Lucas 10
Kenneth Wuest · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 10
Wuest - And He said to him, In the law what has been written and is on record? In what way do you read it? Isa 8:20 Ro 3:19 4:14-16 10:5 Ga 3:12,13,21,22 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:25-29 What Makes Jesus Rejoice, Part 3 - John MacArthur Luke 10:25-37 Salvation and Good Works - Steven Cole Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan - C H Spurgeon JESUS ASKS THE LAWYER ABOUT THE LAW Jesus frequently answered questions with His own question using what is called the Socratic method, i.e., answering a question with a question. In fact, Jesus turned the tables on the lawyer by asking 2 questions. He then complimented the lawyer on correctly citing Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 6:5, but that is about as far as the lawyer got! What is written in the Law? - Notice that Jesus addresses the "test" by taking him to the Scripture, a good practice for all disciples to emulate when tested by skeptics! Written is grapho in the perfect tense signifying it stands written and speaks of the permanence of the Word of God. In context Jesus is referring to the Law of Moses. So you are an expert in the Law. So it is only fitting that the lawyer was sent back to the Law! Jesus knew that no one was saved by keeping the Law, and He aimed to drive this lawyer to see the impossibility of keeping the Law. Paul explains the purpose of the Law - But the Scripture has shut up (enclosed, encircled) everyone under (subject to the power and penalty of) sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (Gal 3:22-24+) (See pictorial description of the Purpose of the Law). How does it read to you?" - How do you understand it?" (NET) "How do you read it?" (NIV, ESV, CSB, NLT) "What is your reading of it?' (NJB)
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Wuest - And answering, he said, You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind, and your neighbor as yourself. You shall: De 6:5 10:12 30:6 Mt 22:37-40 Mk 12:30,31,33,34 Heb 8:10 And your: Lev 19:18 Mt 19:19 Ro 13:9 Ga 5:13 Jas 2:8 1Jn 3:18 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:25-29 What Makes Jesus Rejoice, Part 3 - John MacArthur Luke 10:25-37 Salvation and Good Works - Steven Cole Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan - C H Spurgeon Related Passages: Matthew 22:35-40 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Mark 12:28-31+ One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31 “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Romans 13:9 For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Galatians 5:13+ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. James 2:8+ If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well. GREATEST COMMANDMENTS: HOLISTIC LOVE TO GOD & OTHERS AS OURSELVES And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Like a good Jewish lawyer this man knew the Old Testament and probably somewhat proudly (even self-righteously) quoted from the Pentateuch. In so doing he answered the question in the same way Jesus Himself had answered in Mt 22:35-40; Mk 12:28-31. The key verb is love (agapao) which describes a supernatural, self-less, sacrificial love that is only possible as one is energized by the Holy Spirit. It is this quality of love which God demands of Himself and of the men made in His image. So a command to love in this way should dry any sane person to the end of themselves so that they cry out saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' (Lk 18:13+) Deuteronomy 6:5+ (part of the famous Jewish Shema beginning in Dt 6:4 repeated 2x/day by devout Jews) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Leviticus 19:18+ (also quoted in also in Ro 13:9; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8) ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. John
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Wuest - And He said to him, You answered correctly. Be doing this and you shall live. DO THIS AND LIVE: THE IMPOSSIBLE PROMISE OF THE LAW He said to him - Once again quoting from the OT, this time from the OT guide to "holiness" in Leviticus ‘So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD. (Lev 18:5). I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. (Ezek 20:11, also in Ezek 20:13, 21) You have answered correctly - (You have responded with discretion) - There was only one problem with the lawyer's answer. No one ever did or ever can perfectly "DO" what the law requires towards God and man. To slip once is to fail. As James 2:10 explained " whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE - Jesus answers his reply with a quote from Leviticus 18:5+ ‘So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD." DO is in the