The Parable of the Good Samaritan — J. C. Ryle
The Good Samaritan Or, Real Church Work
(J.C. Ryle)
Luke 10:29-37: But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
We live in days when there is an immense increase of what is called “Church work.” The contrast between the ways of the present age, and the ways of our grandfathers, in trying to do good — is very great indeed. To preach the Gospel, and expound the Scriptures both on Sundays and week-days — to visit the sick frequently — to go from house to house as a pastor, endeavoring by kindly influence over all the members of families, to get at hearts and consciences — to keep up efficient day-schools, night-schools, and Bible classes — to create and maintain an interest about the souls of others, by Foreign and Home Missions — this used to be the work of the clergyman, and this was the kind of work in which he was ever trying to enlist the practical sympathy of his parishioners. It was good, solid, healthy, soul-helping, Christ-like work.
A great change has taken place in the last forty years. A quantity of work is continually being carried on both by clergymen and laymen, which, however well-meant, can hardly be called Christian — and in reality has a painful tendency to throw true Christian work into the background, if not to throw it entirely out!
No one, for instance, can fail to observe that a large number of professors are spending all their time and strength on Church music, Church decorations, Church programs, and an incessant round of Church attractions. Others are equally absorbed in such subjects as temperance, social work, feeding the poor, and improved dwellings for the working-classes. Others are incessantly getting up popular concerts, secular lectures, and evening recreations. They proclaim everywhere, that the way to do good is to amuse people!
Others are always occupied with guilds, and societies, and associations — and think you very wrong and heathenish if you do not join them. Myriads of professors are restlessly busy about such things from one end of the land to the other; and superficial observers are often saying, “What a great deal of Church-work there is in these days!”
Now I would not for a moment be supposed to mean that all the things I have just mentioned are wrong and wicked. Nothing could be further from my intention in drawing up this paper. But I doubt whether the present state of things is altogether healthy. I doubt whether the work of the Holy Spirit on hearts and consciences, is not insensibly being left out in the cold and neglected. Amidst the incessant bustle and stir about matters of entirely secondary importance — I doubt whether the sort of direct spiritual work to which the Apostles wholly gave themselves, receives as much attention as it ought.
It is quite certain that musical services, and church decorations, and concerts, and bazaars, and improved cookery, and the like — will not save souls. It is equally certain that, without repentance, and faith, and holy living, and practical, self-denying, kindly charity — no one is fit for Heaven. Do these simple, old-fashioned graces fill the place which they ought to do in the daily proceedings of many so-called church-workers in this day? I confess I doubt it exceedingly. I certainly see on every side a vast increase of what people call “Church-work.” But I own to a strong suspicion, that there is little or no increase of true religion. There is more show and glitter and display, undoubtedly. But I doubt extremely whether there is more spiritual reality, and more growth of practical godliness, and zeal to save souls.
I propose to bring the matter to a point in this paper, by expounding the famous parable of the good Samaritan. I shall try to show my readers what our Lord Jesus Christ considers the test of real vital religion. Whether the great Head of the Church attaches much value to much of the “Church-work” of these days — our bazaars, our concerts, our secular readings, our musical services, our church decorations — is to my mind a very serious question.