Luke 10:38-42

Butler's Comments

SECTION 3

Prescribing Knowledge (Luke 10:38-42)

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

Luke 10:38-40 Listening Prudently: Sometime during this later Judean ministry of three months (between Tabernacles and Dedication), Jesus visited in the home of Martha and Mary, special friends of His. We know from John's Gospel (ch. 11-12) that their home was in the village of Bethany, about two and one-half miles southeast of Jerusalem, just over the crest of the Mount of Olives. Martha received (Gr. hupedexato, a word denoting warm hospitality, see Matthew 10:40-41) Jesus into her house. Jesus probably had a standing invitation to visit them anytime He was in that vicinity. During Jesus-' last week in Jerusalem, He went in and out of the big city almost every night. He probably stayed in this home at night. Martha had a sister named Mary, and a brother named Lazarus (John 12:1 ff.). Martha seems to have been the oldest of the family. Most commentators assume the house belonged to Martha since she seems always to be taking charge. Some suppose she may have been a widow; some think her husband might have been Simon the leper (cf. Mark 14:3 with John 12:2 ff.). Every opportunity Jesus had, He taught. Upon entering the home of His friends in Bethany, He sat down and began to teach (probably concerning the kingdom of God). Mary sat beside Him at His feet in the customary place of a pupil. The Greek says Mary also sat listening to Jesus teach. Perhaps some of His disciples or other friends of Martha and Mary were present. The also may indicate Martha too had at first listened to Jesus teach but quit and busied herself with serving.

While Mary was not helping, Martha became distracted with much serving. The Greek word translated distracted is periespato which means, to agitate, to wheel about, to twist and convulse. Martha was running around in circles, agitated and distracted. So Martha exploded and interrupted the Lord (the Greek word epistasa means, to come suddenly upon, to press upon, to assault, cf. Acts 6:12; Acts 17:5), saying, Lord, doesn-'t it matter to you that my sister has left me all alone to do all the serving? Then Martha directed the Lord to order Mary to help her. Martha's direction in Greek is sunantilabetai, literally, take hold over against, meaning, Tell Mary to carry her end of the load around here and help me.

Luke 10:41-42 Learning Priorities: Jesus reacted tenderly to the scolding from Martha. The double use of her name, Martha, Martha. indicates His patience with her. Jesus said, ... you are anxious (Gr. merimnas, split-minded) and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. The most ancient and best manuscripts (Sinaiticus, Vaticanus and Ephraemi) have the answer of Jesus, ... you are anxious and troubled about many things; there is. need of just a few things, or one. Either way, what Jesus is emphasizing is that just a simple meal was all that Martha needed to be concerned about. Jesus did not rebuke Martha for, her hospitality; He did not say her service was wrong. The one thing is not even something spiritual, but one or two simple dishes as compared to the many dishes Martha was fretting about. Jesus was chiding Martha for involving herself in so many unnecessary things. All she need do, as far as He was concerned, was make a simple meal and then come join Mary in the best part of the whole visitlistening to His teaching. He took this occasion to remind Martha that spiritual things are the only abiding things. Martha was not wrong in serving the meal, she simply made that the first priority. Mary chose that which should really be first priorityopportunity to learn from Jesus. That should always come before food or drink or any other thing. If the choice must be made between a meal or an opportunity to learn from Jesus, the latter must have first priority, because that will never be diminished or lost.

Luke alone records this intimate scene. There is much to be learned from it. It contrasts beautifully with the parable of the Good Samaritan which emphasized service to humanity. This incident shows that earthly things are not ultimate. Mary knew the secret that love cannot finally express itself in physical things. Love must ultimately cling to the things of the spiritthat which abides eternally in the next world. What Martha must learn was that in discipleship to Jesus you must not learn to give, but also to receive from Him, especially learn from Him. Martha was trying to express love totally in physical service. It caused a reaction; a sad reaction. She got so totally engrossed in the doing and so agitated at the apparent indifference of those being served she rushed in and scolded both Mary and Jesus.

