King's Business - 1921-05

T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S ( 9 ) Tlie Bible is an infallible record of an infallible revelation. v. 38. Received Him into h e r house. This is one of th e few passages in th e life of the Saviour in which we are per­ m itted to view Him in th e circle of His domestic life, in COMMENTS FROM which we see Him MANY SOURCES as a guest and K eith L. B rooks friend, receiving hospitality a n d by gentle words allaying angry feelings which are so ap t to spring up from the most triv ial causes and m ar th e peace of th e home.'—Horn. Com. v. 39. Which also sat. The “ also” shows Mary, too, in her way, was no less anxious to give Jesu s a fitting recep­ tion.— Camb. Bible. S at a t Jesu s’ feet. I t m atters little a t the feet of w h at g reat theologians we have studied. If we have not also been a t th e feet of Jesus we have not learned much.— Torrey. H eard H is word. As the tend er flowers love to open to th e rays of tlie sun and silently absorb its light. Jesu s had no t come to be served b u t to serve.—Au­ gustine. W ith Martha, th e pleasure of giving much to Jesus is prom inent. Mary feels th e necessity of receiving much.—Van Osterzee. Mary had learned to concentrate her mind. M artha could no t do this. Too many of God’s dear children are like Martha. W hat vain solicitudes. W hat is th e use of it all? —Vaughan. v . . 40. M artha was cumbered. Lit­ erally “pulled th is way and th a t.”— Sawyer. Though th e hospitality of M artha deserved comm endation,' yet th e re were th ree fau lts in it which are pointed out by Christ. 1. M artha car­ ried her activity beyond proper bounds. 2. By distracting her atten tion and un­ dertak ing more labor th an was neces­ sary, she deprived herself of the, ad­ vantage 6f Christ’s visit. 3. She was so delighted w ith her own bustling op­ erations as to despise her sister’s pious eagerness to receive instruction.—Cal­ vin. We find in M artha th e type of life busily devoted to externals, such as is frequently exemplified in th is passing world, in Mary th e type of quiet self devotion to th e divine as the only thing needful. There is th e active and the contemplative. The most active must be from th e depths of a soul given up to th e Lord. The man of contemplation inust consecrate His energies to th e ad­ vancement of God’s kingdom.— Olshau- sen. Much serving. It is a significant

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coincidence th a t John (1 2 :2 ), speaking of ano ther supper a t Bethany in the house of Simon, states th a t M artha served, using th e same word th a t Jesus addressed to her in th e n arrativ e of Luke. Evidently M artha was a server. This was her forte. Hers was a culinary skill. In th is case, however, she over­ did it. She w ent beyond her strength. — Burton. She came to H im . The word implies “suddenly appearing before H im ,” evidently coming from the room where preparations were being made into th a t in which Jesus was. The homely phrase, “ She flounced in ,” would best describe her action and mood.-K Willcock. Host th o u n o t care? I hon­ estly believe th a t th is is a g reat sin of women. Many have a h a b it of quick, sharp speaking.' I t cuts, it stings. That was the trouble w ith M artha.— Moody. Does your Christian service make you peevish w ith th e Lord? Then th e re is something decidedly wrong w ith your service. You need to sit a t Jesu s’ feet. ’—McNeil. L eft m e to serve alone. She was anxious to give her Lord a most hospitable reception and was vexed a t th e contemplative hum ility which she regarded as slothfulness. Jesu s’ re­ proof to> M artha is aimed not a t her hos­ pitable activity bu t a t the fre t and fuss, th e absence of repose and calm, by which it was accompanied, and above all, a t th e tendency to in terfere w ith excellence of a different kind.— F arra r. B id h e r help me.' If Mary was in th e wrong thu s to sit a t the feet of Jesus, M artha certainly was not in the right. There was no occasion to give this publié reprim and, th is round hand rebuke. H er feelings got th e b etter of her judg­ ment. She spoke words she never would have spoken had she b u t known th a t inspiration would keep J;he echoes rev erb erating down all th e years of time.— Exp. Bible. v. 41. M artha, M artha. He said it as if h er m ind had wandered and the iteration was necessary, to call her to herself.— Burton. Let Jesus be per­ sonal w ith you. Let Him call you by name and tell you your faults.— Saw­ yer. Troubled about many things. M artha was occupied for Jesus. Mary was occupied w ith Jesus. M artha was occupied w ith many things. Mary was occupied not w ith things, bu t w ith a person.— Torrey. The mystical and practical are both required in Christ’s service and blend a t His feet. Don’t live for many things b u t for Him.— Meyer.

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