present imperative a command to continually practice sacrificial, unconditional love. Recall that the lawyer had asked what shall I DO, so here Jesus tosses the "DO" back to him! Don't misunderstand -- Jesus is not teaching a works based way to inherit eternal life, but He is saying in essence if you do this perfectly, without one sin, then you will attain eternal life. Of course what Jesus was commanding the lawyer to do was literally impossible and should have served to make him drop to his knees and beg for mercy. Instead, the stubborn, prideful lawyer sought vainly to justify himself or show himself to be righteous, which is exactly what every religion other than Christianity futilely tries to accomplish. They are all unwilling to believe the only work that the Father accepts is the finished work of His Son on the Cross, where He paid the price in full for men's sins (cp Jn 19:30+). So the lawyer's answer was correct so far as the words went. In another passage in Mk 12:34 Jesus commends the scribe for agreeing to his interpretation of the first and the second commandments. That scribe was "not far from the kingdom of God," but this lawyer was "testing" Jesus (Lu 10:25). Walter Liefeld - Jesus affirms that the man has answered correctly (orthos, "right," "properly," from which our word "orthodox" is derived). This does not mean that the inquirer has grasped the full meaning of the law, nor does it support the idea held by many Pharisees that by keeping the law, as some kind of contract with God, a person can earn eternal life. (Borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary)
Lucas 10
Wuest - But he, desiring to show himself to be righteous, such as he wished himself to be considered, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? But wishing to justify himself: Lu 16:15 18:9-11 Lev 19:34 Job 32:2 Ro 4:2 10:3 Ga 3:11 Jas 2:24 And who is my neighbor: Lu 10:36 Mt 5:43,44 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:25-29 What Makes Jesus Rejoice, Part 3 - John MacArthur Luke 10:25-37 Salvation and Good Works - Steven Cole Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan - C H Spurgeon THE LAWYER SEEKS SELF-JUSTIFICATION But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor (plesion)? - The humble response to the impossible demand of the Law would have been to cry out "I cannot do this. Lord, how can I do this?" Justify (dikaioo from dike = right, expected behavior or conformity, not according to one’s own standard, but according to an imposed standard with prescribed punishment for nonconformity) primarily means to deem to be right. Dikaioo describes the act by which a man is brought into a right state of relationship to God. Dikaioo is a legal term having to do with the law and the the courtroom, where it represented the legally binding verdict of the judge. It is not surprising to see a "lawyer" use this term. He sought in a sense to "pronounce a verdict" (or have it rendered by a judge) that he was in full accordance with requirements of God's law to love God and to love his neighbor as himself. The lawyer wanted to vindicate himself, to clear himself from guilt, accusation, blame, etc, by evidence or argument. So he asks who is my neighbor (plesion)? Notice he did not ask "Who is God?" He assumed he was fine on that front and besides no one could see into his heart and discern whether he did or did not love God. But to love one's neighbor as one loves himself is a different issue. Vertical love to God can be feigned, but horizontal love is more difficult to fake. So he wants to see how Jesus defines "neighbor." Remember that his "goal" is to discern how to obtain eternal life (salvation). As
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Wuest writes eleos is "God’s “kindness and goodwill toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them” (Vincent). Grace meets man’s need in respect to his guilt and lost condition; mercy, with reference to his suffering as a result of that sin. (Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) Eleos - 27x/26v - compassion(2), mercy(25). Matt. 9:13; Matt. 12:7; Matt. 23:23; Lk. 1:50; Lk. 1:54; Lk. 1:58; Lk. 1:72; Lk. 1:78; Lk. 10:37; Rom. 9:23; Rom. 11:31; Rom. 15:9; Gal. 6:16; Eph. 2:4; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:16; 2 Tim. 1:18; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 4:16; Jas. 2:13; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet. 1:3; 2 Jn. 1:3; Jude 1:2; Jude 1:21 James Smith - TRUE NEIGHBOURLINESS. Luke 10:25-37. "I would dedicate the nation to the policy of the Good Samaritan," was a statement of President Roosevelt, of the U.S.A., in his inaugural address, so much had the parable of the Good Samaritan (in Luke 10:25-37) impressed him. Regarding a good man of God, his biographer remarked concerning