Jesus recognized the need for hospitality, but He corrected Martha for her fretfulness and fussiness. Hospitality that gets in the way of making spiritual things first in priority is superfluous. If there is an opportunity to learn from Jesus, the only hospitality that is needed is just enough to make the first thing possible, Jesus wants Martha to understand that the principal thing is what He has to say to mankind. His words are spirit and life; His word is the bread of life (cf. John 6:63). His food is to do the will of the Father (John 4:34), Man lives, not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It was not Martha's kindness Jesus rebuked, it was her order of priorities, her anxiety and her burst of jealousy, The kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The primary mission of the churchthe preaching of the word of Godmust never be second to ministering to the body (Acts 6:2). It is a false benevolence that feeds a man's stomach and starves his soul! The rebirth of the spirit, the sustenance of the soul is of first priority. All other things will perish, The physical order of all creation will soon die. All we can gain physically we must leave. But the spirit of man lives forevereither in the presence of God or banished from Him. What is needful is to listen to Jesus!

STUDY STIMULATORS:

1.

What does it indicate to you about the progress of Jesus-' ministry to learn that He had seventy other disciples He could send out to evangelize besides the twelve apostles?

2.

What do you think of Jesus as a condemner of great masses of people?

3.

Why is indifference the most evil form of unbelief?

4.

Why did the casting out of demons by the seventy disciples cause Jesus to speak of the fall of Satan?

5.

Is there still available for believers today the power to tread upon serpents? Why?

6.

Why did Jesus tell the seventy to put a check on their enthusiasm? Is the same admonition needed in Christendom today?

7.

Why is the idea of God revealing Himself to man so fundamental? Why is the issue of God's revelation a continuing issue for Christians?

8.

What do you think was behind the lawyer's question to Jesus about eternal life?

9.

Do you really believe that the two commandments the lawyer quoted will give eternal life? Why?

10.

Does Jesus-' teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan apply in our lives? How far should we go to help someone? Should we help any stranger who appears to need help?

11.

Is it possible for a Christian to be overly hospitable? Are you ever too busy with hospitality to learn Jesus-' teachings?

THE CONDEMNATION, CHALLENGE AND COMPASSION OF THE KING

(Matthew 11:20-30)

By Paul T. ButlerOBC Chapel, 10-24-78
INTRODUCTION

I.

POINT IN TIME OF JESUS-' MINISTRY

A.

Some time after the Second Passover (2nd year of ministry)

1.

He has returned to Galilee

2.

He has healed many

3.

Named the 12 apostles

4.

Delivered the sermon on the mount

5.

Raised widow's son from the dead

B.

Question from John Baptist probably precipitated His focusing on the refusal of these cities to recognize Him as the Messiah.

1.

Jesus is now in Capernaum

2.

Chorazin was about 2 miles north of Capernaum (which was on the coast of Galilee [Sea]). It is mentioned only here in Jesus-' condemnation (and in Luke 10:1-42another time of condemnation). It was probably an important city being at the northern most end of the land of Palestine of the 1st century. Trade routes and military garrisons were probably there. It ceased to be inhabited by the time of Eusebius (250 A.D.). It lasted only about 200 years after Jesus-' condemnation of it. Only a few carved stones remain today.

3.

Bethsaida (Julius); east of the Jordan, near the river's entry into the Sea of Galilee. The tetrarch Philip raised it to the rank of city and called it Julius in honor of the daughter of Augustus Caesar, Julia. (If there is only one Bethsaida, instead of two, this is the one.) Some think there was another Bethsaidaa suburb, as it were, of Capernaum. Whatever the case, neither can be found except for a few ruins of a road. Probably a place of much activity in the fishing business (the name means: house of fishing).

4.

Capernaum: It was a customs station; the residence of a high officer of the king (Matthew 9:9; John 4:46); occupied by a detachment of Roman soldiers, whose commander built the Jews a synagogue at his own expense. By the time of Josephus (40 or 50 years after Jesus) Capernaum was of such small significance, J. called it a village.

Capernaum seems to have exalted itself and this became the cause of its rejection of Jesus.

DISCUSSION

I.

CONDEMNATION (Luke 11:20-24)

A.

Jesus walked the streets of these cities, esp. Capernaum, and so did His disciples.

1.

He had His ministerial headquarters there

2.

He had healed a nobleman's son (by remote control from Cana)

3.

He had healed a man let down through a roof and forgave his sins

4.

He had given the disciples a miraculous catch of fish and called the four fishermen

5.

He healed many of all kinds of ills

6.

Cast out a demon from a man on the sabbath in a synagogue

7.

Healed Peter's mother-in-law

8.

The whole city came to the door that evening for healing and He healed many again.

9.

Healed the centurion's servant.

Later, He:
10.

Stilled the tempest near the city of Capernaum

11.

Raised Jairus-' daughter

12.

