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e listened to His words。 In Perea as in Galilee the people were less under the control of Jewish bigotry than in Judea； and His teaching found a response in their hearts。
During these last months of His ministry； many of Christ's parables were spoken。 The priests and rabbis pursued Him with ever…increasing bitterness； and His warnings to them He veiled in symbols。 They could not mistake His meaning； yet they could find in His words nothing on which to ground an accusation against Him。 In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican； the self…sufficient prayer； 〃God； I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men；〃 stood out in sharp contrast to the penitent's plea； 〃Be merciful to me the sinner。〃 Luke 18：11； 13； R。 V。； margin。 Thus Christ rebuked the hypocrisy of the Jews。 And under the figures of the barren fig tree and the great supper He foretold the doom about to fall upon the impenitent nation。 Those who had scornfully rejected the invitation to the gospel feast heard His warning words： 〃I say unto you； That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of My supper。〃 Luke 14：24。
Very precious was the instruction given to the disciples。 The parable of the importunate widow and the friend asking for bread at midnight gave new force to His words； 〃Ask； and it shall be given you； seek； and ye shall find； knock； and it shall be opened unto you。〃 Luke 11：9。 And often their wavering faith was strengthened by the memory that Christ had said； 〃Shall not God do justice for His elect； which cry to Him day and night； and He is long…suffering over them？ I say unto you； that He will do them justice speedily。〃 Luke 18：7； 8； R。 V。； margin。
The beautiful parable of the lost sheep Christ repeated。 And He carried its lesson still farther； as He told of the lost piece of silver and the prodigal son。 The force of these lessons the disciples could not then fully appreciate； but after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit； as they saw the ingathering of the Gentiles and the envious anger of the Jews； they better understood the lesson of the prodigal son； and could enter into the joy of Christ's words； 〃It was meet that we should make merry；
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and be glad；〃 〃for this my son was dead； and is alive again； he was lost； and is found。〃 Luke 15：32； 24。 And as they went out in their Master's name； facing reproach and poverty and persecution； they often strengthened their hearts by repeating His injunction； spoken on this last journey； 〃Fear not； little flock； for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom。 Sell that ye have； and give alms； provide yourselves bags which wax not old； a treasure in the heavens that faileth not； where no thief approacheth； neither moth corrupteth。 For where your treasure is； there will your heart be also。〃 Luke 12：32…34。
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Chapter 54
The Good Samaritan
In the story of the good Samaritan； Christ illustrates the nature of true religion。 He shows that it consists not in systems； creeds； or rites； but in the performance of loving deeds； in bringing the greatest good to others； in genuine goodness。
As Christ was teaching the people； 〃a certain lawyer stood up； and tempted Him； saying； Master； what shall I do to inherit eternal life？〃 With breathless attention the large congregation awaited the answer。 The priests and rabbis had thought to entangle Christ by having the lawyer ask this question。 But the Saviour entered into no controversy。 He required the answer from the questioner himself。 〃What is written in the law？〃 He said； 〃how readest thou？〃 The Jews still accused Jesus of lightly regarding the law given from Sinai； but He turned the question of salvation upon the keeping of God's commandments。
The lawyer 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 neighbor as thyself。〃 Jesus said； 〃Thou hast answered right： this do； and thou shalt live。〃
The lawyer was not satisfied with the position and works of the Pharisees。 He had been studying the Scriptures with a desire to learn their real meaning。 He had a vital interest in the matter； and had asked in sincerity； 〃What shall I do？〃 In his answer as to the requirements
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of the law； he passed by all the mass of ceremonial and ritualistic precepts。 For these he claimed no value； but presented the two great principles on which hang all the law and the prophets。 This answer； being commended by Christ； placed the Saviour on vantage ground with the rabbis。 They could not condemn Him for sanctioning that which had been advanced by an expositor of the law。
〃This do； and thou shalt live；〃 Jesus said。 He presented the law as a divine unity； and in this lesson taught that it is not possible to keep one precept； and break another； for the same principle runs through them all。 Man's destiny will be determined by his obedience to the whole law。 Supreme love to God and impartial love to man are the principles to be wrought out in the life。
The lawyer found himself a lawbreaker。 He was convicted under Christ's searching words。 The righteousness of the law； which he claimed to understand； he had not practiced。 He had not manifested love toward his fellow man。 Repentance was demanded； but instead of repenting； he tried to justify himself。 Rather than acknowledge the truth； he sought to show how difficult of fulfillment the commandment is。 Thus he hoped both to parry conviction and to vindicate himself in the eyes of the people。 The Saviour's words had shown that his question was needless； since he had been able to answer it himself。 Yet he put another question； saying； 〃Who is my neighbor？〃
Among the Jews this question caused endless dispute。 They had no doubt as to the heathen and the Samaritans； these were strangers and enemies。 But where should the distinction be made among the people of their own nation； and among the different classes of society？ Whom should the priest； the rabbi； the elder； regard as neighbor？ They spent their lives in a round of ceremonies to make themselves pure。 Contact with the ignorant and careless multitude； they taught； would cause defilement that would require wearisome effort to remove。 Were they to regard the 〃unclean〃 as neighbors？
Again Jesus refused to be drawn into controversy。 He did not denounce the bigotry of those who were watching to condemn Him。 But by a simple story He held up before His hearers such a picture of the outflowing of heaven…born love as touched all hearts； and drew from the lawyer a confession of the truth。
The way to dispel darkness is to admit light。 The best way to deal with error is to present truth。 It is the revelation of God's love that makes manifest the deformity and sin of the heart centered in self。
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〃A certain man；〃 said Jesus； 〃was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho； and he fell among robbers； which both stripped him and beat him； and departed； leaving him half dead。 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way： and when he saw him； he passed by on the other side。 And in like manner a Levite also； when he came to the place； and saw him； passed by on the other side。〃 Luke 10：30…32； R。 V。 This was no imaginary scene； but an actual occurrence； which was known to be exactly as represented。 The priest and the Levite who had passed by on the other side were in the company that listened to Christ's words。
In journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho； the traveler had to pass through a portion of the wilderness of Judea。 The road led down a wild； rocky ravine； which was infested by robbers； and was often the scene of violence。 It was here that the traveler was attacked； stripped of all that was valuable； wounded and bruised； and left half dead by the wayside。 As he lay thus； the priest came that way； but he merely glanced toward the wounded man。 Then the Levite appeared。 Curious to know what had happened； he stopped and looked at the sufferer。 He was convicted of what he ought to do； but it was not an agreeable duty。 He wished that he had not come that way； so that he need not have seen the wounded man。 He persuaded himself that the case was no concern of his。
Both these men were in sacred office； and professed to expound the Scriptures。 They were of the class specially chosen to be representatives of God to the people。 They were to 〃have compassion on the ignorant； and on them that are out of the way〃 （Heb。 5：2）； that they might lead
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men to understand God's great love toward humanity。 The work they were called to do was the same that Jesus had described as His own when He said； 〃The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me； because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor； He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted； to preach deliverance to the captives； and recovering of sight to the blind； to set at liberty them that are bruised。〃 Luke 4：18。
The angels of heaven look upon the distress of God's family upon the earth； and they are prepared to co…operate with men in relieving oppression and suffering。 God in His providence had brought t