his philanthropies, "He never stopped to ask, Who is my neighbour." Precisely; real love to God and man never does. Unmeasured service to all, the outcome of true love, is the order of the day to a real man or woman of God in following the example of the Good Samaritan, our Lord Jesus Christ. And by the way, note how wonderfully, by this glowing parable, our Lord has rescued from reproach the word, Samaritan. It was the name given in derision to the mixed folk who colonised Samaria after the deportation of the nine and a half tribes to Babylon, and was never repeated by a Jew but in scorn and hatred. To be called a Samaritan was considered a great insult. But our Saviour, by this charming parable, has rescued that word from the pillory. Another good service has our Lord accomplished by this famous story. The good people of that day had divorced worship from practical service. By this parable our blessed Master united again in holy wedlock, these two branches of Christian conduct, so that we now never conceive them as apart, but the one united with the other. Who is my neighbour? The rabbis of that day taught that Jews were to "love thy neighbour—in the Law," three words that meant all the difference in the world. By this matchless parable the Lord Jesus taught that every needy one whom we can help, is my neighbour; that neighbourly responsibility has nothing to do with race, church, creed, and social status; that neighbourhood is not a matter of geography, for we can live in close proximity to other folk without being neighbourly. Truly, sorrow, need, sympathy, and help, are of no nationality. This parable forbids all limitations to mercy. I. The Case. 1. "HE WENT DOWN." This is geographically correct, for Jericho is six hundred feet below the Mediterranean. 2. HE WAS STRIPPED BEFORE BEING WOUNDED. This would never happen in our country. The one attacked would be felled, then robbed. But there is no mistake here. The bandits did not want the garments damaged, as they formed an important part of the spoil. How true to Eastern life. This road was so dangerous that it came to be called "The Red Road" 3. THE SILENT ELOQUENCE OF THE BATTERED AND BLEEDING BODY. 4. THE PRIEST would be on his way back from exercising his priestly office in the Temple at Jerusalem. Twelve thousand priests resided at Jericho. Why did he pass by? (NOTE THIS IS A PARABLE SO THE FOLLOWING IS SPECULATION. IT WAS JUST MEANT TO BE A STORY ILLUSTRATING A POINT.) Was he so eager to reach his home after his absence? Was he unwilling to be ceremonially defiled, as he may have been? Or was he looking after the safety of No. 1, deciding that the robbers, who had maltreated so seriously this poor fellow, would be lurking behind some of the local rocks, ready to pounce upon any one dismounting to render first aid? 5. THE LEVITE. This is the only mention of the Levites in the Gospels. He did go up to the poor fellow, looked, and then passed by, thus he was guilty of aggravated cruelty. 6. "BY CHANCE." The only time in the Gospels that our Lord used the word, indeed the only occurrence in the New Testament of the word. Our Lord seems to use it with a touch of irony. Really, it was a loving ordering of God. There is no chance in the Christian vocabulary. 7. The Samaritan. The genius of true love (OF LOVING ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS ONE'S SELF!) is shown in his acts (WE WOULD ONLY LOVE OURSELVES THIS WAY). He ignored the possible lurking robbers; he was swift, cool, deft in his actions; he was ready to spend and be spent; he cheerfully sacrificed the use of his beast; the care for the patient at the end of the journey is touching, and we all admire his prudence in not leaving a great sum of money in the host's hand, and his wise hint that he would await his account on his way back. What a combination of compassion blended with shrewdness. II. The Application. (ED: THE PRINCIPLE OF JESUS' STORY CAN BE APPLIED BUT WE MUST NOT MISS THE MAIN POINT OF THE PARABLE AND THAT WAS TO SHOW THE LAWYER WHAT IT MEANT TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF AND BY SO DOING TO DRIVE THE LAWYER TO A BROKEN AND CONTRITE SPIRIT WHICH WOULD CRY OUT FOR SALVATION). Luke 10:38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. He entered a village: John 11:1-5 12:1-3 a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home: Lu 8:2,3 Ac 16:15 2Jn 1:10 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:38-42 The Christian's Priority - John MacArthur Luke 10:38-42 The One Thing Necessary - Steven Cole Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities - RBC Booklet Amplified - Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. KJV Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. NLT - As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.