Healed woman with flow of blood

13.

Healed two blind men and a dumb demoniac

Some of Jesus-' greatest sermons were delivered in this area:

1.

Sermon on the Mount could have had some of their citizens attending

2.

Sermon on the Bread of Life

3.

Sermon on Human Traditions (Matthew 15:1-39)

4.

Sermon on True Greatness; Stumbling-blocks, Mistreatment and Forgiveness

B.

Would Jesus condemn?

1.

Oneidizein means to blame, charge, accuse, rebuke, justifiably.

2.

Jesus condemned more often than some want to acknowledge. Most want to think of Jesus as always positivealways encouraging-always forgiving, even indulging those who do not agree with Him.

3.

Jesus condemned: Matthew 7:21-23; (here in Matthew 11:1-30); Matthew 23:1 ff.; Matthew 12:22-42; John 3:36; John 8:42-47; John 9:35-41; John 12:31, etc.

4.

It was predicted by the Old Testament prophets that the Messiah would come to condemn and judge (Isaiah 11:1-9, esp. Isaiah 11:4; Malachi 3:1 f.; Daniel 2:1-49; Daniel 7:1-28; Daniel 11:1-45; Micah 5:1-15; Zechariah 9:9 f.).

5.

Practically every parable Jesus told has a condemnation at the end.

6.

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the letters of the apostles contain much condemnation.

7.

Paul even told Timothy, to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering.

THIS KIND OF JESUS WOULD NOT BE RECOGNIZED IN THE CITIES AND FARMS OF AMERICA TODAY!
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY HE WAS NOT RECOGNIZED IN THE CITIES AND VILLAGES OF THAT DAY!
WHO WANTS A MESSIAH THAT DEMANDS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND CONDEMNS YOU IF YOU DON-'T PRODUCE IT!
A CHRIST WHO DEMANDS NOTHING, CONDEMNS NOTHING AND SAVES NO ONE.

C.

Revelation teaches it and reason demands it.

1.

God cannot be reduced to a vacillating, flaccid, spineless compromiser.

2.

If your God doesn-'t condemn unbelief and unrighteousness, He cannot praise and reward faith and holiness. If God does not hate and judge evil, He cannot love and preserve truth and goodness.

THAT GOES FOR HIS SON, JESUS, FOR HIS PROPOSITIONAL WORD, THE BIBLE, AND FOR THE MESSENGERS AND PREACHERS OF HIS WORD!

3.

This is what the Hebrew people could not and would not acceptthis absolute faithfulness of Jehovah to act according to His nature.

THEY WANTED GOD TO CONDEMN AND JUDGE THEIR ENEMIES. BUT TO INDULGE THEM IN THEIR PAGANISM.

4.

Where do you stand in your concept of Jesus? Have you accepted Him as an indulgent, compromising Savior?

Is this the cause for the lack of commitment and holy living in the church today? Why have so many Christians compromised their confession by their public lives todaybecause they have reduced Jesus to a non-condemning, never-judging Savior.

5.

J. B. Phillips, in, Your God Is Too Small, says some people's concept of the meek and mild Jesus makes their God too small.

Of the epithets that could be applied to Christ this seems one of the least appropriate. it conjures up to our minds a picture of someone who wouldn-'t say -boo-' to the proverbial goose; someone who would let sleeping dogs lie and avoid trouble wherever possible.
Christ might well be called meek. but mild, never!
We hear, or read, of someone who was a real saint: he never saw any harm in anyone and never spoke a word against anyone all his life. If this really is Christian saintliness then Jesus Christ was not saint. It is true that He taught men not to sit in judgment upon one another, but He never suggested that they should turn a blind eye to evil or pretend that other people were faultless.
People who have such a totally sentimental concept of Jesus meek and mild find their actions, and even their thoughts, inhibited by a false consideration of what is loving.
They can neither use their critical faculties nor speak the plain truth nor meet their fellow man naturally for fear they sin against the meek and mild god. The love they attempt to exhibit toward others is all too often a pathetic travesty of the real thing.

For, like other sentimentalists, the meek and mild god is in reality cruel.

I like the way Abraham Heschel says it in his book, The Prophets, pp. 64-66: Indifference to evil is more insidious than evil itself. all prophecy is one great exclamation: God is not indifferent to evil!. There is no divine anger for anger's sake. Its meaning is. to bring about repentance. so that beyond justice and anger lies the mystery of compassion.

