The angels of heaven look upon the distress of God's family upon the earth, and they are prepared to co-operate with men in relieving oppression and suffering. God in His providence had brought the priest and the Levite along the road where the wounded sufferer lay, that they might see his need of mercy and help. All heaven watched to see if the hearts of these men would be touched with pity for human woe. The Saviour was the One who had instructed the Hebrews in the wilderness; from the pillar of cloud and of fire He had taught a very different lesson from that which the people were now receiving from their priests and teachers. The merciful provisions of the law extended even to the lower animals, which cannot express in words their want and suffering. Directions had been given to Moses for the children of Israel to this effect: "If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him." Ex. 23:4, 5. But in the man wounded by robbers, Jesus presented the case of a brother in suffering. How much more should their hearts have been moved with pity for him than for a beast of burden! The message had been given them through Moses that the Lord their God, "a great God, a mighty, and a terrible," "doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger." Wherefore He commanded, "Love ye therefore the stranger." "Thou shalt love him as thyself." Deut. 10:17-19; Lev. 19:34.

Himmelens engle ser ned på elendigheden hos Guds familie på jorden, og de er rede til at samarbejde med mennesker for at lindre undertrykkelse og lidelse. Gud havde i sit forsyn sendt præsten og levitten ad den samme vej, hvor den sårede stakkel lå, for at de skulle kunne se, hvor han trængte til barmhjertighed og hjælp. Hele Himmelen holdt øje med, om disse mænds hjerte ville lade sig bevæge af medlidenhed med et menneskes nød. Det var Frelseren, der i ørkenen havde givet israelitterne anvisninger for deres livsførelse. Fra skystøtten og ildstøtten havde han lært dem noget ganske andet end det, som folket nu blev belært om af deres præster og lærere. Lovens nådige omsorg strakte sig endog så vidt som til de laverestående dyr, der ikke med ord kan udtrykke deres nød og lidelse. Moses havde givet Israels børn anvisninger med dette formål for øje: "Når du træffer din fjendes okse eller æsel løbende løse, skal du bringe dem tilbage til ham. Når du ser din uvens æsel segne under sin byrde, må du ikke lade ham i stikken, men du skal hjælpe ham med at læsse byrden af." 2Mos. 23,4-5. Men i den mand, der var blevet såret af røvere, skildrede Jesus en broder i nød. Hvor langt mere burde de da ikke lade sig bevæge af medlidenhed med ham end med et lastdyr! De havde ved Moses fået dette budskab, at Herren, deres Gud er "den store, vældige, Gud," som "skaffer den faderløse og enken ret og elsker den fremmede". Derfor byder han: "Derfor skal I elske den fremmede." Du skal elske ham som dig selv."