Mary and Martha

[tturt]

What if the sisters were at different places in their walk with Jesus? Though the sermons and teachings lean towards Mary but Martha could have been the more spiritually mature.

Wondered about the Luk 10 account because provisions had to be made for Jesus and His disciples. At least there's about 15 people that came to Martha's house. Don't see if they were expected or not. Martha was up serving Him. But Mary seems to be a new believer and her spiritual needs were different than Martha's. "There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha's attitude was "Lord, dost thou not care ..." How many have asks that as we do what we believe He wants.

In the John 11 account, Martha had expectation "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house." Maybe a difference in their personalities but Mary didn't go to Jesus until prompted to do so by Martha.

Also, comparing their conversions with Jesus, "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Compared to:
"Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

They said the same thing but Martha went further and said "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." She had faith in Him that Mary didn't express. Jesus tells her He's the resurrection and the life and Martha "She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." John 11:27

 

[garee]

What if the sisters were at different places in their walk with Jesus? Though the sermons and teachings lean towards Mary but Martha could have been the more spiritually mature.

Wondered about the Luk 10 account because provisions had to be made for Jesus and His disciples. At least there's about 15 people that came to Martha's house. Don't see if they were expected or not. Martha was up serving Him. But Mary seems to be a new believer and her spiritual needs were different than Martha's. "There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha's attitude was "Lord, dost thou not care ..." How many have asks that as we do what we believe He wants.

In the John 11 account, Martha had expectation "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house." Maybe a difference in their personalities but Mary didn't go to Jesus until prompted to do so by Martha.

Also, comparing their conversions with Jesus, "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." Compared to:
"Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

They said the same thing but Martha went further and said "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." She had faith in Him that Mary didn't express. Jesus tells her He's the resurrection and the life and Martha "She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." John 11:27

Another way of looking at it . Sometimes the gospel meaning is hid in those kinds of parables .

Two meaning. (1) What hits the eye as the witness of man and . Like that of Martha (2) the unseen witness of faith God working as .. .. The greater witness. . that of faith the unseen workings.

Satan would have mankind believe it all one and the same witness .As if mankind could see into the hearts of men .the exclusive witness of God Him alone knowing the end from the beginning.

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Mary and Martha are used more as as examples just like Moses and Aaron or ,David and Johnathon. or a husband and wife .A ministry of two in a living hope of working peacefully as one.

What Martha performed was necessary, serving the Spirit of Christ that worked in her. . . the work of preparing . In that way he encouraged Martha that she was careful doing the will. . but faulted her for being troubled or anxious. Like Peter in that way. Peter in jealousy got his eyes off of Jesus and started a lying rumor or oral tradition that John whom Jesus leaned on that he would not die.

Mary choosing the better part seeking the will of God in worship. Martha a jealous eye on Mary like Peter on John.

Martha it would appear thought she could move or turn the Spirit of Christ to help her in her burden by asking the Son of man, Jesus to tell Mary to stop praying and help others who came do do the will of the father likewise .

In that way it seems when mankind is angry or displeased with God we look for fault in people.

Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her..

Mary like the believers in Hebrews 6 was receiving the better thing that accompany salvation.. . the assurance the confidence to trust in a God not seen. . . the good part will not be taken away .

Hebrew 6:9-10 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Both the will as worship and the power to work are attributed the the hand of God .The good works offered working with will not be taken away . It would seem Martha murmured. Help is always needed in the kitchen.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

 

[marc b]

Martha was getting a visitation from God in her house for a very limited time on earth. Jesus was pouring truths upon truth, precepts upon precepts, revelations upon revelations, glory, life, light and love and Martha was missing out on that. To suggest she was more mature and further along her spiritual walk coz she was serving "the spirit of christ" is kinda off. Specially since the holy spirit wasn't even released to indwell us at this time. Service reeks of death if it does not come from the overflow of the fruit of the spirit in us. Without the spirit, it is just dead works.

 

[garee]

Martha was getting a visitation from God in her house for a very limited time on earth. Jesus was pouring truths upon truth, precepts upon precepts, revelations upon revelations, glory, life, light and love and Martha was missing out on that. To suggest she was more mature and further along her spiritual walk coz she was serving "the spirit of christ" is kinda off. Specially since the holy spirit wasn't even released to indwell us at this time. Service reeks of death if it does not come from the overflow of the fruit of the spirit in us. Without the spirit, it is just dead works.

I do not think one had the Spirit of Christ and the other did not. There was no time period that the Spirit was not given beginning with Abel the first martyr whose blood to this day longs to be clothed with the incorruptible . .

Both kinds of works were necessary. The preparing of the food the social and the preparing of the heart, washing feet. .

I think of John the Baptist when he was doubting if Jesus was the Christ sent out two is shown as a example . Two represents the church. John sent out two apostles for a answer of faith .Yes or no he is the Christ. Christ's faith that works in the creature in that way removes all doubt and wondering or marveling.

Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

Jesus sent him gospel news. The care of the whole creature called the true fast in Isaiah 58. A provision for the temporal flesh and the new born again soul. The provision for the soul like with Mary will not be taken away.