D.

The condemnation is very simply directed toward misappropriation of opportunities and privileges, the most evil form of unbelief.

1.

Jesus never condemned anyone for failing to use an opportunity they never had.

2.

But He certainly had His severest judgment upon those who had opportunities and privileges and deliberately chose not to use them for the kingdom.

3.

Jesus wrote 7 letters to 7 specific churches. Most of them were condemned for failing privileges and opportunities.

HE DIDN-'T CONDEMN THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT POWERFUL, RICH, LARGE, FAMOUS.
HE CONDEMNED THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIVE ACCORDING TO THE TRUTH THEY KNEW!

4.

If Jesus walked in San Francisco, and New York, and Dallas today, would He condemn them?

If He walked in Joplin, or your home town today, would He condemn it?
If He walked in the halls of Dennis, Boatman, or your dorm would He condemn it?
ARE YOU LIVING ACCORDING TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES YOU HAVE? WOULD OTHERS, LIVING IN YOUR PRIVILEGES, HAVE REPENTED LONG AGO?

5.

The one time Jesus is said to have been angry (Mark 3:5) it was because men failed to see the Sabbath as an opportunity to use for mercy and good works. God made the Sabbath as an opportunity. they preserved it. God has made this place (OBC) as an opportunity for you. what are you doing? Really studying to learn or just to get credits and a degree? THAT IS A PERVERSION OF OPPORTUNITY JUST AS SURELY AS THE PHARISEES!

Daniel Webster, scholar, statesman, Bible-believer was once asked, What is the most sobering, searching thought that ever entered your mind? Without a moment's hesitation, the great orator and educator said, My personal accountability to God!

II.

CHALLENGE (or CONVERSION. but conversion is really a correction of our allegiance and thought processes)

A.

To Realism (Luke 11:25-27)

1.

Men must be left free to make their own choices. Jesus allowed these cities to choose, even against His divine wisdom and supernatural power.

2.

He did not force them to accept Him; He did not psyche them into acting against reason and will.

(Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler: Jesus would not even so much as appear before Herod when summoned; and when He was taken by force, answered Herod not a word!)

3.

The realistic picture of the Bible is that many are called out but few are chosen; the majority of men will not be saved!

4.

Even the Son of God apparently failed where He did His most extensive works.

5.

But the success of His ministry is measured by the Father's standardsnot by man'S.

JESUS IS ANYTHING BUT BEATEN AND DEFEATED. He does not cry out in ego-deflation; His image does not suffer; He does not quit the ministry, because of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum!

JESUS WAS REALISTIC. YOU MUST BE TOO! JESUS TAUGHT OTHERS TO COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. YOU MUST TOO! DON-'T PROMISE EASE AND INDULGENCE WHERE CHRIST HAS DEMANDED HARDSHIP AND REALISM!
IF YOU ARE LIVING IN A WORLD OF MAKE-BELIEVE, FANTASY, PSYCHE ABOUT LIFE AND CHRISTIANITY. YOU-'D BETTER CORRECT!

B.

To Rejoice

1.

The Lord had failed to win over those cities wherein most of His labor had been expended, and yet He gives thanks!

2.

It is not the expression of stoicism or resignation

3.

The word in Luke 11:25 is exomologoumai primarily means, I acknowledge and its secondary meaning is to praise.

Jesus is really saying, I make acknowledgement with praise.

4.

Jesus is acknowledging and praising the Father that the refusal of these cities to accept His discipleship gives evidence, God's plan for saving the teachable was working.

SOME OF US, WHEN GREAT MASSES DO NOT RESPOND TO THE TRUTH, GET DISCOURAGED, BEGIN TO DOUBT THE POWER OF THE WORD, START TO COMPROMISE BY USING UNETHICAL, SHALLOW AND PAGAN METHODS AND MESSAGES TO COMPENSATE.

5.

Harold Fowler, Matthew, Vol. II, pg. 556, says, The things which caused the Lord Jesus to rejoice and give thanks, should give us reason to reflect upon what pleases us. His strange thanksgiving challenges us to inquire into our easy satisfaction with those irrelevant, superficial symbols of success.

IF YOU DO YOUR BEST, IF YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO PREACH THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD IN YOUR MINISTRY, AND THE VISIBLE RESULTS ARE LIKE THOSE OF JESUS, REJOICE, GOD IS STILL YOUR FATHER AS HE WAS HIS.

