Bible Study - Relationships Collide - Christians Collide - Luke 10:38-42 - October 13, 2013

Bible Study – Relationships Collide – Christians Collide – October 13, 2013

This is lesson one in our series entitled “When Relationships Collide: Thriving in the Midst of Conflict.”

Our scripture is Luke 10:38-42.

We begin a new series regarding relationships. Often relationships, even among very best friends, family members and fellow workers collide. When they collide how does the Christian respond? The answer carries us back to our study on James. How Christians respond reflects their true Spiritual maturity. When conflicts arise, do we, as Christians, let them fester or try to resolve them quickly? Usually the quicker they are resolved the better because a conflict can get out-of-hand when left to resolve itself. Conflicts can lead to anger and breaks unity between you, GOD and the person with whom you have a conflict. JESUS spoke about this in Matthew 5:23-24:

23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

For the next six weeks we will use various scripture passages to explore the subject of “When Relationships Collide.”

Doctor Luke wrote the Gospel according to Luke for a special purpose as recorded in Luke 1:1-4:

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. 3 It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Doctor Luke also wrote The ACTS of the Apostles for Theophilus.

The setting for this account was JESUS and HIS disciples traveling in the vicinity of Jerusalem. JESUS was good friends with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. So JESUS and HIS disciples went to their house. Bible scholars believe that it was JESUS and HIS disciples plus Martha and Mary. Lazarus was not listed but neither were JESUS disciples. So there could have been fifteen or sixteen people, if Lazarus was present. Based upon the reaction of Martha, it was likely more than JESUS that Martha was concerned about feeding.

Luke did not identify the village but since Martha and Mary were good friends of JESUS, I think it was likely that the village was synonymous with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We know that the Apostle John in the Gospel of John wrote that Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived in Bethany. Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem. JESUS’ destiny was for HIM to end up in Jerusalem to fulfill HIS calling but this event was before that part of HIS ministry.

Our focus is upon the events which took place in Martha’s home. It was a conflict between sisters who both wanted to serve JESUS. But first, let’s look back at scripture which preceded this event. It was the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

The two events are examples of being a good neighbor and serving by reaching out to another person. The Good Samaritan provided physical help and care to the man who was robed, beaten and left for dead. Martha was in the process of providing hospitality and physical food for JESUS and HIS disciples. Mary apparently had been helping Martha but she made the decision to stop helping Martha and spend time with JESUS.

The point being, we can be so busy doing that we neglect spending time with JESUS, in the Bible, prayer and listening. Our doing must not take the place of spending time with JESUS, studying the Bible, prayer as well as listening and applying what the Holy Spirit reveals to us. Let’s explore. 

Some Bible scholars believe that the Holy Spirit led Luke to include the encounter of JESUS, the expert in the law and the parable of the Good Samaritan prior to the scripture regarding Martha and Mary. It is one thing to know GOD, as the expert in the law claimed, but quite another to understand and apply what GOD has revealed. The expert in the law knew the law but he needed to deal with the traditions that prevented him from seeing the big picture of who his neighbor was through the eyes of GOD. To reach out to others through compassion is one thing but to neglect having and building a relationship with GOD through CHRIST is missing the mark.

Let’s read Luke 10:25-37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a • Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two • denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”

These remarks are not intended to take away from the parable of the Good Samaritan, which illustrated the point that all humans are our neighbor. Let’s consider the parable from another point. Two servants of GOD passed by the man who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead without helping him. We do not know the relationship the Samaritan had with GOD but we do know his heart. The Samaritan put his life in danger and unselfishly cared for a stranger.

It seems that the motive of the Good Samaritan was pure. When we serve GOD, once we have served is that all we need to do?  JESUS was clear, because of our relationship with GOD we need to reach out to others as a natural response to their need. But there is another dimension. Christians do not need to get caught up in the doing and neglect spending time with CHRIST. Christians need to be refreshed through their relationship with CHRIST. It is easy to become stagnant.

This leads us to the event regarding Martha and Mary. Martha was focused on the doing. Mary had helped Martha but Mary then chose to spend quality time with JESUS and to learn from HIM. It is a matter of setting priorities. But when the priority of one person does not match the priority of another, conflict often arises.

Martha and Mary each were serving JESUS in their own way. JESUS’ response to Martha gives us pause to consider the priority we give our activities.    

