i-tan, as he jour-ney-ed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had com-pas-sion on him : and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pour-ing in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he de-part-ed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said un-to him, 'Take care of him, and what-so-ev-er thou spend-est more, when I come a-gain, I will re-pay thee.' Which

now of these three, think-est thou, was neigh-bour un-to him that fell d-mong the thieves?" And he said "He that show-ed mercy on him." Then Je-sus said un-to him, "Go, and do thou like-wise."

QUESTIONS.

What question did the lawyer ask our Saviour?

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Master, what shall I do, to inherit eternal life?"

Did he ask this because he wished to learn of Christ?

No, he said it to tempt Him; that is, to try and make Him say something by which he could accuse Him.

What was our Saviour's answer?

He asked him what was written in God's law.

What reply did he make?

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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 neighbour as thyself."

Did he answer rightly?

Yes, our Saviour said, "Thou hast answered right, this do and thou shalt live.”

Did this satisfy the lawyer?

No. He said unto Jesus, "And who is

my neighbour?"

How did He instruct him?

By a parable.

What was it about?

A poor man who fell among thieves.
What did they do to him?

They stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Who had compassion on him?

A certain Samaritan.

Was the poor man a Jew or a Samaritan?

A Jew.

Were his own countrymen, the priest and Levite, as charitable as the Samaritan?

No.

Did the Jews reckon the Samaritans as their neighbours?

No, they hated them.

What did our Saviour mean to teach the lawyer by this parable?

That we should consider all mankind as our neighbours, and hate no one,

When Christ asked the lawyer which was neighbour to him who fell among thieves, what was he obliged to answer? "He that showed mercy on him."

What admonition did our Saviour then give him?

"Go, and do thou likewise."

The Scribes and Pharisees, who would not believe in our blessed Saviour, often came to him to try and perplex Him with hard questions; such was the case with the lawyer of whom you have just been reading. He knew the law very well, and therefore told Jesus immediately what God's commandments required, Jesus said he had answered rightly, and that if he did all that he had told Him he should live; but no human being can do this, as all have in

some way broken God's commandments: but the lawyer did not feel that he was unable to obey God's holy law, he was proud and self-righteous, and did not wish to be taught; so he asked Jesus again, "And who is my neighbour." Our Lord's parable was therefore spoken, in order to teach him that he had not kept God's commandments, for doubtless, he like the rest of his countrymen, despised the Samaritans and considered them as enemies; our Lord showed, that it was the duty of every one to help those that are in distress, whether friends or foes, and to love even their enemies.