The parable of the Good Samaritan was now told by Jesus to one of the Scribes, or Lawyers, who came and asked Him a question: not from any real desire to learn, but from a wish to make our Lord say something that he could find fault with. To his question, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" he expected that Jesus would make an answer not quite agreeing with the Law of Moses: but our Lord at once showed him that His teaching was the same as that of Moses; for He asked him, "What is written in the Law? How readest thou?" "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 neighbour as thyself." These words, taken from the Books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, were repeated twice every day in the synagogue service, as a short statement of all that the Law was intended to teach; that is, Love to God and Man. These same words were written on some of the Phylacteries, or strips of parchment which the Jews wore on their foreheads, and on the left wrist. Most likely, the Lawyer who questioned Jesus had these very words written on his Phylactery; and that Jesus pointed to the words when He asked, "How readest thou?" The Gospel, as well as the Law, teaches us to love God and Man; and shows us, that those who really and truly do so are sure to find favour with God, who can alone admit us to eternal life. The Scribe's answer was right, under the Gospel as well as under the Law: and Jesus therefore replied, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live": by obeying the words of Moses, he would, through the tidings made known by the Gospel, inherit eternal life. May these words be written in all our hearts, and may we make them the guide of all our actions. Chapter XXII.--THE LORD'S PRAYER. 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.