---

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH LED TO THE UTTERANCE OF THIS PARABLE.

1. A sinister question put to our Lord by a lawyer.

2. Our Lord's method of meeting cavillers (see ver. 26).

3. The lawyer's remarkable answer to our Lord's question.

4. Our Lord's candour.

5. The caviller unimpressed by his own profound answer, and still under the dominant power of self.

II. THE PARABLE.

1. The topography of the scene is noticeable.

2. The touching story of the parable.

(1)  The pitiable victim of the thieves.

(2)  The pitiless passers-by.

(3)  The pitiful Samaritan.

III. THE APPLICATION.

1. Jesus enabled the lawyer to answer his own perplexing question. This is a great gift.

2. Jesus brought home the truth to the lawyer's conscience, so that he could not shake it off.Lessons:

1. Let us learn not to despise the questionings of men, but seek to turn them to practical account.

2. Let us learn that the crown of all human excellencies, the unquestionable evidence of true piety, and the golden girdle which is yet to bind in one holy Christly brotherhood the human race, is to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength, and our neighbours as ourselves.

3. Let us learn the utter hollowness of formal religion.

4. Let us learn that an immortality of honour is only for those whose heart throbs with Christly sympathy.

5. Let us learn that our Lord has hers drawn for us His own portrait in the delineation He has given us of the "good Samaritan."

(D. C. Hughes, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

WEB: But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"