Mary and Martha

Receiving Jesus

Many people come to Jesus but not everyone receives Him

The rich young ruler

Religious leaders

His family and hometown

Mary and Martha Receive Jesus

In contrast to Luke 10:15, where the layer is coming to Jesus to test Him rather than receive Him

This is shown in contrast also by who will receive Jesus.

Who would we rather have receive Jesus today?

Preacher who said they needed some wealthy people at their congregation so they could do better.

where do we go door knocking?

Hospitality

Cultural Background

Hospitality is not just something that was important in the eastern world but it was something that was required.

marriage for the night to show hospitality

you were to not ask about personal business before you welcomed the person into your house and showed them kindness and fed them

Not to do this was to invoke the rath of the gods in Greco-Roman time

examples of hospitality

Genesis 18:2–4 NASB95

When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree;

Genesis 18:5–8 NASB95

and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.

Judges 13:15 NASB95

Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you so that we may prepare a young goat for you.”

2 Kings 4:10 NASB95

“Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

Shunammite woman and Elisha

Simon the Pharisee and the adulteress woman

Luke 7:36 NASB95

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Mary and Martha show hospitality to Jesus

Who tends to show door knockers the most hospitality?

To Busy to Notice

Martha is doing her obligatory and dutiful service of hosting Jesus

she is not doing something that would be considered wrong by people watching her, in fact, people may be inclined to say Mary is the one being disrespectful to the teacher as she is not hosting Him properly.

Jesus does not say she is doing anything wrong!

Martha is not being rude to Jesus.

Martha does not think she is doing something that shows disrespect to the person she considers to be the master teacher

Martha is too busy to notice what is going on

Jesus is in her house

Martha want to serve Jesus but she is not listening to Jesus

There are a lot of people who want to serve Jesus but there are fewer who listen to him

We still get caught up in our schedules today

There is nothing wrong with doing things

there is nothing wrong with going to sporting events

there is nothing wrong in going to spend time outdoors

there is something that is better though

Do you go door knocking?

do you make time for all these other things but not for other people?

do we make time for God?

Choosing That Which is Best

Sitting at Jesus’ feet is always the best option

Mary chooses that which is the better option

Progression of belief

Samaritan women at the well

She sees Jesus as going from a Jew, to greater than Jacob, to a prophet, to the Messiah

Progression of salvation/sanctification

1 Peter 2:2 NASB95

like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Hebrews 10:14 NASB95

For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Welcome

Goodbye