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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