The occasion was one on which Christ was surrounded by a large company of people. In the crowd were Pharisees and Sadducees, priests and lawyers, there in the hope of catching something in Christ's words that they might report to the Jewish authorities, and thus cause his work to cease. It was at the suggestion of these enemies that the lawyer asked the Saviour the question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”RH April 9, 1908, par. 2

As an open book Christ read the heart of the plotters, and looking at the lawyer, he asked, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” And the lawyer answered, “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 neighbor as thyself.” “Thou hast answered right,” said Christ; “this do, and thou shalt live.”RH April 9, 1908, par. 3

The lawyer had not obeyed this precept, and he knew it; but, desiring to justify himself, he asked, “Who is my neighbor?”RH April 9, 1908, par. 4

In reply Christ related an incident with which many of those present were familiar. “A certain man,” he said, “went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.RH April 9, 1908, par. 5

“And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked at him, and passed by on the other side.RH April 9, 1908, par. 6

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.RH April 9, 1908, par. 7

“And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”RH April 9, 1908, par. 8

In the word-picture which the Saviour draws for his hearers, a sharp contrast is drawn. A certain man in his journey is attacked by thieves, robbed and wounded, and then left by the roadside to die. A priest, passing that way, comes to the place where the man lies, and though seeing his need, passes on without rendering any aid. Another passes, a Levite, whose special office it was to care for the sick and suffering, but he, as he looks at the wounded man, does not think of his duty, but of self. He sees, where the clothing has been stripped from the man, that his naked body is bruised and bleeding; but instead of giving the help it is in his power to give, he hurries from the scene, leaving the sufferer to his misery.RH April 9, 1908, par. 9

Then a certain Samaritan comes to the place. And when he sees him, he has “compassion on him.” He binds up his wounds; and when he has done all that he can for the sufferer in such a place, he sets him on his own beast, and, walking beside, leads the way to the nearest tavern. There he cares for the sick man through the night, and in the morning, places him in the care of the keeper of the inn, asking him to care for him until his return, when he will surely repay him.RH April 9, 1908, par. 10

The Samaritan fulfilled his duty to his fellow man. The priest and the Levite, in whose hearts selfishness reigned, proved themselves unkind and unmerciful. Self is a hard tyrant, and while this power rules in the life, we can not do unto others as we would have them do to us. To fulfil the golden rule, the life must be transformed, the human nature must become a partaker of the divine.RH April 9, 1908, par. 11

The people had listened with intense interest to the narrative, and when at its close the Saviour asked, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?” Many joined with the lawyer in answering, “He that showed mercy on him.” Then said Jesus to the lawyer, “Go, and do thou likewise.”RH April 9, 1908, par. 12

The parable of the good Samaritan outlines true missionary work, and in this work God's people are all to have a part. No one is excused who neglects the duty he owes to his fellow men. In doing this work we fulfil the law of God. The Lord has pledged himself to bless those who fulfil his command to love him supremely and their neighbor as themselves.RH April 9, 1908, par. 13

It is not talk, it is not profession, or claims to piety and godliness, that are of value with God, but it is the work of righteousness that reveals a Christlike character. To obey the law of God means to be quick to see the necessities of our fellow beings, and quick to help them without stopping to inquire, Do they believe the same doctrines that I believe? To obey God's law means to act as God's helping hand in relieving the necessities of suffering humanity, no matter what the religious belief of those in need. Those who do this work, and who are loyal to the principles of God's truth, are living the gospel.RH April 9, 1908, par. 14

The Lord takes careful notice of deeds of compassion and mercy shown by men to their fellow men. In his book of remembrance is written down every deed of mercy performed. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.”RH April 9, 1908, par. 15

The Saviour devoted more time and labor to healing the afflicted of their maladies than to preaching. His last injunction to his apostles, his representatives on the earth, was that they lay hands on the sick that they might recover. When the Master shall come again, he will commend those who have visited the sick and relieved the necessities of the afflicted. “I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat,” he will say to those at his right hand. “I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”RH April 9, 1908, par. 16

April 2, 1908

April 16, 1908