The Precursor
February 2000
"Go, and Do Likewise"
THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN (Luke 10:30-37) is, without doubt, one of the best known stories in the New Testament. A man lies severely wounded on the road to Jericho. Both a priest and a Levite pass by on the other side. It is a Samaritan who stops to help, and, indeed, does all that he can, to be of service to this helpless victim.
What is the message of this story? Most would assume that it means simply that we should take care lest we ignore the suffering of others. We should not "pass by on the other side." We should help, and we should be of service, to our fellow human beings. Certainly this is something we should do. Acting from love, and with common sense and good judgment, we should do our part to be of service to those less fortunate than ourselves. This is one of the points of the story -- that in some way our actions should reflect the actions of the good Samaritan. And yet it is not the primary point of the story.
Those who have carefully reflected on this parable have noted that the Lord tells this story in response to a question He was asked by a lawyer. The lawyer had wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. He realized, and the Lord had confirmed, that he should love the Lord with all his being, and that he should love his neighbor as himself. But then he asks the Lord about the neighbor. "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29).
For the lawyer this was by no means an insignificant question. He did not believe everybody was his neighbor. In his own mind, a "neighbor" would be a fellow religious leader, or a fellow Jew. It would not include those outside the "fold." By no stretch of the imagination would it include the Samaritans, a people despised by the Jews.
In telling the story of the good Samaritan, the Lord was teaching something new, something radically different. We are to love others not because of who they are, but because of what they are like. The point of the story is not simply that we should act the way the good Samaritan acted, but that we should love people who act like the good Samaritan. After telling the story, the Lord asked the lawyer which of the three was "neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" (Luke 10:36). The lawyer was forced to admit that the one who had showed mercy was neighbor to the wounded man. The Lord told the lawyer: "Go, and do likewise" (Luke 10:37). The lawyer likewise was to consider people like the good Samaritan to be his neighbor.
This story is quoted in the Writings in support of the principle that to love the neighbor is, essentially, to love the good in others (see HD 87, TCR 410, C 50). "Good is the neighbor" (HD 88). All genuine love looks for, encourages, and loves that which is good in other people. Other kinds of love are not truly loving.
It is very easy to "love" other people for superficial, selfish and unprincipled reasons. We can love somebody simply because he is similar to ourselves. We can love him simply because we enjoy his personality or charm. We can love him with no concern for his character or for the way he lives -- we might even show tacit approval for his doing things that are evil. We can even love him simply because he happens to love us, or for what he can do for us. Even evil people can love others for reasons such as these (see Matt. 5:46).
Genuine love for others is far deeper, and far more human. We are to love others not simply as people, but as human beings, that is, for those human qualities we see within them:
. . . who loves a human being merely as a person? We love him for that which he has in him, and which gives him his character; thus from his quality, for this is the man. And this quality that we love is use, and is called good, so that this is the neighbor. (F 20)
This passage, talks about quality, and by this is meant what people are like. We are to love people because of what they are like -- because of those wonderful human qualities, and humans, that we see within them. We are to love other people because they are kind, and loving, and gentle, and spiritually strong and courageous. We are to love them because of the sunshine that sparkles in their minds. We are to love them because of their generosity and warmth. And where we don't see such qualities, then we are to do our best to see the potential in others. We are to do what we can to encourage them to change, to change for the better.
When we love people in this way -- when we love them for what is human within
them -- then we are also loving the Lord, for He is the source of all that is truly human. He is our Heavenly Father.
And to the degree that we receive His love within our hearts, to that degree we are His children, and to that degree
we truly become brothers and sisters to one another.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the church building. Classes for those in high school and for younger children are available upon request.
The Reading Discussion group meets normally twice a month. We are currently reading from the Old and New Testaments during our sessions. There is no advance reading, but please bring a Bible with you.
Tuesday, Feb. 8 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Saturday, Feb. 12 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: Heaven & Hell. Suggested reading is HD 230-240. Refreshments: Gillian.
Sunday, Feb. 13 Divine Worship. 11:00am. Usher: Patrick Mayer. Sunday School: Volunteer needed. Sunday School Subject: Please see Jane Blair for details.
Wednesday, Feb. 16 Trustees' Meeting. 7:30pm.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Saturday, Feb. 26 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: The Church. Suggested reading is HD 241-246 [New Jerusalem & Its Heavenly Doctrine]. Refreshments: Helene.
Sunday, Feb. 27 Divine
Worship. 11:00am. Usher: Patrick Mayer. Sunday School: Volunteer needed. Sunday School Subject: Please see Jane
Blair for details.
Thank You
My thanks to the Cincinnati Society for your generous gift of the Christmas offertory. I am very grateful for the many ways in which you are so supportive. Thanks!
