Luke 10:35 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And—he took out two pence,— The value of two denarii was about fifteen pence sterling; and from the smallness of the sum, it is reasonable to conclude that this charitable man was but poor: if so, this circumstance greatly enhances his kindness to the Jew. It is a very probable circumstance, that a man travelling without any attendance, and now going out to a considerable distance from home, should not have more to spare, especially as he was to travel through so dangerous a road; and so it would have been very imprudent to charge himself with much more money than he was likely to want in his journey; which would be the less, because travellers, as we have shewn in the preceding note, used in those countries to carry their provision with them. Compare Genesis 28:18 and Joshua 9:12-13. Another circumstance of the Samaritan's kindness is observable, in his becoming answerable for the whole expences incident to the man's unhappy case: Whatsoever thou spendest more, &c. It seems as if he was afraid that the mercenary temper of thehost might have hindered him from furnishing what was necessary, if he had no prospect of being repaid. Indeed all the circumstances of this beautiful parable are formed with the finest skill imaginable, to work the conviction designed; so that had the lawyer been ever so much disposed to reckon none as his neighbours but men of his own religion, it was not in his power to do it on this occasion. And althoughfavours from a Samaritan had always been represented to him as an abomination more detestable even than the eating of swine's flesh, he was obliged to acknowledge, that not the priest or the Levite, but this Samaritan, bydischarging a great office of genuine charity towards the Jew in distress, was truly his neighbour, and deserved his love more than some of his own nation, who sustained the most venerable characters; that the like charity was due from any Israelite to any Samaritan who stood in need of it; and that all men are neighbours to all men, how much soever they may be distinguished from one another in respect of country, or kindred, or language, or religion. Mankind are intimately knit together by their common wants and weaknesses, being so formed that they cannot live without the assistance of each other. And therefore the relation which subsists between them is as extensive as their natures; and the obligations under which they lie to aid one another by mutual good offices are as strong and urgent as every man's own manifold necessities. By this admirable parable, therefore, our Lord has powerfully recommended that universal benevolence which is so familiar in the mouths, but foreign to the hearts, of many hypocritical pretenders to religion and morality. It would appear that the presumption of the Jews in matters of religion exceeded all bounds; for though the Supreme Beingpays very little regard to outward worship, and is much more delighted with the inward homage of a holy and benevolent mind, yet, because they prayed daily in his temple, and offered sacrifices there, and carried about his precepts written on their phylacteries, and had God and the law always in their mouths, they made no doubt that they worshipped God acceptably, notwithstanding they were so enormously wicked, that they would not put themselves to the smallest expence or trouble, though they could have saved life by it; and therefore had no real love to God or their neighbour. This monstrous presumption being utterly subversive of true religion, our Lord thought fit to condemn it, in the severest manner, and to brand it with the blackest, and most lasting note of infamy, in this charming parable. We may just observe, that as Jesus was now in Samaria, he shewed great tenderness, as well as justice, in assigning the benevolent charitable character in the parable, to a native of this country. A fine writer well observes,thatnothingcanbe more judiciously circumstanced than the principal figure in this piece. "Had the calamity befallen a Samaritan, it would have made but feeble impressions of pity, and those, perhaps, immediately effaced by stronger emotions of hate. But when it was a Jew that lay bleeding to death, the representation was sure to interest the hearer in the distress, and awaken a tender concern. Had the relief been administered by aJew, the benevolence would have shone, but in a much fainter light; whereas, when it came from the hands of a Samaritan, whom all the Jews had agreed to abjure, to execrate, and to rank with the very fiends of hell: how bright,—how charmingly and irresistibly bright,—was the lustre of such charity! Let the reader consider the temper expressed in that rancorous reflection,—Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil, John 8:48.—Let him compare that inveterate malevolence, with the benign and compassionate spirit of our amiable traveller: then let him say, whether he ever beheld a finer or a bolder contrast? Whether, upon the whole, he ever saw the ordonnance of descriptive painting more justly designed, or more happily executed? I would beg leave to observe farther, that the virulent animosity of the Jew discovers itself even in the lawyer's reply, He that shewed mercy on him. He will not so much as name the Samaritan, especially in a case where he could not be named without an honourable distinction. So strongly marked, and so exactly preserved, are the manners or distinguishable qualities of each person in the sacred narrations!" It may be proper just to observe, after having given a literal interpretation of this parable, that many writers, ancient and modern, have also given a spiritual interpretation of it; which, it must be acknowledged, is not only extremely ingenious, but very instructive, and certainly can be attended with no ill effects, while the literal meaning is preserved and adhered to: however, in the present commentary, havingingeneralrefrainedfrominterpretations of that kind, I shall only subjoin a brief exposition of the parable in this way, as given us by Dr. Stanhope, whose judgment was certainly as mature, as his piety was indisputable. "This account," say he, "is a most lively representation of the merciful and loving Jesus. He was the good Samaritan indeed, who found poor human nature wounded and bruised, left more than half dead, and stript of all its valuable perfections, by the merciless robber and adversary of souls. His bowels yearned over our distressed condition; and when neither the Levitical law, nor the sacrifices offered by Jewish priests, had administered any comfort or relief, He came, a stranger, from his blessed dwelling, kindly made towards us, bound up our wounds and bruises, poured out his soul unto the death, and applied the sovereign balsam of his own Blood. He took us up, and removed us away into a more saving dispensation, and has made a perfect atonement for our sins, at the expence of many miracles, and mighty condescensions, and infinite hardships and sufferings to himself. His occasions indeed would not allow him to stay with us till all the effects of his goodness were accomplished; but he has committed us into safe hands; he has sent his Holy Spirit to us, even the Comforter, and has not left us orphans: he has given commission for aconstant supply of spiritual sustenance and remedies; which those who distribute faithfully, he willcertainly, when he comes again, repay; and those who receive regularly, thankfully, and perseveringly, he will as certainly heal and nourish unto life eternal. And ought not such a pattern as this to have the weight of ten thousand arguments with us? How can they grudge suitable expressions of love to their brethren in distress, who at all remember what the Son of God did not, in their utmost, their desperate extremity, esteem too much to do for them? Who can have the confidence to think himself excused towards those of a differing judgment, or disobliging behaviour, or most wrongful malice and spite, when they reflect, that herein chiefly God commended his love towards us, that while we were yet sinners,—the most fatally mistaken, the worst and most disingenuous of his creatures here below, the bitterest and most detestable of all enemies,—Christ died for us? For which inestimable benefit and love, all honour and praise, thanksgiving and obedience be unto Him, who left us an example that herein we should follow his steps." See this Epistle's and Gospels, vol. 3: p. 436.