The two great principles of the law of God are supreme love to God and unselfish love to our neighbor. The first four commandments and the last six hang upon, or grow out of, these two principles. Christ explained to the lawyer who his neighbor was in the illustration of the man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and who fell among thieves and was robbed and beaten and left half dead. The priest and the Levite saw this man suffering, but their hearts did not respond to his wants. They avoided him by passing by on the other side. The Samaritan came that way, and when he saw the stranger’s need of help he did not question whether he was a relative or was of his country or creed; but he went to work to help the sufferer because there was work which needed to be done. He relieved him as best he could, put him upon his own beast, and carried him to an inn and made provision for his wants at his own expense. This Samaritan, said Christ, was neighbor to him who fell among thieves. The Levite and the priest represent a class in the church who manifest an indifference to the very ones who need their sympathy and help. This class, notwithstanding their position in the church, are commandment breakers. The Samaritan represents a class who are true helpers with Christ and who are imitating His example in doing good. {3T 511.3}

De to store principper i Guds lov er en uforbeholden (512) kærlighed til Gud og en uselvisk kærlighed til vor næste. De første fire og de sidste seks bud bygger på eller udspringer af disse to principper. Jesus forklarede den lovkyndige, hvem hans næste var, ved at fortælle lignelsen om manden, der rejste fra Jerusalem til Jeriko og som faldt i hænderne på røvere og blev udplyndret, slået og efterladt halvdød. Præsten og levitten så manden lide, men de reagerede ikke på hans behov for hjælp. De undgik ham ved at gå forbi på den modsatte side af vejen. Samaritanen kom samme vej og da han så, at den fremmede trængte til hjælp, spurgte han ikke, om han var af hans egen familie eller hans landsmand eller af samme tro, men han gav sig straks til at hjælpe den lidende, fordi der var noget, der skulle gøres nu. Han lindrede hans smerter, så godt han kunne, løftede ham op på sit eget ridedyr og førte ham til et herberge, hvor han betalte for at få ham passet.] [Denne samaritaner, sagde Jesus, havde manden, der faldt i hænderne på røvere, som sin næste. Levitten og præsten symboliserer en klasse i menigheden, som viser ligegyldighed for dem, der netop behøver deres medlidenhed og hjælp. Uanset deres stilling i menigheden er denne klasse mennesker lovbrydere. Samaritanen symboliserer en klasse, som er Kristi sande medhjælpere og efterligner hans eksempel i at gøre vel.