Luke 10:29-37 But he, willing to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?… I. THE LAWYER 1. He had thus much to recommend him, that he was an orthodox Israelite. 2. He seems to have been a sincere inquirer after truth. 3. Another thing we notice in this lawyer is the accuracy and truthfulness of his knowledge and views of the law. 4. But there was one great deficiency in his case. Theoretical orthodoxy is not always accompanied with practical righteousness. A man may confess a good creed, and yet lead a very unworthy and sinful life. People may know and approve the law, and yet not keep it. He had "answered right." But he was not righteous. II. THE SAMARITAN. 1. A heretic as to his faith. He was an errorist, and in this respect compares very unfavourably with the Jewish lawyer. It was not his Samaritanism that the Saviour wishes to recommend to us. His churchliness was thoroughly defective and reprehensible. 2. But there is one thing in him that is good, and this it is that the Saviour wishes to recommend to us. He had human sympathy. His mercy was not restrained by sectional antipathy and religious animosities. Conclusion: It was the Samaritan's mercy that needed to be added to the lawyer's orthodoxy, in order to a full and acceptable piety. Orthodoxy without humanity is worthless; humanity with heterodoxy is better as regards the comfort of this world; but orthodoxy with humanity — a pure worship with universal charity — fills out the complete picture of what the law requires, and what practical Christianity really is. (J. A. Seiss, D. D.) Parallel Verses 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?" |
    |