faithfulness, yet avoid giving them any unncessary offence. Our Lord was continually beset with per- sons of this description, but in nothing was his Divine wisdom more conspicuous than in the answers he gave them. The parable before us admirably illus- trates this observation —
I. Explain the parable —
We cannot enter into the full meaning of the parable without attending particularly to the occasion of it—
[A teacher of the law had interrogated our Lord respecting the way to life, and was desired by our Lord to state what the law required a. The lawyer gave a just summary of its require- ments, not doubting but that he had fulfilled them all. Our Lord suggested in reply, that though obedience to the law would entitle him to life, he was little aware of the extent to which that obedience must be carried. The lawyer (whether from fear of conviction, or confidence of having fulfilled it, we cannot say) passed over the first commandment, and asked for an explanation of the second. To convey the desired in- formation, and to correct his self-justifying spirit, our Lord spake this parable.]
The circumstances of the parable deserve also to be noticed —
[A Jew is represented as having been robbed and wounded between Jericho, and Jerusalem b. A priest, and a Levite (thousands of whom dwelt at Jericho) are supposed to have seen him in their way to Jerusalem ; but, though from their very office they were called to exercise compassion, they passed by him without administering any comfort or relief0. A Samaritan is then introduced as performing the kindest offices towards himd, and as engaging for the whole expense of his maintenance and curee. Thus our Lord shewed, that
a ver. 25 — 29.
b This was probable enough, as a desert much infested with rob- bers lay between them.
c The latter from curiosity " came and looked on him ; " but turned away as the priest had done before him.
d There was a most inveterate hatred between the Jews and Sa- maritans (compare John iv. 9. and viii. 48.), but the minute relation of the circumstances was well calculated to disarm the lawyer's pre- judice.
e Two-pence was equal to about fifteen-pence of our money, and might be the amount of the expense already incurred ; or perhaps