DO YE EVEN SO TO THEM

The verse under consideration begins with the word ‘therefore’, which takes us back to the previous verses. The Lord had been showing that earthly fathers are compassionate, patient and generous towards their children, and that they are willing to deplete their own store in order to minister to them. The Lord shows that this is a principle of living that every Christian should practise. Indeed, He tells us that it is ‘the law and the prophets’, undoubtedly referring to the commandment - ‘thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’, Lev. 19. 18.

The parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10. 25-37, is an excellent exposition of this principle in action. We remember the story well. A lawyer asked the Lord the question, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Luke 10. 29. In response, the Lord told the story how that a man was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho and was beset by thieves, wounded and left half-dead. A priest and a Levite came along, but their compassion had long since been poisoned by the blight of legalism, and they refused to get involved in the man’s heart-rending condition. But a despised Samaritan came along, and we read that ‘he ... came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him’, Luke 10. 33. He then ministered to him from resources that he was carrying for his own use, and took full responsibility for him, including the payment of any additional expenses that might be incurred until he was fully recovered. What love was this! And all from a despised foreigner.

We have often applied this story in the gospel with good effect, but surely the message relates to the believer. Are we willing to lay aside our scruples to get close to the downtrodden wretches on the Jericho road? Also, are we ready thereafter to take full responsibility for them, whatever their previous condition has been, and to lovingly embrace them in our hearts and into our fellowships? May God give us that spirit of compassion that opens our hearts to others. ‘For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’, Gal. 5. 14.