Martha and Mary concludes

 

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary     Dec. 6

Question 7- In what ways do Martha and Mary depict the contrast between doing good works and having faith?

There is no contrast between doing good and having faith, they are interrelated.  Good works can be a bad thing if they take the place of the best things, but Paul was a good worker that had tremendous faith.  Faith without works is dead.

Our acts of going to church, Bible study, or any worship can be a work of faith and worship.  If we are attending these things with a heart of anticipation and longing to fellowship and worship, then it doesn’t feel like a work.  God knows our motives and what is going on in our hearts.

James 2 :14-24

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

This refers to all righteous behavior that conforms to God’s revealed word.

Just like the example given by Christine where a father who asks his son to do a job and the son complains but did it anyway and the other son that said he would do the job and then didn’t do it. Which one would be justified?

In the book on page 169, the last paragraph is a great summary of the life of these women. We ask you to revisit that paragraph.

We had a great discussion about the personality differences of Paul, Mark, Barnabas and Silas. How God uses different personalities in his church.  What God wants in the way we walk may appear to the world to not be good works.  But we are not of this world, therefore we need to make sure we walk with the Lord and follow his words, even when the world turns against us.

Romans 10:17- So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

This simple verse is important in our walk.

Col. 3:22-24 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

2 Chronicles 31:20 Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. 21 And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Good, right and true. He went to the truth of God’s word and followed it.

Matthew 26:6-13

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Luke 6: 46-49

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary Nov. 15

 

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary  Nov. 15

We began by re-reading Luke 10

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Another person sat at Jesus feet in Luke 8  ³³ Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.  ³⁴ When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. ³⁵ Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ³⁶ And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed^[d] man had been healed. ³⁷ Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.

Deut. 33:3 Sat down; 2Sam 2:18; 1 Peter 2:1-3 Longing for the word; Luke 2:46

No matter what position you are in you can sit at Jesus’ feet

Matt. 13:23 the parable of the soils- the good soil had a great increase and the proverbs 31 woman worked a whole lot and was honorable because her heart was for the Lord.  We need to watch our focus.

Psalm 119: 30, 63, 104-105, 111, 173  David loved the precepts of the Lord, he loved his commands, even the wrath because he knew the Lord was just and righteous.

Matt. 13 ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’

Sometimes we don’t like what we see around us and we want to remove the tares…. But it is the Lord that places and removes.  We need to be more like the slave, doing what the master wants.  Sometimes we have tasks that we don’t like we need to go to God in prayer.  God can be teaching us and his kindness is revealed as he gently leads us through the rough spots.   God is always concerned with our physical and spiritual needs.

We spoke about question 6 and next time we will address question 7

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary Nov. 1

 

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary  Nov. 1

Received – Through the Greek it is a combination of 2 words, hupo and dechomai which means to receive under and into, to take under one’s care as if placing the hands or arms under a person.  Vs. 38  Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.   Welcomed is the word that this translation is.  She totally took responsibility to give her full self to taking care of those that entered her home.  Her intent was honorable, it was good.  It is used 4 times in the New Testament.  Luke 19:6 ⁶ So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.  Act 17:7 and Jason has received (harbored) them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.  James 2:25 ²⁵ And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

dechomai to receive as a gift = Romans 15:7 ⁷ Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  2 John:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting . 

At the door, before the work, her heart was full of the love of the Lord and the willingness to work for Him.  Romans 10 :17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  Eph. 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What are some of Christ’s commands: Go, love your enemies, make disciples, there are so many that we need to obey.

Matthew 16: 22- 23 ²² And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me.  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Both Peter and Martha forget that the Lord is before them and they made these statements thinking of themselves.  Cumbered= she was dragging the emotion and being overwhelmed with all the cares.  She let the things take over her focus and in the process leaving her first love. 

Luke 8: ²² One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, ²³ and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. ²⁴ And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Psalm 119 Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Who was David? He wasn’t a prophet; but he was called out by God. This psalm was as a journal of thoughts.  David was a true worshipper; he continued to strive to do the right, the good,  the needful thing.

Malachi 2:7  For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Martha and Mary

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary

Preference of others over self

Priority of worship over service

Primacy of faith over works

Around pg. 163 of MacArthur’s text - Jesus admonished Martha in this study. It would do us well to examine these admonishments.  What are our priorities?

Question 1 – How are Martha and Mary similar or different?

They were sisters, both loved Jesus and their brother.  They had a growing and learning relationship with Jesus.  One was focused on the temporal and was focused on the eternal, but both were sincere in their desire to do what was right.  Martha may have been impulsive and Mary may have been patient and contemplative.  They were both mutually beloved and cherished by Jesus and others.  At Lazarus’s death both sisters were comfortable enough with the Lord to question him.  Martha was practical and serviceable. Mary was unfeigned with open emotions.  Martha served and Mary worshipped.

Luke 10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

We all have had the attitude that Martha had during this brief moment in her life.  She was focused on judging the moment.  There are a lot of Marthas that find it difficult to be Marys. Anything we do for the Lord is a gift from Him. 

#2 describe the family of these two women

It seemed that there were only the three of them in the household.  Martha may have been the oldest and therefore felt responsible. Was Lazarus unhealthy during his life?  They had close ties to their friends and they all loved Jesus.  They may have lost their parents earlier.  There is no mention of them being away from Bethany or away from their home. 

Luke 8- Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³ and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them^[a] out of their means.

There were women that traveled with Jesus and traveled because they had the means (finances) to do this.  Since many traveled with Jesus, perhaps Mary was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people she was serving.   But, others sat at Jesus’s feet and worshipped him.  Some people feel that it is a burden to be within the kitchen, but God desires us to find worship at his feet no matter where we are.

