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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1924.
JESUS AND THE LAWYERS.
PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
The Rev. C. Clouston Porri, H.C.F., preaching at the Wes leyan Church last Sunday, took Bs his test:
What must I do to gain Immor-
tal Life? Who ia my neighbour
Luke 10, 25: 29. The two questions
appear unrelated: in the Gospel they are successive, but a connection in- timate and vital is disclosed.
1
|
warns them, “as lambs into the midst of wolves" the wolves of the mountains of Samaria! The seventy return exaltant from a successful mission. Jesus shares
THE CHINA MAIL
of the official and orthodox- roligion, passed by the wounded man. They showed no pity, com- passion or kindness. Fresh from the sacred duties of the altar, thoy neglected the no less sacred duty of humanity. Their idea of religious duty evidently included
HOCKEY.
WIN FOR UNIVERSITY,
[BY: "STICKS"]
one
On Wednesday, on the Club's no sense of obligation to a fellow-ground at Happy Valley, the man in need of help. A Pharisee, University once again secured the representative of the extreme victory from the Club's "A" team. the rapturous joy of His Mes-legalism of the Jewish religion, |--The Club however had the dlaad- setgers. He sees Satan like a might have been added to the vantage of only playing ten man,
lightning flash hurled from his story and made to pass by. We as
of the eleven was think the courtesy of Jesus to His unfortunately unable to turn out at seat of power.
questioner, a Pharisee, responsible the last moment,
Consequently for the omission. The victim of for the first half the Club found it the robbers as a possible source difficult to get together.
The University annexed the only of contamination would have been
goal of the half giving them the
He rejoices that the things which were hidden from the wise Jesus had been revealed to Samaritan babes.
To gain Immortal Life may be
The news of the Samaritan conceived as the recompense which rewards the lone pilgrimage of Mission would precede Jesus and the soul; or as the discovery be condemned by the Jewish which crowns a spiritual quest. crowda. We can imagine the To gain eternal life according lawyer among those who con- to the teaching of Jesus, we must demned it. enter upon a moral and social adventure. The scene of our quest and pilgrimage lies not through the solitudes and on heights alone, but through a world peopled with men and women, who may help or hinder our pro- ress lawyer inquired of Jesus. What must 1 do to gain Immortal Life? We are ignorant of
The scribe who ques motives. tioned Jesus may have been as sincere in his quest for eternal life as the rich young ruler who asked the way. If we are con- vinced that life is worth living, we may be concerned about its possibilities, The question we would most naturally propose to a religious teacher, whose insight into truth we suspected to be new, would be that of the lawyer. The test questions of all religions are what do they teach about God and the way of life and immor- tality.
avoided by a strict Pharisee.
ALLEGED FRAUD."
CHARGE AGAINST SOLICI
TORS' CLERKS,
ANOTHER REMAND.
At the Contral Magistracy, ves- terday afternoon, before Mr. R. E. Lindell, the hearing was resumed. of the case in which Cheung Pui- chuan, alias Charles Kent, and L Shu-fan, two clerka in the employ of Messrs. Hastings and Hastings and Deanys and Bowley, are charged on three counts.
It was alleged that they had conspired together to defraud Wong Tak-yin of her property by false re-
lead.
The second half the Club played Presentations that Lo Shu-fan was better, and Gardner ccored, draw-owner of certain lands in the Now ing things level. However, only Toritories and had transferred the Bame into the name of the Baid playing ten men began to tell on the Club, once more, and the Wong Tak-yin and desired to mort- The other two, University put on three more goals gage the same.
oounts alleged that the defendants towards the end of the game.
The University forwards were conspired together to induce the
complainant by false representa tions to sign two deeds of sale.
In the last two counts, the defen- dants were alleged to have acted in Ho Bai-lok. conjunction with Au Hon-fu and
Mr.
The parable contains no impro- babilities or exaggeration, Jesus was too just in His judgments to be unfair to even a priest or Levite. The story accords with Further, the social conduct of His condemnation of a sacerdotal Jesus and His well-known friend- and legal system of religion which ships, which had branded Him as having lost its lofty idealiam and "the Friend of publicans and spirituality had degenerated into sinners," made His choice of a formal, mechanical and heart-in good form, and their shooting neighbours the subject of com-leas compliance with rules, re-was above the average.
gulations and ritual. The Temple ment and scandal.
