Luke 10:25-26. And, behold a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
That was a most appropriate answer to a lawyer. « You ask me what you should do; well, you profess to be a teacher of the law, you ought, therefore, to know what is written in the law.»
Luke 10:27-28. And he answering said, 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 neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
This lawyer was one of those people who know the law, yet do it not. No doubt Jesus struck the nail on the head when he gave him that very pertinent answer, «This do, and thou shalt live.» This lawyer was trying to live by teaching the law, by his knowledge of it, but Christ insists that nothing will do but a practical carrying out of its precepts.
Luke 10:29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
He probably meant to say, «I have not any neighbours; I have no near relations; my father and mother are dead and gone, I have no brothers and sisters, and therefore I may be excused from the duty of loving anyone else as I love myself.» Jesus did not answer the lawyer's question, « Who is my neighbour?» He did not turn the eyes of the man to the poor mendicants who needed charity, but he made him look at himself.
Luke 10:30-31. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
This priest had been up to the temple to perform his part of the service; he was much too good, in his own opinion, to go and touch a man who was wounded, «he passed by on the other side.»
Luke 10:32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, He did a little more than the priest, who would not even cross the road.
Luke 10:32-34. And passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he say him, he had compassion on him and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, ВѕDenying himself, therefore, because of course he had to walk-
Luke 10:34-35. And brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence,Вѕ
A much more valuable sum than two pence of our moneyВѕ
Luke 10:35-36. And gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
He might have said, « The Samaritan,» but he would not, for the Jews hated them.
Luke 10:37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Here was a dismission, and here was a commission too. Jesus dismissed him. «I have nothing more to say to you; ‘Go.'» Here was the commission:
«Do thou likewise.» Alas! I am afraid that, after most sermons people get the dismission: «Go;» but they forget the commission: «Go, and do thou likewise.» It is your privilege as well as your duty, O Christians, to assist the needy; and whenever you discover distress, as far as lieth in you, to minister practically to its relief.