(LUKE 10:25-37.)
THE lawyer’s question, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" seems at first sight very similar to that of the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:30 " Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ''
In reality, they are very different. The lawyer's implies his own ability to gain life as a result of what he could do; while the jailor's is the cry of a troubled soul for someone to sale him, thus owning he could not save himself.
The blessed Lord, however, takes occasion of the lawyer's question to bring out the wretched and helpless state of the sinner; while in reply to his second question, “And who is my neighbour? "He gives a full and beautiful picture of Himself as the Saviour.
“A certain Man went down, from Jerusalem to Jericho.'' These words pre-sent to us the downward course of every man. Jerusalem was the city blessed by the presence of God, who had put His name there (Exod. 15:17 and 1 Kings 8:29). Jericho, on the other hand, was the first city to withstand Israel when they entered Canaan to take possession of the land that God promised them; therefore the city was accursed and utterly destroyed; moreover, Joshua pronounced a curse on the man who should rebuild it (Josh. 6:17; Josh. 26-27).
It was not till the days of the wicked King Ahab that a man was found daring enough to defy the curse. and rebuild Jericho; and then, though more than five hundred years had passed since the curse was proclaimed, the words of Joshua were fulfilled; for "he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub" (1 Kings 16:34) The sinner—and let us remember "all have sinned"—has his back to God and all blessing, and his face towards the place of the curse; his feet are treading the downward road that leads to destruction. On his journey "he fell among thieves, which stripped" him, and left him half dead by the road-side. What a picture of misery and helplessness and yet how slow is man to realize that the Lord thus depicts his state. Dear reader, let me ask, "Have you done so?" Well is it, indeed, When he discovers that he has nothing with which to meet the claims of a holy God, for this leaves God free to deal in grace; as with the two debtors the Lord tells us of in Luke 7:41, 42: "When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both." Again, helplessness is no hindrance to God: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6).
"By chance" (note these words) "there came down a certain priest that way." Ah! we should have thought that was just the one the poor man needed. But, although he secs him, he passes by on the other side. If the poor man had had an offering the priest could have offered it on his behalf, and with its blood made an atonement for his soul. But he was stripped of all, and had nothing, and so the priest was unable to help him.
So is it with the sinner. He has nothing to offer to God as a ransom for his soul, or for that of his brother, and "the redemption of the soul is precious" (Psa. 49:7, 8). God, however, in His abounding grace, "if any say, I have sinned," replies, "I have found a ransom" (Job 33:23-28). The Apostle Peter reminds us of what this is, even "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).
“Likewise," that is, by chance, Levite... came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. "Why was the Levite no more able to help the half-dead man than the priest? Because the man was unable to do anything. The Levites of old were appointed to teach the people the law (Deut. 33:8-10), and what they should do to please God. The poor man was, however, beyond teaching what he should, do—he was helpless. Again in this, how he typifies the sinner, who, according to God's Word, is" without strength "! But it is just in that state that God in grace tells us," In due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:6).
In blessed contrast to the priest and the Levite we find the "certain Samaritan." He came not, like the others, "by chance," but "as he journeyed." It was by no mere chance that the loving Saviour came to save the sinner, but with purpose of heart He journeyed from the glory to the manger, from the manger to the cross, and from the open grave He has gone back into the glory of God—the mighty Victor over Satan, death, and the grave.
That journey was undertaken to do the will of God (Heb. 10:9), and "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). The good Samaritan did not ask the man for anything: he did not tell him to' do anything—not even to come a step towards him, but he "came where he was," his heart was moved with compassion, and he "bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine." The wine speaks to us of the cleansing blood of Jesus, that "cleanseth us from all sin"; the oil, of the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Having thus ministered to him, he "set him on his own beast." The man needed a power outside himself to carry him. The very power of God that sustained and preserved the Lord Jesus through this scene (for as perfect Man He took the place of dependence, saying, " Preserve Me, O God: for in Thee do I put My trust '' (Psa. 16:1) is the power that carries and keeps those whom Christ saves. We are "kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:5).
He "brought him to an inn, and took care of him." An inn is not where travelers make their home, but a place of shelter and refreshment on the journey. So with the rescued sinner; he is brought to the company of those traveling to glory—the church of God on its way through this world (Acts 2:47), cared for and ministered to by the Host to whom Christ has committed the charge of His people, even the Holy Spirit or Comforter. He it is who takes of the things of Christ and shows them to us for our comfort, refreshment, and joy, and to glorify Christ, to whom the Father has given all that He Himself has (John 16:13-15).
The Good Samaritan departs on the morrow for a little while only, leaving two pence with the host-an amount to meet the man's needs for the day. Yet there was no lack, for "whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee." What a, bright and cheering thought for the poor man, that his deliverer was soon coming for him again! So with us who believe in Jesus. He has said, "Surely I come quickly” (Rev. 22:20). While He tarries the Holy Spirit ministers to us specially in two ways—by the Word of God and prayer-answering, I believe, to the two pence of the parable. This thought gains confirmation from the fact that Luke, who gives us events in their moral order, brings them to our notice just after the parable.
Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word: and in the beginning of chapter 11. Christ teaches His disciples to pray. "We know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us...." (Rom. 8:26).
May He, indeed, so engage our souls through the Word with Christ, and keep us in prayerful dependence, that the longing cry of our hearts, in answer to Christ's parting message to us of His near return, may be, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." W. HUBERT S. FOSBERY.