any person, of whatever nation, or whatever religion, must be esteemed our neighbour. By his artful statement also, he drew from the lawyer himself an express, though reluctant, acknowledgment of this truth1".]
But the peculiar suitableness of the parable to the occasion is that which most needs explanation —
[The lawyer was manifestly of a proud self-righteous spirit s. Though he knew the letter of the law, he was ignorant of its spiritual import. He supposed that he had merited eternal life by his obedience ; yet he was far from shewing a loving disposition even towards our Lord himself. The parable opened to him more extensive views of the law : it shewed him that, so far from having practised his duty, he had not even under- stood it. Thus it destroyed at once all his self-righteous hopes, and, at the same time, inculcated the necessity of practical, and universal benevolence. Mild as the rebuke was, it could not but convince his judgment ; yet was it so conveyed that it could not reasonably give offence.]
The parable thus explained, we may now proceed to,
II. Improve it —
And
1. In a less appropriate way —
[This good Samaritan was not intended to represent our Lord; and to put such a construction upon the parable, is utterly to pervert it. Yet, when contemplating the love of a fellow-creature, we may, without any impropriety, bring to your remembrance the infinitely richer love of our most adorable Redeemer. We justly admire the conduct of the benevolent Samaritan ; and the consideration, that his kindness was shewn to a detested Jew, greatly enhances its value. How then must we admire the love of Christ towards our ruined race ! We were robbed of the image of God in which we were made : we were left altogether " dead in trespasses and sins : no created beings could administer any effectual relief; but Jesus beheld us lying in our blood11; yet, though we were his enemies, he pitied us1. He not only took care of us, but " laid down his life for us :" he has taken upon himself also the whole charge of our cure : there is nothing that we want, which he has not freely bestowed upon us. Let us then magnify and adore our
might be as much as the Samaritan could spare at that time. His liberality was sufficiently manifest by his engagement to defray the whole sum that might become due.
f The lawyer, though compelled to give honour to the Samaritan, studiously avoided mentioning his name.
e ver. 25. ll Ezek. xvi. 6. ' Rom. v. 6, 8.