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Although the position of the Gentile was clearly defined at this time, and despite the
later revelation given to the Apostle Paul (Eph. 3:) so evidently completely divorced
from Judaism, yet has this Pharisaic tendency remained in all ages of the professing
church. There have always been those who have sought to add to "the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ" (Acts 15: 11) the "command . . . . . to keep the Law of Moses" (Acts 15: 5).
Both Catholics and Protestants have alike been guilty of this practice, apparently being
unaware that it is written of "you Gentiles":
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the
holiest of all, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2: 19).
The proselytes of old were limited in their approach to the Lord by type and shadow.
At best, they basked in the reflected glory of Israel. The present Gentile members of the
Body of Christ have, in contrast to these, been made "meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the Holiest of all in light" (Col. 1: 12). Such blessedness is almost beyond
belief, especially in contrast to what the Gentile was "in time past", and it should bring
forth from every member of this blessed company thanksgiving unto the Father.
No.5.
The Samaritans.
pp. 169 - 172
A Samaritan, according to the etymological significance of the word, is an inhabitant
of the land of Samaria, but in the sense in which it is found in Scripture, it has an
ethnological aspect. It is used of that hybrid race which stood halfway between the Jews
and the Gentiles. Note how these three peoples are distinguished from each other in
Matt. 10: 5, 6:
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of
the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel."
Compare also Acts 1: 8.
The origin of the Samaritans is to be traced to that period following the downfall of
the Northern Kingdom, the ten tribes, Israel. The King of Assyria, having carried the
original inhabitants of Samaria away to distant cities, repeopled the land with strangers.
See II Kings 17: 20-24:
"And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them
into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight . . . . . so was Israel
carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day. And the King of Assyria
brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from
Sephar-vaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the Children of Israel:
and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities there."