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Wuest - Now, as they were going on their way, He himself entered a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him as a guest into her home. YLT And it came to pass, in their going on, that he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman, by name Martha, did receive him into her house, Bethany A WELCOMING WOMAN We cannot state with certainty where this story fits chronologically in the Lord's journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:27). We know the village is Bethany because this is where Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus lived (John 11:1; 12:1–3) which was about 2 miles from Jerusalem (Jn 11:18). This beautiful story takes place about six months before Jesus' crucifixion. Barclay subtitles this section "The Clash of Temperaments." (Daily Study Bible) Godet calls this "one of the most exquisite scenes which Gospel tradition has preserved to us." John
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Wuest - And she had a sister called Mary, who also having seated herself beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to His word. YLT and she had also a sister, called Mary, who also, having seated herself beside the feet of Jesus, was hearing the word, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word: Lu 2:46 = "they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions." Lk 8:35 = "the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind" Dt 33:3 Pr 8:34 = "Blessed is the man who listens to me" Acts 22:3 = "educated under (Gk - para = beside) Gamaliel" (NRSV has "at the feet of Gamaliel") 1Co 7:32-40 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:38-42 The Christian's Priority - John MacArthur Luke 10:38-42 The One Thing Necessary - Steven Cole Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:39 Love at Leisure - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:39. Love At Home - Sermon Notes - scroll down - C H Spurgeon Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities - RBC Booklet Related Passages: John 11:32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (NOTE: THIS EVENT IS DISTINCT FROM THE NAMELESS WOMAN IN Luke 7:36-48+) THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE! A WORSHIPING WOMAN She had a sister called Mary (note), who was seated (parakathizo) at the Lord's feet, listening to His word (logos) - Seated (parakathizo) at the Lord's feet presents a striking picture of Mary sitting beside (para) and right in front of the feet of Jesus (pros tous podas ton Kurion.) Listening is in the imperfect tense (see more below) which means over and over, again and again. Here is the One John called the living Logos (Jn 1:1+) now speaking living words (logos)! I get a picture of Mary seated like a baby bird eagerly waiting the next word and "eating" each one, one after another after another. She was not about to let one of His precious words fall to the ground without imbibing it. She was focused on His face, His eyes, and His lips as He spoke forth one golden word after another. THOUGHT - Listening to His word - Mary had ears to hear (Mt 11:15, Jn 8:43) for as Jesus said the one "who is of God hears the words of God," and Mary was "of God." (Jn 8:47). Listening is akouo meaning in this context to "hear with the ear of the mind" and is imperfect tense, active voice. The active voice means she made a purposeful decision of her will to hear Jesus. This is what we must do every morning -- make that volitional choice to sit still and listen to Jesus in the Word, for indeed Jesus is called "The Word of God." (Rev 19:13+). The imperfect tense views the action of her listening as in progress. The imperfect tense helps us see the flow of action. She took her seat at the feet of her Lord and went on listening to his talk. The image I see is of Jesus speaking a word and Mary opening her mouth like a baby bird eating that word, then of Jesus speaking another word and again Mary eating His word, over and over, as His word went down into and nourished her soul. O to be more like Mary! Her actions remind me of Ps 81:10 where the Lord says "I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it." That is what Mary had done, but she did not do what the next verse (Ps 81:11) described "But My people did not listen to My voice; And Israel did not obey Me." So while listening can be just to hear a sound, when God speaks, our listening should be so that we would then know how to obey Him. O may the Spirit enable us to be still like Mary and open our ears to know that He is Lord (cf Ps 46:10)! Amen What was the first thing Jesus did when He entered the home? Did He asked "Martha, are we having delicious kosher chicken casserole of yours tonight?" Of course not! He knew His time was short and so to what did He give