The exclusiveness of the He had characterised as a cave of Pharisees allowed no such latitude brigands. The Pharisees, Jesus and social daties towards a needy of neighbourliness, ignorant had declared, used the most fellow-man. fellow-countrymen of theirs, who scrupulous exactness in giving the
We can understand that the Mr. F. Davidson appeared on Mr. M. K. Lo prosecuted, and unwittingly incurred ceremonial tenth part of the smallest herbs parable of Jesus was never popular behalf of the defendante. defilement, were rigorously kept in their gardens, but showed among the Jews! We can under 1. S. Fitzroy instructed by outside the circle of neighbour-supreme unconcern in their stand, also, why it is the most! hood. Samaritans aliens, here- neglect of the weightler matters popular of all the parables among Messrs. Les and Buss, watched the tics and enemies were out of all of the Law such as judgment, those who are least interested in proceedings on behalf of Lo Shun- bounds.
mercy and fair-dealing. They the Churches and public worship chan, the purchaser of certain pro- lingered long over their devotions, of God. Good Samaritans abound perty involved in the case. but allowed themselves sufficient where we most deplore the absence
When the case was re-opened leisure "to swallow up the pro- of Church members. In the alums yesterday, Ho Sai-lok, complain- perty of widows."
and among the poor, unnumbered ant's son, was still under his deeds of kindness and self-sacri-examination-in-chief by Mr. M. K. ice, involving actual want on the bu. He described another visit part of those who give what they which he and bis mother paid to actually need, are mere common the office of Mesars. Hastings and places which pass unremarked. Hastings and Dennys and Bowley. Love of neighbour as a religious The first defendant. he said, took duty would raise a smile if a cleric his mother into Mr. Webster's was-heard to characteriss-such room, where she signed several ordinary acts of compassion as documenta. On the same evening, religious!
witness went by arrangement to the
The lawyer's second question was clear, provocative; the crowd would wait expediently for the much criticised and condemned Rabbi to reply.
Jesus quoted no legal author ties, embarked upon no definitions, He simply drew a word-picture- a master-piece which has touched the heart and conscience of the world for nearly two thousand years-u picture of a tragedy illumined by the bright light of humanity, pity and compassion.
The unexpectedness of the answer the lawyer received must have surprised him. Jesus re- ferred him to the Law, which it was his profession to expound. The parable of the Good What does the Law teach con- Samaritan_need not be retold. *cerning life? The lawyers may The road from Jerusalem to. have discussed among themselves Jericho, known to some of us as the attitude of the Nazarene the worst, fifteen miles of rough Prophet towards the Law. His descent through mountain gorges answer to one of their fraternity we have ever travelled, provided who inquired of Him, "What is the Jesus with an appropriate setting great commandment of the Law?" for His story. Wild and fearsome would have been approved. The as is the scenery not less wild and Inwyer repeats the answer Jesus fearsome in the time of our Lord made, quoting the grand and daily and until recently were the recited words of the Shema. robbers who infested the roads "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and by their deeds of violence with all thy heart, and with all filled the minds of travellers with thy soul, and with all thy terror. strength, and with all thy mind," and other grand words from Leviticus:* "And thy neighbour as thyself."
གྲྭ་
The Prophet of Nazareth found the Jew unchanged. Earlier prophets had raised their voices against social injustices and lack of pity and compassion. "Man's inhumanity to man" continued while crowds thronged the Temple Courts and the splendour of the sacrifices attested that a form of religion could axist where its obligation's of ordinary humanity were_neglected.
Jesus came to put heart into religion, to re-emphasise the loftiest teachings of the Hebrew prophets and law-givers, and to re-instate love of God and of man as the fundamental motive of all human action.
Au
One of the great surprises of Luen On restaurant where the first the War was the Good-Samaritan defendant handed-him-$1,000 spirit of the troops. A wounded About a fortnight later, witness German prisoner ceased to be an received a message to go to the object of hatred and became an Wan Kau restaurant to see object of pity.
We shared with Hon-fu. Au said, "If Lou asks them and the prisoners
our you why you did it, say it was rations, drink and Woodbines and because you were in debt."
Wit the last thing we thought was ness said that at that time Lau that we were obeying the com- know that the property he was mand "If thine enemy hunger, buying was the property of witness feed him."
other. As far as witness whe Religion begins with a recogni- tion of deity or deities and aware. Lan did not know this until develops into a system of worship, Ta July, 1923, went on the wit
witness told him.. belief, rites and ceremonies. Man
He came in order to teach that not only the barriers
which separated God and man were des- troyed but that man must learn to destroy the barriers he has raised separating creed from
creed, race from race, and from his fellow-man.