TEMPORARY SET BACKS, HOWEVER HEARTBREAKING CANNOT DEFEAT GOD!

Rejoice that God's plan of salvation leaves man autonomous and does not turn man into an unthinking, unfeeling, unwilling robot or thing.
Rejoice that God is interested in quality as well as quantity. not just quantity without regard to quality.
WHAT DO YOU REJOICE ABOUT? WHEN DO YOU REJOICE? ONLY WHEN THINGS WORK THE WAY MEN HAVE CATEGORIZED AND STANDARDIZED? YOU-'D BETTER CORRECT THAT!

C.

To Recreation

1.

Jesus-' response to the rejection of the cities is a challenge to childlikeness.

2.

It is the Father's gracious will that only those who are babes will accept His Son and His salvation.

3.

Jesus will make it unequivocally a condition of kingdom citizenship later (Matthew 18:1-35).. unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

4.

Harold Fowler's characterization of babe

a.

honest enough to admit he does not know everything

b.

openness and willingness to learn from anyone

c.

able to distinguish truth from error, the precious from the worthless

d.

those who evaluate by the evidence and do not distort the evidence to suit their own preconceptions and rationalizations.

e.

acknowledge that their lives are unmanageable without a Father's guidance.

5.

Reveal is the crucial issue in recreation or regeneration. What men are willing to have told to them by God is the issue; as opposed to what men think they already know and refuse to let anyone tell them.

If men believe they already know all there is to know that is significant about life here and hereafter, then revelation to them is impossible.
Regeneration or recreation is not determined by how you feelit is determined by whether you believe and obey God's revelation or not! Feeling may be a consequence of regeneration, but it does not prove regeneration. Surrender of the mind and will to the revelation of God produces regeneration.

The people in the area of these three cities wanted Jesus to heal them and make their bodies feel goodto feed them and make their stomachs feel goodto entertain them with miracles and charge up their emotions, but they did not want to surrender to His teachings in their everyday living, or accept His vicarious death for their sins.

HAVE YOU REALLY ACCEPTED THE REVELATION THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS. OR ARE YOU TRYING TO WORK YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN?! HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THE REVELATION OF GOD FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIPS TO YOUR FELLOW MAN. TOWARD HUMAN INSTITUTIONS. FOR YOUR MARRIAGE?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THE REVEALED WILL OF GOD ABOUT YOUR LIFE AS A DISCIPLE (LEARNER), A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, A MISSIONARY.. ? I mean what it says in the Bible!
You don-'t have to wait for a call. you are called by the gospel.
You don-'t have to wait for a vision of the lost. that vision is in the Bible.
You don-'t have to wait for a challenge or a commission. they are in the Bible.
ARE YOU LETTING GOD TELL YOU. OR DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE AND HOW IT SHOULD BE RUN?

If you are waiting for another revelation. if you think somehow Christ should come back from above or below or wherever He is and say something else. THEN YOU DON-'T KNOW WHAT Romans 10:1-21 says.

THE WORD OF FAITH. THE REVELATION OF GOD. ALL THERE IS UNTO SALVATION. IS NEAR YOU. IN YOUR VERY PRESENCE. IN THE APOSTOLIC MESSAGE! JUST AS SURELY AS JESUS WALKED IN THE PRESENCE OF THOSE CITIES, HIS SPIRIT IS HERE, ALL AROUND YOU, IN YOU, THROUGH HIS WORD.

III.

COMPASSION (Luke 11:28-30)

A.

First, look at who offers rest.

1.

Have you noticed all through this text the audaciousness of this itinerant Hebrew rabbi? He claims the authority to pronounce judgment on whole cities! He claims the exclusive right and power to reveal God to whomever He chooses and however He chooses!

2.

Now, He claims the power to give to anyone who wants, rest for troubled, burdened and weary psyches.

a.

He will give what Solomon and millions like him could not find in pleasure, wisdom, possessions, great works, entertainment (see Ecclesiastes 2:23. his mind did not rest).

b.

He claims to do what psychiatry, philosophy, governments of all kinds, science, and religion has not been able to do. MONEY, POWER, INDULGENCE, MYSTICISM, STOICISM, ASCETICISM HAVE ALL BEEN TRIED AND FOUND WANTING. TRIED OVER AND OVER AND OVER, IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND ALL TIMES. STILL WANTING.

And this Hebrew teacher offers it! What audacityto claim to provide the most sought after and unattained goal known to the human race!