the highest priority but the Word of God! He redeemed the time, knowing that the evil day was drawing nigh within 6 months (cp Eph 5:16+)! He would rather feed than be fed, and so He began by teaching. He was serving up the "bread" the living Word, for He knew that men and women do not live by physical bread alone (even Martha's delicious kosher casserole!) but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! (Mt 4:4+) Jesus' priority was the Word and Mary made that her priority to hear His Word and so too should we beloved! Mary's priority was time with her Lord. Our world buzzes with the word priority, but sadly the focus is on too often on temporal priority and not eternal priority. Priority is a matter that ranks above all others in importance. Priority is derived from the word prior which describes something coming before something else (Ponder that thought!) Priority is status established in order of importance or urgency. In simple terms priority is something (or in Mary's case Someone!) that is very important and must be dealt with before other things. Martha's priority was supper. Mary's priority was the Savior. THOUGHT- Mary reminds me of an OT man named Ezra about whom the Scripture says "the good hand of the LORD was upon him" (Ezra 7:9b) and then explains why God's good hand was upon him, stating that Ezra "had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel." (Ezra 7:10-+) Mary was sitting and Ezra was setting, but the effect was the same - the Living Word was the desire of their heart and their highest priority. Spurgeon on Mary seated at the Lord's feet - She was free to do so. It was not her house. She need not attend to the hospitalities of it. Her sister was quite equal to it, and so Mary did well to avail herself of the opportunity of sitting at Jesus’ feet, and hearing his word. Joseph Carroll makes an interesting point - You must not think that Martha alone was busy. Mary also was busy, but concentrating on a different form of service....Mary had chosen (to sit at Christ's feet), and that is always the difference between the person who is satisfied with Christ and the person who is dissatisfied with life. One had made a choice; the other had not. (See How to Worship Jesus Christ) THOUGHT- We do well to ponder the others the Gospels mentioned who were on their knees before Jesus - Wise men (Matthew 2:11+); Jarius (Mark 5:22+); Women healed (Mark 5:33+); Syrophenician women (Mark 7:25+); Peter, (Luke 5:8+); The Leper (Luke 5:12+); The Gadarene (Luke 8:28+); The Samaritan (Luke 17:16+); Mary (John 11:32). Charles Simeon on the salvific status of Mary and Martha - We are assured that both of them were Disciples of our Lord. We could not, indeed, ascertain this from the circumstance of his visit to them; (for he sometimes associated with proud Pharisees, and notorious sinners;) but we know it from the strong and mutual affection that subsisted between them. We presume, therefore, that both of them believed in him as the Messiah: both of them looked to him as the fountain and foundation of all their hopes: both of them confessed his name, and were willing to bear his cross: and lastly, both of them desired to make his will the rule of their conduct. Wiersbe (Borrow Be Compassionate) - Mary of Bethany is seen three times in the Gospel record, and on each occasion, she is in the same place: at the feet of Jesus. She sat at His feet and listened to His Word (Luke 10:39), fell at His feet and shared her woe (John 11:32), and came to His feet and poured out her worship (John 12:3). It is interesting to note that in each of these instances, there is some kind of fragrance: in Luke 10, it is food; in John 11, it is death (John 11:39); and in John 12, it is perfume. Mary and Martha are often contrasted as though each believer must make a choice: be a worker like Martha or a worshiper like Mary. Certainly our personalities and gifts are different, but that does not mean that the Christian life is an either/or situation. Charles Welsey said it perfectly in one of his hymns: Faithful to my Lord’s commands, I still would choose the better part; Serve with careful Martha’s hands, And loving Mary’s heart. It seems evident that the Lord wants each of us to imitate Mary in our worship and Martha in our work. Blessed are the balanced! (Be Compassionate) Darrell Bock - Jesus commends the hearing of the word at his feet. To take time out to relate to Jesus is important. The language of the passage recalls Deuteronomy 8:3 ("man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD."). In a sense Mary is preparing to partake in the "right meal" (Deut 6:1-8). What she has done by sitting at Jesus' feet will remain with her. This meal will last. Jesus is not so much condemning Martha's activity as commending Mary's. He is saying that her priorities are in order. To disciples Jesus says, "Sit at my feet and devour my teaching. There is no more important meal." (Discipleship: Looking to Our Neighbor, to Jesus and to God Luke 10:25-11:13) At the feet of Jesus, list'ning to His word; Learning wisdoms lesson from her loving Lord; Mary, led by heav'nly grace, Chose the meek disciple's place. At the feet of Jesus is the place for me; There a humble learner would I choose to be. —Sacred Songs and Solos