He taught that the love of the Father God was wide enough to include all mankind and that the love of man should be big enough to exclude none.
Who is my neighbour? The pitiful and compassionate recog- nise in the needy a fellow-man and keep the Law of God while religious people may be as much concerned with the duties of the Sanctuary as the priest and Levite in the parable and be as neglectful as they were of the Law, which enjoins. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
How often do we hear the fai- lure of the churches attributed to the unneighbourliness of those who most frequent them!
The parable reflects further a religion of humanity which exista outside official and orthodox
One
The chief element to be foundness, his mother paid another visit In the purer religions, to quote to Messrs. Hastings' office. Carlyle, is the reocgnition of man evening previously An and the and of his moral duty.
second defendant announced to him Jesus found such recognition of they intended to raise from Lau man as a fellow-man outside the further $10,000 on account of the pure form of Judaism and we find purchase price of the property. it outside the purest form viz. They said that Lan had already Christianity.
agreed to it. An then said to writ "Thou shalt love thy neighbourness, "Go bome and tell your as thyself" is frequently faith-mother. Ask her to go down and fully observed where to all appear-sign."
Aaked by His Worship what was ance "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" is not obeyed unless it is true going to be done with the $10,000 as the poet sings. "Where pity expected from In, witness said dwells the love of God is there." fluat, it was to be divided between The final test of judgment, the two defendants and himself. according to Jesus, turns upon His mother, who would not receive "neighbourliness." "For when I any money, was to be hood-winked was hungry ye gave Me food, when with a forged document. thirsty ye gave Me to drink, whenThe hearing was again adjourned ill-clad ye clothed Me." Many an until this afternoon, unsuspected lover of God will inquire, "When did we see Thee" religions.
and hear "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these the least
Miss Daphne Graham, daughter | A Samaritan proved himself a neighbour to the wounded man
of My brethren, ye did it to Me" of Lady Cynthia and Sir Richard True religion will be found Graham, Netherby, Cumberland, is and obeyed the Law of love of neighbour which priest and Levite where love undivided reaches up going on the stage. had failed to keep! A Samaritan to God and reaches out to every. whom the Jew regarded as more
Mrs. Sarah Ann Dore, 45, "of impossible than a Gentile! A God and loves also his fellow-man Highbury-quadrant, N., fell in heathen might become a proselyte obeys the royal law and his feet front of a train at Caledonian-road to the Jewish Faith but a are in the way of life and Tube Station and was killed.
What must I do to inherit eternal life! "Thou shalt love Samaritan nevert the Lord thy God and thou shalt love thy neighbour. Go, act like the Good Samaritan!
man as a neighbour. He who loves
A man left stripped, wounded and half dead by the roadside was an ordinary occurrence. Three men, in the story told by Jestis, It was the doctrine of happen upon such a tragedy. Pharisaism in its trust and purest They are travelling from the Holy form, which taught AB the City to the city of pleasure, pros- "primary duty of every Israelite, perity and palaces. Jericho, was that he should devote himself the winter paradise, as well as a with pure and intense affection priestly city. A priest and to the service of God; that love Levite, returning from the sacred was the fundamental motive of all duties of the Temple, see the humun action."
wounded man but pass quickly Jesus approved the lawyer's from a place of peril. A third, a reply: He Himself taught the Samaritan, sees the wounded man same doctrine. The way of the and takes risks, shows pity, tends Law was the way that led to life the unfortunate traveller, pours and immortality. This do," oil and wine on his wounds, added Jesus, "and you shall live." tramps beside the ass which bears We may overlook the strict him, houses him as his guest at legalism of Jesus; we-may regard the nearest inn, spends the night His Gospel as the perfect law of there and with the consideration liberty innocent of legal obliga- of a great heart settles for his tions and sanctions. We may bed and board until he can con- forget. He declared, that He came tinue his journey.
Who was the neighbour. to the "not to destroy the Law but to fuld it."
His intention was to man who fell among thieves? simplify and
to asks Jesus. unify and
"The one who emphasise the excellency of the showed pity!" Prejudice, and royal commandment, "Thou shalt hatred framed the answer, the love thy God and thou shalt love lawyer by the aid of a circum locution avoided the detested the fellow-man."
