UK 10{Concluded.
Verses 25-29. We now learn some of those ways toward men, and the contrast between law and grace.
A lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He did not know himself as a ruined, helpless sinner, but wise in his own eyes, he tried to confound the Lord. He is in the presence of One who knew his inmost thoughts, and He teaches him by that very law of which he was the professed exponent. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" The letter of it he knew: "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 thyself." The Lord replied, "Thou hast answered right: ' this do, and thou shalt live." Yes, butt this only condemns him, for his inward consciousness tells him he had not done this, and he would like to justify himself. He was altogether mistaken in thinking the law could give life or righteousness. It was a good thing to live by on earth, but it could not give a title to blessing from God, that only comes by grace; but being willing to justify himself, he says, "And who is my neighbor?" His filthy rags of self-righteousness are exposed to himself, (Isa. 64:6,) and he does not like it. The Lord will not argue with him, but tells him a story to illustrate his need of grace as a ruined, 'helpless sinner on the downward road.
Verses 30-32. The man is going downward, from the city of blessing, to the city of the curse, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Can the priest with his ordinances or the Levite with his service, do the helpless sinner good? Ah no! the Savior alone can do helpless sinners good. This poor man had no strength. (Rom. 5:6.)
Verse 33. "A certain Samaritan," whom the Jews hated, (and the carnal mind in all men hates God,) "as he journeyed, came where he was." This reminds us of (2 Cor. 8:9) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who though He was rich in glory with the Father, yet for our sakes became poor. What a journey from that eternal glory, to become a man that He might glorify God and accomplish redemption. They might call Him a Samaritan, (John 8:48) but He loved them and came to save them from their sins. (Matt. 1:21.) To do this, He must needs suffer. (Isa. 53:5,6.) He must take the sinner's place.
"Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,
Confessed and born by Thee;
The gall, the curse, the wrath were Thine,
To set Thy ransomed free.”
And this He has done. What divine compassion filled His heart, and as He looked upon us in our sins, His compassion was drawn out.
Verse 34. Now He comes right to the sinner bringing salvation. (Titus 2:11.) The wounds are bound up by the good news that He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree and He has poured in the oil and the wine. We have the assurance and the joy of knowing His forgiving love. Still further, "He set him on His own heart and brought him to an inn and took care of him." What riches of grace are here; we are the objects of His care; He lifts us from the roadside, He carries us along, He has put us in safe place It is only an inn yet, but soon it will be the Father's house. (John 14:3.)
Verses 35-37. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him; "Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spec Iciest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." Our blessed Lord has gone to heaven now, to ' the glory He had with the Father before the world was. (John 17:5.) There He has prepared a place for those whom His grace has made His own, but His (two pence) sufficiency-all that He is for us, as our great High Priest and Advocate, is ministered to us by that faithful Comforter in whose care we are left. And we are constantly reminded of what He said in love that our hearts might respond. "I will come again," and "quickly," makes us say, "Amen. Even so, Come, Lord Jesus." (John 14:3, Rev. 22:20.) O, what a neighbor He has been to us! What grace! what mercy! to lost, ruined sinners!
Did the lawyer ever hear of a neighbor like this? Good was it for him if he was robbed, and then if he was saved, the object of sovereign grace and mercy; then indeed could he go and do likewise. This is service above all law, in which we that are saved can have a share in the Lord's work of grace; telling sinners of their ruin, of God's salvation for all men, and also comforting His people; and we can find encouragement in the words of our Lord, if we serve Him, "And what thou spendest more, when I come again I will repay thee." Our blessed Lord and Master loves His own which are in the world, (John 13:1) and loves them to the end; that means, all the way through. It is our privilege to follow in His steps in this also. And if it costs us a little hard work, or self-denial, or both, let us remember what it cost Him to redeem us and them, and that it was His love which made Him say, "Take care of Him; and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again, I will repay thee”
Verses 38-42. Martha was one of those that Jesus loved, (John 11:5,) and she received Him into her house. She has that privilege, as well as the toil and care of the house. Her service we see in John 12:2 is specially mentioned, taken notice of as of equal worth with Lazarus' fellowship, and Mary's worship. And this the Lord does not find fault with; it is the spirit in which she is, that rather grieved him, while Mary is spoken of as one who also sat at Jesus' feet listening to His word. This was her characteristic attitude of soul. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, "Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me." Martha's service was very important in her own eyes; her state of soul was more important in His. She tries to tell Him His duty, and finds fault with Mary. That is the way when we get out of communion. We think nobody is so important as ourselves. Our work should be the first thing. It is self again. Our blessed Lord rebukes her firmly, though gently. "Martha, Martha thou are careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, (not the better part) which shall not be taken away from her." How much the Lord appreciated this attitude of soul, and how Mary learned the mind of the Lord as she sat there so that when the time came, she had her sweet savor ointment ready, and poured it upon Him for the day of His burying.