Theme: THE GOLDEN RULE
Text: “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, 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 neighbour as thyself.” – Luke 10:25-27.
Comment: While our Saviour was addressing the people in those days, a lawyer asked him a question, not necessarily with the mind of knowing, but to get him to be confused and contradict the Scriptures. Lawyers in those days in Israel were people who were regarded as well skilled in the laws of Moses and therefore could explain the law to the people. Because the lawyer gave the right answer, Jesus Christ told him: “thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live”. But he “willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:28, 29). The answer the Lord gave was by way of a parable, that of a Jew who was manhandled by robbers, who not only took his money, but also stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and left him half-dead. Though at different times, a priest and a Levite saw him while passing by, none of them helped him. Rather, it was a certain Samaritan, who had compassion on him, and decided to help him. From the parable, it is clear who was neighbour to the wounded man. Thus, a neighbour is not necessarily one who lives next door to one but one who for God’s sake loves, cares and does good to his fellowman, whether he knows him or not. St. Paul declared: “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9.