The answer which Jesus gave, as to loving God with all the heart, and
his neighbour as himself, did not silence the Lawyer: he, "willing to
justify himself," being anxious to prove that he was a just and
righteous man, now asked, "Who is my neighbour?" The Jews had in many
points altered or explained the Law, to suit their own feelings and
wishes; and they would not look upon any man as a neighbour, unless he
were of their own religion.
This Lawyer had probably always been kind to his Jewish brethren, and
if our Lord had, as he expected, told him that his neighbour meant one
of his Jewish brethren, he would have been able to boast that he had
obeyed this command. But very different was our Saviour's teaching:
instead of giving him a direct answer, He in a beautiful parable
taught him and us, that any fellow creature who needs our help, is our
neighbour in the sight of God: even though he be an enemy, or one
hated, as the Jews hated the Samaritans.
The Lawyer could not but own that the Samaritan in the parable had
best obeyed the commandment of Moses; and in answer to the question,
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that
fell among thieves?" he said, "He that showed mercy on him." "Then
said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise," that is, copy this
example; and look upon every man that needs your help as a neighbour
and brother, whom you are to love; and take care that your love is not
in word and tongue only, but in deed and in truth.
Journeying through the land of Judaea with His disciples, Jesus
"entered into a certain village"; this was Bethany, on the eastern
side of the Mount of Olives: "and a certain woman named Martha
received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which
also sat at Jesus's feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered
about much serving." Both these sisters loved the Lord, though they
showed it in a very different way: Mary, delighted to have such an
opportunity of listening to His teaching, sat at His feet to learn all
that He might teach her; Martha, anxious to show her pleasure at
receiving Jesus as her guest, appears to have busied herself in
preparing a feast in His honour. Presently, tired with her exertions,
and fearing that all might not be ready, "she came to him, and said,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me." But instead of doing this, Jesus
rebuked Martha for thinking too much of worldly matters, instead of
giving her mind to the "one thing needful" for the salvation of man:
that one thing was faith in Jesus as the Son of God; such faith, as
would produce piety and holiness; and that as Mary had chosen that
good part, she must not be disturbed, but that Martha would do well to
follow her example. When, therefore, Martha asked that Mary might be
bid to help her, "Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha,
thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is
needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be
taken away from her."
Now, from this little history we should all learn this lesson: that
though worldly business must be done, and well done, too, it must not
take up too much of our thoughts and hearts, and so make us careless
in our religious duties: to please and serve God in every way is the
one thing needful for us.
On one occasion, when Jesus had been praying, according to His
constant custom, "when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him,
Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." Jesus then
gave them that beautiful prayer, called the Lord's Prayer, because the
very words of it were dictated by the Lord Himself, in whose name we
pray unto God, the Father Almighty. The Prayer begins by acknowledging
God to be "Our Father"; and these words should ever remind us of two
things: that as "our Father," all we His children are bound to love
and obey Him; and, secondly, that we must love all our fellow
creatures as brethren, seeing that we are all the children of one
Heavenly Father.
Next we pray, "Hallowed be Thy Name"; in which words we ask that all
men everywhere may hallow, or treat as holy, His name, His word, His
day, and all things that belong to Him.
By "Thy Kingdom come," we ask that all mankind may become Christians,
and so be brought into the Lord's kingdom on earth: also, that we, and
all who are Christians, may have the kingdom of God in our hearts;
that is, may obey, and love, and serve Him with all our hearts; so
that when we die we may be admitted into His glorious kingdom in
heaven. Further, we pray, that the Will of God may be done by man on
earth, as perfectly and entirely as it is done by the Angels in
heaven. Let us remember that the sole object and work of the holy
Angels is to do the Will of God; and that therefore we, who use this
prayer, must always try to do the same, and not think of doing what
will only please ourselves.