Evangelical faith provides no name of Samaritan. substitute for such duty towards Attendance at God and man. Divine worship and private devo- tions, ritual practices and spiritual exercises have value only so far as
The quest of eternal life lies they are supplemented by the moral and social duties the Law through a world where the road enjoins. Love of God and of may be as rough as the defile neighbour is the Divine Law which leads from Jerusalem to which allows no place for love of Jericho, and where tragedies of self which may be cultivated in lives despolled, of all that makes the form of extreme devoutness. for comfort, peace and well-being
The Legalism of Jesus must are as 'common as well unemploy have left the lawyer non-plussed.ment and poverty at home. Jesus His question framed to "tempt teaches us that the success of our Jesus had been answered by him- quest depends upon how we react self. He recovers and proceeds to to such tragedies. The reaction justify himself by asking another provides the acid test of character. question. Lawyer-like he fixed It proves whether our heart be a term contained in the true to God and man. It reveals the commandment on which there hidden motive which controls our might be a divergence of opinion. action, if it be love of self or love "Who," he asks, "is my neigh- of others. The way of life and bour, to whom I owe the duty of immortality is mapped out for love?"
us as the way of the Law of God The events recorded in the Chap. interpreted by pity, compassion ter from which the incident Ja and love. taken may explain the lawyer's "Keep the Law" was the second question and give point to answer of Jesus to the lawyer his inquiry about his neighbour.after the manner in which the Rejected by His fellow-country-Samaritan observed it. Jesus in men in Galilee, Jesus had set out no way destroyed the Law, but had been haughtily repulsad, fellow-man, Irrespective of rell. on His final pilgrimage to Jorusa-He emphasised the ampler since when a continual reud axlat lem. He chose the route through obligations of love to our fellow. ed which the passing centuries Samaria and sent forth mes-man. He taught that man must could not heal Geographically sengers to make preparations for be God-like, pitiful, compassionate they were neighboure, but racial Him and His disciples. The and loving, like the Heavenly antipathies, religious antagonism frontier village at which the mes Father. He must be as indis- and personal, hatred kept them sengers firat arrived proved criminate as God in his lovey of outside all obligations of the inhospitable, "Oir Lord has to fellow-man The man who most or love of neighbours waren the number of His company and needs our help must be always A Samaritan outcast heretic appoints seventy "others," whom our nearest neighbour to whom and enemy, showed pity He sends forth as heralds of the we owe the obligation of love, passion, and gener Kingdom to every town which He The parable reflects the failure intended to visit cn His Journey of religion without humanity would be regarded, hi rel "I am sending you forth, Ile Priest and Levite, represe tives | duties, he did not fell in his morál
upor
immortality. The man who truly loves his neighbour is beloved of God and man. By such love they ascend as by a heavenly ladder to the heavenly love. The Churches are impoverished while such lovers remain outside. Good Samaritans are needed within to inspire pro- fessing Christians by their spirit and example to greater deeds of kindness, pity and compassion. House for where there is a heart Their place is within the Father's large enough to love freely its fellow man as a brother, it is made large enough to love the Divine Father of all men
The Samaritans had sufficient Jewish blood in their veins to make them more hated than the Gentiles. Descendants of colonists planted in Samaria when the ten tribes of Israel were carried into captivity and oblivion; they were of alien race, which had inter- mixed with the Jewish race. Hebrew priests had been returned from exile to teach them the Jewish Law and worship of Jehovah In their Temple in Mount Gerizim that worship had been maintained, and the Penta- tauch with minor changes of an
The parable of the Good unimportant character was their Book of the Law. Their religion Samaritan recorded in the Lucan was less a rival than an imperfect Gospel, repeated from pulpits copy of the Jewish. Their priest-taught in the Sunday School, and hood would not have been acknow known as a household story, has ledged as true by the Sadducean built our hospitals, orphanages, priesthood of the Temple of houses for the aged and every
altruistic institution we have. Jerusalam. *
Samaritan and Jew had been at
The parable has widened our enmity since the, return of the idea of neighbourhood until nome captive Jews from Babylon. Their remains outside, and it has offers of help towards the rebuild-illumined and humanised our ing of Jerusalem and the Temple obligation to love man as our glon, race or other reasons, and to find in the most needy our nearest neighbour. And as the story of the Cross reveals, the infinite pity/compassion and of the Heavenly most indeserving Good Bamari may become, mou of that
ever, much he had failed
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