The Priority of Those Who Love Jesus
Notes
Transcript
The record of this unique and wonderful event appears nowhere else in the Gospels.
Despite its brevity, it occupies an important place in the flow of Luke’s gospel and conveys an essential truth by revealing the highest priority of the Christian life, that of loving God.
As people’s lives become more frenetic, frantic, disjointed, and disconnected, they battle to stay focused on what should be their priorities.
A priority is by definition a matter that ranks above all others in importance.
The Priority of David: Ps 27:4
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Seeking God
Pauls Priority: Phil 3:13
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
To Be Christ Like
Both are illustrations of the highest priority for believers—the deep, transforming knowledge of God.
As this passage illustrates, the supreme priority for believers is to hear the revealed Word of God.
It is foundational to the other spiritual duties, all of which are motivated, informed, and defined by Scripture.
Mary Devoted (v 39)
Mary Devoted (v 39)
Mary is the central figure in the story and an example for all believers to follow.
Her position, as close to Him as she could get, indicates Mary’s intense interest in His teaching.
Though this was a typical position for students of a rabbi, in first-century Judaism rabbis did not take women as students.
The imperfect tense of the verb translated listening suggests a continual hearing on her part.
Mary’s attention was riveted to the most powerful, clear, truthful teacher who ever spoke.
Mary demonstrated the attitude of the true believer.
In Luke 6:47 We see what Jesus says a true believer looks like.
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like:
Mary understood that the highest priority for a believer is to hear the truth that has come from heaven.
Martha Distracted (vv 40-42)
Martha Distracted (vv 40-42)
Even the most devoted believer can lose focus on what really matters.
The verb translated distracted literally means, “to be dragged away.”
She allowed her preparations, such as fixing a meal for the guests and making arrangements for where they would sleep, to keep her from the priority of listening to the Lord teach.
There is nothing wrong with showing Hospitality in fact Scripture commands it. Heb 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
But in the process of doing that, Martha got her priorities twisted; she was fussing and fretting, trying to get everything arranged to her satisfaction, maybe to make an impression on Jesus.
As a result, she failed to take advantage of a rare and priceless opportunity—to hear in person the Lord of the universe teach and be impressed profoundly by Him.
Her misguided priorities finally caused Martha to lose the joy of serving.
She became more and more flustered, agitated, and frustrated, until finally she became angry.
She was so angry She went over and interrupted Jesus while He was teaching and then accused Him of not caring.
Martha was unduly concerned and troubled about temporal things to the point that she had forgotten that only one thing is necessary—listening to the Word of God.
All too often Christians, like Martha, allow their lives to be regulated by what is not necessary.
Faithfulness on the job, in the home, and in the church has a place, but must not be allowed to replace faithfulness to divine truth.
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