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Wuest - But Martha was going around in circles, over-occupied with preparing the meal. And bursting in upon Jesus she assumed a stance over Him and said, Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has let me down to be preparing the meal alone? Speak therefore to her at once that she take hold and do her part with me. YLT and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, 'Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.' But Martha was distracted with all her preparations: Lu 12:29 Joh 6:27 Lord, do You not care: Mt 14:15 16:22 Mk 3:21 my sister has left me: Lu 9:55 Jon 4:1-4 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:38-42 The Christian's Priority - John MacArthur Luke 10:38-42 The One Thing Necessary - Steven Cole Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:40 Cumbered with Much Serving - C H Spurgeon Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities - RBC Booklet A DISTRACTED WORKING WOMAN But (de)(term of contrast) What is Luke's contrast? Mary sitting contemplatively at Jesus' feet, listening to His Word in contrast to Martha scurrying around, fussing and fretting as she frenetically made preparations for their meal! Martha was distracted (perispáo) with all her preparations (diakonia) - Martha was being pulled this way and that. The imperfect passive pictures Martha as drawn here, then there, in essence being drawn every which way in her busyness, except to the feet of Jesus, the good way Mary had chosen. Literally she was "distracted by much service." Hospitality was highly valued in Jewish society and in fact the honor and even reputation of a woman was associated with her hospitality. Perhaps this fact was preeminent in Martha's mind. When we think more about what others think of us than about what God thinks of us we are very likely to be distracted from what is of eternal importance in life. Note also that given the honor that was associated with excellent hospitality, one might see how Martha could easily rationalize her complaint against Mary as legitimate. Notice the word preparations (diakonia) is most often translated ministry in the NT. Perhaps Martha saw serving as her "ministry." THOUGHT- The lesson is clear that if we are serving the Savior instead of sitting before the Savior, we have our priorities inverted. The order should always be sit before the Savior, then serve for the Savior. The harder Martha worked, the more worked up she became!
Lucas 10
Wuest - And answering, the Lord said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and excited about many things, YLT And Jesus answering said to her, 'Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disquieted about many things, Martha, martha, you: Lu 8:14 21:34 Mk 4:19 1Co 7:32-35 Php 4:6 So many things: Ec 6:11 Mt 6:25-34 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:38-42 The Christian's Priority - John MacArthur Luke 10:38-42 The One Thing Necessary - Steven Cole Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:41, 42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities - RBC Booklet Related Passages: Matthew 6:25-34+ “For this reason (or "Therefore" as in KJV, NET, ESV, NIV versions - TERM OF CONCLUSION BEGS QUESTION "WHAT REASON?" - Mt 6:24+) I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "MARTHA, MARTHA" A WORRIED WOMAN But the Lord answered and said to her "Martha, Martha, you are worried (merimnao [be sure to check this word study] in present tense - continually) and bothered (turbazo in present tense) about so many things - First notice what He did not say. He did not rebuke her for making preparations or showing hospitality, an important aspect of ancient culture. After all she could not call in an order to have pizza delivered! Martha had both inward anxiety and outward agitation. As we see in the next verse, Jesus may be preparing Martha to hear the truth that only one dish was really necessary for the meal instead of the "many" about which she was so anxious. Ultimately He, the Bread of life (Jn 6:35, 48), was the main "dish!" Martha's problem was that she focused too much on being the perfect hostess, attempting to prepare an elaborate meal, when one dish would have been sufficient. What if she had recalled Jesus miracle of feeding the 5000 and simply brought one loaf and one fish to the table? Do you think