The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [10] 08/04/2025 (Evening thought)

Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

Luke 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

There are several questions the good Samaritan did not ask and we owe it to ourselves to take note. [1] He did not ask the man which country he was born in, or what language he spoke. [2] He did not ask what religion he belonged to. [3] He did not ask whether the man was a Sabbath keeper. [4] He did not ask the man for payment for medical services, for helping the wounded was a moral duty even if it would cost.

It becomes obvious that we are in deep trouble, for some Christians in our day have become very far removed from the gold standard set forth in the Scriptures. When Christ reproves the Laodicean church in the book of Revelation, chapter 3, He is speaking about persons who have adopted the Christian name, but whose works and actions are of such that The Lord neither recognizes, or endorses them.

Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, do you think, was a neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!

The Stranger Within Thy Gates. Part [9] 08/03/2025 (Morning thought)

Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

This leads us to the story of the good Samaritan, by which Jesus sought to set the record straight on the compassion that is to be exercised towards every person, regardless of race, creed, culture, or their country of origin. The great lessons Jesus then taught are particularly pertinent, and applicable in our day, where there seems to be an increasingly warped perspective on the value of human life.

Every person on the planet belongs to God, and any unwarranted ill treatment of anyone is an affront to God who created them, and died to redeem all. The man in the narrative had fallen amongst thieves and he, being severely beaten and bruised, it was the moral duty of any other human being passing that way, to stop and render unconditional help. It just seems as if the humanity has gone out of the hearts of many in our day, hence the reason why it’s necessary to revisit the story, so that our views on what Christianity consists of could be informed, or otherwise corrected as the case may be.

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, what is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 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 neighbor as thyself. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

May the Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!