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but the Gospel does, and this beauti ful story is the Gospel in action. Jesus takes, an incident which no doubt had actually occurred, and through it He illustrates the heart of the true neighbor. The picture of the man is a picture of all men as represented by Adam. Jerusalem is the city of God; Jericho, the city of judgment. It is a downhill journey. Man starts with his back to God and goes on his way hell- ward. Life is a perilous road infested by thieves. The devil is a highway rob ber. He allows no one to pass by with out robbing him, even though it is one of his own children. The priest represents the law which is powerless to help. There is no mercy in the law; it is inexorable; it does not go out of its way to help. A priest must not touch a dead body. A priest must not be defiled. Such was the law. The law can look on and condemn, but it cannot pity. The Levite represents the forms and ceremonies of the ecclesiastical life. There is no power in these. They can only say “ Get up and walk.” They can not say “ In the name of the Lord Jesus, rise up and walk.” There is no love in them; no pity; The law leaves one to forms and ceremonies, and they leave one to die. A certain Samaritan, a good man, came where he was. He saw him and did not pass by. He saw an opportunity to do a good deed; to show a kindness. He sympathized with him. His soul was full of compassion for him. He stooped down, in loving sympathy with him. He was not his friend— rather his enemy—- but his need drew him to his relief. He succored him, lifted him to his own beast and took the man’s place on the road, Having begun a good work, he will not cease until it is finished. He supplied his needs, conveyed him to the inn, put him into the care of the host and made provision for his safe-keeping. He secures his future, promising to come again and see him. This is the
Lord’s picture of a true, neighborly act, and it silenced the scribe. Can you not see a protraiture of the Lord’s own work in behalf of all men,— the manifest com passion of God’s Son who stooped down from heaven to earth, taking man’s place, suffering in man’s stead, satisfy ing all the demands of God’s justice, putting Himself in man’s place, making all provision for his eternal future, and promising to come again and receive him to Himself? PRACTICAL POINTS ( 1) The devil is the high-handed high wayman. (2) The devil is heartless and leaves a man hopeless. (3) Life is a highway leading from heaven to hell. (4) The priestly office of the law has no place for a lost soul. ( 5) Ecclesiastical ceremonies minister no comfort to a stricken âoul. (6) Heaven gave the best for the man that was the worst. ( 7) The consolation of the sin-stricken world is that Christ came to min ister to its need. (8) Christ paid the price of our salva tion and makes provision for all our future need. ( 9) The heart that has been hurt to the death, can never be cured until it has been touched by His hand. “ I want to help you to grow to be as beautiful as God meant you to be when He thought of you first,” said George MacDonald. And Pascal said, “ Kind words produce their PERTINENT own image in men’s LESSON souls, and a beauti- ILLUSTRATIONS ful image i,t is. Seeking To Help. David said, “ Is there anyone to whom I can show kindness?” Here is the art of helping, the art of blessing. David seeks out Mephibosheth, the son of Jon athan, and helps this poor cripple, even giving him a seat at the King’s table.
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