they would have gone hungry? (Rhetorical question of course!) Not only would Martha have had more time with her Lord, but she may have even witnessed a miracle of multiplication of the bread and fish. THOUGHT - I wonder how often we are so earthly tethered and temporally focused that we miss the beauty of the Lord, even missing "miracles" that He works around us, but we are too busy to even notice? Just a thought to ponder. Martha, Martha (Lk 10:42NLT "My dear Martha." Phillips = "Martha, my dear.") Generally, the repetition of the name of the person seemed to indicate a message of special importance as shown by other examples in Scripture - see Abraham (Ge 22:11); Moses (Ex 3:4); Samuel (1 Sa 3:10); Jerusalem (Mt 23:37) Simon (Lu 22:31), Saul (Acts 9:4, 22:7, 26:14) Alison Trites adds this note on Martha, Martha - The reply of Jesus is sensitive and tender and perhaps indicates a tendency for Jesus to occasionally use doubled words (note “Simon, Simon” in Lk 22:31). There are several instances in the Bible where a name is repeated in a significant manner for emphasis: Abraham (Gen 22:11), Jacob (Gen 46:2), Moses (Ex 3:4), Samuel (1 Sa 3:4, 10), and Saul (Acts 9:4; 26:14)....Jesus is saying that Martha is worried over too many things. (Luke, Acts - Cornerstone Bible Commentary)
Lucas 10
Wuest - but of few things there is need, or of one, for Mary chose out for herself the good portion, which is of such a nature that it shall not hastily be snatched away from her. but only one thing is necessary: Lu 18:22 Ps 27:4 Ps 73:25 Ec 12:13 Mk 8:36 Joh 17:3 1Co 13:3 Ga 5:6 Col 2:10-19 1Jn 5:11,12 for Mary has chosen: De 30:19 Jos 24:15,22 Ps 17:15 Ps 119:30,111,173 the good part: Ps 16:5,6 Ps 142:5 which shall not be taken away from her: Lu 8:18 12:20,33 16:2,25 Jn 4:14 5:24 10:27,28 Ro 8:35-39 Col 3:3,4 1Pe 1:4,5 Multiple Resources on Luke 10 (includes the sermons below) Luke 10:38-42 The Christian's Priority - John MacArthur Luke 10:38-42 The One Thing Necessary - Steven Cole Luke 10:38-42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:41, 42 Martha and Mary - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:42 The One Thing Needful - C H Spurgeon Luke 10:42 A Threefold Motto - C H Spurgeon Mary & Martha: Balancing Life’s Priorities - RBC Booklet Related Passages: Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, Joshua 24:15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Psalm 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. MARY'S ONE THING... JESUS! J. Dwight Pentecost said “To be occupied with Christ is more important than to be occupied for Christ.” But only one thing is necessary for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." - What was the need to which Jesus refers? What was Mary doing? She was listening. Jesus was speaking and certainly was teaching. THOUGHT - That is the deepest need of every man or woman's soul, God's Word. The vitality of our spiritual lives depend on our intake of the Word (1Pe 2:2+). We make the choice to imbibe the living and active Word and the Spirit takes that Word in our heart and supernaturally (yea, even mysteriously) transforms us from glory to glory into greater degrees of Christlikeness (2 Cor 3:18+). By the Word ingested we grow in faith (Ro 10:17+). Jesus summed up our need in His refutation of the devil's temptation declaring to the Tempter "It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” (Mt 4:4, cp Lk 4:4). Of course just hearing (or reading or studying) the Word of God is not enough. We have to obey it for the Spirit to use it in our life to transform us. Jesus said "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:28) As Don Whitney says "No factor is more influential (Ed: cp "one thing...necessary") in making us more like the Son of God than the Spirit of God working through the Word of God." Knowing Christ must come before serving Christ or else our service will be barren and our hearts will be frustrated. -- Ray Pritchard Donald Whitney adds "No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture (Ed: Cp 1 Peter 2:2). The reasons for this are obvious. In the Bible God tells us about Himself, and especially about Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God. The Bible unfolds the Law of God to us and shows us how we’ve all broken it. There we learn how Christ died as a sinless, willing Substitute for breakers of God’s Law and how we must repent and believe in Him to be right with God. In the Bible we learn the ways and will of the Lord. We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves. None of this eternally essential information can be found anywhere else except the Bible. Therefore if we would know God and be godly, we must know the Word of God—intimately." (ED: Like Mary did by sitting at His feet!) My pastoral experience bears witness to the validity of surveys that frequently reveal that great numbers of professing Christians know little more about the Bible than Third-World Christians who possess not even a shred of Scripture. We may nod in agreement that we must know God’s Word intimately, yet spend no more time in His Word than those who have no Bibles at all. So even though we honor God’s Word with our lips, we must confess that our hearts—as well as our hands, ears, eyes, and minds—are often far from it. Regardless of how busy we become with all things Christian, we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture.