February, .1936
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K I N G ' S
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written rule to their own judgment and ex perience. The reply of the lawyer gave evidence of his familiarity with the law (vs. 27, 28). He possessed an intellectual knowledge; he knew what he ought to do. But knowledge alone is not sufficient. Without the doing, knowledge is condemnation. He knew the two main parts of the law which contained all other parts. If this lawyer had been obeying the first part, concerning God, he w ould. have been obeying the second part, concerning the neighbor, as a mat ter o f course. “This do,” said our Lord, “and thou shalt live.” This was the law to which the lawyer had appealed—in other words, Do and live; fail and die. The self-condemnation of the lawyer comes out at once (v. 29). He was “will ing,” that is, desiring, to justify himself. There was no call for this justification. No one had found fault with him, but he in stinctively felt that the words he himself had uttered condemned him. II. I llustrating the T eaching (30-35). V i: The opportunity for neighborliness (v. 30). This poor man, going down from Jeru salem ( “ Foundation o f peace” ) to Jericho ( “Place of curse” ), had been sorely wounded, stripped of all he possessed, and brought to such a state as to be uncon scious of his pitiable condition. How should such a one be treated by a person who would fulfill the second table of the law? 2. The tragedy of mere religion (vs. 31, 32). The priest, representing the law, was powerless to help this poor man; the law can only reveal the need for something other than itself. The Levite, representing the ordinances, was also powerless to help. The ordinances are of value only to those who have strength to engage in them. They cannot help those who are helpless (cf. Matt. 9:10-13). 3. The example o f true neighborliness (vs. 33-35). The Samaritan, outside o f the law and hated by the class represented by the law yer, showed that he loved this poor man as he loved himself, spent the treasures of his heart and hand upon him, gave him his sympathy and assistance, and did as much for him, the stranger, as he could do for himself. Thus our Lord shows that the lawyer’s question should have been, “To whom can I be a neighbor?” rhther than, “Who is my neighbor?” The Lord Jesus clearly indicates that wherever there is one in need, there, is a neighbor to be loved. Our Lord fully exemplified this teaching in His own earthly life. He took a man ger that we might have a mansion; He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness o f God in H im ; He be came a man o f sorrows, that we might have the fullness of jo y ; He became poor, that we might be rich; He suffered death, that we might have life; and He took the cross, that we might take the crown. BLACKBOARD LESSON
said to go down three hundred feet or more to feed from a subterranean stream. The tree or vine that is planted by the rivers of water will bring forth its fruit in its'season. The way to have a rich fruit age and to carry about a beautiful life is to abide in Him .—The Bottles of Heaven, by R evilo .
On a Mountain Top with Jesu* L uke 9:28-43
Memory Verse: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5). Approach: After Jesus took care of His disciples during the storm by stilling the waves, He did many more miracles. He
Object Lesson T urning on the L ight
Objects: A powerful electric light bulb connected to an extension cord, and sev eral smaller bulbs o f much lower wattage. Lesson: This powerful electric bulb is much more noticeable when it is lighted. In looking at it, I am reminded of the time when Christ took Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain to pray. As He was praying, His face and clothing were filled with light. Christ was always the Light o f the world, but people did not always realize that He was the Light. But on this occasion the light and glory shone out through Him in a way that it had never done before. The Bible, referring to this event, says that Christ was transfig ured. The best illustration I know of for the Transfiguration is this electric bulb. The electricity which is generated up in the mountains shines out through the bulb. Look at these other electric bulbs. They are cold and lifeless. As I look at them, I am reminded of the words o f Paul, found in Romans 12:2:" “And be not con formed to this world: but be ye trans- fornied.” The word here translated “transformed” is the same word in the Greek language as the word “transfigured” that was used to describe that which hap pened to Christ. Is it true that God wants Christians liv ing in our day to be transfigured before the world? Yes, He wants us to reveal the light and glory of God to others. I think this is what Christ referred to when He said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” See how these little bulbs burn when the electric current is turned into them. As the Christian allows God to transform him, the light and glory of God will shine out through his words and actions, and will cause those who are in darkness to see the •Light of the world. posing that eternal life could be secured by something that he himself would do; it showed his pride, by intimating that he could do whatever might be demanded; it manifested his legalism, by implying he was ready to do if he only knew what to d o ; it contained a fatal admission—the confession that he did not have eternal life ; and it uncovered his selfishness—the desire to have something merely for his own gratification. Our Lord met the lawyer upon his own ground, that of the law (v. 26). Thus the Source o f all wisdom and the actual Giver o f the law would subject Himself to the written rule. Modern men think it a sign o f intellectual greatness to subject that
h e a l e d a s i c k woman, He raised a little girl from the dead, He called His disciples to g e th e r and sent them out to preach and teach and heal the people. Later, He fed five thousand men. Then one day, the Lord Jesus asked His dis ciples who they be
lieved He was. And then it was that Peter gave his wonderful answer. He said: “ The Christ of God.” That was just the right answer. And because fhe disciples were sure o f this, Jesus showed them many things which the other people could not understand. Lesson Story: First, He took His dis ciples and talked to them very seriously. He said that if they were going to follow Him, they must be willing to give up every thing for His sake. These must have seemed very solemn words to the disci ples. They would have been sad words, too, if Jesus had meant by this that they would he left all. alone. But even though He told them this, He promised that wherever they ivent, He would be with them. And since they knew that He was the Son of God, this meant that God would be with them to be their strength and their Guide. Jesus took three of His disciples and climbed a mountain one day. As Jesus was praying, His face and appearance changed, and His clothing became white and glistening. After a time, the disciples heard God’s voice saying: “ This is my be loved Son.” Do you think that the disci ples would ever feel afraid or lonely again ? Lesson Text: Lk. 10:25-37. 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 thy self” (Lk. 10:27). Outline and Exposition I. T he O ccasion tor the T eaching (25-29). A lawyer among the Jews presumed to test our Lord with a catch question (v. 25). But the question revealed the lawyer’s own condition, although the ques tioner was not conscious of this fact. The query showed the man’s ignorance, in sup-
MARCH 8, 1936 JESUS TEACHES NEIGHBORLINESS L uke , C hapter 10
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