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I
n the above text Jesus twice told this
“certain lawyer” to practice his profes-
sions. In verse 25 the lawyer asked, “What
shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’
response was also a question: “What is
written in the law? How readest thou?” To
the lawyer the two questions proved to be
too easy due to the fact that he was being
questioned about his profession. He was
commended for answering well.
James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the
word, and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves.” To us, this sounds like saying,
‘Put into practice what you are learning’.
Again, Romans 2:13, “(For not the hearers of
the law are just before God, but the doers
of the law shall be justified….).” This also
sounds like saying, ‘Eternal life is solely for
the doers of the law’. There also seems a
connection with Jesus’ words in Matt. 7:21,
“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father which is in heaven.” For failing to do
the will of God many will be surprised to hear
the Master’s words of rejection, “Depart
from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Further on we read (Luke 10 v.29): “But he,
willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus,
“And who is my neighbour?” Jesus’ answer
to this question shows us that he really was
a great teacher. He wanted the man to make
his own judgment of things – in this case
about the behaviour of the men: a priest, a
Levite and a “certain Samaritan”.
We are all aware of the part played by each
of these three men in the Jewish community.
The hero in Jesus’ story was, indeed, the
most despised person in the eyes of the
Jews. This might have been a deliberate
arrangement in order to teach a proud
lawyer a lesson. True neighbourliness is not
confined to those only within our reach, but
to all men, regardless of who they are,
hence the emphasis by Jesus, “Go, and do
thou likewise.”
Peter has this to say, “And if ye call on the
Father who, without respect of persons,
judges according to every man’s work, pass
the time of your sojourning here in fear”.
(1 Peter 1:17)
“Go, And Do Thou Likewise” (Luke 10:25-37)
| Bro Sylvester Tembo (Mzuzu, Malawi)
Looking Up
| Bro Moses Komanya (Mwanza, Tanzania)
R
ecently we saw a sign which said “Some
people only look up when they are flat on
their backs”. From a purely physical point of
view that’s about right. How many people look
up to God when things are going well? Unfor-
tunately very few, it has always been like this.
The children of Israel are an outstanding
example of how easy it is to forget God in good
times. Over and over again the Jews became
puffed up when they became prosperous.
Then God would punish them in some way.
We are living in exceedingly prosperous times,
the poorest among us are rich in comparison
to those of our great grandparents, most of us
have plumbing water, gas, electricity etc.,
which are taken for granted. As a result our
lives have become softer and we want more
and more things, but what has happened to
our hearts? Do we think we are better than our
forefathers? Elijah confessed that he was not,
neither are we and recognising this will help
in acknowledging our blessings that come from
God, the giver of every good and perfect gift,
or are we puffed up with pride of the things
we own?
Remember the sin of Hezekiah? He lost prac-
tically everything, even to the cutting off of
the gold of the doors of the temple to give to
Shalmaneser, because he boasted of his
possessions. However, God rescued him by