What Jesus Taught

by Osborne J. P. Widtsoe

A discussion.

The priest, who was the specially appointed servant of God among his people, and the Levite, who was closely associated with the priest in his ecclesiastical duties, ought to have had compassion upon the unfortunate traveller. It is to be assumed that he was a Jew. He was therefore of the chosen people. He might lay claim to the services of the priest and the Levite who officiated in the temple of his God. Moreover, these men above all others should have known the passage quoted by the lawyer in answer to Jesus's question, "What is written in the law?"—a passage repeated by every Jew in each morning and evening prayer. But these men had seen only the letter of the law; they had never felt the spirit of it. At the most, the love of neighbor meant only the Jewish interpretation of the passage, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Of the broad interpretation placed by Jesus on the meaning of the word "neighbor," these men of the temple service knew nothing.

The real neighbor.

The Samaritan however who was an outcast in the eyes of the Jew, for whom God Himself could hold no love; an apostate and a degenerate from the rich blood of Israel as unclean in the opinion of the orthodox Jew as the loathsome leper—the Samaritan felt the thrill of the spirit of the great commandment "Thou shalt love thy neighour as thyself." He manifested that divine love—and that to one from whom he was an alien—which Jesus enjoined when He said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

The fulness of the answer.

Jesus could not have answered the lawyer more completely; neither could He have silenced more quickly the man who came to make trial of Him. The story of tender love and sympathy was of such compelling nature that the lawyer himself was forced to admit that the good Samaritan was the real neighbor. And that conclusion forced upon the lawyer the plain answer to his question, "Who is my neighbor" Why, he is my neighbor whom it is within my power to help, no matter what may be his creed, or his nationality, or his color. There was no room here for the splitting of hairs. The lawyer was used to the refined arguments of the learned rabbis as to the meaning of the word neighbor. Here it was plainly set forth in a simple little story. There was no more to say.

The lesson clinched.

But as He concluded his story, and received the lawyer's answer, Jesus drove home the lesson. "Go," said He, "and do thou likewise." It was as if He had reverted to the opening question, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" If you would inherit eternal life love your neighbor as yourself; consider him your neighbor whom you can help; hold no class distinction; despise no man for his creed or his color; but hold yourself always in readiness to do good, to serve, and to help those who need your help. Remember the Good Samaritan. Do not pass by on the other side, but show your love in deeds of love. Then shall you inherit eternal life.

The command renewed.

The Savior's law of love is a principle of divine beauty. And so important is it in the Gospel plan of salvation, that it has been specially renewed in our own dispensation. Said Jesus to Joseph Smith, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve Him.