Between Jerusalem and Jericho
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and “when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and hoimd up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. — Luke x. 33, 34.
Instead of looking at the incident as a whole, we shall confine attention to the condition of the injured man. The great point of the parable is to show who is our neighbour; apart, however, from that point there are some lessons bearing upon the general scheme of human life, and the special treatment of individuals, which may be profitablygathered.
I. A certain man fell among thieves — here is the
BLACK MARGIN WHICH SURROUNDS CIVILIZED SOCIETY.
It is perhaps only a man here or there who may
T fictnally fall amongst thieves; but it is from individual men that we learn the true condition of the society which lies beyond us. If we look only within our own narrow circle we may suppose that things are tolerably orderly and satisfactory. But, listen! The voice of one who is in distress reaches us! He is only one, that is true; but from him, though lonely, we may learn that beyond the sunny circle of our own comfort there is a dark rim of wicked conspiracy against all rights and joys. Think that around British society to-day there is a huge circle of enemies, conspirators, spoilers, — prisons, magistracies, restrictions, and penal ministries! There is a boundary beyond which if a man step he will pass into the most aggravated form of barbarism.
II. There came down a priest that way, as also a Levite and a Samaritan — so the escape op some
IS NOT TO BE TAKEN AS A CONDEMNATION OF OTHEES.
A.11 the four men went down the same road, yet only one of them was unfortunate! What a temp tation for the three who escaped to say, ^*’It must have been his own blame: we passed down the very same road, and did not hear so much as the fluttering of a leaf; we have no patience with men who are always getting into scrapes.’’^ Want of patie;ice is no proof of virtue. Society is often curt with its unfortunate men. You have passed safely down the roads of Business: Sociality: Affliction: do not turn your escape into a whip with which to scourge less fortunate men.
III. The priest passed by on the other side, so did the Levite — the thing which is always being
DONE BY A NEGATIVE AND DO-NOTHING EESPECTABILITY.
There are two sides in life. (1) The side on which men are dying; and (2) ‘^ the other side.’’ We can choose our side! On the first side we shall find (1) something to shock our sensibilities; (2) something to interrupt our speed; (3) something to tax our resources. On the opposite side we shall find a clear path to infamy and the hell of -eternal remorse!
IV. The priest passed by, and so did the Levite
so SACRED NAMES AEE NO GUARANTEE FOR SACRED
SERVICES. It is a terrible thing for the nature to fall below the nanne! Thou hast a name to live, and art dead. This is the most corrupt and the most mischievous of falsehoods! A name is a promise. A profession is a responsibiUti/. With what force of appplication does this suggestion urge itself upon a Christian? By assuming the name of Christ we entitle necessitous and suffering so — ciety to entertain certain expectations,, and urge certain claims. There is no escape from this reasoning, and no escape from the consequences, except by perjury.
V. But a certain Samaritan had compassion on
him THERE ARE UNEXPECTED SOURCES OP HELP IN
LIFE. You have found it so in business; others have found it so in symjpatliy: others in periods of great perplexity. This reflection is of great practical value as showing (1) that we all need help; (2) as protecting men from despair; (3) as showing that we ourselves may become the unexpected helpers of others.
In the distribution of help we are not to be limited (a) by theological creeds; (h) nor by national prejudices; (c) nor by personal dislikes. We are to help humanity as such. The more we enter into those tragic circumstances which lie far away from the region of mere controversy, the more will our hearts be drawn towards each other as the sliarers of a common nature.
The Christian application of this study is obvious.
1. Life is a perilous journey.
2. Lost men will never be saved by formal
piety.
3. The true Helper is the very Being whom we have offended. The teacher of this parable is the Exemplar of its beneficent doctrine. The teacher should always be the explanation of his own lesson.