Let’s read Luke 10:38-42:

38 While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” 41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

It was common in that day for people to open their homes to travelers to feed them and offer them a place to stay. It was likely that Martha and Mary knew that JESUS and HIS disciples were in the area and invited them to their home. We see from the scripture that “Martha welcomed Him into her home.” Bible scholars believe that Martha was the eldest sibling and their parents had died and left their home to Martha since she was the eldest. It is not clear whether or not JESUS disciples were with HIM but they were most likely present. As stated earlier, if so, there were likely fifteen people Martha and Mary were preparing food for. Preparing food for fifteen people is a chore even today with our modern conveniences.

Most who prepare food for a large group know that the person of the house wants to prepare his/her best and serve it at the right time and temperature. When the events leading up to this critical time seem to be out of control, frustration peaks.

JESUS was teaching and Mary was sitting at the feet of JESUS listening. Sitting at the feet of the teacher was common in that day. We know the Apostle Paul stated that he had learned Judaism at the feet of Gamaliel in Acts 22:3:

3 He continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,

Mary was spending time with JESUS listening to HIS teaching, which was a treat for females in that day because of the restrictions placed on women by Judaism. Here is a clear example of JESUS reaching out to women and breaking the mold of tradition.

So Mary was listening and Martha was fuming. Martha was a “take charge” woman. She did not approach Mary but she went straight to JESUS, who Martha likely thought was the authority that Mary would respond to as recorded in verse 40:

40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

Mary was stressed to the max. The tone is clear in the original Greek. Martha was ticked. The words used “my sister has left me to serve alone” imply that Mary had been helping Martha but when JESUS arrived at a certain point she stopped helping Martha so she could be with JESUS. I think her words revealed the personal relationship that Martha and JESUS had. She felt free to approach JESUS like she did.  That is exactly the relationship JESUS desires for us to have with HIM. It is not a Pollyanna relationship but a genuine, best friend’s relationship.

I know most ladies and some men know the feeling. Martha likely either had the food ready to serve or needed help to finish preparing the food. Mary chose to listen to JESUS teach, which caused a problem for Martha. She wanted everything to be just right and there is nothing wrong with that. But the situation causes us to pause and consider JESUS’ perspective on the matter as captured in verses 41-42:

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

First, JESUS called Martha’s name two times. This is rare but also significant because it revealed disapproval but was also spoken with tender affection but with grave concern. JESUS knew her heart and that she was “upset about many things.” She likely wanted to be at the feet of JESUS but JESUS and HIS disciples needed to be fed. Her focus was on the physical and Mary was focused on the Spiritual.

Which was more important? If Martha was asked after the death of JESUS, HIS resurrection and ascension, what her priority would have been that day that JESUS and HIS disciples came to her house, she would probably have stated that spending time with JESUS was far more important than trying to prepare and serve the ideal meal. Time and how we use it is very important.

You know when we lose a loved one in death, oh how many times do we say, “If I could have those last days or weeks with my loved one, I would cherish every second.”

JESUS told Martha that “one thing was necessary.” That could have been that one dish was sufficient rather than trying to prepare a feast. If she had focused on what was important Spiritually, she would have made the choice of time with JESUS over a lavish meal. In fact, JESUS told Martha that Mary had made the correct choice. Hopefully, JESUS words of truth settled the issue. Sometimes it takes a person we respect and trust to help settle conflicts.

I think this is the heart of the message our LORD wants each of us to take from this lesson. Yes, Christians need to serve and minister as led by the Holy Spirit but we have to be careful not to let our flesh, ego and pride block out the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We do not need to neglect spending time with HIM, talking with HIM, studying and fellowshipping with HIM as we obediently serve HIM. We need to consider the more important things in life and not get caught up in trying to bring glory to the things we do or ourselves and neglect the more important things in life. Time is a gift for a season and how we use it is very important.

It is easy to let our service to CHRIST morph into being busy and neglect spending time with HIM. JESUS told the Samaritan woman at the well that HE was the living water. Living water is water that flows and does not become stagnant. That is why Christians must maintain the right relationship with CHRIST in order to be the conduit of living Spiritual water. Christians need to be refreshed as they walk in the Spirit and minister as led by the Holy Spirit. They must maintain an intimate and dynamic relationship with the living CHRIST by not getting caught up in the routines of life.

We all need to ask our LORD to help us focus on the things that are important and to set the right priorities in our lives because we do not know what tomorrow holds but HE does. The Holy Spirit gives balance to our lives but Christians must listen and obey HIM. Blessings!!!