#3.  What reasons might Mary have had for anointing Jesus feet with the spikenard?

 John 11:53- John 12:8, Mark 14 3-9

She anointed both his head and his feet.  It was a costly ointment and many were upset with her “wasting it” instead of using in upon Jesus.  Jesus knew his time would be short, he had told them all.   Nard comes from a plant with spikes.  It is a highly prized ointment.  The Jews anointed the head and feet of those they held in high honor.  It was a joyful part of life.

The woman in Luke 7:36-50 is a different woman.  Her ointment was not the expensive nard that Mary had used.  Simon in this account doesn’t give Jesus the honor he is due, but the woman does.

Mary highly honored, respected and loved the Lord.  She let Jesus know her honor of him.  Have we poured out our love, honor and respect for our Lord as well?  Most likely all of the family members knew what she would do with this spikenard.

With all our worship, there is also opposition. Keep our eyes on the Lord.

What did Mary’s action represent from Jesus point of view? His death is coming.  He understood her worship and honored and defended her actions.

His word in Matthew 26:13 says it all,

¹³ Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

beginning of Martha and Mary

Women of Courage – Martha and Mary introduction

September 6, 2014

Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-45, John 12:1-7, Mark 14:3-9, Matthew 26:1-16, Luke 7:36-50

Bethany – Martha and Mary remain in Bethany throughout their appearance in scripture

Bethany is on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus spent much time there, seemingly preferring to stay there rather than in Jerusalem itself.  Preciously, it was at Bethany that Jesus ascended into heaven.  Today, Bethany is a small, run-down town.  According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1939), “Bethany […] is a miserably untidy and tumble-down village”.  The current town of Bethany is apparently further East than the ancient town that Jesus frequented.  Some believe that it is near the tomb of Lazarus rather than where the homes actually were in ancient Bethany.  Bethany today is affected by the political turmoil in the area, torn between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Bethany seems to have withered as the fig tree. 

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well - Conclusion

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well    - Conclusion

We ended in day three- the truth about the woman’s life was unmentionable with her, but Jesus went directly to her heart.  The second reflection is that the woman saw her sin as a significant issue, but Jesus wanted to make her whole, to forgive her sin.  Man tends to glory in their depravity, but God looks at us all the same. We are all depraved, all sinners, all dead in our trespasses and sins, therefore we need to Glory in our God for His forgiveness.

Shera brought out this verse, to show how God judged the men during Hosea’s time:

Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

The men bore responsibility. Jesus brought the Samaritan woman’s town into salvation.  He lead the men to turn from their sin, to change the heart of the town toward the Lord.  As the Lord has impressed on us-   Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

We should reflect on where we came from, remembering the pit that we were pulled from, but we shouldn’t dwell in and on them.  God should have the glory always! If we focus on our past we never get past it.  God has brought us out of that and works in us to perfect us.  We can use what we have been through to help others, but not to glory in it.

John 8: 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.  15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.  Jesus desired to give the woman eternal life.  She turned from her sin.

Let’s not dwell in the past sin, God no longer sees those sins if we have truly been forgiven.  God has transferred our sin and in return given us His righteousness. Let us Glory in God and set aside those weights, straining to win the race that we might give God the honor he deserves.

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well - July 19,2014

Women of Courage –The Woman at the Well    - July 19,2014

We began by once again reviewing the words of the scriptures: John 4: 4-42

We are now at question #7 which has 3 parts to it

            What did the Samarian woman do after her conversation with Jesus :

She went to others to invite them to him. She didn’t question the change of subject from the living water and into the question about her husband.  At this point she believes what has been told to her, but she wasn’t really clear about what had happened.  She went to tell those around her with boldness to come see that man that had told her all things.  These would be the heads of the households.  She left her water pot to go tell others.

In what ways was hers a “normal” response? What about her response was unusual?

She was doing what all new converts do, proclaim the Lord.  She moved directly to tell others. When something wonderful happens to us we want to share it. She knew that she now had a hope and she knew that others needed to hear this man!  She was a different person now. We all think back on our conversion, our responses, and the joy the Lord gave to us.

It would be unusual to those that knew her before.  There had been a change in her.

There should never be a “normal” response from us to the Lord. His work is supernatural.  Our response should be filled up and over flowing.

Question #8 – Compare how the people of Sychair responded to Jesus to the way in which various groups of Pharisees and scribes responded to Him during His early ministry.  (Luke 15:1-2, 19:1-10, Matt. 11:18-19, Matt. 9:11-13, Luke 5:29- 32, and Matt. 8:28-34).

The men of Sychair believed Jesus’s words and the Pharisees did not believe his words. 
The men of Sychair knew that they were sinners as well, they may have had relations with this woman (since she had had 5 husbands) they recognized their sins.  The Pharisees and scribes didn’t see their sin, only that they followed the law and that they were righteous in their own eyes.  They felt they had earned their salvation, they had done everything they needed to do. The men of Sychair realized that there was nothing they could do to get rid of their sin and their searched for this man that had moved the heart of this woman.

We all have a tendency to judge.  But we should be able to forgive and embrace those that have fallen, but have turned to the Lord for forgiveness.  We are to bring them back, to love them in spite of their past sin.  To show them that God loves those that turn their heart to them and trust in His forgiveness.

Zacchaeus sought the Lord, trying to understand who Jesus is.  He runs ahead to see the Lord.  God knows the heart.  Zacchaeus turns and repents. He was a changed man and he determines to restore the things he had taken from others.  He automatically has his whole life turned around… just like the woman at the well.

Let’s not have a cold heart of self-righteousness or prideful, but instead realize that our sins are just as bad at any other person’s sin.

We finished by reading Philippians 3.