Page 418 - Bible History

RIST, THE GREAT TEACHER 391
in His speech, for if Jesus said that it was not lawful, they could say that He was teaching doctrines which were contrary to the Law of Moses.
Knowing what was in their minds, Jesus said, "What did Moses command you7" They answered1 "Moses permitted us to write a bill of divorce, so that a man could put his wife away.'' Jesus answered, "Because of the hardness of your hearts, Moses wrote that commandment. But in the beginning it was not so. Have you not read that when God made man in the beginning, He made him male and female, and that He said to them, 'For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one esh'7 Therefore, what God
hath joined together, let no man put asunder.''
Once when Jesus was preaching, a lawyer stood up and interrupted him, "Sir," he said, "what must I do to possess eternal life 7'' The man was not sincere. He was a Pharisee, and his purpose in asking the ques­ tion was to confuse Jesus and cause Him to say some­ thing which would hurt His reputation with the people. Knowing this, Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law; how readest thou?'' He answered, ''Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul, with all thy strength, with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.'' ''Thou hast answered rightly," said Jesus. "Do this, and thou shalt live." Feeling that he was getting the worst of the argu­ ment the lawyer tried to save his face by asking another
question. He said, "And who is my neighbor¥" Jesus, answering, said, ''A certain man went down
The Good· Samaritan