THE KING’S The Lord’s purpose was the Law’s purpose (Gal. 3:24; Rom. 3:20). V. 29. “H e willing ( “ determined,” he was convicted but not humbled) to justify himself." Jesus had him in the “ sweat box',” where, sooner or later, He gets every sinner. " Who is my' neighbor Sinners, like their paternal snake, squirm under pres su re;'try to squirm out of it; make all sorts of excuses, as, in this case, uncertain ty as to the application of the precept; so men in business, practice, pleasurable hab its, amusements, etc. There’s always light enough to do- right. Excusation is never justification. This man’s question corir demned him, for 'b y the law of love the eye that looks on misery never asks, “Who can it be?” but “ What can I do?” Vs. 30-37. Jesus answered not by ab stract reasoning but by a concrete and convincing instance. Comment on the story is scarcely more needed in our case than in the lawyer’s. From Jerusalem to Jericho was'a hard, dangerous hut frequented' road. Many priests and Levites lived at the-lat ter and labored at the former city. : The mountainous path was infested by brigands. Men Called it “ The Bloody Way." The vic tim' in the story ,was, no doubt, a Jew, the “ neighbor” a Samaritan, the last men to get or give help' from or to one another. Emphasis is to be laid, too, on the fact that the priest and Levite were ministers of the Law, the essence of which: is loye, and which they. professed to keep. The priest saw and passed by—because he hated rather than pitied?, or feared being “held up” himself? or hasted to fill his appoint ment ? or shirked the trouble or expense?
BUSINESS 25 or feared defilement by the man dying" on his hands incapacitating him for the 'forAis of that religion of the soul -for which he had no soul? The Levite!did worsd: He went up and gazed on the unconscious ferm ; turned it over with his toe ? said* it served him right? or it was no business of his ? How up-to-date it all is.' A bfute held up a citizen a night or two ago and slashed his face with a knife becausfe there was no loot on hirh. So ' there bandits beat the man “ half dead” after stripping him oj all, and left him for dead or alive —what cared they? “ But a certain Sa maritan’’— note each principal word in the account. This man was worthy the Noble prize. The. Lord gave him a ’ nobler by passing the story on. Is not this Samaritan become the father of Philanthropy?— “which was neighbor (nigh-bor) ?” So then the Antipodes are neighbors, Jews and Sa maritans! Japs and Californians.' Now we know what to do. D a not ask, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ‘nSave the other fellow’s life. “ G o !” “ Do I” (Matt. 28:19, 20 ; 25:34-40). II. A T ypical A pplication . 1. The Victim —the sinner (Isa. 1:5, 6). 2. The Thieves —Satan and demons (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:1, 10). 3. The Priest and Levite —Law and Forms (Rom. 3:20; Heb. 9:9, 10).
4. The Good Samaritan —Jesus (Luke 19:10). He came, poured into our wounds the wine (His blood), the oil (His Spirit of grace) ; He bears u s; brings us to the inn ((he Church?); pays our bill; stands, our surety; comes again; meets all dues. LESSON IV.—January 25.— S erving J esus .— Luke 8:1-3: 9 :57-62.— 10: 38-42. . ." G olden T ext : Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even the least, ye did it unto me. —Matt. 25:40. I. J esus S erving —8:1, 2. 1. Our Master a Servant. The sum of
“hewer of wood, and. drawer of water.” He opens our windows at dawn; draws our curtains by night ; lays our table morn ing, noon, and night; and fans us in the nlid-day heat; He is among us “as one that serveth” (Luke 22:27). 2. His Peculiar Service. Itinerant teach-
His life—“ He went about doing good” (Acts' 10:38). “ He took upon Him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7 ). Lord of all, Servant o f all—amazing! Yes; but fa miliar. From the beginning He is our
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