EITHER HE IS GOD, OR THE WORLD'S MOST PREPOSTEROUS CHARLATAN.

B.

What is it He offers?

1.

Rest! Vines, Expos. Dict. says, Christ's rest is not a rest from work, but in work. not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections. because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development.

2.

It is the rest the Old Testament prophets predicted would be found in the Messiah and His kingdom.

3.

It is the rest the writer of Hebrews says the Hebrew Christians were then entering into (Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16). (And they weren-'t exactly sitting back relaxing in their rocking chairs!)

4.

It is a rest of yoked discipleship that refreshes the soul. actually it is a new birth! a regeneration!

5.

THERE IS NO REAL REST WITHOUT THE WORK OF CHRIST. CHRIST CANNOT GIVE YOU HIS DIVINE COMPASSION UNLESS YOU TAKE HIS YOKE UPON YOU.

IF YOU THINK YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST MEANS EASY LIVING. SELF-INDULGENCE, CESSATION OF STRUGGLE, OR HAVING EVERYTHING DONE FOR YOU. YOU DON-'T KNOW WHAT REST IS!
THERE IS NO REAL COMPASSION WITHOUT WORK. YOU CANNOT BE COMPASSIONATE TOWARD SOMEONE BY TAKING AWAY ALL THEIR LABOR. YOU MAY HELP, ENCOURAGE, BUT TO TAKE AWAY WORK TAKES AWAY DIGNITY, PURPOSE, SATISFACTION, FULFILLMENT, IDENTITY!
THIS IS WHERE THE SOCIALISTIC, BIG-BROTHER, GOVERNMENT FAILS! WELFARE, TRUE WELFARE INVOLVES WORK!

EVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A STRENGTHENER. NOT A SUPERNATURAL GENIE TO WORK YOU A MIRACLE EVERY TIME YOU COME UP AGAINST A STRUGGLE, OR AN UNPLEASANT TASK IN YOUR DISCIPLESHIP!
THE ONLY WAY YOU ARE GOING TO FIND REST IS IN DOING THE WORK OF GOD. YOU MIGHT AS WELL MARK THAT DOWN IN YOUR LITTLE BLACK BOOK AND BOW YOUR BACK AND GET WITH IT!
WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL UNREST, POLITICAL UNREST, RESTLESS PEOPLE.. IT ISN-'T THAT THEY AREN-'T TRYING TO FIND REST AND PEACE. BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING THE WORK OF GOD!
THEY ARE NOT YOKED TO CHRIST. JESUS CHRIST WAS THE MOST RESTED, PEACEFUL BEING EVER TO WALK THIS EARTH. AND HE WAS THE MOST PERFECTLY YOKED TO GOD PERSON WHO EVER WALKED HERE TOO!
HIS REST IS HIS YOKE, AND HIS YOKE IS CHRESTOS, (TRANSLATED GENTLE) MEANS PRIMARILY, FIT FOR USE, GOOD, PURPOSEFUL..

O.K., SO YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, HOW LONG IS IT NOW? A MONTH, A YEAR, TWO YEARS, THREE. AND YOU STILL HAVEN-'T FOUND REST AND PEACE FOR YOUR SOUL!
HAVE YOU FOUND THE YOKE OF CHRIST'S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE? DO YOU HAVE HIS AIMS AND GOALS FOR LIVING? HAVE YOU MADE A FIRM DECISION TO SURRENDER TO BEING YOKED TO HIS PURPOSE?
WHAT IS HIS PURPOSE? GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS..
THAT IS WHY HE DIED! THAT IS WHY HE ROSE AGAIN! THAT IS WHY HE INSTITUTED THE CHURCH! THAT IS WHY HE REVEALED THE NEW TESTAMENT AND CAUSED IT TO BE RECORDED AND PRESERVED! THAT IS WHY HE MADE THE MESSAGE AVAILABLE TO YOU SO YOU MIGHT BECOME A DISCIPLE!
THAT IS WHY HE HAS SUSTAINED OZARK BIBLE COLLEGE FOR 36 YEARS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE AT THIS VERY MOMENT. THERE IS NO OTHER REASON FOR US TO BE HERE!

CONCLUSION

I.

THE CONDEMNATION OF THE KING IS SURE AND CERTAIN UPON ALL WHO WILFULLY REJECT AND SPURN OPPORTUNITIES.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light..

A.

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man..

B.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

C.