The next petition of the Lord's Prayer is, "Give us this day our daily
bread." By these words we ask for all things which are needful both
for our souls and bodies: the body needs daily food to preserve it in
life, and make it strong to do its work; the Soul also wants food, to
nourish and increase the spiritual life; and render it more active in
the service of God. The word of God, Prayer, religious teaching, all
the services of our religion, are the food of the Soul; by the proper
use of which, the love of God will be more and more shed abroad in
our hearts, producing the fruit of holy obedience, and devotion to His
service.
Next we pray, that God will forgive us our sins, on condition that we
forgive all those who have sinned against us. When we consider how
dreadful will be our condition, if God does _not_ forgive us, we
should be very careful never to indulge angry, revengeful feelings
against those who have injured us. Nothing that man can do to us, can
be as bad as what we have done against God; and therefore we may well
forgive our fellow creatures; and we _must_ do so, if we would obtain
forgiveness of our heavenly Father.
We then ask the Lord not to suffer us to give way to temptation, but
to keep us from all evil; to keep our bodies in safety, and above all
to keep our souls from the great evil of sin, from the power of our
ghostly or spiritual enemy, the Devil, who is always watching to do us
harm. We end the Lord's Prayer by declaring our firm belief, that God
is able to do all that we can ask or think.
Now we often _say_ the Lord's Prayer with our lips, but do we really
say it with our hearts, wishing and striving to gain what we are
asking for? This we should all do; and besides this, throughout the
day, we must each of us try to _do_ those things that we pray may be
done. We must each of us try to reverence and obey our heavenly
Father; to be satisfied with whatever He gives us for our bodies; to
take every opportunity of feeding our souls, by learning all we can
about Him, and praying earnestly for His grace. We must also try to
keep down all angry feelings, and be kind to those who are unkind to
us; and we must watch over ourselves continually, and strive to resist
the Devil, and practise self-denial, that we may not fall into sin.
The Lord's Prayer teaches us what things we ought to ask of God; and
we may do so more particularly in our own words; God is well pleased
when we do so.
After giving His disciples this beautiful form of words, to be a model
for all their prayers, Jesus exhorted and entreated them to pray
earnestly for the help of the Holy Spirit: and told them to go on
praying, and not to be discouraged, because they did not immediately
receive those things for which they asked; for that the Lord would
hear their prayers, and "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him."
"And as Jesus spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him;
and he went in and sat down to meat." The word here translated "dine"
means to eat the first meal of the day, and so ought rather to have
been called breakfast. The Jews were accustomed to have only two
regular meals in the day: breakfast, or dinner, as it is here called,
about twelve of the middle of the day; and supper, which was the
principal meal, in the evening, after the heat of the day was past.
The Pharisees were very particular about washing before they sat down
to meals, and this one who had besought the Lord to eat with him,
"marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner."
The Lord took this opportunity of teaching, that no outward washings
can be pleasing in the sight of God, if the heart be full of sinful,
evil passions: no outward forms and observances of any kind, can ever
please God, unless those who do such things really love God, and try
to do their duty and please Him in everything. Many things also Jesus
said, rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees.
He likewise spake to the people who crowded to hear Him, and warned
them to fear God rather than man; for though men might kill their
bodies, they had no further power. "And one of the company said unto
him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with
me."
It would seem that this brother had acted very unkindly, if not
unjustly, in not sharing with his brother the money left by their
father; and the one who felt himself aggrieved came, hoping that Jesus
would interfere. But Jesus answered, "Man, who made me a judge or a
divider over you?"--meaning, that He was not come upon earth to act as
a Judge or Magistrate in settling such matters, but to teach men their
duty to God. He then took this occasion to warn his hearers against
covetousness, or the too eager desire for riches, or for any of the
good things this world can give: bidding them rather be contented, and
try to please God by doing good with what they have. Covetousness is,
as we are elsewhere told, idolatry,--and truly, if our hearts are set
upon riches, pleasures, or anything else, they will be drawn away from
God.