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Good Samaritan
299
Dispel Darkness by Admitting Light
Jesus did not denounce the bigotry of those watching to con-
demn Him. But by a simple story He held up such a picture of the
outflowing of heaven-born love as touched all hearts, and drew from
the lawyer a confession of the truth. The best way to deal with error
is to present truth. “A man,” said Jesus, “was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who stripped him
and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance
a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed
by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the
place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” RSV. This was an
actual occurrence, known to be exactly as represented. The priest
and Levite were in the company that listened to Christ’s words.
From Jerusalem to Jericho the road led down a wild, rocky ravine
infested by robbers, often the scene of violence. Here the traveler
was attacked and left half dead. The priest merely glanced toward
the wounded man. The Levite was convicted of what he ought to do,
but persuaded himself that the case was no concern of his.
Both these men were of the class specially chosen to be repre-
sentatives of God to the people. They were to “have compassion on
the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way.”
Hebrews 5:2
.
Angels of heaven look upon the distress of God’s family on
earth, and are prepared to cooperate with men in relieving oppres-
sion and suffering. All heaven watched to see if the priest and the
Levite would be touched with pity for human woe. The Saviour
[337]
had instructed the Hebrews in the wilderness, and had taught a very
different lesson from that which the people were now receiving from
their priests and teachers. The message had been given through
Moses that the Lord their God “doth execute the judgment of the
fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger.” “Love ye therefore
the stranger.” “Thou shalt love him as thyself.”
Deuteronomy 10:18,
19
;
Leviticus 19:34
.
But, trained in the school of national bigotry, the priest and
Levite had become selfish, narrow, and exclusive. When they looked
upon the wounded man they could not tell whether he was of their
nation. They thought he might be a Samaritan, and they turned away.