Good Samaritan
427
watching him tenderly. In the morning, as the sick man had improved,
the Samaritan ventured to go on his way. But before doing this, he
placed him in the care of the innkeeper, paid the charges, and left
a deposit for his benefit; and not satisfied even with this, he made
provision for any further need, saying to the host, “Take care of him;
and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay
thee.”
The story ended, Jesus fixed His eyes upon the lawyer, in a glance
that seemed to read his soul, and said, “Which of these three, thinkest
thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?”
Luke
10:36
, R. V.
The lawyer would not, even now, take the name Samaritan upon
his lips, and he made answer, “He that showed mercy on him.” Jesus
said, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
Thus the question, “Who is my neighbor?” is forever answered.
Christ has shown that our neighbor does not mean merely one of the
church or faith to which we belong. It has no reference to race, color,
or class distinction. Our neighbor is every person who needs our
help. Our neighbor is every soul who is wounded and bruised by the
adversary. Our neighbor is everyone who is the property of God.
In the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus gave a picture of Himself
and His mission. Man had been deceived, bruised, robbed, and ruined
by Satan, and left to perish; but the Saviour had compassion on our
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helpless condition. He left His glory, to come to our rescue. He found
us ready to die, and He undertook our case. He healed our wounds. He
covered us with His robe of righteousness. He opened to us a refuge
of safety, and made complete provision for us at His own charges.
He died to redeem us. Pointing to His own example, He says to His
followers, “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”
“As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 15:17
;
13:34
.
The lawyer’s question to Jesus had been, “What shall I do?” And
Jesus, recognizing love to God and man as the sum of righteousness,
had said, “This do, and thou shalt live.” The Samaritan had obeyed the
dictates of a kind and loving heart, and in this had proved himself a
doer of the law. Christ bade the lawyer, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
Doing, and not saying merely, is expected of the children of God. “He
that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He
walked.”
1 John 2:6
.