Yes, perfect love casts out fear.. THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT, BUT NOT THE FEAR OF GOD!

D.

Even the New Testament has much to insist about the fear of God.

1.

... rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell..

2.

Christian slaves were to serve their masters in the fear of the Lord (Colossians 3:22).

3.

Paul wrote, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11).

4.

He also wrote, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.. (Philippians 2:12).

5.

Even the perfect Son, was heard for His godly fear (Hebrews 5:7).

6.

Part of the eternal gospel is to fear God and give Him glory (Revelation 14:7).

IN COMPARING OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES WITH THOSE OF THESE GALILEAN CITIES. WE HAD BETTER HAVE SOME GODLY FEAR. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF MOSCOW OR PEKING. OR THE VILLAGES OF RHODESIA AND INDIA MAY STAND IN THE JUDGMENT AND CONDEMN US!

The world has had too much of the indulgent grandfather in the sky God and the willy-nilly, weak kneed Jesus preached. Even the church has forgotten Jesus-' threat to make war against her if she does not repent (Revelation 2:16).

II.

THE KING'S CHALLENGE IS INFINITELY HIGH, DEEP, WIDE!

A.

His challenge is rebirth

1.

See things and people as God sees them realistically.

2.

Rejoice in the way God has chosen to make Himself known to man. rejoice that the kingdom of God and the revelation of God cannot be usurped and manipulated by the sophisticated, self-made, independent-of-God wisemen.

3.

Surrender to a child-like relationship with Christ. let His revealed Word be your only rule of faith and practice.

B.

His challenge is that you allow His Word in you to conform you to the image of His Son.

HIS CHALLENGE IS THAT OF BUILDING CHARACTER. HOLY, TRUE, HONEST, INDUSTRIOUS, SERVING, LOVING CHARACTER.

THE CHALLENGE IS NOT TO DISCOVER A CURE FOR CANCER, SIT IN THE OVAL OFFICE, HIT 850 HOME RUNS IN A YEAR, OR BECOME GREATER THAN ELVIS..
NO, THE CHALLENGE IS MUCH GREATER, MUCH HIGHER. AND IT IS YOURS AND MINE.. IT IS TO BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE REDEMPTIVE WORK OF ALMIGHTY GOD WHICH HE DETERMINED BEFORE THE DAWN OF TIME AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT ETERNITY!
III.

THE COMPASSION OF THE KING IS PERFECT!

A.

He offers what all men and women seek. He promises what most never find. REST, REAL REST!

B.

HE PROMISES PURPOSE, FUFILLMENT, SATISFACTION, WHOLENESS.

THEN WHY ARE SO MANY CHRISTIANS SO RESTLESS, FRUSTRATED, FRAGMENTED?
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN-'T PUT THEIR NECK TO THE YOKE OF CHRIST.. THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR À HEAVENLY BOSOM, AS PHILLIPS SAYS, INSTEAD OF A HEAVENLY YOKE!
Phillips says, His (Christ'S) understanding and sympathy were always at the disposal of those who needed Him, yet the general impression of his personality in the Gospels is of One who was leading men on to fuller understanding and maturity. So far from encouraging them to escape life He came to bring, in His own words, -life more abundant,-' and in the end He left His followers to carry out a task that might have daunted the stoutest heart. Original Christianity had certainly no taint of escapism.

The little orphaned, son-of-a-slave, George Washington Carver was teaching at Iowa State University when he got a letter from Booker T. Washington, president of a struggling Negro college.
I cannot offer you money, position, or fame,. the first two you have. The last, from the place you now occupy, you will no doubt achieve. These things I now ask you to give up. I offer you in their place workhard, hard workthe task of bringing a people from degradation, poverty, and waste to full manhood.
Of course, Mr. Carver took Booker T'S offer, and the rest is history.
During the years Mr. Carver worked so long and hard and made so many great scientific discoveries he was offered what would now be millions of dollars in salaries to work for Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and many, many others. But Carver, chose to live in the South, living in relative poverty, wearing the same suit for forty years, forgetting to cash salary checks, forgetting everything but his complete dedication to helping his people.
Many people argued with him that he could help his people if he had all that money Edison and Ford offered him, He always answered, If I had all that money I might forget about my people.
And on his tombstone were carved fitting words: He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world.
What are you doing with your opportunities. Jesus invites: Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. and you will find rest (purpose) for your soul.

