Verses 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 do you read it? 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.”
27, 28. And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. And He said unto him, You have answered
right: this do and you shall 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 you shall 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.
29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? He probably meant to say, “I have
not any neighbors. 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 neighbor?” He did not turn the eyes of the man to the poor mendicants who needed charity, but he
made him look at himself.
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.”
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.
32-34. And passed by on the other side. 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 bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on
his own beast—Denying himself, therefore, because, of course, he had to walk—
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—A much more valuable sum than two pence of our money—
35, 36. And gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatever you spend more, when I come
again, I will repay you. Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? He
might have said, “The Samaritan,” but he would not, for the Jews hated them.
37. And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do you 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 you likewise.” Alas, I am afraid that after most sermons people get the dismission, “Go,” but they forget
the commission—“Go, and do you likewise.” It is your privilege as well as your duty, O Christians, to assist the needy
and, whenever you discover distress, as far as lies in you, to minister practically to its relief!
—Adapted from The C. H. Spurgeon Collection, Ages Software, 1.800.297.4307, from spurgeon gems
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