(Borrow Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life 24) Mary chose the (most) important over the urgent, the better (best) over the good. Ray Pritchard - Many good things that occupy us can squeeze out the “one thing” that ought to be at the center of life. Perhaps an illustration will help. How do you develop a child into a world-class pianist or a gold-medal gymnast or a world-renowned soloist? There is only one way. You must start when the child is only two or three years old. Someone must say, “One thing is needful.” And everything else must take second place. Get up early, practice for hours each day, week after week, year after year. To be the best, you must give up what others call a “normal” life because what you want is not “normal” at all. The “one thing” must take precedence over the “many things.” There is no other way to the top. Jesus is saying something like this: “Martha, you are so busy serving me that you have no time for me to serve you. I appreciate your love and I recognize that your motives are good, but your heart is divided and distracted. Your zeal to serve me has pushed me to the edge of your heart. Martha, I want to be at the center of everything for you. That is far more important that preparing a fancy meal in my honor.” How did it happen that Mary was in the “better” place? Answer: She chose it. Given the same opportunity that Martha had, she chose to go to the living room and sit at Jesus’ feet. It did not happen by chance; it never does. You will never end up at Jesus’ feet by accident. You must choose to go there or it will never happen. Mary did not know when or if Jesus would return to her home. She wanted to spend time with him while he was there. She knew there would always be other meals to prepare, but she might never have another chance to be with Jesus. That’s why she was willing to leave some things undone if necessary in order to be with Jesus. She chose the important over the urgent, the better over the good. And that is why the Lord commended her. This passage is not about cooking versus praying or the active life versus a life of contemplation. It’s about the divided life verses the focused life, a life of frantic activity versus a life centered on knowing Christ.....One writer notes that something eternal is cooking in this home in Bethany, but it’s not in the kitchen. That meal will soon be consumed and forgotten. But the meal Jesus is serving in the living room will last forever. Don’t miss the one while you are preparing the other.....I love the final phrase of the text where Jesus declares that what Mary has gained “will not be taken from her.” What she gained, she would have forever. Meals come and go. Sometimes mothers complain along these lines: “I work for hours to prepare a nice meal and then it’s gone in ten minutes.” But time with Jesus is yours forever. I’m sure Mary never forgot that wonderful day when she sat at Jesus’ feet drinking in every word. In the end this story is about the danger of distraction while doing good things. The one thing we need most is to sit at Jesus’ feet. It will not happen by accident. And others will not always understand. Including, sometimes, our loved ones. This passage is...about the divided life verses the focused life, a life of frantic activity versus a life centered on knowing Christ. Steve Cole gives four reasons why we should make sitting at the Lord’s feet the main priority in our life (note see his sermon for elaboration on each of the four topics below). 1. THE WORD PROVIDES US WITH THE VERY WISDOM OF GOD THAT WE NEED FOR ALL OF LIFE’S DECISIONS AND DIRECTION. 2. THE WORD PUTS US IN COMMUNION WITH THE LIVING LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. 3. THE WORD PUTS ALL OF LIFE’S PRESSURES IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE. 4. THE WORD IS THE GOOD PART, WHICH CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM YOU. D. L. Moody put it, ‘A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God’s boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it." Nothing is more necessary and no source is more essential than the Word of God. Related Resource The Power and Sufficiency of God's Word - 40 page discussion with leader's guide