The answer to Johns doubt according to the parable spoken below gives us the unseen understanding of faith. The purpose of parables to teach us how to understand or hear the unseen spiritual things of God (faith)

The spiritual eyes of our new heart, the spiritual blinds, lame etc.

Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

The spiritually blind are given the understanding from God, they can walk or lean on his understanding as it is written. Their new born again hearts are made senititive to the hearing of faith as lepers cleansed .Those dead in their trespasses and sins are raised as the gospel is preached. John knew he had the right kind of Christ he gave John comfort and did bring to his memory the previous things he has taught. .

A similar parable is used in Isaiah 58. The kind of fast that does drive out lying spirits called demons. The gospel.

Note. . . .(Purple in parenthesis's) my added coment.

Note. . . Green the unseen work of the gospel. God's labor of love or also called work of faith .

Isaiah 58:5-8 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast ( a sharing), and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast ( a sharing) that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness,(the lies of the father of lies ) to undo the heavy burdens, (work with them making the burden lighter ) and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? (the gospel key that the gates of hell could never prevail against.)Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,(no spiritual daily bread of life, the will of our unseen God) and that thou bring the poor (spiritually bankrupt ) that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;(with the gospel ) and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light (of the gospel)break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; (the unseen) glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.

That parable above. . A similar answer to doubting John . . Tell John how to hear and believe God. . giving him strength to finish his work.

The glory of God not seen his reward, our reward . The gospel key that the gates of hell could never prevail against. .

 

[marc b]

The Holy Spirit was not given to indwell us until the Pentecost. Prior to that, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person only selectively. As in when it would come upon Samson and give him super strength, or upon prophets to prophecy as evidenced when King Saul chanced upon a group of prophets where the Holy Spirit were upon them and started to prophecy. Then too when God transferred his favor from Saul to David that the Holy Spirit left Saul and settled on David. Leaving Saul empty to which an evil spirit took advantage and came to torture him. That is why in Matthew 11:11 Jesus tells us that altho John was the greatest prophet of the old testament, yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is still greater. And this us due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 

[garee]

The Holy Spirit was not given to indwell us until the Pentecost. Prior to that, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person only selectively. As in when it would come upon Samson and give him super strength, or upon prophets to prophecy as evidenced when King Saul chanced upon a group of prophets where the Holy Spirit were upon them and started to prophecy. Then too when God transferred his favor from Saul to David that the Holy Spirit left Saul and settled on David. Leaving Saul empty to which an evil spirit took advantage and came to torture him. That is why in Matthew 11:11 Jesus tells us that altho John was the greatest prophet of the old testament, yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is still greater. And this us due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Yes God moved the old testament saints His empowered mighty men of Old whenever they did not harden their hearts and act foolishly, leaning on their own understanding and therefore not the understating of Christ that can work with them.

if God begins the good work of salvation in us we have his confidence he will finish it to the end. Just as the old testament saints one body the bride made up of all the nations or kingdoms that gather under the name Jesus.

I am aware of that kind of idea. It was one of the ideas or traditions from my home church where I heard the gospel and was given the faith to trust in a unseen God. The hearing of faith his working in us.

its not a matter of salvation but rather I believe how do we hear or say we hear what the Spirit says to the churches or families of those who gather under the hearing of faith.(sola scriptura) There is no need to try and make it begin at Pentecost, as shadow it was it confirmed who it is was that did work in the old testament saints by faith the unseen glory of God.

But anytime we act foolishly by saying there is no God in our hearts as sin. . we recognize who is is that makes our hearts soft by working with us in us.

God called the Galatians foolish but not fools as atheists. Only God can see into the hearts of all men and reveal himself by the hearing of faith .The same our first love or experience of Him working in us making our hearts soft. David said when he awakes in the morning the loving Holy Spirit is there breaking the fast .He never leaves or forsakes them that the Spirit does bring the good news that works out His salvation in us empowered by Him .

Galatians 3 King James Version (KJV) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (God's unseen glorious understanding) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?(God's unseen glorious understanding)

 

[garee]

The Holy Spirit was not given to indwell us until the Pentecost. Prior to that, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person only selectively. As in when it would come upon Samson and give him super strength, or upon prophets to prophecy as evidenced when King Saul chanced upon a group of prophets where the Holy Spirit were upon them and started to prophecy. Then too when God transferred his favor from Saul to David that the Holy Spirit left Saul and settled on David. Leaving Saul empty to which an evil spirit took advantage and came to torture him. That is why in Matthew 11:11 Jesus tells us that altho John was the greatest prophet of the old testament, yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is still greater. And this us due to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

I think the greater has to do with the understanding of prophecy , not the understanding of the prophet as apostle sent with it as it is written its not the apostles understanding. Having it as it is written in whole today sealed with 7 seals till the end of time and no longer in part. We have the perfect or complete law as it is written. Face to face. . or faith the unseen, to the same faith in the revealed knowledge of scripture.