LECTION 35 - Good Law & Mary And Martha.
The Good Law.
1. AND behold a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying,
Master, what shall I do to gain eternal life?
He said unto him,
What is written in the law? How readest thou ?
2. And he answering, said,
Thou shalt not do unto others, as thou wouldst not that they should do unto thee.
Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind.
Thou shalt do unto others, as thou wouldst that they should do unto thee.
3. And he said unto him,
Thou hast answered right, this do and thou shalt live; on these three commandments hang all the law and the prophets, for who loveth God, loveth his Neighbour also.
4. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Iesus,
And who is my neighbour?
And Iesus answering said,
A certain man went down from Jesusalem to Jericho, and fell among, thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed leaving him half dead.
5. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way, and when he saw him he passed by on the one side. And likewise a Levite also came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
6. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion on him. And went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
7. And on the morrow when he departed he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
8. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?
And he said.
He that shewed mercy on him.
Then said Iesus unto him,
Go, and do thou likewise.
-Mary And Martha.
9. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village, and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary (who also sat at Iesus feet) and heard his word.
10. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him saying,
Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she may help me.
11. And Iesus answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
12. AGAIN, as Iesus sat at supper with his disciples in a certain city, he said unto them,
As a Table set upon twelve pillars, so am I in the midst of you.
13. Verily I say unto you, Wisdom buildeth her house and heweth out her twelve pillars. She doth prepare her bread and her oil, and mingle her wine. She doth furnish her table.
14. And she standeth upon the high places of the city, and crieth to the sons and the daughters of men! Whosoever will, let them turn in hither, let them eat of my bread and take of my oil, and drink of my wine.
15. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. The veneration (of God) is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy One is understanding. By me shall your days be multiplied, and the years (of your life) shall he increased.
LECTION 35. 2. -Although these words do not occur as they stand verbatim in any version of the Law of Moses as commonly received, the spirit of them certainly is there to be found, and in the original copy of the law (the best portion of which has been recovered by spiritual revelation) the very words also. And this original version was doubtless known to this young lawyer, as it evidently was to Iesus, when afterwards he gave the new law to his disciples on the holy Mount when he was transfigured before them in the company of Moses and Elias, the representatives of the old law, which was itself transfigured into the New.
v. 9. -" But one thing is needful " has been interpreted by some, not without reason or probability, as meaning that there were flesh and non-flesh food at the feast, and so he said to Martha, " but one thing (dishes or food) is needful, and Mary hath chosen the better portion." Meaning also, in the spiritual plane, the pure food of heavenly wisdom for the soul. It may have been spoken against luxurious multiplicity of dishes in general. (See Dr. A. Clarke i,1, loco.)