Jesus’ feet in the time of her deep sorrow had she not before that hour found her way to Jesus’ feet for teaching. Then in John 12 we shall find her once again at Jesus’ feet for adora tion. Martha did not hear the word as
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