Applebury's Comments

Jesus at the Home of Mary and Martha
Scripture

Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house, 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: 42 but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Comments.

he entered a certain village.Luke did not name the village, but John says that Lazarus, with his sisters Mary and Martha, lived in Bethany (John 11:1). Luke does not give all the geographical details necessary to enable us to reconstruct all the journeys of Jesus in the closing months of His ministry. There can be little doubt, however, that He was in Bethany of Judea. Afterwards, He went again into Perea, beyond the Jordan (John 10:40).

Martha received him into her house.No mention is made of Lazarus, It is idle to speculate about this omission. The important fact is that Mary, Martha's sister, was sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning the lessons the Master taught.

But Martha was cumbered.The contrast does not encourage the neglect of household duties and hospitality to guests. It does stress the importance of giving first place to what the Teacher has to say. Martha, in her distress, said to Jesus, You tell her to help me.

anxious and troubled about many things.John tells something about her faith in Christ and hope of the resurrection (John 11:18-27). Jesus-' gentle rebuke seems to say that it was not necessary to do so much to entertain Him.

one thing is needful.Did this refer to food? Hardly. The one thing needfulfood could be forgotten for a time (John 4:32-34)was the lesson Jesus was teaching. That was spiritual food, and it could not be neglected. Mary had chosen the good part, and it would not be denied her.

Summary

In addition to selecting, instructing and sending out the twelve apostles, Jesus appointed seventy others to go with the message of the kingdom of God into all the villages where He was about to come. The harvest was great, the laborers were few.
Their task was urgent; they would be working among their own people; they, therefore, were to make no elaborate preparations for this journey. There was but little time to get the work done.
On their return they reported to Jesus that the demons had been subject to them in His name. But He said, I was observing as Satan fell like lightning from heaven. Instead of rejoicing over their power to cast out demons, they were to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. Jesus Himself rejoiced in the Holy Spirit that the Father had revealed these things to men who trusted Him.
The victories of Jesus were of various kinds. A lawyer challenged Him with the question, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Because they were living under the Law of Moses, Jesus said, How does the Law of Moses read to you? But the lawyer persisted, Who is my neighbor? Then Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan. The meaning of neighbor was made plain. Jesus said, You go and do likewise.
Jesus-' journeys took Him to many places. The details of these trips are not always given. The visit to the home of Martha and Mary gives a fleeting glimpse of an important teaching situation. Mary had chosen to sit at His feet and learn from Him; this privilege was not to be taken from her.

Questions

1.

Why did Jesus appoint the Seventy?

2.

What did He do for them before sending them out?

3.

What does the Bible teach about the value of organization?

4.

What can be done to enlist a larger number of church members in the Lord's work?

5.

Should we pray for workers today?

6.

In what ways does the sending of the Seventy help us to prepare for the work of evangelism today?

7.

What dangers were they to face?

8.

Why were they not to salute men on their way?

9.

What greeting were they to give those who invited them into their homes?

10.

What were they to do if they were rejected?

11.

How were they to conduct themselves in the homes where they were to stay?

12.

What does the New Testament teach about support for those who work in the gospel?

13.

Why would it be more tolerable in the judgment for Sodom than for the cities of Jesus-' time?

14.

What is meant by the expression, The kingdom of God is come near you?

15.

What are the various ways in which Jesus-' remarks about Satan are stated?

16.

What did His remark mean?

17.

Why say that Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit?

18.

For what did Jesus thank the Father?

19.

What did Jesus mean by the statement that no one knows who the Son is except the Father?

20.

Why did Jesus say, Blessed are your eyes?

21.

Who else had desired to see what the disciples were seeing?

22.

What are the similarities and differences in the stories of the lawyer and of the Rich Young Ruler?

23.

How did Jesus get the lawyer to answer His own question?

24.

Why didn-'t He give a direct answer?

25.

How does the lawyer's answer summarize the whole law?

26.

Why didn-'t the apostles give the same answer on the Day of Pentecost?

27.

Why had the lawyer asked the question in the first place?

28.

Why was he embarrassed at the turn of events?

29.

Why did he ask, Who is my neighbor?

30.

How does the story of the Good Samaritan answer his question?

31.

What did Jesus tell him to do?

32.

Where was the home of Martha and Mary?

33.

Why did Luke omit some of the details about the journeys of Jesus?

34.

What was Martha's problem?

35.

What is the one thing needful?

36.

Why was Mary not to be denied the part she had chosen?